don't know what to get now?????

[mike6969n]

ok everyone get ready: i know this is going to be a lot of info in one thread, but i don't quite know what to do at this point. this is what i have so far.
55 gal tank 48x13
single bulb normal light
aqua clear 75 wet/dry w/250 mag drive
50 lbs playsand/ 30 lbs ls
21.5 lbs lr
2 turbo snails & a blue legged hermit that i tried to take back to the lfs(the lfs told me just to keep them and they would give me a store credit if they didn't make it)
i set-up my tank on 1-21-05 a week ago today
parameters as of the morning of 1-28-05
ph- 8.2
ammonia- between 4.0 & 8.0
trite- .25
trate-5.0
salinity-32 ppt
i want a reef aqarium with some colorful corals, and fish
i know i need better lighting, more lr &ls,2 or 3 powerheads, protein skimmer, and a cleanup crew, but i don't know what to get first. so what order would you all purchase these things. or what is most important. trying to slow things down now that i have sarted my cycle and use this time for research. i just want to know what i need for the type of aquarium i want so that i can plan a little better & control my spending. not in any hurry to start adding fish, invertebraes, or coral until i know that my tank and i are ready. suggestions please. sorry for the long post/ just a newbie trying to do it right the first time w/out killing anything including my wallet. thanks ahead of time for the responses.

 

[woodymdt]

morning mike,
From what I've read, and knowing what little I do now and reading your post....I would go the following route.
1. powerheads.....have to get the current going in the tank
2. LR, boost up that filtration system so when you DO add the live stuff, it'll have a better survival chance. Maybe another 15-20 lbs.
3. Heater? You didn't mention a heater, so if you don't have one yet, I'd get one.
4. Lighting. I took a pretty good hit getting the lighting in the checkbook, but I think it's going to be well worth it.
5. Skimmer. Probably the last purchase I'll make before adding the cleaner crew and then getting ready for fish.
Of course you can mix those around as your budget will allow, but that is where my thoughts would start.

 

[essop3]

I always advise, in the intrest of money, to go Fish only with live rock for a few months. Its gives you time to save for lights. I'd make them last.
I'd also make live rock first. Order a big box from here. I'd do it now.
1. It will be fresh enough that it won't cause a big ammonia spike
2. Its alot cheaper than your LFS
3. The extra bio filter will speed your cycle up a little

 

[duke13]

I'd say get a skimmer as soon as you can. Spend the money on an Aqua C Remora, your will love you (about $160).

 

[mike6969n]

thanks everyone:
btw woody thanks for mentioniung the heater, i do already have one and temp is holding at 80 degrees. i do have a ? about it though. i tried to move my heater into my sump, but my temp dropped and in my wet/dry the water level in the sump is not high enough to cover the heater, sould i get 2 smaller heaters or is it ok to just leave the heater i have in the mt?
i was thinking of the same thing as far as order of purchase, i was going to go with 2 powerheads, then more lr 15-20lbs, 30lbs of ls, skimmer, lighting not sure what set-up yet, and finally the cleanup crew & fish. sound good?

 

[mike6969n]

also, thinking about adding a refugium to my set-up since i want to go with reef and a wide variety of corals, think it would be a good idea. i was thinking of a 10-20 gal, still researching not quite sure what all i need or where to add it yet. any advise anyone?

 

[jacknjill]

dont put anymore crabs and snails until the cycle is over. they probably wont make it through it. i think you know this but i just wanted to make sure

 

[mike6969n]

yep, thanks j&j i think the lfs girl was trying to act as though she was helping me out by throwing them in with my lr (to increase her future sales w/me), but little does she know that it hurt her more than helped, i am not trying to kill anything. not only that but i lost faith in her knowledge of the hobby when she tried to get me to cycle with bio-spire & damsels. found a good lfs w/a respectable owner who seems to know his stuff, i like dealing with the smaller businesses anyway instead of ***** or pet depot, they are more friendly and seem to be in it because they love the hobby, its not just a job to them.

 

[jacknjill]

yeah i also found a mall petstore with heathly small animals (rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, birds, etc. they also have a great selection of swfish and fw fish. they seem to know what they were talking about because when i was first starting out i asked one of them, how do i raise my ph or something and she goes. well if you put this in, it will raise it to the right level, but it wont stay up unless you put this buffer in. and guess what? she was right!lol anyways im just really glad i found this little atore

 

[snipe]

Yall need to move to missouri our petsmart and "8!!!" pet warehouses are really awsome most of the ppl there have saltwater tanks so they can help you with the stuff really easy heck even the cashier had a saltwater tank lol. We dont have a ***** they have good deals on equipment and stuff but there about 4 hours away. My petsmart and warehouse is an hour and a half.

 

[mike6969n]

wish we had some good ones here. we have two pet depot's, but one of them is fixin to stop selling swf and the other one, well i just don't trust the girl. then we have a ***** that i haven't bought anything from yet, because he doesn't keep anything in stock he always has to order it, the other two swa places are owned by the same guy, he just opened up new store and the girl that is running the old store is just learning and now has a bad red algae problem, but his new store looks great and he is very informed, belongs to a couple of reef clubs that meet here every 3 months at his store, and most of all he is fair (he is offering me some deals on books, lr,ls and lighting. think i will just stick with him and the web.

 

[snipe]

My local lfs 45 min drive didnt cut me deals on anything so I took all my stuff back got my money back and drove an extra 45 mins to get my stuff if I spend that kinda money I want something to show for it.