Navarre
Marine Moderator
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Many people elect to 'go nano' for many reasons as mentioned above. Popular reasons are fascination and the challenge. Frequently, space and size are the main driving factors. Whatever your choice, if you've chosen the nano reef route, what is the next step to getting up and running? That's easy......READ !!
There is a popular phrase in the marine world and that is 'beauty happens slowly, disaster comes quickly'. Your best defenses against a future tank disaster or what is termed a 'crash' are textbooks, forums, nano 'gurus' and patience. Taking the time to plan out your nano reef and doing research prior to starting up a marine tank are investments in maintaining a healthy tank.
First Step
The best first step is to read the pinned section our Nano Reef section:
TFF Nano Reef Section Pinned Topics
References
There are several texts/manuals in print that have garnered a lot of praise in marine circles. Below are several good basic starter textbooks to begin your entry into the world of nano reefing. Although they are written with the mini reef in mind, the advice is quite easily applied to our system. Here is a brief list to get you preparing:
1) The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide
by Michael S. Paletta, Edward Kadunc (Illustrator), Scott W. Michael (Photographer), John Goodman (Photographer). Popular and easy to read startup book with good illustrations
2) The Simple Guide To Mini-reef Aquariums
by Jeffrey Kurtz. Hot off the press. Well written for beginners. Has some more current topics than Paletta's.
3) Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History
by J. E. N. Veron (Foreword), Eric H. Borneman. The 'bible' of coral husbandry.
4) Complete Encyclopedia of the Saltwater Aquarium
by Julian Sprung (Foreword), Nick Dakin. Not a bad book, some of his advise is outdated (bristleworms being a dangerous pest etc) but it has good fish and coral descriptions.
5) Natural Reef Aquariums: Simplified Approaches to Creating Living Saltwater Microcosms by John Tullock. An absolute MUST for beginners who want to try and run a tank via liverock and other methods. It goes into great detail on all different types of reef setups, Traditional sytle, Dutch style, Monaco style, The Natural Style (Euro-American hybrid) etc. Highly recommended.
6) The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium
by Vincent B. Hargreaves. A good book with lots of basic principles of reef keeping. Some very nice illustrations and photos with good sound advice.
7) Reef Secrets: Starting Right, Selecting Fishes & Invertebrates, Advanced Biotope Techniques
by Alf Jacob Nilsen, Svein A. Fossa. One of our moderators 'bible'.
cool1.gif The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists , by Robert M. Fenner
Nobody can tell you how long to stay in the library or how long you must read before making your first purchases. Use your judgment. Once your tank is started, you have not only made a financial committment, but a committment to the animals you are about to support. Be prepared.
The Fine Print
Remember, the advice given to you here on this forum is made in good faith and based on previous experience. However, what works for one person may not work for another. Maintaining any reef tank is an 'art' and you still must do your own research when given ANY advice. There are some areas in nano reefing that are still controversial and chances are you will get advice that is split right down the middle. Some examples include:
1) skimming
2) adding supplements
3) decisions re: what livestock to put in your tank
When you make a decision, know the pros, cons, possible outcomes and how to deal with an adverse reaction in your tank. Most importantly, DON'T LOSE HOPE if disaster strikes. We're here to help. Almost all of us have had to confront algae blooms, aggressive fish or a contaminated tank from a dying coral at one point or another.
Finally
At last....you're on the way. Good luck and remember: GO SLOWLY!
There is a popular phrase in the marine world and that is 'beauty happens slowly, disaster comes quickly'. Your best defenses against a future tank disaster or what is termed a 'crash' are textbooks, forums, nano 'gurus' and patience. Taking the time to plan out your nano reef and doing research prior to starting up a marine tank are investments in maintaining a healthy tank.
First Step
The best first step is to read the pinned section our Nano Reef section:
TFF Nano Reef Section Pinned Topics
References
There are several texts/manuals in print that have garnered a lot of praise in marine circles. Below are several good basic starter textbooks to begin your entry into the world of nano reefing. Although they are written with the mini reef in mind, the advice is quite easily applied to our system. Here is a brief list to get you preparing:
1) The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide
by Michael S. Paletta, Edward Kadunc (Illustrator), Scott W. Michael (Photographer), John Goodman (Photographer). Popular and easy to read startup book with good illustrations
2) The Simple Guide To Mini-reef Aquariums
by Jeffrey Kurtz. Hot off the press. Well written for beginners. Has some more current topics than Paletta's.
3) Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History
by J. E. N. Veron (Foreword), Eric H. Borneman. The 'bible' of coral husbandry.
4) Complete Encyclopedia of the Saltwater Aquarium
by Julian Sprung (Foreword), Nick Dakin. Not a bad book, some of his advise is outdated (bristleworms being a dangerous pest etc) but it has good fish and coral descriptions.
5) Natural Reef Aquariums: Simplified Approaches to Creating Living Saltwater Microcosms by John Tullock. An absolute MUST for beginners who want to try and run a tank via liverock and other methods. It goes into great detail on all different types of reef setups, Traditional sytle, Dutch style, Monaco style, The Natural Style (Euro-American hybrid) etc. Highly recommended.
6) The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium
by Vincent B. Hargreaves. A good book with lots of basic principles of reef keeping. Some very nice illustrations and photos with good sound advice.
7) Reef Secrets: Starting Right, Selecting Fishes & Invertebrates, Advanced Biotope Techniques
by Alf Jacob Nilsen, Svein A. Fossa. One of our moderators 'bible'.
cool1.gif The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists , by Robert M. Fenner
Nobody can tell you how long to stay in the library or how long you must read before making your first purchases. Use your judgment. Once your tank is started, you have not only made a financial committment, but a committment to the animals you are about to support. Be prepared.
The Fine Print
Remember, the advice given to you here on this forum is made in good faith and based on previous experience. However, what works for one person may not work for another. Maintaining any reef tank is an 'art' and you still must do your own research when given ANY advice. There are some areas in nano reefing that are still controversial and chances are you will get advice that is split right down the middle. Some examples include:
1) skimming
2) adding supplements
3) decisions re: what livestock to put in your tank
When you make a decision, know the pros, cons, possible outcomes and how to deal with an adverse reaction in your tank. Most importantly, DON'T LOSE HOPE if disaster strikes. We're here to help. Almost all of us have had to confront algae blooms, aggressive fish or a contaminated tank from a dying coral at one point or another.
Finally
At last....you're on the way. Good luck and remember: GO SLOWLY!
