Need help for my first tank

[McCarthy1984]

I have been reading into reef tanks on and off in the past 5 years. Now I finally have the time and know what I want.

Here are my requirements:

- shallow and minimalistic setup
- tank 48 x 36 x 16
- center / rear backflow, sump below
- white and bright sand
- white rocks
- only 2 rock island with only a few corals on each
- Corals: Australian Ultra Bleeding Apple Scolymia, Indonesian Blastomussa, along those lines
- only a few fish, probably 5 altogether, 2 shrimp, 1 crab

I want quality, not quantity. I also belive in the buy once, cry once ideology.

Now to my questions:

1.) Tank: I'm thinking about ordering the tank at glasscages.com. Do they deliver good quality? And better companies out there? I want low iron glass.

2.) Where can I find a good base / stand builder? Steel frame with no grain wood.

3.) If I don't go with a custom tank, the Red Sea Reefer 525XL is my alternative. Are these Reefer tanks ever offered with a discount?

4.) What rocks stay as white and bright as possible?

Thanks for helping guys.

 

[Cliving1]

Deep blue 80 gallon sounds like what your looking for, except steel stand. SC aquariums are also really good quality. I dont think any rock will stay white unless they are fake, and even then algae and what not will build up. I dont think the red seas go on sale much, and personally I would never pay that much for one.

 

[anthonys51]

glasscages gets mixed reviews, but cant b that bad if still in business all these years right.
but personally on that size tank, would probably just go with one of the stock tanks from deep blue, marineland, red sea. probably be quicker and cheaper.
red sea makes really nice tanks, but in my opinion little pricey and can probably piece a set up together for much cheaper (even more if you buy used)

also why do you want steel frame not wood cabinet, how are you going to hide all that plumbing and wires?

last finally comment your rocks wont stay white, not a chance. but that is a good thing, you want all that life to grow on them, its what you want, you dont want dead white rocks

 

[ericarenee]

the only way you can keep White Rocks is to have a couple sets and change them out bleaching and cleaning the old ones.. with a Large enough sump to house Live rock for Bio filtration... Never really thought about or had a reason to do this . but my opinion its the ONLY Way.

 

[McCarthy1984]

Deep blue 80 gallon sounds like what your looking for, except steel stand. SC aquariums are also really good quality. I dont think any rock will stay white unless they are fake, and even then algae and what not will build up. I dont think the red seas go on sale much, and personally I would never pay that much for one.

Just checked on those ideas.

The Deep blue 80 gallon is not deep enough, 24" instead of 36". It also doesn't offer a center overflow. SC aquariums doesn't offer anything matching either.

If I don't go with my alternative Red Sea 525XL, it needs to be 48 x 36 x 16, center / back overflow, low iron glass. When I go custom, no compromises.

Are there any other good custom aquarium builder? I'm in Florida by the way.

 

[McCarthy1984]

glasscages gets mixed reviews, but cant b that bad if still in business all these years right.
but personally on that size tank, would probably just go with one of the stock tanks from deep blue, marineland, red sea. probably be quicker and cheaper.
red sea makes really nice tanks, but in my opinion little pricey and can probably piece a set up together for much cheaper (even more if you buy used)

also why do you want steel frame not wood cabinet, how are you going to hide all that plumbing and wires?

last finally comment your rocks wont stay white, not a chance. but that is a good thing, you want all that life to grow on them, its what you want, you dont want dead white rocks

I checked on Marineland but can't find anything that even remotely matches my requirements. Are you talking about http://www.marineland.com?

I don't want 'quicker and cheaper'. That's actually the exact opposite of what I'm looking for. I want quality and have all the time in the world (retired).

 

[McCarthy1984]

the only way you can keep White Rocks is to have a couple sets and change them out bleaching and cleaning the old ones.. with a Large enough sump to house Live rock for Bio filtration... Never really thought about or had a reason to do this . but my opinion its the ONLY Way.

Do man made rocks stay brighter than natural rocks? Maybe I can archive a compromise with fake rocks in the display and a huge sump with plenty of natural rocks for filtration.




Just for confirmation: I do not want the average tank. In my opinion most tanks are overcrowded and messy.

This tank comes close to my idea (only the scaping, sand and minimalistic approach, just add double the depth to it):

 

[ericarenee]

i do understand the above type of tank.But Rock work rather its Live rock Diy Concrete rock or Plastic rocks will Get covered in one form of live growth or another. This is where the Bacteria that filters the water live as well as in the sand.. Maybe if you get some type of Fake plastic rock that you can scrub to keep clean.

Just my opinion.. The things that grow on the rocks is part of the environment .

 

[McCarthy1984]

i do understand the above type of tank.But Rock work rather its Live rock Diy Concrete rock or Plastic rocks will Get covered in one form of live growth or another. This is where the Bacteria that filters the water live as well as in the sand.. Maybe if you get some type of Fake plastic rock that you can scrub to keep clean.

Just my opinion.. The things that grow on the rocks is part of the environment .

Scrubbing and taking it out all the time is not a solution for me. I'll have a few corals on them. I'm also no fan of plastic. Is there any brand of rock that has the potential to stay at least a little bit brighter than others?

I just read that too much light will turn live rock white again, probably killing everything on the surface. When I keep lots of live rock in an oversized sump for filtration, might this be a solution? I could double the lights for example. Is too much light an issue for fish or the mentioned corals in my first post?

 

[ericarenee]

Scrubbing and taking it out all the time is not a solution for me. I'll have a few corals on them. I'm also no fan of plastic. Is there any brand of rock that has the potential to stay at least a little bit brighter than others?

I just read that too much light will turn live rock white again, probably killing everything on the surface. When I keep lots of live rock in an oversized sump for filtration, might this be a solution? I could double the lights for example. Is too much light an issue for fish or the mentioned corals in my first post?

To be Totally honest I have no clue.I just how how harsh a marine environment is on everything .I have seen a Fowlr tank with bright white coral skeletons as decorations.. But i know for fact the owner has two sets and changing them out is part of his monthly routine ..

 

[farfromsea]

Scrubbing and taking it out all the time is not a solution for me. I'll have a few corals on them. I'm also no fan of plastic. Is there any brand of rock that has the potential to stay at least a little bit brighter than others?



I just read that too much light will turn live rock white again, probably killing everything on the surface. When I keep lots of live rock in an oversized sump for filtration, might this be a solution? I could double the lights for example. Is too much light an issue for fish or the mentioned corals in my first post?

Many corals are photosynthetic and therefore sensitive to light intensity and you certainly just can't ramp it up to keep the rocks white... Definitely check out some books or articles online about keeping corals if corals are a must have before you jump all in.

As for not wanting the rocks to be covered in stuff maybe you can look at getting something that encrusts the rocks so you don't see algae such as mushrooms or green star polyps. That way you don't have to change out the rocks. But definitely I think you have to let go of the white rock imagery unless you want to be scrubbing and swapping.


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[jccaclimber]

1) GlassCages is a lot like WalMart. You might get good produce, and you might not. They are in business because their prices are much lower than everyone else's. Failed tanks aside the silicone often looks like it was someone's first tank. I know someone who got an 8' 240 from them and it actually had silicone fingerprints in addition to the sloppy silicone work. If you can live with this the price is good, I personally can't.
There are a ton of custom builders at all price points out there. If you can find one local to you saving on shipping really helps.

2) Rock color is going to be a function of conditions. Best case it turns purple with coraline. The reef tanks I've seen where the rock is sparkling white tend to be FOWLR where conditions are such that not as much can grow on the rocks and something is picking at them as well. Brand isn't really going to matter, it's all more or less porous limestone when you get down to it. Skewing towards the more blue end of white (higher color temperature) will help with the appearance.

 

[McCarthy1984]

1) GlassCages is a lot like WalMart. You might get good produce, and you might not. They are in business because their prices are much lower than everyone else's. Failed tanks aside the silicone often looks like it was someone's first tank. I know someone who got an 8' 240 from them and it actually had silicone fingerprints in addition to the sloppy silicone work. If you can live with this the price is good, I personally can't.
There are a ton of custom builders at all price points out there. If you can find one local to you saving on shipping really helps.

2) Rock color is going to be a function of conditions. Best case it turns purple with coraline. The reef tanks I've seen where the rock is sparkling white tend to be FOWLR where conditions are such that not as much can grow on the rocks and something is picking at them as well. Brand isn't really going to matter, it's all more or less porous limestone when you get down to it. Skewing towards the more blue end of white (higher color temperature) will help with the appearance.

Good info, thank you. Making notes.

I have a couple reef shops not too far away. I'll asked them about local tank builder. I do want high quality, GlassCages is out of the equation with that feedback.

I have to think about the fish only idea.

Maybe I'll have just 2 or 3 corals in the sand only and prep the rocks and keep them unplanted. Or I'll just have larger and flat stones in the tank. I really want it to be unique if not unusual.

 

[jccaclimber]

Good info, thank you. Making notes.

I have a couple reef shops not too far away. I'll asked them about local tank builder. I do want high quality, GlassCages is out of the equation with that feedback.

I have to think about the fish only idea.

Maybe I'll have just 2 or 3 corals in the sand only and prep the rocks and keep them unplanted. Or I'll just have larger and flat stones in the tank. I really want it to be unique if not unusual.

If you have the right conditions for healthy coral growth, even two or three, you will also have the right conditions for growth of lots of other things, which will grow on the rocks. I'd say cover the in coral, then the white won't be an issue. Somehow sand does tend to remain white, so you'll still have that.

AGE, Miracles (Canada), and several others may be worth checking in with and they all ship (make sure to include shipping/crating price). Low iron isn't that much more expensive than standard, although rimless can be a big additional expense depending on the maker. I would have advised Great Lakes, but the owner/builder passed away recently so they are out.

 

[anthonys51]

Your rocks won't stay white no matter how high you turn your lights. Some type of algae will grow on it


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[McCarthy1984]

If you have the right conditions for healthy coral growth, even two or three, you will also have the right conditions for growth of lots of other things, which will grow on the rocks. I'd say cover the in coral, then the white won't be an issue. Somehow sand does tend to remain white, so you'll still have that.

AGE, Miracles (Canada), and several others may be worth checking in with and they all ship (make sure to include shipping/crating price). Low iron isn't that much more expensive than standard, although rimless can be a big additional expense depending on the maker. I would have advised Great Lakes, but the owner/builder passed away recently so they are out.

AGE looks promising. We are talking http://www.acrylicandglassexhibits.com/, right?

Just send a request for a quote.

 

[jccaclimber]

Yes

 

[Joe0813]

you will never keep the rocks white... white rocks equals dead rock. and the rock is your bio filtration so you want them alive

 

[kegogut]

You might think you want the rocks to stay white and bright but once you start getting the pinks and purples of coraline algae on them you might change your mind. What I wanted when I first started the hobby compared to what I want now is completely different.

 

[innerspark]

Listen to everyone above. White rock, white sand = no bio filtration. You can still keep the minimalist look but there is no way to keep your rocks white without killing your bio filter.