Choose Your Tank, Then I’ll Help You Set It Up
Once you know which tank you are building, open the matching guide and follow it in order. We will choose the location, put the equipment together, mix and add saltwater, cycle the tank, build a simple routine, and then talk about animals when the aquarium is ready for them.
Three tanks, three setup guides
Which tank are you setting up?
Choose the tank below and I will take you to the right guide. The 4.8-gallon DeskMate changes quickly, HelloReef comes with much more step-by-step help, and the 45-gallon JBJ needs more equipment, water, and planning.
DeskMate 4.8
A compact nano guide broken into three useful stages.
Best fit: someone with very limited space who is willing to check a tiny tank often and make small, careful adjustments.
- Plan, unbox, and prepare
- Aquascape, fill, and tune
- Cycle, stabilize, and choose what comes next
Main tradeoff: evaporation, temperature, feeding, and even one animal can have a big effect in only 4.8 gallons.
HelloReef 15
A free six-week overview that works alongside the full HelloReef course included with the kit.
Best fit: a first-time owner who wants the most detailed instructions and would rather buy a thoughtfully matched kit than choose every part separately.
- Plan and assemble
- Fill, cycle, and build stable habits
- Choose cleanup crew and fish
- Decide whether the tank is truly ready for an anemone
Main tradeoff: the free guide will help you understand the process, but the complete course with more than 50 videos is included with the eligible HelloReef kit.
JBJ RF-45
A larger-tank guide paired with my JBJ beginner video series.
Best fit: someone with dedicated floor space, a larger budget, and a strong reason to want more room for aquascaping, fish, and coral.
- Plan the physical system
- Aquascape, fill, and cycle
- Add first livestock carefully
- Establish maintenance before upgrades
Main tradeoff: this tank needs the most equipment, the most setup work, and the most water and supplies over time.
Quick orientation
What changes from one tank to the next?
All three guides cover the same big steps: plan the tank, set it up, cycle it, keep it stable, and add livestock carefully. What changes is the amount of equipment, the margin for error, and how much help you get along the way.
| Decision | DeskMate 4.8 | HelloReef 15 | JBJ RF-45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guidance shape | Three dense stages | Six weekly guides plus full kit course | Nine written chapters plus current video series |
| Space | Small furniture footprint | Compact support surface or optional stand | Dedicated floor space and matching stand |
| Primary risk | Rapid small-volume changes | Overestimating what “kit” includes | Underplanning weight, equipment, water, and maintenance |
| Livestock flexibility | Most limited | Moderate and intentionally guided | Greatest of the three, still not unlimited |
After the tank is running
Build the routine before you add more animals
Setup is not finished when the water goes in. Once the tank is cycling, start learning how to test the water, top off evaporation, feed carefully, and do a water change without turning every small problem into a big reaction.