Elk Grove Newb looking for mentor

[P.Kelly]

Hi all,

In a previous life I kept freshwater, now the wife and I both have reef fever. I picked up the following on trade for a TV I had lying around valued at $350 or so. Jury is still out on if I got a decent deal, but I wasn't using the TV and nobody was buying, so worst case I traded 1 thing I wasn't using for an even bigger thing...

Here is what I got, I'm looking for suggestions on what I NEED right away to make this a viable tank.

- 72 gal All-Glass bowfront predrilled, reef ready w/ stand (currently being stripped and repainted)
- EHeim 2227 wet dry filter (I hear it pulses the water back into the tank for a "wave-like" effect
- Amiracle 15 gallon sump, wet/dry with bioballs
- (2) Tetra Acura 1000 150 watt heaters
- A bunch of dead rock and dead crushed coral
- some basic floursecent fixtures (1 24", 2 48")
- Red Sea Prizm skimmer (I know it is super low end)
- Rio 1700 pump

I have so many questions... I'vea read a ton, and it doesn't sound like the filtration on this tank is ideal. Questions like, can I mod the Amiracle into a sump? Is it worth it? Can I run the Eheim without media for the wave action and water oxygination without media and avoid the over efficient nitrate conversion that wet/dry's create?

I'm guessing you all with cringe at my skimmer and lights.

We want a nice reef, so what lighting would be recommended for a 48" tank? and what skimmer? I know I can spend hundreds of dollars, so I'm looking at moderate, rather than super awesome at this point.

Pete
Elk Grove

 

[matttaylor]

First off, lose the bio-balls from the sump. Then you'll have more room for equipment, thus giving yourself a real sump. Also use the canister for running carbon and filter media that way you'll still have the extra water movement, just be sure to clean it out at least once a month to prevent detritus build-up. As far a lights go try and find a T-5 setup, or metal halide setup used to save some cash. Lighting is the trickiest part of the setup and will be determined by what corals you want to keep.

Matt

 

[funman1]

Well I'm sure you could run a amiracle without the bio balls and make it a sump?
I'd need to see how it's built to say for sure but I don't see a problem with it.

Not sure about the eheim never owned one.

yeah the skimmer, umm yeah,, you already know...

Depending on what types of coral you want to keep will determine you lighting needs, if you go SPS I would do (2) 250W MH's on a tank like that.

Spend hundereds on a tank?
hahah uhhhh, it's more like thousands, or for some, tens of thousands.

With my tanks I figured they cost about $50-$75 per gallon of tank water. The first is usually the most expensive to start because of all the general equipment you need (Refractometer, test kits galore, buckets, pumps, etc...

IE: my 30g tank (30 x $75.00 = $2,250) I'm sure I have more into it than that but it gives you a start. Though I'm not your normal budget reefer.

I subsribe to the philsophy if you buy cheap, you buy twice; and you get what you pay for. I also belive in doing it right the first time. Many people drop from the hobby because they skimped out on the right equipment, and then battled problems in their tanks until they give up and throw in the towel.

That's my $0.02

 

[xia]

I live in Elk Grove too. If you want to come check out my system, I can give you a tutorial of how a more advanced system is setup, just to give you some ideas for your own tank.

 

[kevin95695]

You can do it on the cheap (relatively) but never on the 'easy'. PM me for my cell # and I'll relate my experience.

 

[P.Kelly]

For those of you in Elk Grove/Sac, which should be most of us in the MARS group, tell me about chillers...

We keep out house at 78-80 constantly. It never gets above 80 degrees. Will I need a chiller? Will it matter if I use the AC more often and keep the temperature in the house lower?

Thanks again,
Pete
Elk Grove

 

[funman1]

If the AC in your house dies for some reason or someone forgot to turn it on, $1,000's of dollars will be down the drain.

At my old place I used to keep the apt at 72 period, day night, 365. I had no chiller so it was risky but because I did that I never needed to chill the tank.
Alot will depend on how many pumps you run and how much MH you have on it.

Now I can't affored to keep the house at 72, and the AC unit I have won't do it anyways so, I'm looking it to chillers too..

 

[kevin95695]

I thought I could get away without a chiller, but after stumbling onto a deal, I'm a lot less anxious/nervous and might save money on my air bill. I reckon my reef critters will live better longer too with smaller/fewer variations in their environment.

 

[Reefugee]

Even though you keep your house at 78-80F, it is possible for your tank to still get hot depending on your lighting and pumps. You can always try the fan method first and see how that works for you.

Minh

-----------------------------------
Sure - blame it on the baby. ;-)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10033563#post10033563 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by funman1
Now I can't affored to keep the house at 72, and the AC unit I have won't do it anyways so, I'm looking it to chillers too..