Hi everyone,
Started in the hobby when I was 12 with a 10g tank with lovely light blue gravel and the "no fishing" sign. It's been a wonderful hobby and there is still so much to do with regard to Freshwater fish that I'll never abandon it. I do think, however, that the time is right to begin a saltwater journey. Afterall, I do live in Miami, FL and it is actually easier to setup a reef system here than a planted tank! Try and figure that one out, but it's true. You can find a LFS around the corner that sells lovely frags, but ask for a pot of HC and you'll get a funny look!
My parents are Cuban and for the name of this system I drew on an old reference to Cuba as the "Pearl of the Antilles". For this first system, I'm restricting myself to species that are found in the Caribbean and we'll throw in Florida too, as it's the place where my family currently lives. You have to throw in a challenge in a system and I think resisting the urge to make it a blend of species from different parts of the world will be my challenge. Would like even LR from the region, which I think is possible. I know Tampa grows LR for commercial purposes. LOL, this will, however, allow for a lionfish, since they now do breed locally. Just kidding!
Florida is a paradise for that sort of thing. There may also be the possiblity of local collecting, should I obtain a valid Fl fishing license. I have to check the rules again. Last time I had a license, over 10 years ago, you could do this, but I really need to confirm. That may put an exciting twist into the system, though quaranteen becomes a necessity. Don't know if you all quaranteen? I do have a spare 8g or a 10g that could serve that purpose well. Run it with SW, heater, and a Powerhead? Also can serve as a hospital tank so I wouldn't have to treat the whole system.
Some of you are familiar with the tank. It's "Endor". A planted tank from a year ago.
Tank: 36g corner bowfront, 21" height, 21" radius. Was treated for ich at half-strength about 2 years ago, so I'll be purchasing a copper test and testing the tank for copper. Still has water in it. There are healthy plants still in it. Told you, this was early planning stages. As a corner bow, the tank has what I call "nether regions". There is an awful corner that I can't reach, even if I stand on a chair. Will make sure I have nothing in that corner. If a thumbsplitter sets up shop there, I'm toast!
Good place to put equipment.
Lighting: I have the following that I could use...
A) 2 x 65w CF fixture with cooling fans. I purchased it for the bowfront when I was growing higher light planted stuff, but put it away when I converted the 36 to a low light tank. Still works great and I have the actual SW bulb that it originally came with and never used.
B) 2, 2 x 14W NOT5. Again, leftovers from various planted systems.
The plan is to use A in conjuction with part or all of B. All of B might not fit on the tank, since the corner bow has a funny shape. I'll have either 186W over 36g or 158W over 36g. Of course bulbs will be replaced to suit Marine life. I may change the lighting later, or decide that it all looks extremely ugly and get a new fixture. Would like to use A, as it cost a pretty penny and it lies fallow. May switch out B for something of similar dimensions but with more wattage, as B wasn't expensive at all. May end up doing this. Would love moonlights too. I'd like to see the tank at night. It's going to be in my bedroom.
Water: I have an RO unit. I won it in an auction last year a Seachem Pinnacle+ RO/DI unit. Does 400l a day and retails for $400. I paid $100. So I can make my own SW. Yay, because let me tell you, LFS in Miami make a fortune on selling you SW. Whenever I go into a LFS, people are buying gallons of it. In fact, the store owners will often say, if you want a successful reef, you must buy the SW and that's just not true. I like mixing things up and making my own stuff. Have to hook it up, though. LOL, told you early stages.
Still loads and loads to do and don't expect this to be filled with water and me plunking corals in it anytime soon! I'll consider myself lucky if the tank is filled with SW water by the end of August. Still a lot of research to do. Monday, I'm going to the bookstore and buying me some pretty books. Yes, books are the first official purchase for this nano SW. Well, the RO unit was technically, but the books are the offical first purchase of the journal. I know what I want to buy having read the pinned topics up here, but is there anything that people particularly recommend here?
I'm really happy to be starting this system here. Thanks for looking. More to come! Especially if any of you are familiar with my journals. Details, I love details.
Liz
Started in the hobby when I was 12 with a 10g tank with lovely light blue gravel and the "no fishing" sign. It's been a wonderful hobby and there is still so much to do with regard to Freshwater fish that I'll never abandon it. I do think, however, that the time is right to begin a saltwater journey. Afterall, I do live in Miami, FL and it is actually easier to setup a reef system here than a planted tank! Try and figure that one out, but it's true. You can find a LFS around the corner that sells lovely frags, but ask for a pot of HC and you'll get a funny look!
My parents are Cuban and for the name of this system I drew on an old reference to Cuba as the "Pearl of the Antilles". For this first system, I'm restricting myself to species that are found in the Caribbean and we'll throw in Florida too, as it's the place where my family currently lives. You have to throw in a challenge in a system and I think resisting the urge to make it a blend of species from different parts of the world will be my challenge. Would like even LR from the region, which I think is possible. I know Tampa grows LR for commercial purposes. LOL, this will, however, allow for a lionfish, since they now do breed locally. Just kidding!
Florida is a paradise for that sort of thing. There may also be the possiblity of local collecting, should I obtain a valid Fl fishing license. I have to check the rules again. Last time I had a license, over 10 years ago, you could do this, but I really need to confirm. That may put an exciting twist into the system, though quaranteen becomes a necessity. Don't know if you all quaranteen? I do have a spare 8g or a 10g that could serve that purpose well. Run it with SW, heater, and a Powerhead? Also can serve as a hospital tank so I wouldn't have to treat the whole system.Some of you are familiar with the tank. It's "Endor". A planted tank from a year ago.
Tank: 36g corner bowfront, 21" height, 21" radius. Was treated for ich at half-strength about 2 years ago, so I'll be purchasing a copper test and testing the tank for copper. Still has water in it. There are healthy plants still in it. Told you, this was early planning stages. As a corner bow, the tank has what I call "nether regions". There is an awful corner that I can't reach, even if I stand on a chair. Will make sure I have nothing in that corner. If a thumbsplitter sets up shop there, I'm toast!
Good place to put equipment.Lighting: I have the following that I could use...
A) 2 x 65w CF fixture with cooling fans. I purchased it for the bowfront when I was growing higher light planted stuff, but put it away when I converted the 36 to a low light tank. Still works great and I have the actual SW bulb that it originally came with and never used.
B) 2, 2 x 14W NOT5. Again, leftovers from various planted systems.
The plan is to use A in conjuction with part or all of B. All of B might not fit on the tank, since the corner bow has a funny shape. I'll have either 186W over 36g or 158W over 36g. Of course bulbs will be replaced to suit Marine life. I may change the lighting later, or decide that it all looks extremely ugly and get a new fixture. Would like to use A, as it cost a pretty penny and it lies fallow. May switch out B for something of similar dimensions but with more wattage, as B wasn't expensive at all. May end up doing this. Would love moonlights too. I'd like to see the tank at night. It's going to be in my bedroom.
Water: I have an RO unit. I won it in an auction last year a Seachem Pinnacle+ RO/DI unit. Does 400l a day and retails for $400. I paid $100. So I can make my own SW. Yay, because let me tell you, LFS in Miami make a fortune on selling you SW. Whenever I go into a LFS, people are buying gallons of it. In fact, the store owners will often say, if you want a successful reef, you must buy the SW and that's just not true. I like mixing things up and making my own stuff. Have to hook it up, though. LOL, told you early stages.
Still loads and loads to do and don't expect this to be filled with water and me plunking corals in it anytime soon! I'll consider myself lucky if the tank is filled with SW water by the end of August. Still a lot of research to do. Monday, I'm going to the bookstore and buying me some pretty books. Yes, books are the first official purchase for this nano SW. Well, the RO unit was technically, but the books are the offical first purchase of the journal. I know what I want to buy having read the pinned topics up here, but is there anything that people particularly recommend here?
I'm really happy to be starting this system here. Thanks for looking. More to come! Especially if any of you are familiar with my journals. Details, I love details.
Liz
and as you say, Florida also has a massive problem with an influx of Lion fish, interestingly we here on the Salty side were reading and discussing this about a month ago.
/cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-Corals-Selection-Husbandry-and-Natural-Hist-/150606540151?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item2310d96d77
to the Salty side
but you are spot on with the red light, shine a red light or better still have a strip of red leds on your tank and you will be able to see all those little creatures that come out to play at night 
