Please help me build a good, inexpensive aquarium setup!

Insalubrious · 04/15/2006, 11:36 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm new to reefing and aquariums in general, but I decided I wanted to give it a try, and for my birthday I received was a $200, 45-gallon tank from Odyssea. It's a B45 and comes with lights, a wet/dry (I think?) filter and a custom stand. It looks nice, but it has problems. First, there were no instructions with it, so I had to go back to the store and ask what to do. They showed me, but it was pretty obvious that they were making it up on the spot and really didn't know much either. Second, I finally got it put together, filled it with water, and the pump just makes a grinding noise and then stops - no water pumps through. I also have a handful of random pieces that they said "were not necessary" which seems kinda suspect, but they did say I could return it if it didn't work. Which I think I'm going to do.

What I do have left is a Red Sea Hydrometer (with digital thermometer), a Visi-Therm Deluxe Submerisible Aquarium Heater, a Coralife Pure-Flo II R/O system, Mardel test strips, a giant bucket of Coralife Salt, and a tank full of water I have to spend a bunch of time dumping. Obviously, I'm not very impressed with the situation and was hoping there is somebody that can help me pick out some better equipment. Any suggestions?

Here's the tank that I'm thinking about taking back. This is the only information I could find online (not much):
http://www.aqlogics.com/product.asp?ProductID=18537

BigElephant · 04/16/2006, 12:02 AM

Insalubrious,

I have the exact same tank. I wouldn't say I like it. I am sure that number of people here would say the same thing.

For one thing, for a newbie like me, it looks great. In fact, it works well, until I start to understand more about this hobby.

Few things about this tank that you should consider. First, the tank does not have good quality. My door never work right. I have to redo the hinge to make it work better. The mounting on the light is already rusted for only running it 4 months. If you don't plan to run skimmer, then there will not be any problems. Otherwise, you will have to find a creative way of doing it. Lighting also another issue since it is not enough. I doubt if you can incrase it later since there are heat and capacity related issue. This is just something that you need to think about. If you can live with it, it will be a great tank.

I currently have bubble coral, LTA, and marshrooms + 1 pseudochromis and cleaner shrimp. They all seems to be fine with the current tank.

Good luck on setting up your tank. Just remember one thing. Go slow on things that you want for the tank.

Insalubrious · 04/16/2006, 01:15 AM

It sounds like I definately went the wrong route with this one. Someone did say it looked alright as a "starter kit" when I was loading it into a taxi - I guess he was right. I called the shop again and found out they sell tanks for a dollar a gallon, so maybe I can take some of the cost and put it into the other stuff I'm going to need. I'm thinking a 55-gallon tank, so I'm going to have a good $150 or so to work with. I'm dreading next hour of lugging water across the house though...

keithntracy · 04/16/2006, 03:57 AM

i wish my store sold their tanks at a dollar a gallon, i'd have two 210 gallons right now!!!!

Insalubrious · 04/16/2006, 05:00 AM

I've been reading alot more tonight so I don't make any poor choices tomorrow (hopefully

). I think I'm going to have to go with a wet/dry filter at the moment since I don't think I'll be able to afford a sump (everything I've found online looks very, very pricey). Am I going to need powerheads to create enough current for a reef tank? And if so, what are some good choices?

dhayden · 04/16/2006, 09:01 AM

FYI, somewhere in here it mentions a reef tank costing roughly $8 - $10 per gallon. From my experience they are pretty dead on. My wife complains it is just a glass money pit. this is not an "iinexpensive" hobby. You might want to go with just fish for a while until you can afford what you should have. I have a "garage full" of crud that was a "good buy" thaqt later I just wound up replacing. Just my .02

hulley · 04/16/2006, 09:06 AM

Check your local want ads, you can find great deals on people selling their tank/stand combos!

04/15/2006, 11:36 PM	#1
Insalubrious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4	Please help me build a good, inexpensive aquarium setup! Hi everyone, I'm new to reefing and aquariums in general, but I decided I wanted to give it a try, and for my birthday I received was a $200, 45-gallon tank from Odyssea. It's a B45 and comes with lights, a wet/dry (I think?) filter and a custom stand. It looks nice, but it has problems. First, there were no instructions with it, so I had to go back to the store and ask what to do. They showed me, but it was pretty obvious that they were making it up on the spot and really didn't know much either. Second, I finally got it put together, filled it with water, and the pump just makes a grinding noise and then stops - no water pumps through. I also have a handful of random pieces that they said "were not necessary" which seems kinda suspect, but they did say I could return it if it didn't work. Which I think I'm going to do. What I do have left is a Red Sea Hydrometer (with digital thermometer), a Visi-Therm Deluxe Submerisible Aquarium Heater, a Coralife Pure-Flo II R/O system, Mardel test strips, a giant bucket of Coralife Salt, and a tank full of water I have to spend a bunch of time dumping. Obviously, I'm not very impressed with the situation and was hoping there is somebody that can help me pick out some better equipment. Any suggestions? Here's the tank that I'm thinking about taking back. This is the only information I could find online (not much): http://www.aqlogics.com/product.asp?ProductID=18537

04/16/2006, 12:02 AM	#2
BigElephant Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cerritos, CA Posts: 204	Insalubrious, I have the exact same tank. I wouldn't say I like it. I am sure that number of people here would say the same thing. For one thing, for a newbie like me, it looks great. In fact, it works well, until I start to understand more about this hobby. Few things about this tank that you should consider. First, the tank does not have good quality. My door never work right. I have to redo the hinge to make it work better. The mounting on the light is already rusted for only running it 4 months. If you don't plan to run skimmer, then there will not be any problems. Otherwise, you will have to find a creative way of doing it. Lighting also another issue since it is not enough. I doubt if you can incrase it later since there are heat and capacity related issue. This is just something that you need to think about. If you can live with it, it will be a great tank. I currently have bubble coral, LTA, and marshrooms + 1 pseudochromis and cleaner shrimp. They all seems to be fine with the current tank. Good luck on setting up your tank. Just remember one thing. Go slow on things that you want for the tank. __________________ ~ Sean Current Tank Info: 45 gal tank, 1 Pair false Perc since 2006 all others died, Leather - all others died as well.

04/16/2006, 01:15 AM	#3
Insalubrious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4	It sounds like I definately went the wrong route with this one. Someone did say it looked alright as a "starter kit" when I was loading it into a taxi - I guess he was right. I called the shop again and found out they sell tanks for a dollar a gallon, so maybe I can take some of the cost and put it into the other stuff I'm going to need. I'm thinking a 55-gallon tank, so I'm going to have a good $150 or so to work with. I'm dreading next hour of lugging water across the house though...

04/16/2006, 03:57 AM	#4
keithntracy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: winter park, fl Posts: 1,078	i wish my store sold their tanks at a dollar a gallon, i'd have two 210 gallons right now!!!!

04/16/2006, 05:00 AM	#5
Insalubrious Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4	I've been reading alot more tonight so I don't make any poor choices tomorrow (hopefully ). I think I'm going to have to go with a wet/dry filter at the moment since I don't think I'll be able to afford a sump (everything I've found online looks very, very pricey). Am I going to need powerheads to create enough current for a reef tank? And if so, what are some good choices?

04/16/2006, 09:01 AM	#6
dhayden Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Austin TX Posts: 89	FYI, somewhere in here it mentions a reef tank costing roughly $8 - $10 per gallon. From my experience they are pretty dead on. My wife complains it is just a glass money pit. this is not an "iinexpensive" hobby. You might want to go with just fish for a while until you can afford what you should have. I have a "garage full" of crud that was a "good buy" thaqt later I just wound up replacing. Just my .02

04/16/2006, 09:06 AM	#7
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	Check your local want ads, you can find great deals on people selling their tank/stand combos!