chuck

Here's what you need to know to get started from scratch.

http://www.melevsreef.com/tanks.html

Feel free to ask all the questions you like. You can keep one continuous blog of queries going or hit us up with them as you think of them. Books often help, like The Concientious Marine Aquarist, by Bob Fenner (the updated version 2) and The Reef Aquarium Vol 3, by Sprung and Delbeek.

You can find both books on the Books link from the front page, linked to Amazon. It's an affiliate program set up so each time someone purchases via our link it sends a few nickels our way.

don't think of it as overwhelming, you have just opened the door to an entire new underwater world. You do have a lot to look at and research but the best you can do is what you already are doing, and that is research. water parameters are first and foremost followed by lighting (if you plan on keeping corals) and then your livestock decisions (corals included) remember everyone here started somewhere and no one has mastered it yet, meaning all we can do is share our experiences and knowledge and then we all learn the rest together

but as melev posted read up on the basics, learn about tank cycling and water parameters and the rest will follow

TY Marc.. I knew I had read that somewhere. Have read so much i forget where I saw what. I will definitely use the link to get the books.

TY Cyano I appreciate the encouragement

Back to reading the basics

BLAH, all you need is a bowl some table salt and a clown fish and your in business

LMAO DJ so what am i fretting for?

Reading is your friend. I spent 2 years researching every aspect of the reef tank and learning as much as I possibly could before I bought my first piece of equipment. I spent the next year slowing setting up my tank, getting it cycled, and slowing, very slowly adding livestock. My first tank was a 29 gallon that I drilled and built my own corner overflow and sump/refug. I out grew that tank into a 90 gallon tank and am in the process of upgrading from that to a 180. This is a very addicting hobby and for me no matter how big my tank is or how well it looks or works I want something bigger and better. About the time I finish a modification to one of my tanks I come up with another idea or design that I want to try.

Like everyone has said, lots of reading, ask any questions you have even if you think they are stupid questions. And take it slow. Don't rush into setting up and stocking the tank it usually doesn't end well. Taking your time at this hobby is one of the key elements.

Here's a blog post I put up awhile back. Lots of great reading. I suggest going through these in order. One of the problems reading forums is that the information is not organized like a book or article is. When you're reading a book they will not assume that you have already learned things that will be discussed later in the book. The same cannot be said of forums. Most information assumes prior knowledge and therefore it's a difficult place to learn from in the beginning. Read a book or these groups of articles and then the forums will be a much better tool afterwards!

Here's the blog post:
http://www.reefaddicts.com/entry.php...ading-Articles

Thank you group!

@ matt thanks for the link to info I will surely use it!!!