just starting

[schwintosky]

I'm about to buy a tank from this guy in Knoxville, and I'd like to join the ETRC in the next few months. Also wondering, does anyone have any old equipment they could sell me? The setup I am buying has some stuff but I'll need to see what works and what doesn't. Also I may need to get some more LR if anyone wants to sell any of that.

Thanks!

 

[schwintosky]

Also, if anyone is in the Knoxville area and has some free time next week I could use a pro's help in setting my tank up after I buy it from this guy and get it to my place. I'm getting fish and LR and some other stuff from him also. Just let me know. I'll buy you a six pack or something for the help/advice!

 

[fishdoc11]

Welcome to the ETRC forum and...

[welcome]

Chris

 

[ct_vol]

Whoo hoo!!!!!!! Six Pack!!!!!! Whenever you find out more about what you need, and when you need help, just post... There are a bunch of us in the club that would be willing to help...

And WELCOME!!!!!!!!!

 

[schwintosky]

So I got the tank and got it set up today. It's got a Fluval 304 filter and a Prism HOB skimmer. The lionfish I got with it is a Volitan I believe and he's about 7-8 inches; pretty big I think!!! Pictures to come...

 

[schwintosky]

Here are some pics of my setup.

 

[fishdoc11]

Looks like your off to a nice start. Also looks like you have plenty of live rock. Lots of us overfill our tanks when we first get started only to have to remove some later on. The lion looks happy
Chris

 

[ct_vol]

Looking good!!! :thumbsup:

 

[awcurl]

Looks good:bum:

 

[schwintosky]

Yeah, lots of rock and I couldn't see where I was setting it because of the muddy water so my arrangement isn't too nice. Took my water by the aquarium today and they said it looked good. Is there anyplace in Knoxville that does free water testing?

 

[ct_vol]

I would suggest investing in some test kits yourself... That would be the best way to go... Depending upon how advanced you want to go, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, pH, and Salinity are the most important... If any of those gets too far out of wack, it equals death... The other tests will just optimize coral growth and whatnot... But you may want to buy some of those further on down the line...

 

[schwintosky]

I've got 2 kits, one is red sea and the other I forget, but I was just worried about there age. Do the testing chemicals go bad after some time? I'm not sure how old they are, but was just afraid they wouldn't work well.

Also, anyone interested in a medium size lionfish? I think he may be too big for a 55g, but beside that my girlfriend wants pretty little fish and he's going to eat them all. If anyone would like to trade him for some smaller fish or some stonys or corals, that would be nice.

 

[fishdoc11]

Yes test kits expire and go bad. Calcium and Alkalinity are the two I test the most but I mainly have SPS corals (or used too ). Once your tank is cycled you won't use ammonia or nitrate unless something goes wrong unless you use it in a QT tank.
JMO, Chris

 

[ct_vol]

Yup... Need to make sure that tank is cycled... And buying that little bottle of "Cycle" at PetSmart does not equal cycling your tank... No LionFish for me...

 

[dww]

Looking Good

Looking Good

Looks good for you just starting out. Love the Lion Fish.

Donna