Meanwhile there's poor me making my 10 gallon somehow work 😂

I know many people that started with a nano reef and upgraded every couple years. I would say you can start with any size tank and just eventually go up the chain of tanks

"Here's my tips for beginers. Buy a $2000 tank the size of your living room to save you money"

I love this video... I learned along time ago to never take advise from someone who doesn't have a nice tank. Experience outweighs everything else.

Great advice Than. I took a 25 year absence from the hobby and now it's like a new planet to me everything is so much better. Wish you had done this video 3 years ago when rejoined the hobby.

One of the most well thought out videos on helping a novice reefer to date I've seen.

Great advice, went with a 110g for first tank! Also, DELAY DELAY DELAY! Let that initial excitement die down to a simmer before purchasing anything! Do the research, shop around, and you'll end up much more satisfied with the equipment you chose and the price you paid. Know what you need, and why you are getting it. Don't let the LFS staff sell you stuff that you don't fully understand/research beforehand. Calcium reactor? No thanks, I think I'll keep things simple in the beginning with manual dosing (part of the fun, and gives me a chance to get in tune with my tank). Chiller? Not now, I want to do more research on the upper range of temperatures for the fish and corals I want to keep. These are two examples of how I made my choices when getting my equipment. If I get them in the future (probably might, how cool is the calcium reactor right?), it will be because I have done the research, and understand how it achieves my objectives.

Great advice! I started in this hobby in the early 80’s and left it 2017. I’ve missed it ever since and I have been planning to get back in. I’m still working on what tank I will get so this was helpful to adding clarity to my planning. Thanks!

When I started this video I had about $200 dollars worth of equipment sitting in my amazon cart... after I finished the video $0.00 in the cart. Patience & research for me (new to this) is the key, thanks for the heads up!

This is by far one of my favorite fishtube channels, great to-the-point-info. Thanks!

I am just starting out and have watched countless hours of youtube videos and I have to say this gave me the most optimistic view of starting my tank. Thank you! I plan to start my tank in two months.

Don't understand the bad remarks and thumbs down. This is honest and absolutely good information.

As a novice, I found these insights very enlightening. As a physician, your last comment, never adding what you do not test for, reminded me of something one of my old mentors would have said. He also had 2 corollaries: 1. Never do a test for something you do not plan to treat. 2. Never do a panel of tests when you only want one. You will start chasing false values and do harm. Than, you have the wisdom of a good caretaker, Jim

Than, without a doubt this is by far the BEST video not only for folks looking to build a reef tank but any tank. So much good and correct info!

"Someone who was in this hobby 15 years ago, who is just now getting into it, would have a lot of catching up to do." Haha that's me! Gees, the options and equipment just blew up!

New subscriber. Love the videos. Love the music and your delivery. Excited to see more!

Nice job. No reason for thumbs down, it's great information.

Great you just shamed me into doing a water change. Thanks

It's a discipline not a television. A way of life some might say ... Been doing it since 92. Passion is greatly rewarded with this hobby. Attention to details has never been so important! Satisfaction, when you're on top of it. Kinda like Everest... Discovery, always something to learn. Still have my old Tunze powerheads. lol

🐟🐠 Very helpful tips. Thanks for sharing 🐟🐠

Totally agree on the waiting part. I remember that before I started the hobby I spend like literally one year before I started and it was well worth the wait. Great video!

Thanks for the info very useful for beginners, I'm planning a starter tank I'm planning bubble tips when I've had the tank matured for about 6 months the guy in the marine fish and corals and anemone store gave me good info and listening to your great info is excellent double info the more the better

That first tip is spot-on. This time around I went with a 150g that is four feet long, with the extra length front-to-back, and I adore it!!

extreamly helpful thanks!!

I like this advice. Was in the hobby 10 years ago. Learned a lot and spent a lot. You’re spot on with the narrow tanks. The lengths and heights usually aren’t a problem. It’s that front to back dimension that matters most to me now. Waiting before buying is also a smart move. You have a long way to go before any livestock should be purchased. Just leave it dry and start compiling equipment that you need. You need an RO/DI unit and make your own water. They’re very easy to install. I’ve installed 3 of them and I’m not a plumber. Learn what fish are compatible!! This is highly important. Just because you want 3 different types of clownfish and 3 different angels with some damsels mixed in because you love all the colors equally doesn’t mean it’s a smart thing to do. Eventually you won’t have several of those fish as they die from stress or you take some back to the store. If you don’t want to learn, leave the hobby to people who are willing to. Don’t overstock. The tank is a small box. Too many fish makes it too chaotic and unnatural. It will save you $$ and the fish you do have will be happier and less stressed. Really think about what corals and fish you want to focus on before you dive in. A lot of stuff is really common and you may get bored with it. To be honest most people who think they want to do this should just sit down and start compiling an equipment list along with prices. Once added up you will weed out 90% or better from ever starting. And that’s just an equipment list. Not materials or livestock. People who study it and read forums and books on it are more likely to have success. Especially if they’re still passionate about it after the initial newness has worn off. You ready don’t need to get a 120 gal IMO. Salt is expensive too. Nano tanks are popular and can work if taken care of. Just start slowly and slowly gain confidence for more. You have to learn what’s using what elements. Some demand much higher calcium than others and then even more once they grow larger. LEDs will help keep electric bills down much better than halides of the old days. But even a modest tank may raise your electric bill 20, 30, maybe $50 a month. No matter where you’re at youll probably be in that 20 to 50 range for most tanks. Minimize electrical demand if you can.

Very well said.. Many years in this hobby and the more you learn the less you run out and buy.. There's no substitute for experience.. love your auctions by the way.

Very informative video, thank you kindly!!!

Getting back into the hobby and just been jumping around redoing my homework before diving back in head first. Thanks for the advice.

Love my 120 and yes it is perfect for a beginner. Loved the advise on water changes as well.

Very helpful tips, Thank you very much!

Great information for when I start my saltwater tank. Thanks for sharing the info with us.

I am a really experienced aquarist, I never considered the 24" x 24" lighting consideration. GREAT video.

Very nice, Than. Thank you for the tips.

Good tips! Thanks

Very good information for the newbies great video!

Than, as usual great video!

Tanks for your videos and tips! Your videos are great. From Brazil!

Where was this when I needed it? Great Video!

thank you, very informational to me. I recently started getting into aquariums and aquaculture. My wife and kid love it. I would eventually like to have a coral reef tank, but am patiently taking in as much info on everything as I can. Some of these saltwater tanks are so beautiful.

Great video man Than You for sharing.

very helpful info. Doing research now for weeks and you made some great points. Thanks for taking the time to help us newbies out.

This has been very helpful clear and to the point 👍👍👍

It's a living art piece, so beautiful! I have too many hobbiesX)

Great quality video Than. Very nice

LOL great tips, especially the water change one!

Great advice. My first 16 gallon tank was replaced within months. My second 50 gallon tank was replaced within a year. I also agree with light considerations.

Great tips!

Thank you! Your video was very helpful! I'm getting a saltwater tank soon and I'm super nervous because people say it's really hard to care for. I almost bought a 55 gallon with everything with it with corals and fish for pretty cheap but I'm definitely going to get a bigger one!

Another Great video from tidal gardens

As always, love Tidal Gardens' videos!

Very informational.. thank you

great video, fantastic advise

Very useful tips Sr.Greetings from Miami

great information!!

Great tips!!!

Than great video, i made a lot of mistakes starting out. I'm always learning something everyday.

waiting and researching +1 I can't even begin to count the number of videos I watched and how many forums I joined and poured through months and months in advance. It helped IMMENSELY when I finally got a tank. Learned a ton in the year its been up too though.

Happy reefing. Great video

Wow the best I've watched thanks

good advice,as always

Great info. Thanks for showing some good tips for beginners. Setting up my first reef tank. 180g subbed your channel. Keep up the good work..

Gorgeous tank 😍

Really enjoying your channel.

I have had a couple tanks and they are freshwater. My boyfriend and I have been dreaming of having a reef tank, but because they seem so difficult to keep we have waited on it. Your videos are so educational and helpful! Thank you!

That was awesome

Good tips thank you.

Awesome video!

very well done!!

amazing video thanks:)

Really awesome information. I researched and purchased items for my first tank 6 months before putting a drop of water in it.

great video!

Thankyou, this has been a major help. You're right btw, been out of aquariums for 20 years and I am lost.

best beginner tips video ive seen in a long time.

So much good info! Thanks again.

Make some merch that says "do a water change"

I love this video specially the guy who's talking. !!! I've been searching for these answers !!! For years!

You hit the nail on the head water change!!!

Top video than ,, totally agree with everything you said how ever a lot of learning in this hobby is done through trial and error

Hello Than! Excelent and precise infomation. Is always a great help learning from your experience. Greetings!

wish i had known this when starting my freshwater micro tank! would have saved me a lot of time and money.

but I really enjoy your videos ! keep posting !!

absolutely amazing video

I wish I had seen your video three months ago, before two tank crashes and about $300 down the proverbial drain. I'm now on a three-month period of cycling sea water with live rock and sea sand, and putting together a competent refugium tank. It's slow going, but it's going in the right direction. thanks for the video. keep it up. people are learning from you.

Great video and a must for anyone starting off. But even for us that are hooked already it's a good one.

That was great, as that is us exactly at the moment.

Getting ready to set up my 210 gallon tank great tips thanks

where was this video 4 years ago when i first started. .. great video bud i followed u when i first started reefing

Good video as having to start over as my cheap filtration system went down on me and lost almost everything in the tank gonna rebuild the tank the right way this time. Hope to be buying some corals from you in the near future. Keep up the awesome work

I agree with the general advice for beginners of getting a relatively large tank. At the same time, though, the whole reasoning about scaling costs with size does not take into account stuff at the onset such as live rocks and ongoing costs such as electrical bills and salt. So, yes, larger aquariums (up to a point) are comparatively cheaper (relative to size), but it's a bit more complicate than just the cost of equipment...

This video was super helpful I’ve keep tropical for yours so i Didn’t need to buy Much I had a spare 60l tank Heater and fluval U5 filter the only thing I neede to get was a gd protein skimmer difrent lights and testing kits and sult. I ended up get some live sound and a purple rock.

Im totally satified with my basic 55 AND it fills up and looks good really fast.

I love your video and barely 10mins into it

Awesome video, I have a 5 gallon nano with no filter other than live sand and rock. Anytime my frog spawn looks sad I do a water change. But I always do a water change of 1 gallon every weekend. It runs like a top!

Great tips ive kept tropical fish for years im now considering salt water reef tank i no nothing doing lots reserch not rushing into it glad found this channel thankyou

Watching this 2 weeks into my cycle on my waterbox cube 20 😁

I was knee deep in reefing 25 years ago and I agree 110% with your video. Hardware sure made a giant leap. Falling back into reefing in 3..2..1...

120 Gallons for beginner? Oh my god ... you are nuts ... I started from 5 gallons ONLY and going to 20 gallons and still very happy and comfortable!!! 120 Gallons ?? Big home to have it?? Nuts ..

Purchasing aquatics such as tanks, equipment remain a better time to purchase in December! Especially in Florida. When Christmas time is nearing many folks will look to sell & cash out as well as purchase to begin new. Second hand equipment is a great start up source for beginners.

Thanks!

Love it❤️🐠🇳🇴