Help! Setting up my first tank, debating on size and a craigslist deal.

[Guatney]

My name is jess and i am currently a college freshman. today i tore down my freshwater planted aquarium and am ready to start my saltwater journey. since i have a very small idea of what is best, i was hoping for some help from the experts in saltwater.

My dorm only allows 15g aquariums (walking down four flights of stairs and carrying fish supplies to my friends dormroom was torture enough to make me consider keeping it at my bfs) but the advantage of keeping it in my dorm is getting to see it all of the time and enjoying it, but i would have to break it down three times for winter break and summer moving.

My boyfriend wants to get into the hobby with me (he wants a decent sized tank and wants me to pay for most of it and him to take care of it while im at school, i see him on the weekends 1-2 days). the advantage in that is a bigger tank, way less moving, but i dont see it as much.

Both locations have amazing LFS within a 10 minute drive.

The potential tanks---

1.) I found a craigslist advertisement for a 29g biocube complete with some soft corals, sand, live rock, a pom pom crab, and a lot of extra's, (skimmer and a "tub of aquarium supplies" along with a second 29g with a crack in it, included as a "extra parts tank" asking $300.

If i got this i would trade the corals and rock and supplies or sell some of it and then try to have my dad (engineer) fix the crack. i have until tomorrow at 3 to decide if i should buy it before someone else goes to look at it.

3.) i tore down my 20g aquarium and it just needs some elbow grease, or hell, their having a sale on tanks at petco $20 for a 20g or $30 30g. and i have a double fluorescent hanging light (planted aquarium) i just need to replace one bulb with a blue. (would this work on a 30g?)

4.) this LFS by my school i went to today told me they will make me a custom kit with either a 5, 8, or 12g rimless cube with a filtration system and coral capacity light for $60-100 depending on size.

So basically should i go for the 29g biocube that requires some elbow grease, buying a 20 or 30g and using my light from my freshwater tank, either option would stay at my boyfriends house 25 minutes away. Or get a 5,8,or12g cube to keep in my dormroom?

there is also this beautiful real live rock at this LFS that is $8 a lb i would really love to use in my tanks but obviously cannot afford in a larger setup.

what i want to accomplish- keeping under a startup budget of $350 for everything i need and eventually up to $200 more for all my additional coral specimens. I am mostly interested in focusing on the corals and keeping a handful of fish (looking at domino damsels but maybe something cooler). I was also considering starting a slow slow project of a 20-30g reef at my bf's and keeping a domino damsel in a nanotank in my dormroom with some nice live rock and maybe some soft coral.

Tell me your opinion!! thanks!!

 

[RandoReefer]

IMO...

1) If you purchase a tank that you only get to see once a week for 1-2 days, how will you really enjoy it? Also, hopefully you trust your bf to do the feedings, daily cleanings, and maintenance throughout the week while you are gone....AND maybe do the weekly water changes during your time together. (Really only a 15-20min job, but shouldn't you spend that admiring your tank)

2) Of course, in this hobby, more volume is easier to maintain, but people have put together GREAT looking pico tanks for offices and such. That 29g cube sounds like a decent deal but if it were me... I want to look at my tank all day, everyday.

3) Innovative Marine sells an awesome pico tank that is in your budget. http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Marine-Nuvo-Gallon-Aquarium/dp/B006KRIOZK
I personally own this tank, for my bedroom, and keep a variety of small polyps and zoas, as well as a snowflake clown.

-The best part about these tanks is that they come with everything you need except the water! It has a blue/white LED light that you can put on timers to control your on/off and nighttime effect (just blues only before you sleep!)

-It comes with sponge filters, but you can easily take those out and put a nano skimmer in there for cheap. It has a chamber to put your heater. The pump is included and provides just enough water turn-over to keep your inhabitants happy.

-IT LOOKS AWESOME! These are very sleek and modern.

-Water changes are a breeze! With an 8g pico tank, you can do a weekly water change of 1g. Simple as taking out a pitcher's worth of water and putting in a fresh one...Done!

-Keep 1-2 fish ONLY and feed VERY LIGHTLY. To control excess nutrients. Pico tanks and nano tanks are very touchy when it comes to pristine water params. But as long as you maintain good habits, they are VERY worth the effort!

So, if it was me making the same decision, I would by a new 8gal pico, have $150 extra for a skimmer (u can use your freshwater heater), a couple pieces of that pretty live rock you saw at the LFS, a small reef safe fish and a coral frag. I would ask that person on craigslist if they will sell the coral or fish seperately. Then you could get some CHEAP corals and livestock!

In the long run, when you have to "Break Down" your tank, it wouldn't be too hard to just pick up your 8gal pico and move it over to your bf's house and plug it back in.... no hurting your livestock and you stay within the guidelines of the college dorm rules.

Just my two cents....

Good Luck

 

[RandoReefer]

Oh.... one more thing.

-DO NOT USE TAP WATER AND CONDITIONER for these pico tanks.

If you want to save yourself a world of stress, you will start your tank and always run your tank with the best RO/DI water (Usually you can buy from your LFS for like .89 or .99 cents/gal. Most LFS sell premixed saltwater as well. At .99 per/gal, you can save time and money on buying salt and finding TDS-free RO/DI water. ($4.00ish per month...can't beat that!)

 

[BusterTB]

+1 to innovative marine tanks. They make a quality all in one tank that is perfect for beginners. There are a few IM tank owner threads here on RC. I would advise you to check them out.

Get the biggest tank you can afford. 8gal pico tanks (for beginners) can be done but require a bit more maintenance / care to maintain stable water parameters.

Keep it in your dorm. That way you can keep an eye on it and not have to worry about retrieving a SW fish tank from someone you just broke up with... if that should happen.

 

[Rumjahn]

Wait until you graduate from college and have a more stable lifestyle before starting a saltwater tank. There will be plenty of time for that later. Right now focus on studying so you'll be able to get a good job and afford a really nice reef in the future.

 

[cjm5283]

I would do one the rimless cubes from the LFS. Way better to have the fish in your dorm. It will give that nice small box you live in have a nice small box to look at.

 

[FTDelta]

First - find yourself a new BF since he expects you to pay for all of it. With college expenses so high, how do you expect to upkeep a SW tank. I agree with Rumjahn - wait til you graduate from college when you will have more time to enjoy them.

A budget of $350 isn't going to cut it. How are you going to aquire RO/DI water? Are you planning on buying distilled water at Walmart everytime you need to do a water change? How and where will you store a bucket of saltwater on hand?

These are things you seriuosly need to consider before attempting to run a salt tank in your dorm. Think of the potential of drunken roomates/visitors dumping things in your tank - intentional or not. If I were you, I'd staick with a simple freshwater tank. Less problems, less expensive and easier to keep in a dorm.

 

[RandoReefer]

First - find yourself a new BF since he expects you to pay for all of it. With college expenses so high, how do you expect to upkeep a SW tank. I agree with Rumjahn - wait til you graduate from college when you will have more time to enjoy them.

A budget of $350 isn't going to cut it. How are you going to aquire RO/DI water? Are you planning on buying distilled water at Walmart everytime you need to do a water change? How and where will you store a bucket of saltwater on hand?

These are things you seriuosly need to consider before attempting to run a salt tank in your dorm. Think of the potential of drunken roomates/visitors dumping things in your tank - intentional or not. If I were you, I'd staick with a simple freshwater tank. Less problems, less expensive and easier to keep in a dorm.

I disagree. My 8gal pico, is very low cost to maintain.
She says she has a LFS 10mins down the road. How many LFS (even Petco) don't sell pre-mixed saltwater?
Simply purchase a couple gallons and do a water change.

If she invested $25-$30 on a slim nano skimmer (which do work, I own one) her maintenance is as little as cleaning the cup and weekly 1-2gal water changes. Even if she had to do two water changes per week, cost at most would be $5/ week.

Her husbandry with a proper light schedules, light feedings, and low bioload would allow a whole range of Beautiful stocking options.

Lastly, if a college student has a buget of $350 just for aquarium use, I would imagine that she has no concerns in keeping up with the cost of schooling.
It is unfair to recommend that a person shouldn't explore a joy-bringing hobby simply because of the stereotype that all college students are poor! She didn't share any information that would lead us to think she couldn't handle the cost of proper tank ownership. She is set on starting a reef tank and asked this forum for its opinion on what TYPE of tank to get, not whether or not she should pursue reefing at all.

My two cents

 

[Guatney]

I actually also have a part time job and my boyfriend is really tight on money at his current job so i can't really blame him.

Thanks for the info guys, i think im going for a 8 or 12g nano and then going to keep a 3g container of LFS bought saltwater and another 1g of freshwater for topping off. i think if i setup my tank slowly it will be easy to carry it across campus.

So any recomendations on fish, inverts, or corals for my aquarium?

what i have had an interest in is i saw a tiny yellow sea cucumber and was curious about them, i also dont really like crabs because i have a irrational fear of bugs, but i may look into shrimp. I also like domino damsels but i feel like if i have such pretty corals eventually that my fish should be just as interesting and a little less common

i was thinking a fish to swim around the open water and then some sort of bottom dweller?
but i dont think i can keep anything w. a damsel from what ive heard

 

[Guatney]

My new LFS by school and the last photo is the aquarium im looking into buying (its a 5 i want an 8)

 

[arnoldrew]

First - find yourself a new BF since he expects you to pay for all of it. With college expenses so high, how do you expect to upkeep a SW tank. I agree with Rumjahn - wait til you graduate from college when you will have more time to enjoy them.

I don't get it. He's supposed to buy her whatever she wants, whenever she wants it? He's even offering to let her keep it at his place and take care of it all week. Why should a boyfriend have to pay for random things like fish tanks that his girlfriend wants? I could see a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary if he had the money, but the inability to spend hundreds of dollars on an aquarium for his girlfriend does not make him a bad boyfriend.

 

[Guatney]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101934564@N02/9775027831/in/photostream/

aquarium^^

 

[Rumjahn]

Wait, you'll carry this thing across campus with everything in it? Or you'll take the water and fish out first?

 

[Guatney]

Wait, you'll carry this thing across campus with everything in it? Or you'll take the water and fish out first?

I have a spot in the parking garage near my dorm but have to park on 3rd or 4th floor. so i would be carrying piece by piece my aquarium stuff down 4 flights of stairs and about a five minute walk to my dorm room. so now im considering buying a 30 and keeping it at my boyfriends house since he wants to get into the hobby too until i move into my own apartment

 

[Guatney]

And if i get one for my dorm first i'd set up the equipment, then bring in some water jugs to put under my bed, then fill my nano with sand and rock, then after a week or two get a Domino Damsel and a handful of tiny corals to keep on my desk at school so its easy to break down.

 

[FTDelta]

An 8 or 12 gallon nano tank is too small to house a pair of Domino damsels - not to mention they're extremely aggressive. You're better off getting smaller fish better suited instead. Firefish, clown goby to name a couple.

 

[Texass2323]

DON'T ever buy a cracked tank.. That's just trouble.. Not today Not tomorrow but one day

 

[FTDelta]

I don't get it. He's supposed to buy her whatever she wants, whenever she wants it? He's even offering to let her keep it at his place and take care of it all week. Why should a boyfriend have to pay for random things like fish tanks that his girlfriend wants? I could see a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary if he had the money, but the inability to spend hundreds of dollars on an aquarium for his girlfriend does not make him a bad boyfriend.

Read the third paragraph, in parenthesis, of her post.