New Guy Here - Long post.

[kevnj]

Just signed up. I found this site earlier today at work. Yea I should have been working but when you finish your work you can mess around if your lucky. Figured I would wait till I got home to sign up, and post comments, etc.
I looked at the pictures in the other sections and the first offered at the site. AMAZING! The color, sizes, the layout of the tanks, simply jaw dropping. Thanks to all who have uploaded pictures for viewing pleasure.
Had a small 10gallon long tank when I was younger but then I got into reptiles, ie: bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and crested geckos. Been doing that for almost 5 years. Whenever I go to the local pet store I ALWAYS have to look at all the tanks. But have yet to buy one. Its income tax time. So I was thinking I of getting started.
My question(s) is/are how are the Eclipse "setups" that I see at Petsmart, and ***** ? I was looking for something small to start out with. I would like to get a salt water tank but I have read earlier at work, about smaller tanks being harder to keep cause of chlorine and such. So I dont know if I would go that route just yet. But theres so many colorful saltwater fish that I want to get. Actually I like the little shrimp, eels, and all the little fish like the clowns and such.
The shelf over this computer monitor is roughly 16" x20" in a wierd 6 sided shape. Theres a gap of about 6" from the top of the monitor to the shelf. The bottom of the shelf thats closest to the top of the monitor is a lilttle warm. My computer is on I would say about 10 or more hours during the week and 24 hours on weekends, until I go to work monday morning. If I were to put a tank on that shelf would the heat that the monitor gives off be a problem ?
This providing you guys think the Eclispe tanks are a decent start. Or is there something else small I should start with?
Thanks in advance.

Its late so Ill check back tomorrow, possibly at work, on break of course.

Thanks again! Kevin :happyfish
on edit to answer a few comments people made: Theres two smaller shelves to this huge corner computer desk I got which are smaller, roughly 12" x 16" that I guess if the Eclipse systems are good I could go with the 10g or 12g depending on the size of them. :notsure:
Also this would be for my house. Im always at the computer so would be nice to have something to entertain me while I was stressing out of work related stuff.

 

[lefty]

I have the Eclipse 29g kit. I myself find nothing wrong with it. I believe the only problem you'll run into is if you wanted to keep corals/anemones later on since they require much stronger lighting than what the hood comes with. But there are "retro-fit" kits that would allow you to convert the hood into one with stronger lighting, but it'll cost you a few bucks. I personally love my tank and hood. You will probably hear lots of different opinions on the Eclipse systems, so keep in mind this is one of many soon to come . Oh, and chlorine isn't much of an issue (water detoxifiers or RO/DI water take care of that easily). The problems with smaller tanks is that they're much harder to keep stable.
I don't think it'd be a good idea to put a tank on a shelf, especially above a computer. The heat from it will affect the tank. You always want to keep your tank in a place where the temperature will remain constant (so don't put it near windows either). If your tank leaks, or you're messing around in it, the water could hurt your computer. I'd suggest buying a nice, sturdy stand. I hope this helps.
Welcome to the boards! :happyfish
-lefty

 

[paulcoates]

My wife bought me a 55 gal Eclipse setup for Xmas. If you want to have anemones or corals, then the lighting they provide is inadequate. My Bubble Tip Anemone already died. Another thing - if you are putting this at your work, is your boss going to be ok with you doing water changes on a weekly or biweekly basis? Or will they be okay with you leaving the light on for 14 hrs a day. Also the eclipse hood doesnt have an on switch, so you cant put it on a timer. Basically, you'll need to buy a new hood and lights.
I would suggest buying everything separately....but of course you need to weigh what work would say

 

[lefty]

There are outlets that you can put on a timer--wouldn't that take care of the timing issues? Also, the lights in a tank only need to be on for 10-12 hours a day.
-lefty

 

[paulcoates]

Yes, but the hood that comes with them is one of those push button switches. You push it, it comes on, you push it, it goes off. So there is no on/off switch, just an on/off push button. I dont think a timer would work on those hoods

 

[lefty]

So, you're saying that if the button on top is left on "On" the whole time, but the outlet it was plugged into had a timer, you don't think it'd work?
-lefty

 

[paulcoates]

I dont think so....

 

[lion_crazz]

If you just leave it pushed into 24/7, that timer will turn the lights on and off. That is the same way my tank's lights are.

 

[lefty]

That's what I thought, but I have no experience with timed outlets/powerstrips.
-lefty