New and cant wait to get started!

[penpen]

I didnt see a place to start a thread like this (maybe its not allowed (if not, mods, smite me down)). But, i have a few family members that have saltwater tanks, and was at the LPS and got the itch to start my own tank. So with some digging on craigslist, I found a 55 gallon tank, with a stand for $100. Cant wait to get started, its going to be a slow build for me, starting from scratch, and I have a limited budget!

 

[dustintx]

Congrats! I would love to find a deal like that...lucky!!! So what type of tank are you planning on having? I am about to start a FOWLR soon. Good luck and congrats again on your find.

 

[noah's nemo]

Your thread should be fine,alot of people on here have"my build threads".Go slow,and QT everything or learn a hard lesson.CL is great ,i got my 125 off it.A 55 is a good starting point,but no tangs or angels(you could a get dwarf) or triggs will work out long term.Congrats

and have fun with it.Just don't be in a rush to get any livestock,let the tank do its thing first....

 

[penpen]

I would like to start a reef tank, but I am very new, but, just reading the forums, I have learned a lot and I just found this place yesterday at work! I also am looking at LED lighting, a few people have said good things about it, and it seems cheaper to purchase, and would be cheaper on electricity! My plans are to get all the sand and stuff in the tank and get used to getting the water balanced first, once I get that figured out, I think I would be ready for some inhabitants!

 

[noah's nemo]

One thing i just reread in your first post.You have family with salt tanks,get some of their sand and seed your sand.Also maybe get some LR from them too.That will be a good help to your cycle.

 

[xcali1985]

Sounds like your commited to taking it slow, thats the best way in this hobby especially with a limited budget. Research, research and if you don't have dreams and nightmares about something research is some more. LOL. In all seriousness, I wasted 200$ on a PC light simply because I never researched the lighting the corals i wanted needed. Save the money in the long run spend it now on good products. Take your time, and realize sometimes, the live rock and sand are the last things you purchase.
You have stumbled upon a great place, lots of knowledgeable guys that will help you with even the basic things.
You mentioned you wanted to start a reef. Be sure to browse the Reef and Corals sections a lot. Ive gotten rid of a lot of problems quickly simply by remembering what another poster did.
Good Luck and Welcome.

 

[penpen]

I never thought about that! I read online somewhere that going to the deli and getting 2 large shrimp, take off their tails, and throw them in the tank, let them rot, and that would help (sounded strange to me and idk if I want the smell). I really want to make sure that I can get the water right before I start putting fish, and coral in the tank. What I like about saltwater tanks is that so many things can be done with it, with a freshwater tank it seems kinda boring (i have one, and kinda bored with it).
I read the "101 things" thread and it was awesome, its not that I want to go cheap with LED it just seems like it would work just as well, but, LED is still evolving, heck, they just released the LED lightbulb not long ago. I dont want to go cheap at all, sure I would like to save a few bucks here and there, but thats why its going to be slow for me, saving the money to get decent parts for the tank.

 

[penpen]

I read the "101 things" thread and it was awesome, its not that I want to go cheap with LED it just seems like it would work just as well, but, LED is still evolving, heck, they just released the LED lightbulb not long ago. I dont want to go cheap at all, sure I would like to save a few bucks here and there, but thats why its going to be slow for me, saving the money to get decent parts for the tank.

 

[deejeff442]

welcome aboard,
one thing everyone on this forum who keep corals will tell you dont skimp on lighting.look for at least a nice t5 set up .personally i will always use metal halide.but they do cost more and take more electric.but a nice t5 will work and the bulbs last longer.
there is a big difference between salt fish and freswater.alot of water flow is needed for a healthy set up .for the money go to e-bay and look up koralia pumps in a 55 i would get a couple #3's.in my 90 reef i have a #4 and a #3 plus the sump return pump.all my corals thrive.
an easy to start set up is the sand,live rock,powerheads,lights.
you dont have to set up a sump but it makes maintaning the system so much easier.maybe look for a 20 gallon tank and get an overflow box setup with a sump pump.but you can always add this later.
always use r/o filtered water or algea will drive you nuts.
when you get the light start out with just a few hours on a day and gradually increase or again algea will drive you nuts.
well there are some basics hop it helps.
you will find there are alo of great people on this forum.one ofthe best on the net.dont be afraid to ask as many questions as you need.
this is at times a frustrating hobbie but to us its worth it.
oh yea the shrimp is to kick off the cycle.one shrimp will do .i have always just put a cube of frozen krill in .as long as its some sort of raw seafood it works.
a cycles takes 4-6 weeks.get the tank,lr,ph's,and sand in there and fired up for a couple days then add the shrimp.
p.s. watching an empty tank is no fun.but has to be done.it will give you time to recover your wallet.you dont need the lighs to cycle the tank so if you need to get the tank running and save for some good lights.

 

[beaslbob]

You might want to consider an in tank refugium. On my 55g I just crammed in an egg crate 3" in front of the back glass and added 2 2 tube utility fixtures from home depot behind the tank pointing forward.
So the last 3" of the tank was a protected area (refugium) where macro algaes and pods flourished free of predation by the fish.
Best thing and one of the least expensive things I did for that tank.
my .02

 

[penpen]

I seen the t5 lights too, its twice as much as LED, but still not completely sold on LED, I read an article from a thread on LED lighting that was written in 2007 and it seemed fruitful, and LED has gone a long was since 2007. But yea, the sand is gonna be a wallet breaker to I think, here I go with the questions though (search button, I know) but would you get the sand from the LPS or from somewhere like saltwaterfish?

 

[xcali1985]

Originally Posted by penpen
http:///forum/post/3227054
I seen the t5 lights too, its twice as much as LED, but still not completely sold on LED, I read an article from a thread on LED lighting that was written in 2007 and it seemed fruitful, and LED has gone a long was since 2007. But yea, the sand is gonna be a wallet breaker to I think, here I go with the questions though (search button, I know) but would you get the sand from the LPS or from somewhere like saltwaterfish?
Get 1 bag of live sand and get the rest dead sand. Throw the live sand in the tank without rinsing it. The dried aka dead stuff make sure you rinse it till the water is no longer cloudy. You don't need to waste money on purchasing all live sand.
Same with the rock, get about 20% of your rock live, the rest will become live eventually. You may not even need to go 20%. I didn't.

 

[penpen]

Originally Posted by Xcali1985
http:///forum/post/3227064
Get 1 bag of live sand and get the rest dead sand. Throw the live sand in the tank without rinsing it. The dried aka dead stuff make sure you rinse it till the water is no longer cloudy. You don't need to waste money on purchasing all live sand.
Same with the rock, get about 20% of your rock live, the rest will become live eventually. You may not even need to go 20%. I didn't.
I wondered about that, going to the LPS with a pad of paper and a pen, gonna take some notes of what they suggest. I want to do this right, so when it comes time, I can show you all my tank, will start saturday with the stand and the tank, its a 75 gallon stand, but I think I might try to rig it a bit, because the stand is a little deeper than what a 55 gallon stand would be. So, I may even get the dead sand tonight then, after I shop around of course, and order some from saltwaterfish later.

 

[bulldog123]

Everyone has an opinion and so do I

. I would not buy "live" sand. Just buy aragonite sand dry. I dont believe in the bag of ammonia. You can go cheap if needed but I perfer the look. If you have family members with tanks get a cup of their sand from as many of them as you can. All you need it just a little off the top. This will help you diversify which should help in the long run. I would post where you live as well

 

[deejeff442]

+1 just go o pet-smart and get a couple bags of argonite sand.imo live sand is a waste of money.also half and half on the lr get base rock and half lr,put the lr on top.put your money into lights.i have never used led for a fish tank socant help on that but i would hate to see you buy them only to need more light like the t5 later if you want intense light corals.
remember lots of flow from powerheads.dont think there is too much we could never move water around as much as the ocean does.

 

[penpen]

Yea, I would really hate to sink $180 on LED lighting and it not be enough, leaving in an hour to go ask around some LPS (only reason I am thinking about it is because you dont have to change them). Keep the opinions coming! I may try to get a cup of sand from my cousin, but he isn't the giving type, knowing him, he will want $20 (crazy I know, but if I know him, thats what he will say). The sand looks really cool, never seen the argonite?

 

[xcali1985]

There are two forums of LED lighting. The 1watt moon lights and the 3watt high output leds. The latter if you have the right fixture and amount of LEDs is just as good as Metal Halides.
The name of the fixtures you are looking at would help. For 180$ im thinking its the moonlight kind the cheapest 48" LED full tank light that I have seen was for $2100. Theres a LFS here that has a LED tank set up albeit it a nano but the lighting on it is very good just as bright as my T5s. Ill take a picture of it the next time I go and show you.
marineland makes a fixture thats $180 alone and you still have to buy everything else.
This is the LED that you will need for your tank. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMiuKKpi1iM
Search youtube for LED aquarium lighting for more.

 

[penpen]

well, just got back from the LPS (and one that I got lost for 3 hours trying to find, and come to find out, they had hardly any fish, and the tanks they had, were very sad). Well, $7 a pound for live rock, and found a heater for $30, some solarmax HO lights for $160 (two HO lights with 8 moon led), and aqua clear power filter for $80 (hangs off the back), and a maxijet 600 powerhead for $25. I didn't purchase any of it just yet but it felt really good to get out and take a look at things and get a feel. On a side note, my girlfriend demanded that we get a clownfish and it be named Nemo (wonder where she got that name!?).

 

[pezenfuego]

I would shop around for some cheaper live rock. Seven dollars for live rock isn't uncommon, but in the same regard it isn't a good deal. I know a place in Indianapolis that sells high quality LR for 2.50 a pound. I sort of doubt that helps you though lol. You have been given a lot of good advice and your approach to this new tank is excellent. The more research you do now the more money you save later.I have one small piece of advice for you...but it isn't a big deal. LPS is an acronym for Large Polyp Stony corals.
I know that you're using it for Local Pet Store but LFS (Local Fish Store) is more commonplace here at forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb.

 

[penpen]

Originally Posted by PEZenfuegohttp:///forum/post/3227428I would shop around for some cheaper live rock. Seven dollars for live rock isn't uncommon, but in the same regard it isn't a good deal. I know a place in Indianapolis that sells high quality LR for 2.50 a pound. I sort of doubt that helps you though lol. You have been given a lot of good advice and your approach to this new tank is excellent. The more research you do now the more money you save later.
I have one small piece of advice for you...but it isn't a big deal.
LPS is an acronym for Large Polyp Stony corals.
I know that you're using it for Local Pet Store but LFS (Local Fish Store) is more commonplace here at forums.saltwaterfish.com/vb.
Where at in Indy? I live in Salem, Indiana. Its a decent drive, an hour and a half maybe, but if I can save $5 a pound, thats pretty good! SRY about the LPS mixup, local pet store, lpf sounds better!