Hey all, newbie here!

R

raymond3457

New member
Hey all, I am new to the world of salt water and so far loving it! I have a 55gal reef tank. (well soon to be reef tank) I have about a 15 gal sump/refugium. I have 50lbs of live sand and about 50lbs of live rock. Just started the cycling, well 3 days now!

My sons and I were at Kemit's Reef a couple of days ago for the first time. We ran into Auqa Pimp and would like to say thank you very much!!! He answered tons of questions and spent a good long time with us!

I am a single father of 3 boys and we kind of started this as something for all of us to get into together. I had no idea what I was starting!!! LOL!!! Now I have 3 boys who all want there own tanks with a wide veriaty of fish! And I already want a bigger tank myself and we don't even have our first fish yet!!!!! No one warned me this was more addicting than crack!
 
Welcome to the addiction. Get used to seeing an empty wallet.
On the up side, with the March meeting you should be able to get some nice coral frags! Thanks for visiting us and feel free to pick our brains.
 
Come on guys. Dont scare him so bad. He doesnt have to go broke reefing.

There are lots of places he could get a 2nd job.

Welcome!!!
 
You don't have to go broke keeping a reef tank period. It's just like anything else in the hobby, patience is key. If you're already wanting a bigger tank, now would be the time to get it before you start adding living things to the one you're just now cycling. All you will be doing later is disrupting their habitat. Looking for good deals on used equipment, DIY projects, and good planning on those DIY projects can save you a lot of money in this hobby. By good planning I mean coming up with options and also the forethought to find stuff on sale. For instance, 2 weeks ago I purchased 2 Quiet One pumps while on sale 20% off for a tank I don't intend to set up for likely another 3 months.

HTH, and Welcome,
Will
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9411657#post9411657 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sperry
Come on guys. Dont scare him so bad. He doesnt have to go broke reefing.

There are lots of places he could get a 2nd job.

Welcome!!!
Click to expand...



HAHAHA so true!!! ..... BTW if you are new to the hobby might i suggest a fowlr ( fish only with live rock ) type tank b4 jumping into reefing blind .... keep it for a couple months and work your way up slow ... going out and spending the kind of money required to properly equip yourself for reefing with no experience is a mistake imo .... to much can go wrong on the lifestock side without you even knowing it
 
Well I know that there are a LOT of ways to save money and come out with a really nice tank. I agree with Chris that a FOWLR would be a nice starting place. Keep your fish "reef safe" and you can slowly work your way into a reef in a couple months. This way you can get used to a coral species and try another in the same line, branching into other more difficult ones. Give me a call sometime and we can get some conversation going and maby save you some money!
 
Or shop Goodwill and find your wet/dry filtration system (which I use as my sump) complete with heater, return pump and powerhead, for $24.99!! Or my stand from Salvation Army for $15. Or a large box of IO salt at Goodwill for $2!!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9412525#post9412525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bshumake
I agree with Chris
Click to expand...

My name iS NOT CHRIS!!!!!! :uzi: BOB!!! ....wait i meant Barret and you meant Jason :D
 
Hey thanks for all the input!!!! What kind of lighting for a FOWLR? I have been stuggling with looking at lights and all the differnt combos!!! Driving me crazy!! So maybe starting with reef safe fish and working to the corals would be good. But I would like enough light for so easy corals so I can add a couple. Really I love the corals!!!!
 
Re: Hey all, newbie here!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9407297#post9407297 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raymond3457
Now I have 3 boys who all want there own tanks with a wide veriaty of fish!
Click to expand...

Cool sounds like more Nanos in the clubs future.
 
likewise as to what was stated above. it will be a drain on the wallet but the hours of enjoyment and the fascination of the underwater world youre about to create will greatly offset the financial setbacks of it. you started off right by finding kermits, theres a great bunch of guys/gals there. im sure ill bump into you there after we move back to memphis here shortly. best of luck to you and youre boys, keeps us updated on the tank!<~~~steve
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9416901#post9416901 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raymond3457
Hey thanks for all the input!!!! What kind of lighting for a FOWLR? I have been stuggling with looking at lights and all the differnt combos!!! Driving me crazy!! So maybe starting with reef safe fish and working to the corals would be good. But I would like enough light for so easy corals so I can add a couple. Really I love the corals!!!!
Click to expand...

Lighting for a FO tank is somewhat of a moot point. Enough to see them well basically. The dual MH w/ VHO in another thread is a good choice when you do upgrade to a reef. For now you would be fine to run it with just the VHOs (might have to change the bulb color though) to keep from wasting the electricity and adding heat that results from running MHs.

For comparison, the cheapest ballast kit I've seen to run 2 4ft VHO bulbs (which is what I'd recommend for a FO, maybe T5s) is $60.
http://hellolights.com/2laaroasbaki.html

Add the cost of new bulbs to that, $48, http://hellolights.com/actinicwhite2.html

You're looking at a pretty good deal ($300 with new bulbs) on the used setup.

Then you'd probably want to change out the VHO bulbs again to True Actinics when you start using the MHs for corals. You could wait until they need changing in 6-12 months as well.

Or if you went with the T5 route you could
http://hellolights.com/482x54wtekli.html
with 1 10,000K bulbs and 1 Actinic for only $120 now.
 
Wow. Siffy is all on this! Thanks!
I agree with Siffy. A FOWLR is basicaly gonna need enough to see fish. Depending on ow good the LR is you might could benefit with stronger than NO fluoresents. I say VHO or PC. I have some retro PC's I'm looking at selling off. PM me if interested. With VHO and PC they can be used to supplement when you move up to MH. So basically, go VHO or PC and all you'll be doing is adding a space for a MH to go.
B
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9420715#post9420715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bshumake
Wow. Siffy is all on this! Thanks!
Click to expand...

I have internet again. And no social life during the week while in the Memphis area. Just work, work, work... Then the obcession during the evening. Or a lil tv.
 
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