1 year later I want to try again... What went wrong?

black cobra

black cobra

Member
A year ago I had a 75 Gallon Saltwater setup. I was trying to do a reef. Waited 5-6 weeks till all my perameters were perfect. Bought the best everything... Skimmer, MH/T5 Lights, Deltec Salt, etc....
Nothing no matter what it was survived.... Mushrooms, Frog Spawn, Brain. Within 3 days it started to deteriate and die. Fish were perfect. They thrived. But coral...... nope. Just wouldn't work.
The only thing I can think of is that because I bought the tank used maybe something leached into fom the previous owner he never told me about?? I dunno.... It still pisses me off how much money I lost.... Over $5K

Anyways Im thinking about trying again. I see all of your guys reefs and how good there doing and it makes me want back in.
I want to have this so bad but just nervous about losing money again.
Any advise, tips this go around?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
The only thing I could think of is to let your tank mature before adding certain corals....
Are you using the same tank? Or buying a new one?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Originally Posted by BLACK COBRA
http:///forum/post/3192206
A year ago I had a 75 Gallon Saltwater setup. I was trying to do a reef. Waited 5-6 weeks till all my perameters were perfect. Bought the best everything... Skimmer, MH/T5 Lights, Deltec Salt, etc....
Nothing no matter what it was survived.... Mushrooms, Frog Spawn, Brain. Within 3 days it started to deteriate and die. Fish were perfect. They thrived. But coral...... nope. Just wouldn't work.
The only thing I can think of is that because I bought the tank used maybe something leached into fom the previous owner he never told me about?? I dunno.... It still pisses me off how much money I lost.... Over $5K

Anyways Im thinking about trying again. I see all of your guys reefs and how good there doing and it makes me want back in.
I want to have this so bad but just nervous about losing money again.
Any advise, tips this go around?

The cheap comes out expensive. For myself...
I buy new. Some things are fine to purchase used, like sofas, but something I am going to put so much time and money into...I want it new.
If you must purchase used…. used lights, buy new bulbs. If I buy a used RO unit I buy new filters.
The tank, filters and power heads, anything that goes into the tank itself…new.
Like you already said, who knows what the previous owners did.
 
olemiss

olemiss

Member
i would bet that the previous owner treated the tank with copper and it was absorbed by the silicon- thus killing your corals but not effecting your fish.
 
black cobra

black cobra

Member
Everything will be new becaused I sold everything to try and make alittle money back. The tank, lets just say it wont ever do someone again like it did me. It was a bowfront so it couldn't be used as a sump so....
Right now I am looking at getting a custom 125 Rimless.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by BLACK COBRA
http:///forum/post/3192225
Everything will be new becaused I sold everything to try and make alittle money back. The tank, lets just say it wont ever do someone again like it did me. It was a bowfront so it couldn't be used as a sump so....
Right now I am looking at getting a custom 125 Rimless.
Sounds great....and you already know how to set it up...and the cycle...and all that business

Just remember that certain things need a mature tank....
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3192231
Sounds great....and you already know how to set it up...and the cycle...and all that business

Just remember that certain things need a mature tank....

+1
I think once some people go the second time around, they THINK they know the ropes and go way too fast. When we are beginners we take baby steps. Going slow, is the only way...
 
black cobra

black cobra

Member
Ok so here is what I got so far... I will be doing a build thread with lots of pictures in the coming weeks also

AGA 90G RR Aquarium (48x24x18)
MRC MR-2 PROTEIN SKIMMER
BL-55 HD PUMP
The stand will be custom and I may start working on that this weekend depending on time. If so I will update with build pics. Lighting I am still unsure about..... I want to have strong lighting so I can keep any kind of coral I want. Looking for a MH/T5 Combo of some sort
Any recomendations are appreciated!!!! It will be open top if that helps....
I've also decided I am going to do a sick foam/rock wall build for the back. I've just seen way to many of you guys make some nice creations and I want to make some rock shelves for some nice Acro to grow and be beatimus
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
On lighting I would suggest;
48 inch Giesemann Reflexx 4x54W T5 Light Fixture - Silver at about $500.00
or
48 inch Current USA 6x54W Nova Extreme Pro T5HO 3-10k/3-460nm Actinics at about $430.00
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by BLACK COBRA
http:///forum/post/3202045
Ok so here is what I got so far... I will be doing a build thread with lots of pictures in the coming weeks also

AGA 90G RR Aquarium (48x24x18)
MRC MR-2 PROTEIN SKIMMER
BL-55 HD PUMP
The stand will be custom and I may start working on that this weekend depending on time. If so I will update with build pics. Lighting I am still unsure about..... I want to have strong lighting so I can keep any kind of coral I want. Looking for a MH/T5 Combo of some sort
Any recomendations are appreciated!!!! It will be open top if that helps....
I've also decided I am going to do a sick foam/rock wall build for the back. I've just seen way to many of you guys make some nice creations and I want to make some rock shelves for some nice Acro to grow and be beatimus


Are you going with a new tank or used?
 
daftboy

daftboy

Member
When you added the coral how long was the tank established for... I waited 6 months before ever even thinking about putting coral in.
 
black cobra

black cobra

Member
Originally Posted by Daftboy
http:///forum/post/3202072
When you added the coral how long was the tank established for... I waited 6 months before ever even thinking about putting coral in.

About 4 months. Fish, and CUC were fine. They thrived actually. Started off with some GSP's that never opened up (2 months). Then I tried some mushrooms and after about a week or so they shrivelled and died. Zoas.... same thing..... etc....
 
black cobra

black cobra

Member
Originally Posted by beaslbob
http:///forum/post/3202144
I would add a refugium with chaeto.
Definitely doing a refugium!! I am actually looking into getting a custom sump/refugium from LIFE REEF. They have some beautiful designs and since my job allows me to work with AutoCAD software, I can send him EXACTLY what I am looking for and know I will get back what I designed
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by BLACK COBRA http:///forum/post/3202159
Definitely doing a refugium!! I am actually looking into getting a custom sump/refugium from LIFE REEF. They have some beautiful designs and since my job allows me to work with AutoCAD software, I can send him EXACTLY what I am looking for and know I will get back what I designed

IMHO that in and of itself will make all the difference.
If you want to save some money you might consider wall mart type plastic storage containers. A 30g is like $10 for the refugium to drain into a small container for the sump. Or even just place the small container inside the larger one.
For overflow ideas:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/370270/the-beaslbob-trap-s
FWIW the best thing for my 55g years ago was just add an egg crate 3" in fron of the back glass to form an intank refugium. And a couple of 4' 2 tube shop lights behind the tank pointing forward. Chaeto and grape caulerpa, and pods took off in that area, and provided food for tangs with the parts that poked through the grid. Plus nitrates droped to unmeasureable levels in three weeks and a phosphates also though I didn't measure then until a few months later.
my .02
 
black cobra

black cobra

Member
Originally Posted by beaslbob
http:///forum/post/3202167
FWIW the best thing for my 55g years ago was just add an egg crate 3" in fron of the back glass to form an intank refugium. And a couple of 4' 2 tube shop lights behind the tank pointing forward. Chaeto and grape caulerpa, and pods took off in that area, and provided food for tangs with the parts that poked through the grid. Plus nitrates droped to unmeasureable levels in three weeks and a phosphates also though I didn't measure then until a few months later.
my .02

Do you have any pics of this setup? I think I know what your talking about but pics help. You got me curious
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by BLACK COBRA
http:///forum/post/3202183
Do you have any pics of this setup? I think I know what your talking about but pics help. You got me curious
Well here are some
the grid here is the partition about 3" in front of the back glass

Just for kicks here is a top down picture of my filter. A wastebasket full of crushed oyster shells.

and my sump:

and a pvc overflow:
 
black cobra

black cobra

Member
Originally Posted by iggyframe1
http:///forum/post/3202744
where do you get the grid that is in your tank? i see a lot of people using it but cant find it. thanks
People here call it "Eggcrate" but when you go to Home Depot or Loews tell them you want "Lighting Diffuser". It's like $5 for a big sheet.
 
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