My first 65

Sabres429

Member
<a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2qn5t75" target="_blank"><img src="http://i40.tinypic.com/2qn5t75.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> Just thought I'd share my first tank. My first tank was a 65 gallon Reef with a 20 gallon Sump. I had purchased about 90% of my stuff from A Reef Creation. I'm not saying their a bad store their good guys but now that I look back I've probably overpaid on a lot of things including corals and such. Don't get me wrong, they have beautiful tanks and probably some of the rarest corals but looking back now I probably would have done things differently.

All in all I've probably put around $10,000 into my first reef tank. I took down the tank with frustration. I was never able to see corals fully grow because I must of been doing something wrong, whether the tank would be around 82 degrees not sure if that's too hot or not. Maybe I was giving the tank too much light or not enough as I was not an expierenced reefer or I dosed the tank with too much Calcium, Alk, Mag. It was very dissapointing to spend all that money and not see the tank succeed so I took it down and sold it. You'll never get back what you paid for everything as you guys all know.

on the tank equipment wise I had
65 gallon tank
20 gallon sump
(2) Aqua Illumination Sol LED super blue fixtures with the controller.
(2) Ecotech Marine Vortech Mp10 w es with the wireless controllers.
About 60 lbs. or live Rock purchased from ARC
BRS Dual Carbon/GFO reactor
Reef Octopus NWB 110 Protien Skimmer.
The heater I forgot how many watts it was
All 3 Calcium, Phosphate, and ALk Hanna test Kits
Custom Canopy my Grandpa built me to house the Sol's

yes I went crazy for my first reef tank. I had two orange ocellaris clowns, yellow tang, purple fire fish, leoppard wrase, cleaner shrimp, tons of snails.

I had lots of corals I would spend tons and tons of money on expensive corals but was never able to see them grow or keep them extremely dissapointed. As you've seen my threads I'm going to go with the Nuvo 24. I hope to be able to keep this tank stocked with lots of corals and be able to keep them healthy and I will be sure to ask you guys questions when in need. I'm going to wait for the fall when summer is over and the Buffalo winter's get boring. I'm not into soft corals. I want to try a lot of chalices, acans, clams, monti, torches, toadstool, and maybe some sps.
 
Well there's plenty of info right here on this forum to hopefully save you money and keep you happy! Including the owner of Reef Creation ha
 
it's not extreme. The 65 gallon tank 25 gallon sump the 4 bulb T5 fixture and NWB 110 were $1,5000 alone. At the time the AI sol super blues were $500 a fixture I had 2 plus the controller. I spent around $450 on rock alone. The Ecotech Marine Mp10wes are $250 a piece so right there were talking around $3,000. I purchased everything new. That doesn't include all the test kits, reactors, RO/DI salt, fish, Coral extra carbon/GFO. I only had the tank around 1 year.
 
I can understand some of the equipment costs, but $7000 on

"test kits, reactors, RO/DI salt, fish, Coral extra carbon/GFO"

IMO that's extreme, at least for me.
 
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You enter the URS Forum with a couple of posts that slam ARC heavily.
There are reasons somone would do that. Tread lightly.

Agreed. We all have our opinions about certain places but reef central especially URS isn't here to trash local establishments. We should be greatful we gave such great local stores. Especially Randy is a very well respected member and from what I've been told a big part/founder of URS. What we all can do is help each other out with great info tips tricks etc...to help each other have beautiful hone aquariums we can be proud of.
 
Agreed. We all have our opinions about certain places but reef central especially URS isn't here to trash local establishments. We should be greatful we gave such great local stores. Especially Randy is a very well respected member and from what I've been told a big part/founder of URS. What we all can do is help each other out with great info tips tricks etc...to help each other have beautiful hone aquariums we can be proud of.

Exactly!!! I have never met the man but been to his shop many times, have heard nothing but great things about him, and the work he started here is for all to enjoy.....a collective share of knowledge....not a place to slander. We all have our favorites...nothing will be gained by talking nonsense
 
Anyway......
When u decide to pull the trigger on that nuvo post some pics up. Love those systems they sweet as hell. I wrestle with getting the 38 a lot, but regardless of size they nice tanks
 
I'm not here to Bash ARC by any means and yes I've dealt with Randy many occasions and have nothing but good things to say. He has some of the most rare and unique corals around and extremely gorgeous tanks. I had purchased 90 percent of my stuff from him. Everyone has their own opinions.
 
I didn't think you were bashing. You'd get a lot less kickback if you just said a 'local store'. If you buy at a local outlet you are going to pay more than if you're in a tight knit club where you can find used or the best places to order things. G said it the best to me - "Yes there is markup but there has to be. We're not a charity."

That said, welcome to RC. Great people w/ great information.

I don't even want to say how much my brand new system cost me. People might get mad at me.

EDIT: Oh, I wanted to add, don't make this hobby harder than it needs to be. You can combat 99% of problems with large water changes. My tank doesn't have any room for more corals and I don't even dose. This is not the optimum way to do it and I have trouble with more sensitive SPS (some SPS grows great). I recommend the 40% water change every other week to anyone starting a reef tank.
 
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