new 120 gal tank, anybody from the attleboro MA area?

seahorse11

seahorse11

Member
HI, I am new to the SW hobby and have been getting conflicting opinions from different LFS's. I will be setting up a 120 gallon tank, mostly fish but I want to add a crab, sea star, and maybe a couple of snails. I will also be segregating a portion of the tank for 2 seahorses. Here are my questions:
1) What kind of a wet/dry is the best?
2) I want to add some LR and will be using argonite(sp?) . I will be using mostly fake anemones and corals but how much is the least amount of LR should I add?
3) I prefer not using a sump system...seems way too confusing...I prefer a HOB filter system w/a protein skimmer. Has anybody had good luck with this system and what is the basic equipment that I need?
4) I was told by one LFS that an UGF is DEFIN the way to go but the more I read, it seems like a BAD idea. Wouldnt this be good for the LR to sit on instead of on the glass bottom of the tank?
5) I will be adding a dwarf lionfish ( yes I know their poisonous), anybody have any major issues with one?
6) last question, anybody from the Attleboro, MA area? I have been in many LFS's and dont know which one to go with. Every store tells me something different.
Thanks for reading my post!!
 
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fishmaniac

Guest
well the suggested amount is 1 pound per gallon for live rock also it might be a good idea to wait on the seahorses because the are really hard to keep and feed because the have no stomach u must have a constint supply of brine shrimp plus they only live for about 6 months
 
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fishmaniac

Guest
becareful with the lionfish make sure no fish can fit in its mouth i have 1 and we feed him feeder shrimp its cool to watch
 
minersj

minersj

New Member
Definitely a NO on the UGF. As far as a good LFS in the area, I highly recommend Coral Reef Aquarium in Seekonk. This is by far the best LFS I have seen in the area and I have heard them give great advice to their customers. In addition, they do not sell fish that they feel are inappropriate for your tank. For example, they don't sell mandarins. Period. They feel that they are too hard for the average aquarist to keep. Same with Linckia's. They do not seem to have a lot of aggressive fish (hence the name Reef Aquarium
but they should be able to help you with your equipment questions.
They also stock a LOT of equipment and seem extremely knowledgable about all of it.
They breed their own clownfish there and have a wall of tanks of baby clownfish at different stages of development. Kinda neat.
HTH.
Sara
Oh, the other "good" place is Something Fishy in Chatham if you are looking for something on the Cape...but I would steer clear of Cape Maid Farms in Hyannis.
 
seahorse11

seahorse11

Member
Thanks Fishmaniac....I think I AM going to hold off on the seahorses. It seems like they are very difficult to keep and I think I will wait.
Thanks Minersj....I will try that store in Seekonk. I was at Fintastic Fish in Plainville and they were also very knowledgable and their tanks were unbelievably clean. Some of the stores I go into, the tanks are disgusting. Fintastic Fish will also come to your house and help set the tank up or do maintenance.
I appreciate both your help and opinions
Seahorse
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member
I'm in brockton, there only a FEW knowledgable LFS around...
First off No of the UGF.
HOB would be hard to do with that size of tank..You'd have tons of huge things hanging off the tank.
The sump/fuge although sounds tough is simple...
Water goes over the built in Overflows....going into the sump....Pump sends it back into the tank...
Simple really and the best way to go and have all your stuff in the cabinet below instead of tons of things hanging off..
Feel free to email me at sw65galma@yahoo.com with any more questions and/or help.
My 300 in wall.
 
dougai

dougai

Active Member
i go to rumpfords(sp) which is near the R.I. border near seekonk and rahobath(sp)
also patinods in achushnet
and deneises in mattapoisett
 
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havunen191

Guest
There is also a place in Gloster, RI called Water World Aquarium. They carry a lot of corals. Thier service and tank conditionds are by far the best I have seen. They deal with saltwater only. Hours are wed-sat 11-6.
 
fuax

fuax

Member
I wouldn't say definately not to a UGF I also would not say it is the best way to go either.
An UGF alone no prob not a good idea (but before wet/drys it was the way to go) but, being used as a reverse flow system inconjunction with a really good canister or with a wet/dry or even just a sump refuge can and does work fairly well.
IMO a wet/dry with a skimmer and refuge set up is prob the best way to go with a FOWLR set up.
And Seahorse11 you will find the same problem here as you have found at all the lfs you have been to ALOT of differing opinions, its doesn't mean they are wrong its just means there are a lot of ways to do this hobby no one way is best. Most people here are very knowledgeable and give solid advise but still the best way to do this hobby is to do as much research as you can and come up with your own conclusions.
P.S. sw65galma I have been watching your post about your tank it really looks awesome can't wait to build my cabin and do something similar. (going to be doing a 375 gal (10'Lx2'Wx30"H) I have to build a room behind it to control the climate and all the equip won't be for a lil bit though)
 
dhughesz28

dhughesz28

Member
Hay seahorse11, Im just south of you in Pawtucket! Welcome!
First Off, NO NO NO on the undergravel filter!! I Started off with one, it was the biggest mistake I have ever made.
Now, as far as LFS's go. For honest and great advice, you have two choises:
"Fintastic" in Plainville, Ma, or "Somthin's Fishy" in Warwick on Jefferson Bvd. Both are fish stores, not pet stores. They have beautifully clean and healthy tanks, know alot and are willing to answer all your questions.
As far as drygoods, PetSmart in North Allteboro next to BestBuy and Comp USA is the best place to go. No one can beat their prices on Fish foods, tanks, filters, filter media ....and so on!!! They dont carry SW fish. Stick to Fintastic or Somthin's Fishy for your fish purchases.
 
dhughesz28

dhughesz28

Member
As far as Rumford in E. Providence. Thier prices are really high for drygoods, stay with PetSmart. If your looking for advice, talk to a guy named Marino, or else just walk out, he does maintinance on the side and is the only one on the store that knows what he is talking about, IMHO.
As far as Coral Reef in Seekonk, I have had two bad experiences with them, and will leave it at that. Contact me privatly for more info if you like.
I see that you have already tried Fintastic and loved them. I would just stick with them.
 
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havunen191

Guest
Originally Posted by dhughesz28
As far as Coral Reef in Seekonk, I have had two bad experiences with them, and will leave it at that. Contact me privatly for more info if you like.
I also did not care for Coral Reef in Seekonk. For a frag no bigger than a quarter was $30.and up and a lot of things I was intrested in were not for sale because they were nurseing them back to health. The service also was not that good two people working and standing at the counter only got help when I would go over and ask. When I was there half of the tanks were set up for breeding clowns and half the fish were sold. (not many fish ethier).
 
seahorse11

seahorse11

Member
HI
Thanks everyone for such a fabulous response and for your opinions.
I will try some of the fish stores that you have recommended.
SW65...awesome aquarium setup!! I would love to have something like that. I work in Brockton....did a LFS help with the setup?
 
sw65galma

sw65galma

Active Member
Where do you work in Brockton...
I had Tropic isle drill the tank, I didn't want to be responsible for cracking it. I did the rest.
I have 150lbs of LS if you need some...I'll let it go cheap...
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
Originally Posted by fishmaniac
also it might be a good idea to wait on the seahorses because the are really hard to keep and feed because the have no stomach u must have a constint supply of brine shrimp plus they only live for about 6 months
sorry fishmaniac i would have to disagree the seahorse he was probably thinking about was H. redie or H. erectus which even with selcon or other enrichment is still not a very good diet for these types of horses, plus brine shrimp to get to the size in which redie or erectus could eat them would take a couple of tedious weeks and like u said they do need to be fed very often. If you get wild caught then yes their life expectancy is low because most dont adapt to life in aquariums very well and do need live food and the most common is brine shrimp which like i said before probably not the best food nutrition wise, but if you get captivebred
1) you dont stress the wild population
2)the life expectancy rises exponentially usually 3-5 years
3)if you do shop around you can find a couple of places that sell seahorses raised on frozen mysis
now with all this being said seahorses are very hard (like fishmaniac said) to keep ESPECIALLY if they are your first fish
 
minersj

minersj

New Member
I will check out Fintastic in Plainville as well.
I agree that the prices at Coral Reef in Seekonk are high but I haven't bought anything but really small frags from there (which cost me $5) and they do not have a lot of livestock. They did however refuse to sell me something that had recently arrived. I have just heard them give really good advice to newbies. I generally do all my research before I set foot in a store so I don't ask a lot of questions.
Is the Something Fishy in Warwick owned by the same people who own Something Fishy in Chatham? The Chatham store is relatively new...
 
dhughesz28

dhughesz28

Member
Is the Something Fishy in Warwick owned by the same people who own Something Fishy in Chatham? The Chatham store is relatively new...
As far as I know, the one in Warwick is new too.
 
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