Clarksville noobie

[user3977]

hello all, i was pointed here from the NTRC forum, since there is more people here . i posted Here with my first post. but they suggested to post here and say hi too.. so HI im in clarksville, work at Trane and dont really do much other than that. i have no life so i have plenty of time to work on a tank. i am looking for help and info on my first setup 55g tank. i have a great link for rock from skirossi and i am now looking for sand. i came across a guy in OH that sells dry sand for $.45 a lb and well since i have to "grow" the dry rock to i see no need to really pay all that much more for live sand. i was thinking about 40lbs of the dry sand and maybe get a bag from the lfs of live sand along with some live rock to see the system. i plan to let it run for 4-8 weeks before i even start to think cleaners or fish so that the dry rock and sand can become live. do you think that is long enough? or are there other factors. i have just regular lights on it right now the 18" 15w ones. i am still searching for a full lighting setup but from what i have been reading running FOWLR i dont really need a full lighting setup. well i rambled on long enough for this post thank you for your time.

 

[fallinapart]

Welcome and the NTRC is a bunch of nice people to get to know. You plan sounds like a good start and yes for a Fowler tank light are not a real priority, at least until you see some coral tanks and start down that path 6=8 weeks should be enough to get your water going with a little live rock and live sand and then just drop a single fresh shrimp from the kronger deli to help get things moving. You have a pretty good plan going. Good Luck

Norman

 

[aquaman67]

What do you plan to put in your new 55 other than rock and sand?

Pet Palace on the by-pass has a nice selction of fish and can get most anything. The Aquatic Critter in Nashville has a bigger selection but the prices are higher. I also like Fishey Business in Bowling Green KY. Mitch, the owner, actually breeds clownfish there.

You might want to look at protein skimmers too. They are not a must have but many people use them to remove organics.

Good luck on whatever you decide!

 

[user3977]

i plan to get the rock and sand setup and running, then putting in the cleanning crew, i have seen a few packaged crews on different websites, after giving them a few weeks a pair of clowns and maybe 4 more different fish that are compatible with them.