Heya, Sorry for being a complete newb but i thought this would be the best way for me to learn about nano reefing and marine keeping.

Ive been wanting a marine tank for about 6 months now and have been thinking about starting up a marine tank for the past 3 or so months, Ive been reading lots of different forums and thought i should make a thread on here.

I will most likley be getting a nano tank, probably a nano-cube D-D 24g.

As i am a complete newb and have only ever kept tropical and freshwater fish, i need to know whats what.
Starting with the tank, i was wandering what would be good to add onto it, like new lights or filter etc. Any input would be great . Next would be starting up the tank, I would buy a RO system but i rent the place and trying to convince the other half to let me mess up the kitchen with barrels and what not is a loosing battle :p (it is NOT a losing battle we have the smallest kitchen in the world lol :P) What should i do about the water? Live sand and Rock, im guessing 10k of LR would be alright for the tank and possibly 20lb of sand?

Leaving the tank to cycle for 3 months or so? Using kits to test the waters ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels .. or i think something like that.

I know alot of people argue over weither adding a single cheap fish to start the cycle off is good or not, some people say adding shrimp in tights to start it off or something like that.. help? please.

What kind of cleaner inverts should i get? I was hoping for shrimp, some snails and some hermit crabs .. would they be suitable?

The fish im thinking about getting would be 2 Clowns, a dottyback and a dwarf anglefish of some kind, i was wandering what kind of anemone would be good to fit into a nano (hoping to breed the clowns if at all possible). Also what kind of corals would be good to add, ive heard mushroom corals and devils hand i think it is would be good to start with?

Thanks so much for helping me

__________________
2 Cats
3 (2 Albino) Giant African Land Snail
5 Corn Snakes (leaving in a few weeks )
2 Whites Tree Frogs
2 Axolotls
2 Reed Frogs
Lots of Tropical Fish

Coming Soon -
4 Reed Frogs (Hopefully!)

Wants -
2 Tiger GALS

learn the nitrogen cycle inside and out firstly... do you want some decent links for a good read?

__________________


http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/lifecynical

Beginner Saltwater FAQ

Saltwater Aquariums - About Saltwater Aquariums - Reef Tanks

Salt water and reef aquarium fish articles

__________________


http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/lifecynical

Yeah please that would be great, isnt the cycle Ammonia-nitrite-nitrate? and maybe some kind of gas at the end? nitrate gas maybe?

__________________
2 Cats
3 (2 Albino) Giant African Land Snail
5 Corn Snakes (leaving in a few weeks )
2 Whites Tree Frogs
2 Axolotls
2 Reed Frogs
Lots of Tropical Fish

Coming Soon -
4 Reed Frogs (Hopefully!)

Wants -
2 Tiger GALS

Thanks mate I shall begin my reading now

__________________
2 Cats
3 (2 Albino) Giant African Land Snail
5 Corn Snakes (leaving in a few weeks )
2 Whites Tree Frogs
2 Axolotls
2 Reed Frogs
Lots of Tropical Fish

Coming Soon -
4 Reed Frogs (Hopefully!)

Wants -
2 Tiger GALS

__________________
to lie to others is one thing, to lie to yourself however is the downward slide

u-we-do-li-s-di

a-ga-la-yv-wi

Oh alright, cheers .. i was reading some marine forums and they said with nanos, it wasnt the normal clown fish type anemone but a type of coral i think that the clowns would be able to consider their home .. any ideas about what kind?

I was also thinking of getting a 3ft tank but really havnt got the space for a larger one, which is why i was thinking nano

__________________
2 Cats
3 (2 Albino) Giant African Land Snail
5 Corn Snakes (leaving in a few weeks )
2 Whites Tree Frogs
2 Axolotls
2 Reed Frogs
Lots of Tropical Fish

Coming Soon -
4 Reed Frogs (Hopefully!)

Wants -
2 Tiger GALS

big tanks are best... things happen quickly in small bodies of water. the smaller the tank, the less forgiving it is....

__________________


http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/lifecynical

to be honest a pair of clowns will host in anything that takes thier fancy, i have a pair of maroons that take turns hosting in a bubbletip and also some gonipora, plus a perc that lives in a hamerhead lps, years ago i had a couple of percs that decided to host in some cyno when i had an outbreak of the stuff, squaters of the marine world mate

__________________
to lie to others is one thing, to lie to yourself however is the downward slide

u-we-do-li-s-di

a-ga-la-yv-wi

Hehe alright cheers, ill have a look out for anything that catches my eye and thats good for beginners

__________________
2 Cats
3 (2 Albino) Giant African Land Snail
5 Corn Snakes (leaving in a few weeks )
2 Whites Tree Frogs
2 Axolotls
2 Reed Frogs
Lots of Tropical Fish

Coming Soon -
4 Reed Frogs (Hopefully!)

Wants -
2 Tiger GALS