PLEASE HELP- NEW and need direction

lennon

lennon

Member
HI all

I am finally doing it. Tomorrow I go for my 58 gallon glass tank, cabinet and stand. :cheer:
I need help deciding on equiptment now. I know I can save alot by purchasing online instead of lfs. So I ask for your help in steering me in the right direction.
I am looking to do a reef tank but with things that do not need high intensity lighting.
I do not want to do the MH lights at all. Too many things with the heat factor and mercury vapors etc. So at all costs..I will avoid them. If it means giving up certain species..then I will.
I will get a sump but also want to have enough room for an automatic top off system and reservoir for the ro/di water. I want to keep everything inside the cabinet. Nothing exposed due to kids. So with that said, what size sump/refugium can I get away with?
I am getting a QT tank too. Hopefully that will avoid problems in the future.
Please help with suggestions on the misc. test kits, additives (heard purple up was good)
I need brand names so that I can search for them.
Money is not an issue right now..so I would rather get the best of the best as far as filters etc. I was told that I do not need wet/dry or filtration if I am doing LR and LS...but if you disagree, please let me know. My husband is not doing any of this with me...he is way too busy. So it lies all on me...
lol
Hopefully I do the right things and I can share my progress with all of you. I have to tell you..this place is AMAZING and I am so lucky I found all of you amateurs and experts. I look forward to getting hooked!

Anabell
p.s. I did read "the conscientious aquarist" twice..and I am well aware of many things..but still need direction as to amounts to get of LR, LS ets..I think I trust you all much more than the LFS.
Thanks again!!!!
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
Ok well Probably the best thing you can do filter wise is lots and lots of live rock and sand
protien skimmer-berlin or remora pro
lights- I love my new Orbit pc's very very beutiful you may be able to get away with this if your tank isnt very deep
pumps- i know alot of people wont agree but the rio's/seio's are cheap and mine works great!
make sure just in case that you are plugging everything into a surge protector
and also for a fuge you could just get a big storage container at like k-mart i believe
I would not do this for the sump cause the heater may melt it and it doesnt have a flat side.
 
lennon

lennon

Member
Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
make sure just in case that you are plugging everything into a surge protector
and also for a fuge you could just get a big storage container at like k-mart i believe
I would not do this for the sump cause the heater may melt it and it doesnt have a flat side.
Yes, I am installing all kinds of safety outlets and hmmm..I forgot what it was called..but it avoided getting electrocuted.

Can't I just do a large sump/fug together? I think I am confused..what is the difference between the sump and fug. I thought that one side was the sump and you can make one part the refugium??

I do want to put 2 small heaters in there as well as the skimmer and such.
Also, I need powerheads. I prefer to do a few small ones than one big one.
And QUIET equipment would be best.
Thanks so much!!
 
lennon

lennon

Member
:happyfish EVERYONE, feel free to jump in and tell me what works for you too. I love to hear as much as possible before deciding.
Thanks
I see you all looking but passing by..pretty please!! :help:
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
well you could combine the sump and fuge but if you just get a 10 to put the heater and skimmer in and get like a 30 or 40 gallon storage container for a totaal of 20$ or you could get a big 40 gallon and seperate into sump and fuge sections for 90$.
 
lennon

lennon

Member
Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
well you could combine the sump and fuge but if you just get a 10 to put the heater and skimmer in and get like a 30 or 40 gallon storage container for a totaal of 20$ or you could get a big 40 gallon and seperate into sump and fuge sections for 90$.

Is that what you did? Do you have a pic?
I know the oceanic sumps are VERY expensive. They want $269 for it..So the container is definitely worth considering. Not to mention that it probably would mean less splashing and possibility of mess right. So I would get the smaller sump. When you say 10..are you talking about a 10 gallon sump. Do they sell them ready to go? I have no idea as to plumbing for these things. I assume I need to make holes and such.
I am such a novice..sorry :notsure:
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
oh sorry i dont have this but this is my plan. My tank is not drilled. I will have the pvc coming from my 37's overflow go down to the 10 gallon sump (if i get a seperate sump) from there the water will probably go into my fuge. My fuge will have a very deep DSB so that i can go cheap on the lights. from my fuge the water will go up to the display. I think it should work. You dont really need the sump to be drilled. Is the 58 drilled if not then i would buy an overflow also while youa re out.
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
I am such a novice..sorry
oh ive only been at this for 2 1/2 months counting. i bet you have probably been researching longer.
 
lennon

lennon

Member
Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
oh ive only been at this for 2 1/2 months counting. i bet you have probably been researching longer.


Yes, this has been an ongoing decision for me to make. I just didn't know if I was up to the challenge.
How do you like it so far? What size tank do you have? What do you have in it?
What is your setup like?
Sorry, just curious especially since you are new and I always like to chat with newbies to see their progress. :joy:
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
Oh i am happy to share!
I have a 37 gal tank.
30 pounds diy live rock
3 pounds live rock
dsb
at the bottom are some crappy pics but i think you get the idea
I love it already but already feel very woried all the time.
I have had so many mishaps over the last 2.5 months.
probably the worst is that i ordered 10 hermies, 10 snails, 2 pepperment shrimp, and 1 jawfish. it arrives a day late. they only sent me everything but the jawfish. 2 days latter 2 snails 2 hermies die and the pepperment shrimp dieso i have a spike. while I was dealing with the spike they send me my one jawfish. I aclimate em and out of the bag comes not one, not two, not three, not four, but 5 jawfish! so i have been so worried that my jawfsh are gonna die from ammonia poisoning but here we are on wednsday and thay are still alive.
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
some more the ones with yellow circles are the pics with one of my jawfish tunnels you can just barely see the blue and yellow.




 
lennon

lennon

Member
Do you have a Quarantine tank? That is what I am doing so that I always have a backup. Not to mention that they suggest putting the fish in there for at least 3 weeks.
I am going to try to do everything like the book "the conscientious aquarist". It seems to be a favorite of everyone and highly recommended.
I wonder why they died? Hopefully the rest will do better.
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
No i dont have a quarantine Yet. I bet i know why the shrimp died, it was probably cause they were sitting in that water for 2+ days. when anything alive is in those bags the ammonia starts to rise rapidly.
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
okay just wanted to tell you i am going to set up my refugium this weekend! Ill try and take pics as I go.
 
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