Newbie Here with a really stupid question..Please help if you can :-)
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ann&mel
Guest
Im bad and I dont know if I can do this but here is the tank it came out of..
intosw
New Member
HEY GUYS WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST SALINITY TESTER? I HAVE THE PLATIC FILL KIND WITH THE ARM. I WANT TO GET A BETTER ONE THAT IS ACURATE HAVE ANY OF YOU HAVE A DIGITAL ONE BECAUSE I AM LOOKING AT THEM NOW. ALSO I AM PUCHASING A CHILLER UNIT FOR MY 70g I DONT REALLY SEE ANYBODY CHATING OR RECOMENDING CHILLER UNITS.
THANKS KJ
:thinking:
THANKS KJ
:thinking:
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ann&mel
Guest
thier site says it has uv sterilizors and a protein skimmer...I saw the skimmer so...What do you think?
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ann&mel
Guest
I am planning a sump/protein skimmer set up and I want an emporer..sorry for spelling, You think this will be OK? I didnt think any was really nessesary right now with no fish yet....DO I need it now ya think?
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jdragunas
Guest
i'd agree. it's definately a big piece, but it doesn't have anything on it. I don't see any coraline algae (purple) or anything. Def. not worth $100
and dapaman. No additives. Doing frequent water changes (i'd suggest 10% ever 2 weeks for a reef tank) will replace all the necessary elements.
As far as your lighting, let me make this very clear. There are many different types of lighting and there are many different types of corals. Corals generally fall into three categories - soft corals (such as a colt coral, mushrooms, etc); SPS (smally polyp stony) - these are hard corals. they have polyps in them, but these polyps are so small they show the hard "housing" which is why it's called SPS; and LPS (large polyp stony) - these are corals that have large polyps that you can see, such as polyps, zoos, etc.
ok, now lighting also comes in different types. I'll list them from lowest intesity to highest: normal output (NO - these are just normal florescent lights), power compact (PC), very high output (VHO), T5, and metal halide (MH). Soft corals and LPS generally require PC lights only. However, SPS and anemones generally require MH. So saying "our lights can support corals" doesn't really tell us much.
colt corals don't require high intensity lighting, so if you have PC lighting you'll be fine. Just make sure you always research any coral before you buy it to make sure you have the proper lighting to support it.
Hope i don't come off rude or forceful, because i'm not at all
, just want to make sure you do the best thing for your tank, and you waste as little $$$ as possible. This hobby is expensive enough as it is so there's no need to go wasting $ if it's not necessary.
and dapaman. No additives. Doing frequent water changes (i'd suggest 10% ever 2 weeks for a reef tank) will replace all the necessary elements.
As far as your lighting, let me make this very clear. There are many different types of lighting and there are many different types of corals. Corals generally fall into three categories - soft corals (such as a colt coral, mushrooms, etc); SPS (smally polyp stony) - these are hard corals. they have polyps in them, but these polyps are so small they show the hard "housing" which is why it's called SPS; and LPS (large polyp stony) - these are corals that have large polyps that you can see, such as polyps, zoos, etc.
ok, now lighting also comes in different types. I'll list them from lowest intesity to highest: normal output (NO - these are just normal florescent lights), power compact (PC), very high output (VHO), T5, and metal halide (MH). Soft corals and LPS generally require PC lights only. However, SPS and anemones generally require MH. So saying "our lights can support corals" doesn't really tell us much.
colt corals don't require high intensity lighting, so if you have PC lighting you'll be fine. Just make sure you always research any coral before you buy it to make sure you have the proper lighting to support it.
mr_bill
Active Member
LR around here goes for 5-6.50 a pound, just to give you an idea. Other states go as high as 8.50 a pound for good cured rock. That does look like a cured LR tank from the picture but I'd have to see the other rocks that were in there too.
Bottom line, you probably could have gotten that cheaper, but I'm a firm believer in supporting your LFS if they treat you right. It's a great shape for a foundation piece to stack from, and if your husband loves it then that what really counts. I've had people ask why don't I put this, that, or the other thing but it really just comes down to making you happy.
Bottom line, you probably could have gotten that cheaper, but I'm a firm believer in supporting your LFS if they treat you right. It's a great shape for a foundation piece to stack from, and if your husband loves it then that what really counts. I've had people ask why don't I put this, that, or the other thing but it really just comes down to making you happy.
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ann&mel
Guest
Oh poop...Not good...There is some pink and purple on it...on the sides and in a few of the holes...My camera didnt take a great picture...There is also some tube looking black stuff in top...Not a clue what it is.....Oh well I dont thnk the store would like it if I hauled it back to them...lol Guess ill just try to forget how much it was! lol
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jdragunas
Guest
intosw - don't waste your money on a chiller. tropical tanks should have a temp at about 78-84. mine's at a constant 82.3 and my fish are healthy as can be. If the temp is higher than you like, you can just put a fan to blow across the surface.
ann - don't waste your money onf a uv sterilizer, but a protein skimmer is a must for a coral tank, imo. If you get one, you'll see what i mean. You think your water's clean and you don't need one, but then you see all of the crap it pulls from your tank and you'll be like :scared:
also, if you want a reef tank, the emporer filter isn't necessary, IMO. I have an emporer, but for a reef tank, you should have a better filter setup. I'd hate to see you buy expensive corals and then lose them because of your filtration. A sump is good, but you should really look into a refugium. That's the best kind of filter there is, IMO. It's kinda like a fuge (refugium), but the fuge has filter media in it that will eliminate phosphates and nitrates.
ann - don't waste your money onf a uv sterilizer, but a protein skimmer is a must for a coral tank, imo. If you get one, you'll see what i mean. You think your water's clean and you don't need one, but then you see all of the crap it pulls from your tank and you'll be like :scared:
also, if you want a reef tank, the emporer filter isn't necessary, IMO. I have an emporer, but for a reef tank, you should have a better filter setup. I'd hate to see you buy expensive corals and then lose them because of your filtration. A sump is good, but you should really look into a refugium. That's the best kind of filter there is, IMO. It's kinda like a fuge (refugium), but the fuge has filter media in it that will eliminate phosphates and nitrates.
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ann&mel
Guest
Yeah he does love it..So as long as hes happy Im happy...
And it will have other goodies on it in time anyhow....
And it will have other goodies on it in time anyhow....
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jdragunas
Guest
you live and you learn. That should be enough LR if you just want to add the rest in base rock, it'll spread pretty quickly. Also, another little trick is to take a toothbrush (never used of course), and just kinda brush the hard pink/purple algae on the rocks a little. This will cause it to release spores, which will settle on other parts of the LR and cause the coraline to grow faster.
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jdragunas
Guest
jeeze, this is one active thread! I finally post something and there's like 5 new posts before it...
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ann&mel
Guest
lol...Im an active kinda gal
So base rock...any particular kind to look for? The toothbrush trick...Great tip! Thanks
So base rock...any particular kind to look for? The toothbrush trick...Great tip! Thanks
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ann&mel
Guest
It sure is great...I love having so many minds working all for me!!!!! lol...No it is great that so many people are willing to help us
mr_bill
Active Member
Originally Posted by Ann&Mel
It sure is great...I love having so many minds working all for me!!!!! lol...No it is great that so many people are willing to help us
Now if I could just show this kind of dedication at work I'd be going places!!
One more tip, as you add rock remember you will want to increase water flow by using power heads or additional return pumps from your sump placed at different locations on your tank. If you can try to get a circular pattern going where you can see water moving all around the rocks. I used two return pumps from my sump to do this.
It sure is great...I love having so many minds working all for me!!!!! lol...No it is great that so many people are willing to help us
Now if I could just show this kind of dedication at work I'd be going places!!
One more tip, as you add rock remember you will want to increase water flow by using power heads or additional return pumps from your sump placed at different locations on your tank. If you can try to get a circular pattern going where you can see water moving all around the rocks. I used two return pumps from my sump to do this.
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ann&mel
Guest
2 returns...hmm...great idea...DH is planning on doing the sump himself..He used to work in dialysis doing the water treatment so he know alot about it..I on the other hand know nothing...lol...Is there a better place to get the base rock from? I am not sure if my LFS has it..I never looked...they have the display rocks..is that the same thing?
dapaman
New Member
colt corals don't require high intensity lighting, so if you have PC lighting you'll be fine. Just make sure you always research any coral before you buy it to make sure you have the proper lighting to support it.
Hope i don't come off rude or forceful, because i'm not at all
, just want to make sure you do the best thing for your tank, and you waste as little $$$ as possible. This hobby is expensive enough as it is so there's no need to go wasting $ if it's not necessary.
jdragunas, Not rude or forceful at all....
just exactly what we need to hear! Hate to waste money!!We have power compact with 2 65 watt daylight, 2 65 watt actinic and 4 moonlights. So, we should be okay with the colt coral or mushroom/leather corals? How do we feed them, since the LFS will tell us we need supplements?
And, w shop at the same LFS as ann&mel, thought LR was overpriced, which is why decided to try DIY. (sorry ann&mel, not trying to cut you down, I am just kind of frugal!) But, apparantly we need some better LR with more growth on it to seed the DIY stuff! Have you been the the new LFS on the other side of the bay? I wanna check it out!)
I appreciate your input too, mr bill!
jdragunas, Not rude or forceful at all....
And, w shop at the same LFS as ann&mel, thought LR was overpriced, which is why decided to try DIY. (sorry ann&mel, not trying to cut you down, I am just kind of frugal!) But, apparantly we need some better LR with more growth on it to seed the DIY stuff! Have you been the the new LFS on the other side of the bay? I wanna check it out!)
I appreciate your input too, mr bill!
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ann&mel
Guest
No no i agree...we are very frugal too...with 5 kids we have to be! lol...Hubby just saw it and had to have it..I almost passed out right there! I have been to the other one..I only plunder around town..with the kids its hard to go to far..Hubby does thou...maybe he can check it out