[newguy]

I must be driving my wife crazy. It's 11:15pm and I am going on and on about live rocks, powerheads, xenias, hydrometers, nitrates, 12g nano reef tanks,--this stuff wasn't in my vocabulary 12 hours ago. She said, "I'm glad you like reading about all of that stuff. I was just going to say to get Elijah (our son, yeah he's 3, and I guess this tank's a little more about me then him ) a little tank and that be the end of it."

I was looking at so many of the pictures posted here and other sites today. I starting to get excited thinking that I can kind of have part of the ocean in my home! I would just be pumped about seeing what grows out of the live rock I get!

Anyway, I am into this, and plan on starting slowly. You guys were super helpful earlier, and helped to fan the flame and pique my interest.

To help answer the questions I am about to ask, let me give you this little bit of background about me: I am a novice when it comes to saltwater. But, I'm a detailed person and love to learn. I have had fresh water fish, snakes, lizards, and a chinchilla...so I know and have a desire to take care of the pets I own.

So here are my two questions: Where should I start? If you were me, (and you have, what will most likely be a 20 gal. tank) and you could pick my set-up for the first 6 months, what would you put in there? Keep in mind that I would like to have more than fish and a live rock (FOWLR-I think that's what you call it), but am willing to wait if it's wise.

Next: What will it take on my part to move from a novice to novice-intermediate--so I can add more than the live rock and fish?

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read this, and for your input. Please feel free to share whatever you'd like.

 

[newguy]

Thanks again, to both of you, for your insight and help. I appreciate your passion and knowledge. You've both mentioned the importance of patience, and I am in no rush. I look forward to getting the basics set up and putting the live rock in (I probably won't even do that for a couple of weeks). I don't mind waiting 4-6 weeks for the tank to cycle. The more time I have to plan and think things through the better.

I'll be thinking though my last thread, this one, as well as reading others to try to gain more insight and really nail things down.

I'm not sure exactly what I want in the tank. This whole thing started over a clown fish, so that's one definite :wink:

I will keep in touch and will be sure to post my progress and any more questions. If you ever think of anything else you'd like to share regarding my situation, please feel free to add them to either thread...I'll be checking back here often and I do take the time to research and re-read what you've suggested.

Enjoy the day.