ArmanS 80g Reef

ArmanS

ArmanS

Active member
I have a 80g FOWLR, and I received it for free of of craiglist and it was in horrible condition. The tank had 3 inhabitants, a Yellow Tang, Sailfin Tang, and a Batfish. The batfish died during transportation and I rushed to set the tank up so the fish would be alright and I didn't clean it as I wanted to. I want to turn it into a reef setup, on my budget, I am 15 almost 16. I haven't lost 1 SW fish yet except for the Batfish and I have had Freshwater fish for some time now and had great success. I want to do this step by step and probably start this weekend. Here are my specs:
80g Clear for Life Acrylic 60 x 18 x 18 w/ built in overflow box
20g Clear for Life Acrylic Sump w/ LGP
1 Rena XP3
1 Coralife Aqualight Retrofit Kits 260 watts
Stand And Canopy, need new stain
I have TONS of LR and LS that came with the tank, 5" sandbed.

I am the type of person that requires lots of questions and answers so for me this is the best way to do it. I have read numerous threads and boards and I think I am ready.

My lighting is about 3 WPG and I read that would only be good for SPS but I want my tank to look like DavOcean's tank that he put in the Full Tank Shot thread which for some reason I cannot find anymore. I am not rich but I currently work and bring home ~200$ a week and starting next week I should be ready to start.

I have never used Testing kits and have always had success but I know this is wrong so I need a good testing kit, any recomendations? I also need a refractometer.

I am not doing an ATO because I just can't with my restrictions in my home but my LFS sells RO water for 39 CPG and I can go their once a week and I enjoy filling my sump ;]

I don't have a protein skimmer but I want one, Any recomendations, I was thinking an Octupus.

I have a QT setup already.

I will probably give the fish to a local enthusiast that is in my area, I have 3 Blue Chromis, 1 Tomato Clown, 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Sailfin Tang, and 1 Picasso Trigger. For the chromis and picasso I will sell them all for like 20$ and for the yellow, tomato and sailfin I will give for free as they are sick and I can't treat thema nd they need a good home. LMK if anyone is interested n the SOCAL Area.

I really would appreciate if someone in SOCAL could be like a mentor to me and help me ;] would be easier for me.

When I see everyones reef tanks their tanks barely have any LR or is it just me? Because my tank is full of it and same with my sump, maybe I have too much but my 80g is FULL and my 20g sump is full aswell so I think i have to sell some of it...

I will put my LR/LS in containers and have them "cooking" while the tank is cycling for a faster cycle, I will want to have the minimal amount of LR in my tank, probably will put most in the sump I guess.

So I would appreciate if someone could adress those problems and I need a better Lighting system I believe.

Thanks

~ArmanS
 
also I am planning on getting a Turbo Twist UV Sterilizer, and a powerhead for it. Will this be a good idea?
 
Arman,

That's quit the long post with several questions.........

If you're not going to have livestock there's no point in setting up a separate container to recure your rock. Do it in the tank.

I'm not a fan of reusing a sandbed after it's been disturbed.

Never used a UV sterilizer. If you quarantine and have good water parameters you shouldn't need one.

Leave the tank vacant for a couple of months so any disease dies off due to a lack of a host.
 
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I think that makes sense, could I keep the LR in their but also do they all need to be submerged?

Also what about lighting any recomendations? It's a 60" lenth tank and I can't see myself spending over 400$... on lighting... I don't mind putting them under the canopy.
 
lighting depends on what you want to keep. and 3 watts per gal. will not support SPS. maybe some shrooms and some other softies. and also watts per gal. rule don't work well in this hoby. but what type of corals you want? do you have a link to a tank you like? and a octo skimmer is a good choice just get a proper rated one.
 
I don't have a link but I have the setup as my desktop background let me see if I can post it somehow.
 
found it ;] I want mine to be EXACTLY like this in the inside I prob will stain my stand like his too ;] I sent him an email last night but no response yet.

Link
 
I need to decide on a lighting system and a protein skimmer any recomendations, for the skimmer I want an in sump setup and for the lighting has to be ~350-400$...
 
what do you guys think about this skimmer the Berlin Classic , rated for 250g tanks.

Turbo Classic 6-1/2"W x 6-1/2"D x 21"H up to 250 gal
 
please help with lighting!!! I can spend about ~500$ my tank is 60" and I would like to have a light system that would replace my canopy via having it's own structure
 
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