New REEFer needs advice from ALL!

21Reefman · 05/22/2006, 02:15 PM

I have a Friend who just called to say "I got a saltwater aquarium!".... He got the standard "pet store" initiation!

LOL, sorry Chris we all did it!
They sent him home with a 55gal tank, HOB dual biowheel filter I assume marineland (the BIG DOG..), the standard strip single tube fluorescent light w/bulb for sunlight, glass top, aragonite, and salt. NO HEATER? Wow, that employee missed an easy $50 upsale,LOL...
Basically has the tank and substraight, the rest is yet to come!

He wants to have a FLOURISHING 55gal Reef!! Mostly softies, and LPS, some monti/sps.

My advice was to get/make a hood and retro-fit a MH and PC lights in there. Get LR, Fuge w/cheato, a good skimmer, bla bla... The budget is limited and this is his 1st aquarium, I hope this will be a place for him to get good info from the start!

What do you recommend???? Lighting, Fuge, Skimmer, Live rock, Cheato, Flow?? Where should we buy LR??

Post pictures of Refugiums and smaller systems, as this is all NEW to him and I don't have any pics of them. (HeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a few hrs away)

He will set up a RC account and be on here SOON

chinaman4u · 05/22/2006, 02:19 PM

Return the stuff he bought would be my first move

Ken-21 · 05/22/2006, 02:23 PM

You should post this on the "New to the hobby" section.

I agree with chinaman-4u, tell him to bring back most of the garbage they sold him and then set him up with the real equipment he will need.

Newreeflady · 05/22/2006, 02:24 PM

Easy way out:

No way around the lighting, reef = light... build the hood, it's not difficult on a rectangular tank. Make sure it is high enough to mount the light at least 8" from the water line. Keep an eye on the sale forum for used lighting. for a 55g, you could probably go with 2 x 175 halide, or 1 x 250w or 1x 400w if you supplement with pc on the outter ends. Then you can keep softies on the outskirts, lps toward the bottom, sps toward the top. You could even use the NO flourescent he already has as actinic supplementation to whatever you add. Get a good reflector.

Keep the hang on marineland thing, yank out any bio-media. Run just carbon and maybe phosphate media like Phosban. Stick a hang-on protein skimmer on the other end of the tank from the filter. Find a used one if you can.

Buy two powerheads of decent size and stick them at opposite ends of the aquarium.

This is the very cheap way out. I had a similarly set up 65g tank with 1 x 400w halide, actinic, skimmer, etc. Except I had a canister filter instead of the marineland.

Best,
-A

Newreeflady · 05/22/2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chinaman4u
Return the stuff he bought would be my first move

Well, if he's already running it i'm sure he won't be able to bring it back.

However, if he has done nothing and all is new, take the whole setup back and look for one on Craigslist

-A

gillies · 05/22/2006, 02:29 PM

Take all the stuff back. Figure out how much he can afford to spend in time and dollars. Decide from that if this hobby is realistic. If it is, spend the bucks on lighting, a skimmer and flow. Get a drilled tank between 55 and 120 gallons and DIY the sump, stand and hood. Find a local club, kiss some butt, and get cheap/free frags. My 2 cents.

omni2226 · 05/22/2006, 02:33 PM

Decent lights in a custom hood, two or three powerheads, and a aqua c remora hang on skimmer. Its all you need to get started.

Like said above you can keep the emperor and run carbon in it ( I used the same filter to cycle my tank) but I replced it with a magnum canister filter for running carbon/polyfilter. Easuer to change media and no salt creep from the bubble/splash of a powerfilter. Two 100 watt heaters in case one fails.

rustybucket145 · 05/22/2006, 02:40 PM

Yeah, I would try to take back the hob filter and the lights. But it probably came as a bundled package. So there is not really much he can do except use them temp. He really needs a heater and some waterflow. If he gets that and adds a couple of powerheads and LR he will be fine for a couple of months. During that time get him to be on the lookout for a good skimmer (no seaclone/berlin) and a used lighting upgrade. He could also work on adding in a sump during this time (he would have time while the tank cycled) Maybee get a Mag 7 for circulation through the sump. I think they are going for $60 in the catalogs or online.

chinaman4u · 05/22/2006, 02:42 PM

If the items were bought at petco(or other major retailer), I am sure they would take it back even if it was used, he could get credit and get a tank and stand from them instead. Even a local store may do that to keep your business, don't you think?

21Reefman · 05/22/2006, 03:00 PM

NewreefLady, Thanks for the solid info!

Thanks for the advice, keep it coming. He IS TAKING BACK THE STUFF! Though he might end up with store credit, all that is irrelevant for sure.

Needs more advice on WHAT and WHERE to buy. Fuge/sump, LR, particular skimmers, ect...

I signed him up for RC and he will be, rider420 if you want to pm him.

mikekman · 05/22/2006, 03:36 PM

Definately like everyone else said, RETURN the STUFF Back.

Now if he gets store credit thats good. Next thing, get some SEIO powerheads or maxijets. Probably recommend the SEIOs as the flow is more spread out.

For lights, perhaps power compacts? You can grow most if not all softies on them. Most stores carry the Coralife PC which is pretty good.

For skimmer, I would recommend a Coralife Super Skimmer. Very good, other might tell you a Aqua C Remora.

For live rock, buy it online or go to a big city. You can get rock pretty cheap online or at a large lfs. Most small lfs charge 7-10+ a pound which gets really expensive. I know of a place that sells LR for 2.99 a pound, so do some looking around.

NOW, if the store gives your friend back all the money instead of store credit, go online and buy most everything. You will save more money that way.

Mike

chinaman4u · 05/22/2006, 03:41 PM

I saw this on craigslist, maybe worth a look?

Reply to: sale-163104777@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-05-21, 11:04AM CDT

75 Gallon aquarium, tank only, no hood, no stand. $50
Call Jenn at 630-936-6011 this is in or around Glen Ellyn

A drilled tank would be best, but hey, my first tank wasn't drilled, my second tank is .. however. There are others listed as well. Here's the link : http://chicago.craigslist.org/cgi-bi...min&maxAsk=max

D.Blaine · 05/22/2006, 04:58 PM

Tell your friend to check out H2O tropicals for a skimmer I picked up a nice euro reef skimmer there 140 bucks shipped. It is an Es5-3 I put it on my 55 to replace a pos seaclone. The ER pulls out cups full of crap every couple of days. sure beats a HOB skimmer imo. By the way I have this skimmer running in a ten gallon sump that cost ten bucks although I wouldnt recommend that it does work. I am always wishing I had a bigger sump.

21Reefman · 05/22/2006, 05:23 PM

D.Blaine, What CARD am I thinking of? LOL, Thanks for the info and pic! They said the LFS tried to sell the a Pro Clear skimmer for $150. They could not tell me wich model it was but, aside from the quality of the proclear(poor IMO), I bet it was too small. I saw the ProClear model for a 350gal for $165 new.

More pics of REFUGIUMS

PLEASE!

Hey, rider420, chime in with the Q's anytime now!

21Reefman · 05/22/2006, 05:35 PM

Some inspiration

rider420 · 05/22/2006, 05:37 PM

Thank you thank you thank you,
I feel I have been ripped off by this store! No, they won't take it back cause we already have water running in it. Now we are trying to decide which type of lighting we should get. And whether to buy a complete used set. Is that a good or bad idea?

D.Blaine · 05/22/2006, 05:58 PM

i wouldnt worry about lighting just yet it wil be awhile before you can put any livestock in there anyways. I would keep the 55 it will be a good learning expierience. For now get a good protein skimmer and some good quality test kists. Fill it with Ro water and get a couple pieces of LiveRock to cycle the tank. Then keep the lights off for as long as possible to avoid algae blooms. When the tank is cycling read RC and some books to gather as much info as possible. Then get ready to open the wallet

21Reefman · 05/22/2006, 06:21 PM

That's good advice. I plan on getting him some good cycled LR and sand from my tank, dirty filter pad, etc. Cycle time is not a factor. (unless you are in a hurry)
If they takes my advice, it will be stocked with critters, snails, crabs (very few!), and shrimp allowing macro algea to take off before the addition of any fish. For awhile it's a marine green house, not a fish or even reef tank.

21Reefman · 05/22/2006, 06:22 PM

More cool pictures in this thread

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...&pagenumber=25

21Reefman · 05/22/2006, 08:02 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=850080

mikekman · 05/23/2006, 12:25 PM

21reefman, is that your tank? What lights are you using and what kind of bulbs?

Love the ricordias especially those reds!

Mike.B · 05/23/2006, 01:37 PM

Why dont you go with t5 lighting? 4x54w will grow almost anything

Keep the 55, you'll learn a ton, I did from my 55

Take a look at a vortech, you would only need 1 and it would povide all the flow you need

Read lots!

05/22/2006, 02:15 PM	#1
21Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago/NW IN Posts: 403	New REEFer needs advice from ALL! I have a Friend who just called to say "I got a saltwater aquarium!".... He got the standard "pet store" initiation! LOL, sorry Chris we all did it! They sent him home with a 55gal tank, HOB dual biowheel filter I assume marineland (the BIG DOG..), the standard strip single tube fluorescent light w/bulb for sunlight, glass top, aragonite, and salt. NO HEATER? Wow, that employee missed an easy $50 upsale,LOL... Basically has the tank and substraight, the rest is yet to come! He wants to have a FLOURISHING 55gal Reef!! Mostly softies, and LPS, some monti/sps. My advice was to get/make a hood and retro-fit a MH and PC lights in there. Get LR, Fuge w/cheato, a good skimmer, bla bla... The budget is limited and this is his 1st aquarium, I hope this will be a place for him to get good info from the start! What do you recommend???? Lighting, Fuge, Skimmer, Live rock, Cheato, Flow?? Where should we buy LR?? Post pictures of Refugiums and smaller systems, as this is all NEW to him and I don't have any pics of them. (HeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a few hrs away) He will set up a RC account and be on here SOON __________________ "The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein

05/22/2006, 02:24 PM	#4
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	Easy way out: No way around the lighting, reef = light... build the hood, it's not difficult on a rectangular tank. Make sure it is high enough to mount the light at least 8" from the water line. Keep an eye on the sale forum for used lighting. for a 55g, you could probably go with 2 x 175 halide, or 1 x 250w or 1x 400w if you supplement with pc on the outter ends. Then you can keep softies on the outskirts, lps toward the bottom, sps toward the top. You could even use the NO flourescent he already has as actinic supplementation to whatever you add. Get a good reflector. Keep the hang on marineland thing, yank out any bio-media. Run just carbon and maybe phosphate media like Phosban. Stick a hang-on protein skimmer on the other end of the tank from the filter. Find a used one if you can. Buy two powerheads of decent size and stick them at opposite ends of the aquarium. This is the very cheap way out. I had a similarly set up 65g tank with 1 x 400w halide, actinic, skimmer, etc. Except I had a canister filter instead of the marineland. Best, -A __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.

05/22/2006, 02:33 PM	#7
omni2226 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Florida Posts: 774	Decent lights in a custom hood, two or three powerheads, and a aqua c remora hang on skimmer. Its all you need to get started. Like said above you can keep the emperor and run carbon in it ( I used the same filter to cycle my tank) but I replced it with a magnum canister filter for running carbon/polyfilter. Easuer to change media and no salt creep from the bubble/splash of a powerfilter. Two 100 watt heaters in case one fails. __________________ I know enough to know I know nothing. Current Tank Info: 55 Marine. 29 Freshwater planted.

05/22/2006, 02:40 PM	#8
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	Yeah, I would try to take back the hob filter and the lights. But it probably came as a bundled package. So there is not really much he can do except use them temp. He really needs a heater and some waterflow. If he gets that and adds a couple of powerheads and LR he will be fine for a couple of months. During that time get him to be on the lookout for a good skimmer (no seaclone/berlin) and a used lighting upgrade. He could also work on adding in a sump during this time (he would have time while the tank cycled) Maybee get a Mag 7 for circulation through the sump. I think they are going for $60 in the catalogs or online. __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

05/22/2006, 03:00 PM	#10
21Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago/NW IN Posts: 403	NewreefLady, Thanks for the solid info! Thanks for the advice, keep it coming. He IS TAKING BACK THE STUFF! Though he might end up with store credit, all that is irrelevant for sure. Needs more advice on WHAT and WHERE to buy. Fuge/sump, LR, particular skimmers, ect... I signed him up for RC and he will be, rider420 if you want to pm him. __________________ "The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein

05/22/2006, 02:19 PM	#2
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	Return the stuff he bought would be my first move

05/22/2006, 02:23 PM	#3
Ken-21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the edge of sanity Posts: 140	You should post this on the "New to the hobby" section. I agree with chinaman-4u, tell him to bring back most of the garbage they sold him and then set him up with the real equipment he will need.

05/22/2006, 02:29 PM	#6
gillies Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 901	Take all the stuff back. Figure out how much he can afford to spend in time and dollars. Decide from that if this hobby is realistic. If it is, spend the bucks on lighting, a skimmer and flow. Get a drilled tank between 55 and 120 gallons and DIY the sump, stand and hood. Find a local club, kiss some butt, and get cheap/free frags. My 2 cents.

05/22/2006, 02:42 PM	#9
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	If the items were bought at petco(or other major retailer), I am sure they would take it back even if it was used, he could get credit and get a tank and stand from them instead. Even a local store may do that to keep your business, don't you think?

05/22/2006, 03:36 PM	#11
mikekman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,064	Definately like everyone else said, RETURN the STUFF Back. Now if he gets store credit thats good. Next thing, get some SEIO powerheads or maxijets. Probably recommend the SEIOs as the flow is more spread out. For lights, perhaps power compacts? You can grow most if not all softies on them. Most stores carry the Coralife PC which is pretty good. For skimmer, I would recommend a Coralife Super Skimmer. Very good, other might tell you a Aqua C Remora. For live rock, buy it online or go to a big city. You can get rock pretty cheap online or at a large lfs. Most small lfs charge 7-10+ a pound which gets really expensive. I know of a place that sells LR for 2.99 a pound, so do some looking around. NOW, if the store gives your friend back all the money instead of store credit, go online and buy most everything. You will save more money that way. Mike

05/22/2006, 03:41 PM	#12
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	I saw this on craigslist, maybe worth a look? Reply to: sale-163104777@craigslist.org Date: 2006-05-21, 11:04AM CDT 75 Gallon aquarium, tank only, no hood, no stand. $50 Call Jenn at 630-936-6011 this is in or around Glen Ellyn A drilled tank would be best, but hey, my first tank wasn't drilled, my second tank is .. however. There are others listed as well. Here's the link : http://chicago.craigslist.org/cgi-bi...min&maxAsk=max

05/22/2006, 04:58 PM	#13
D.Blaine Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jacksonville NC Posts: 104	Tell your friend to check out H2O tropicals for a skimmer I picked up a nice euro reef skimmer there 140 bucks shipped. It is an Es5-3 I put it on my 55 to replace a pos seaclone. The ER pulls out cups full of crap every couple of days. sure beats a HOB skimmer imo. By the way I have this skimmer running in a ten gallon sump that cost ten bucks although I wouldnt recommend that it does work. I am always wishing I had a bigger sump.

05/22/2006, 05:23 PM	#14
21Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago/NW IN Posts: 403	D.Blaine, What CARD am I thinking of? LOL, Thanks for the info and pic! They said the LFS tried to sell the a Pro Clear skimmer for $150. They could not tell me wich model it was but, aside from the quality of the proclear(poor IMO), I bet it was too small. I saw the ProClear model for a 350gal for $165 new. More pics of REFUGIUMS PLEASE! Hey, rider420, chime in with the Q's anytime now! __________________ "The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein

05/22/2006, 05:35 PM	#15
21Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago/NW IN Posts: 403	Some inspiration __________________ "The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein

05/22/2006, 05:37 PM	#16
rider420 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: South Bend, IN Posts: 1	Thank you Thank you thank you thank you, I feel I have been ripped off by this store! No, they won't take it back cause we already have water running in it. Now we are trying to decide which type of lighting we should get. And whether to buy a complete used set. Is that a good or bad idea?

05/22/2006, 05:58 PM	#17
D.Blaine Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jacksonville NC Posts: 104	i wouldnt worry about lighting just yet it wil be awhile before you can put any livestock in there anyways. I would keep the 55 it will be a good learning expierience. For now get a good protein skimmer and some good quality test kists. Fill it with Ro water and get a couple pieces of LiveRock to cycle the tank. Then keep the lights off for as long as possible to avoid algae blooms. When the tank is cycling read RC and some books to gather as much info as possible. Then get ready to open the wallet

05/22/2006, 06:21 PM	#18
21Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago/NW IN Posts: 403	That's good advice. I plan on getting him some good cycled LR and sand from my tank, dirty filter pad, etc. Cycle time is not a factor. (unless you are in a hurry) If they takes my advice, it will be stocked with critters, snails, crabs (very few!), and shrimp allowing macro algea to take off before the addition of any fish. For awhile it's a marine green house, not a fish or even reef tank. __________________ "The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein

05/22/2006, 06:22 PM	#19
21Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago/NW IN Posts: 403	More cool pictures in this thread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...&pagenumber=25 __________________ "The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein

05/22/2006, 08:02 PM	#20
21Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago/NW IN Posts: 403	Info http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=850080 __________________ "The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein

05/23/2006, 12:25 PM	#21
mikekman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,064	21reefman, is that your tank? What lights are you using and what kind of bulbs? Love the ricordias especially those reds!

05/23/2006, 01:37 PM	#22
Mike.B Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 548	Why dont you go with t5 lighting? 4x54w will grow almost anything Keep the 55, you'll learn a ton, I did from my 55 Take a look at a vortech, you would only need 1 and it would povide all the flow you need Read lots!