75 gallon dilemma

Hey Keri - looks like a decent set up and the price isn't gonna kill ya - BUT - I agree with everyone else - bigger is better! We went from a 75 to a 90 - and now I wish we had just set the 125 up instead - but I guess things happen for a reason, and we're in the beginning stages of getting the 125 back up and running. Anyways, if you have the chance to go bigger - do it now before ya set up and then wish ya had! :)
 
Need to find out what kind of skimmer but again W/D w/ Bio Balls will be worthless in a reef. I used to have a 65 36x18x24 and loved it but biggest issue is lighting a 36" tank. 1 MH isn't enough and 2 may have heat issues although there is no way to get MH's in the canopy pictured, it's not tall enough. Best to plan out what equipment you want and then piece it all together.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9055630#post9055630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calvin415
Need to find out what kind of skimmer but again W/D w/ Bio Balls will be worthless in a reef. I used to have a 65 36x18x24 and loved it but biggest issue is lighting a 36" tank. 1 MH isn't enough and 2 may have heat issues although there is no way to get MH's in the canopy pictured, it's not tall enough. Best to plan out what equipment you want and then piece it all together.
Click to expand...

I am thinking this will be the way to go.

I am just afraid of having to pay full price for everything.....
 
Find all your equipment used, just not in a package. If you need anything custom like a sump etc, LMK. ;) I even have a Euro Reef skimmer rated for a 75 gallon tank (and it kicks @ss on a 75) that I'd sell you for 1/2 retail...

Just start with your livestock and then determine what size tank you need, and then what equipment do you need to support a tank that size. :)
 
Of all the tanks the 60 is probably the best deal. That 125 IMO is over priced for what you will be getting unless there are lights in that canopy. I have that 60 in my kitchen and my spring project is to build a stand and upgrade to a 75 (we won't even talk about the 135 in the garage). Since this is for your finished basement I would not go with anything under 6' long. Anything less and just as you put the finishing touches on the reef you will want to upgrade to something bigger. To me part of the fun of setting up a new tank is hunting down the pieces to the setup.
 
I wouldnt worry so much about total gallons, a 125 doesn't offer really good aquascaping opportunities, its just so long an narrow similiar to a 55 gallon. I like the smaller 60 gallon tank for $375 o.b.o. its deeper and would look more realistic as a small reef. I think you could do 1- 250 watt halide in there and I know of a guy that has a really nice one for sale with fresh bulb. You should look on reefcentral at some of the aquascapes and see what I mean most of the really nice looking tanks are more square than long, plus like I say only running 1 MH bulb with no other lights needed would be a big plus. Concentrate on SPS frags or clams that wont overgrow the tank so fast and you'd be fine for quite a while with this size.
Chris
 
Still thinking about that hairy 75.....

If I offer him $225 with plans to replace filtration (add sump) and lights do you guys still think I am offering too much? I wouldn't mind putting the elbow grease into it to clean it up, but I also don't want to get screwed with a FW convert.

Basically all thats good to me from that guy are the fish, LR, Tank, and Stand, everything would be upgraded......
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9056216#post9056216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calvin415
My favorite 65G TOTM!!!

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/totm/index.php

Chris, you got a problem with long and narrow tanks? LOL!!!
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LOL thats funny, you have the longest narrowest tank ever made dont you! You are the exception Eric, that 10 is unique it its own right :)

BTW thats an amazing tank, unreal actually, one of the best i've seen. the fact that he has a huge amount of kick a$$ ricordea helps also ;)
 
You know I wonder about the 75 with all the hair algae. I have never had the stuff so unfortunately I am no expert on hair algae removal but I've read tons of posts here on RC that people try cooking the rock, scrubbing, all kinds of stuff and cant ever get rid of it and end up replacing all the rock. It sounds like a $100 deal to me, otherwise not worth the trouble. Why start out with a problem? I'd rather start fresh.

For example, everything you would need can probaby be bought used from most of us or the RMRC. I have bought very nice fiji Live Rock for $150 for 100 lbs. off of a RMRC member and I bought a bunch of very purple encrusted rock from neptunes realm for $100 for quite a few large nice pieces. So really theres not much of any use for the 75 if the rock and equipment sucks, you'll firesale that stuff and maybe only recoup $50 for it all, or maybe less.
 
Keri, All you need, in my experince is a long spine urchin. They mow through the stuff. Mine is very graceful as well. They are cool to have in the tank. My fish siwm into the spines and only get little white specks on there face that goes away after a couple days. I have even brushed up against him and not gotten stung. I think they are great.
 
Just got a call from a friend of mine who is selling his Oceanic 125 w/ Stand and canopy. I drilled it myself and installed the overflow box on the end so it can be against a back wall. He's also offering a Euro Reef 8-2 (I think) with new needlewheel. You can get everything including tons of florida LR (some hair algea). VHO bulbs are 1 month old... 600 obo.
 
Wooo HOOOO Keri is going bigger!!!!! Let me know when you get it all moved in and are looking for frags, I have a lot I need to get rid of to free up some room.
 
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