jse08
Member
Hi everyone,
I currently have a 10g set up and running for around 8 months with about 20lbs of live rock and 10lbs of live sand. I have a peppermint shrimp and a 4 stripe damsel. This tank is just too small for me so I got a free 29g with a stand from a relative but then I found out that Petsmart had a 36g aqueon bowfront kit on sale for $120. It came with the tank, lid, flourescent light, junk filter, and 200w heater.
I already bought a Current Nova Extreme X2 T5HO 30" Light on the auction site and a Penguin 350 HOB filter that I am considering modding to add a small light and some chaeto/sand/rubble rock in the filter compartments.
At this point in time I don't really want spend the extra money to build a sump and this seems to be a good alternative for the time being.
In my 10g I didn't run a Protein Skimmer but I'd like to add one to this tank. I have read good things about the Octopus Needlewheel skimmers and found one for $98. Has anyone had experience with these skimmers? I have also been looking into the Aquac Remora Skimmers but they are a bit more money. I definitely want a quality skimmer but I am also on a budget... Any recommendations?
The heater that came with the kit is an All-Glass Aquariums brand 200w. Will this be ok or should I buy something else?
I plan on buying 20 more pounds (30lbs total) of the Bio-activ LS from my LFS and I found a local guy who is selling LR for $2.50 a pound from a stand he is breaking down so I plan to try and pick up around 20 more pounds of rock as well (40 lbs total). I am definitely planning on putting the peppermint shrimp in the new tank as well as my 5 Astrea snails, 1 Nassarius snail, and a few blue leg hermits. I might give the damsel to a relative because I'm afraid it might be territorial toward other fish... or will it be ok?
I'll be building the stand this weekend and I plan to possibly get the rock and sand as well so the tank could potentially be running this weekend. My biggest question is if it will be a problem if I just put the water from the 10g into the 36g and then mix the difference with new RO water to fill the tank the rest of the way. Will I need to essentially recycle the tank or will using the already established water pretty much eliminate the cycle? Either way it doesnt really matter, I just dont want to risk losing my livestock.
Sorry for the LOOOOOONNNNG post and any advice/tips/suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Justin
I currently have a 10g set up and running for around 8 months with about 20lbs of live rock and 10lbs of live sand. I have a peppermint shrimp and a 4 stripe damsel. This tank is just too small for me so I got a free 29g with a stand from a relative but then I found out that Petsmart had a 36g aqueon bowfront kit on sale for $120. It came with the tank, lid, flourescent light, junk filter, and 200w heater.
I already bought a Current Nova Extreme X2 T5HO 30" Light on the auction site and a Penguin 350 HOB filter that I am considering modding to add a small light and some chaeto/sand/rubble rock in the filter compartments.
At this point in time I don't really want spend the extra money to build a sump and this seems to be a good alternative for the time being.
In my 10g I didn't run a Protein Skimmer but I'd like to add one to this tank. I have read good things about the Octopus Needlewheel skimmers and found one for $98. Has anyone had experience with these skimmers? I have also been looking into the Aquac Remora Skimmers but they are a bit more money. I definitely want a quality skimmer but I am also on a budget... Any recommendations?
The heater that came with the kit is an All-Glass Aquariums brand 200w. Will this be ok or should I buy something else?
I plan on buying 20 more pounds (30lbs total) of the Bio-activ LS from my LFS and I found a local guy who is selling LR for $2.50 a pound from a stand he is breaking down so I plan to try and pick up around 20 more pounds of rock as well (40 lbs total). I am definitely planning on putting the peppermint shrimp in the new tank as well as my 5 Astrea snails, 1 Nassarius snail, and a few blue leg hermits. I might give the damsel to a relative because I'm afraid it might be territorial toward other fish... or will it be ok?
I'll be building the stand this weekend and I plan to possibly get the rock and sand as well so the tank could potentially be running this weekend. My biggest question is if it will be a problem if I just put the water from the 10g into the 36g and then mix the difference with new RO water to fill the tank the rest of the way. Will I need to essentially recycle the tank or will using the already established water pretty much eliminate the cycle? Either way it doesnt really matter, I just dont want to risk losing my livestock.
Sorry for the LOOOOOONNNNG post and any advice/tips/suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Justin
