Lurking and learning...

[dan turk]

I've got a successful 55g FW tank and a great 2.5 that I'm going to merge into the 55g to empty it out for a *ahem* project I have...anyways, I bought this for $400 off of aquabid...
75 Gallon All Glass Aquarium with Glass Tops
Signature Cherry Stand
Sealife Systems Motorized 150 protein skimmer with pump
Sealife Systems Premier Series Wet/Dry model 125
Custom Sealife SmartLite Model 51007 2-65 watt power compact bulbs
300 Watt Heater
Heater Guard
RIO 2100 pump
Automatic FreshWater top off system with pump
Thermometer
Misc Chemicals and Salt
Water Test Kit
30 pounds of aragonite substrate (in aquarium)
2 Zoo Meds PS-30 powerheads
Python NO Spill 25 foot drain/fill hose
Maga Float Glass Cleaner
Grounding Wire
I then added a 15" high AGA canopy w/ dual front doors and opening top for $120, and 2x250w 10000K metal halides for $214(including bulbs!)
I've decided to mount the halides high in the canopy and run 4 210CFM fans to push air under the canopy and over the water...the glass tops will not be used, subbing eggcrate instead
the house will be at 78* and the water should maintain at 82*... my FW maintains at 80 with the lights right ON the tank, with full covers and hardly any evaporation.
I'm planning on running the PC lights for 2 hours(actinic) then having the MH's turn on and the PC's go off...the MH's run for 6h then the PC's turn back on for 2h and then moonlights for the rest of the time...
it'll be at LEAST a year until this thing is running, as I am doing it the RIGHT way - I'm even tiling the floor and having 3 new outlets installed in the dining room for this tank... the good news is that I'm within driving distance of tbsaltwater and don't have to pay for shipping nor do I have to cure things...
k, kids, what am I missing?

 

[ty_05_f]

It sounds like you have done your homework! A refugium might be something to check into if you already havn't.

 

[bobbyzat]

Don't forget a quarantine tank.

 

[belothsurf]

What do you mean you are in driving distance of "tbsaltwater"? I could be wrong, but it's my understanding you don't want to use sw from the ocean, if that's what you mean. Too much crap in it, from rivers and stuff. But you definetly got a sweet setup. Good luck, keep us informed.:happyfish

 

[dan turk]

tbsaltwater is a live rock dealer.... however, I've heard we shouldn't share URLs, so I didn't...
also, I've heard that cultured gulf rock has a LOT of cool hitchers, but also a ton of bad ones so I found a diff store that's actually pretty nice

 

[belothsurf]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but Fla live rock is the ones with Mantis shrimp in it. Tonga or Figi lr is your best bet. Fla lr is good, but if you get a Mantis shrimp, those things can be nasty. I've only read about them, so I'm not sure.

 

[dan turk]

I bought 1lb of tonga and 2lbs of fiji tonight... one appears to have a polyp hitcher
yeah, gulf live rock seems to have mantis shrimp and bad worms?

 

[belothsurf]

Ok....for a happy sw reef tank, you are going to need from 1-2lbs of live rock per gallon. Most would say at least 1&1/2 lbs per gallon. That's the most expensive thing about a sw tank.:happyfish

 

[dan turk]

yeah, that 3lbs was for the 2.5g tank I'm setting up to learn about this hobby in a hands-on way, figure it's cheaper than killing $400 worth of rock and sand

 

[belothsurf]

Gotcha........Yeah I understand. It still "irks" me when friends look at my tank, and I say that's about $800 bucks worth of rock. I've yet to figure out if they are looking at me like I'm crazy.....or have just lost my mind. :happy: