Thanks, guys - how 'bout one more round of ??

klongo

klongo

Member
Thanks for all the info/feedback tonight. Now for just a few more ??
We've decided to go with the 120 gal tank with LR and activated sand - I've got an order for 8 lbs of grunge from GARF (for my 33) so I'll need more for the 120 - do I really need 32 pounds? (not sure I can afford $200 of grunge to activate my sand!)
And....I already have a skimmer for my 33 gal - can I use two skimmers on my 120? instead of buying another large one - buy a second "smaller" skimmer?
You guys are a wonderful research - thanks for answering so many questions tonight!
Can't wait until I can post some pictures for you all.
Kathy
'
 
birdy

birdy

Active Member
What type of sand are you buying? I would recommend buying dry aragonite sand, and seeding it with LS (or the Garf). If by activated sand, you are talking about the bags of live sand, they are pretty much worthless, just spending your money on something you do not need.
As far as a skimmer, are you planning on having a sump (highly recommended on a large tank), if so then you would want a nice insump skimmer like a euro reef. I don't know about having two small skimmers, it would probably work, but you would probably be happier, selling the first skimmer and buying one good quality larger one.
 
cprdnick

cprdnick

Active Member
I agree with Birdy on the skimmer issue.
When you say GARF grunge, I think waste of money. Don't get me wrong, I love the folks at Garf, but I feel that the best way, IMO, to do a substrate is as Birdy said, with the dry aragonite and then seed it with a cup or two of LS from the bottom of an established aquascape. How deep of a sand bed are you wanting to go with? For the 120 gallon, just to get a 1-2" sand bed you would have to have 120-160 lbs of dry aragonite sand. It costs, but its well worth it.
Just a word of advice, set a budget on what you can spend on your aquarium each month or week. Then forget about how much you will or have spent when it comes to needs. Your aquarium will thank you for it.
 
warlockgp

warlockgp

Member
Congrats............
You could always get Southdown........
Make a DSB with that, it's cheaper and it could be seeded with the LR you buy. That way you could spend more in LR, which you would need alot. What skimmer do you have? If you still have the instructions for it read them, some can be use in tanks from 20-250 Gallons.
I'm getting a 120 as well, but i hope to make my own. I'm gonna try and make a stand, canopy and of course the lighting that goes with it, and maybe even a skimmer..........
Wish you luck, what fish are you gonna put in it?
 
klongo

klongo

Member
Thanks for the encouragement!
The plan is to use Southdown - I was going to add another 150 pounds (giving me approximately 200 pounds) and then seed it wit the GARF grunge. I'm curious if I should actually mix in my current sand, though. It's starting to get covered with diatomes - and I haven't added any cleaners yet - should I use the sand or will it be bad to mix it in with the new stuff.
Don't think that the current skimmer will work on the larger tank. I bought a cheaper brand that several people told me work well on the size tank that I had, but not for what it's actually "rated" for - So I'll have to go out and get a better skimmer -
Don't know much about sumps, though. Guess I'll have to start reading up on that - wasn't in my original plans.
So, I should definitely get this tank with the overflow and drilled?
Could I start the tank up without the sump and add it a little later - Like the skimmer that I don't really need while the tank cycles?
Haven't thought about fish yet. My eventual goal is a mandarin dragonet ( I know, LOTS of LR) - I'm going to add 60 pounds of base rock and 90 pounds of LR to start and hope that the 60 pounds will seed - Research says that that should accommodate the mandarin. So, I have to think fish that will eventually get along with the mandarin.
That's as far as I've gotten. Keep the ideas coming. You guys are all great.
 
birdy

birdy

Active Member
I have had a non-drilled tank and I recently set up a drilled. I love the drilled. I made my own sump (super easy) and it houses my skimmer, heater and a small refugium. The nice thing about a built in overflow is that you have nothing hanging in your tank, no overflows, no heaters, and if you use a spraybar as a return you don't even have to have a bunch of powerheads in there for circulation. Also with a built in overflow you do not have to worry about a siphon breaking on a HOB overflow (should you decided to use it).
 
dburr

dburr

Active Member
I've got an order for 8 lbs of grunge from GARF (for my 33) so I'll need more for the 120 - do I really need 32 pounds? (not sure I can afford $200 of grunge to activate my sand!)
I wouldn't buy all that. Waste of money. If you must just buy a couple. BTW, I bought a pound when I got started, I had to pluck out the aptasia that was in there
, be careful.:mad: Do you know anyone locally in the hobby? Will they give/trade # for # sand to seed your tank? Not only cheaper, but WYSIWYG. (what you see is what you get). You can avoid pests.
Dan
 
klongo

klongo

Member
I'm checking out the sump info now. I'm pretty sure I'm going with the pre-drilled, although I have a line on a used tank that isn't, but we'll see - the owner hasn't gotten back to me yet with answers to my questions.
As far as the grunge - I've got the original 8 pounds coming on Tuesday, so I guess I'll just go with that - and be careful!
I don't really know anyone personally, although from my posts these past two days there are at least a few people somewhat local! -- Thanks for the local store suggestions : )
 
klongo

klongo

Member
I'm checking out the sump info now. I'm pretty sure I'm going with the pre-drilled, although I have a line on a used tank that isn't, but we'll see - the owner hasn't gotten back to me yet with answers to my questions.
As far as the grunge - I've got the original 8 pounds coming on Tuesday, so I guess I'll just go with that - and be careful!
I don't really know anyone personally, although from my posts these past two days there are at least a few people somewhat local! -- Thanks for the local store suggestions : )
 
warlockgp

warlockgp

Member

Originally posted by cprdnick
808-try typing in www dot garf dot com. In your address bar.
Keeping the Gestapo away i see...........
Who else in the states thinks daddy Bush is going kinda nuts setting up a gestapo like system?
 
808smokey

808smokey

Member
OK Be nice to a new guy

I thought it was an acronym for the site name. :notsure:
Like SWF.com = saltwaterfish.com :happyfish
 
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