Hello to all of you!!

texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
@ tangs rule: absolutely, that is my plan. Whatever I spend on the tank I have to match that in money for my wife so it costs me double! Every dollar spent on the tank = dollars for clothing for my wife and kids....
I'm just trying to keep everyone in the tank alive and my loss of filter really put a dent in my tank budget!
Would you say live rock is more important at this point than a refugium, bigger skimmer or another skimmer? I'd never heard of a refugium so I'm currently racking my brain on that subject to get educated on that world.
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
You can do a simple DiY fuge for under 75 bucks - get on craigslist and look local for a used tank - as big as you can fit under the stand. A 30 should do it, if it'll fit...they can be had for 20 - NO stand/fish or Fresh water bs....Get a couple spun aluminum lamp fixtures and install a curly Q florscent 6500k bulbs.....get some reef quality sand - does not need to be live. And decide on which macro alage you wnat to grow. I pull out about 2-3 handfulls a week out of mine and throw most away, as the fish cannot eat it that fast. I can send you some free grape calupera.. Then all you need is some plumbing and possibly a pump....just have to figure out how to plumb in to your existing sump. I run seperate fuge&sump under the 475, and there are 2 easy ways to "balance" the water level in each - so neither overflows.
As far as the order of need - I think I'd do more rock 1st, then upgrade/add skimmer 2nd, then build a DiY fuge 3rd....I surely would NOT add anymore fishes or anything, till I had more rock in there getting live.....
Also - it's time to discuss "mad money stashes", secret credit cards, and "false" emergency cash needs to accelerate your tank, while keeping the family happy with other things.......
(just kidding)
 
mproctor4

mproctor4

Member
Welcome to the boards! Nice tank. Esp. love your trigger, it has good color. Must be nice to have a friend with a free 200g aquarium, I'm jealous ;)
You will get many different opinions on what to do first. Personally, I would focus on the rock first. You need alot more. In my 120g I have about 1/3 live rock and the rest base rock. Much cheaper and the base will eventually become live. It doesn't appear that you have a huge bioload. It is possible (but not recommended) to have a fish only tank with no skimmer. I did for years with no problems, but you can't have a heavy bioload and need to keep up on your water changes. Even though your skimmer is small, it is better than nothing. IMO I would focus on: liverock, skimmer, and refugium if needed after getting everything else in place. Maybe you will get lucky and your wife will learn to love the tank and she will want to spend money on it.
Now that you have talked about your angel, your commited to showing pictures.
 
mproctor4

mproctor4

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by tangs rulehttp:///forum/thread/386964/hello-to-all-of-you/20#post_3401722
Also - it's time to discuss "mad money stashes", secret credit cards, and "false" emergency cash needs to accelerate your tank, while keeping the family happy with other things.......
(just kidding)
Do not give up your day job to be a marriage counselor!!!
Just try to get her involved/interested in the tank. I spend more money on the tanks than my hubbie does.
Tangs rule is correct--I built my own sump for about $50. Much cheaper to DYI.
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
@ tangs rule: I like the way you think, problem is my wife is a finance person and I don't think I can pull that one off!!! Excellent info on the "fuge" thank you so very much. I will get back to you on that or sure! My sump has two different compartments in it and I wonder if I couldn't just make one of those compartments into my fuge? I'll have to check into how much space I have under there, it's not much with all my supplies and junk in there. Everyone seems to be all about more rock.... I was trying to go with very little rock since my fish will be all over 1' in size (except the humu) I figure once they are all big I'll have a heck of a time with space and loads of rock? Could one accomplish this with the fuge? There will be no more fish else added to the tank unless I loose a couple of fish...
@ mproctor4: Free but he and I paid for it 20 some odd years ago, so don't be too jealous... I remember haul'n this thing up to the 3rd floor of an apartment complex in Houston about 18 years ago!! Had to sneak it in so we did it alone at like 1am.... Now the two of us couldn't even think about moving this thing!!! Took 5 of us!!! Scary what age does to ya! As far as luck, I used it all up the day I found her and don't expect any crazy miracles when it comes to he and clothing!
"1/3 live rock and the rest base rock" What does this mean? 1/3 of your tank is live rock? What is the difference between live rock and base rock?
Here is a photo of the Angel, I'm always more than happy to share photos!!!
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
I found my answers to the rock questions!!! https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/157354/faq-purchasing-live-rock
 
mproctor4

mproctor4

Member
OMG I would have been afraid that would come thru the floors in an old apartment complex. Your brave.
I am just taking a wild guess here because I have not kept track of the weight of the rock I have bought. I am guessing I bought about 35-40 pounds of live rock and 80-100 pounds of base (dry) rock. Live rock has been in saltwater (tank or ocean) and contains good bacteria, algeas, and potentially little critters on it (some good, some bad). Dry or base rock is just that, dry rock that hasn't been in water recently. No living organisms on it. Live rock around here from a LFS goes for about $10/lb, base rock goes for about $2.50/lb. Local reef clubs and craigslist is a good way to try and find some resonably priced live rock also. Live rock helps to filter your tank. With enough time the live rock will "seed" your base rock and it will have living organisms on it also. Fish need to have a place to hide and feel safe. When you have adequate amounts of rock the fish tend to be out in the open more and act less aggressive towards each other. It is easier for them to establish their own territory and they know there is a hiding place close by if they need it--it is their security blanket. It reduces their stress levels which helps keep their immune system strong to fight off illnesses. If you are careful how you arrange your rock you can still have large, open swimming areas for them. Personally, I don't care for tanks that are stacked tight from top to bottom with rock, they may work well for corals, but fish do need swimming room. Just be careful when buying live rock that you are adding immendiately to your tank that it is CURED live rock. When live rock is shipped, some of the organisms on it will die off from lack or filtration, poor temp. control, lack of water, etc. It should not be put in a cycled tank until it has time to stablize again. This can take a few weeks. Otherwise you run the risk of a mini cycle in your tank. Most aquarium shops only sell cured live rock but if you buy it online be aware that you will need a separate tank or plastic container to keep the rock with a filter running for a few weeks.
Your angel is BEAUTIFUL. I love the large angels.
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
@ mproctor4:
Brave maybe, young and dumb for sure!
Thank you very much for the help!! Next buy will be rock and I read the details on how to cure it.
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
I've been on a tear upgrading my tank since my first post here. Thanks to all of you who have given me guidance. I finally have the tank in what I believe to be a very stable state. Here is the latest pic of the tank.
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
Ya big change in appearance. I've also upgraded to a big skimmer and worked most all of the bio-balls out of the system and replaced it all with rock. The sump now has a big ball of algae in it and grow lights. Added a 3rd return pump as well so I'm pushing about 1785 gallons an hour thru the sump. 4 wave makers were thrown in and the CC is now 6 hermits and 1 bumble bee snail (no idea where he came from and how the triggers haven't found him!). All of this is no getting me a month between water changes. STOKED
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
I've also jumped into the reef world with a 30 gallon.

Can anyone tell me what the heck is on this rock? I didn't get any info on it other than mushrooms. I see 3 different types of life on here and don't know what they are.
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
Awesome thank ya'll very much!!! The sgl zoa is my big question. What is the full name so I can research them? I figured out Zoantharia but I cannot figure out sgl. Sorry for the stupid question.
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
Now thats funny!!!!!
The thing to the right of the bubble is what i cannot figure out. It's a redish circle with blue dots. It doesn't seem to take to my feeding like the zoa's and the mushrooms. I don't want to kill it so i've been looking all over to try to figure out what it likes.
Thanks again meowzer and fl joe!
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
OHHHHH I see it now....LOL....It blended in so you really had to look for it......Almost looks like an acan...BUT I am not sure...Could be a mushroom...LOL....is it hard or soft?
 
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