Need input please.

L

LuvinLife

New member
After the meet last night Brian and I were discussing a few options about a marine tank. Size is a big thing for us since our space is very limited. I have found a 60 gallon saltwater tank with stand that is already set up. It has 40 lbs of LR with corals, Fluval filters, seaclone skimmer, 2 Aqua Clear 70 pumps, Coralife 10,000 K / actinic lighting system. The price is very good IMO. We aren't set on this and haven't seen the tank.
My question is how hard would it be to move the tank and keep everything alive, and what else would I need? I know I would need a fuge, and maybe a sump?? Sometimes I feel like I am in over my head trying to start out. :confused:
 
My only input is to be careful and inspect it very closely. More what is in the tank than the filters and equipment. You can sometimes give yourself more trouble "taking over" someone's existing setup. Flatworms, aptasia (sp?) and all sorts of other things could make the experience more difficult and less pleasent down the road. Not knowing the origional owner I am only guessing.... did they dip their corals....where did the rock come from... are all good questions to ask. 60 is a pretty good size. If this is your first salt tank ever then I would suggest starting a bit smaller. It is less costly (unless you get into the exotic corals) to stock and water changes and cleaning are a bit more managable. Again I'm just giving my .02 Some will say that with larger water volume it is easier to keep your parameters straight but it is all relative. I wouldn't do like a 10 gal or something like that for the first tank but a 30 or 40 maybe. The fluval shouldn't be needed once you get your sump / fuge going. Skimming is really the only "mechanical filtration" you need. Some carbon or phosphate controll from time to time. Other than just the weight of rock and water and such moving the tank shouldn't be that bad. I'm getting ready to move mine too... be sure to take the corals and some water out beore you stir things up to much and make them the last to go in once you set it back up. You could then take out the rock and drain it. Leave the sand in and just move the tank. Rock back in water (new) then add the water you saved and then the corals. You probably don't want to put all new water in because that and the move might stress out whatever animals (corals and inverts) that you have. I think that is about it but I'm sure that some others will chime in. Look on the main forums of RC. There are a ton of threads about people moving/upgrading their setups and how they did it. Hope this helped some.
 
Thanks so much for your reply. This will be my first marine tank so I am new to everything. I am also thinking about a 30 gallon Nano by Finnex and starting out with everything new. I am really clueless when it comes to flatworms and such. The tank that I was asking about is in Roanoke, I might see if one or two members in the forum will come along and check it out with me. I don't want someone to take advantage of me because I am just starting out and I don't know any better:(.
 
I will agree and disagree with turbo.
I moved a 180 from Richmond to S.M.Lake and I used every drop of water from the tank and heat was the issue, lack of it. I lost a few corals but that was it. It took a large U-Haul to move so even though it was 6' x 2' tank it used 3-4x the splace when it was in pieces.
I would go with the largest system that you can afford. A 10gal tank is a lot harder to care for than a 60gal IMO. Heat salinity just playing with a finer line. Depending on what your goals are you do not have to go with all the high dollar goods. One of our good friends Thomas had one of the best tanks that I have seen and he didn't have sumps protien skimmer or great light. If you are thinking about the tank ask someone to come with you who has some experience with buying and moving tank. I would gladly help you guys out and there are a bunch more that would do the same.
Small steps.
 
I was just saying that as you get to the bottom of the tank/water. All that mung from the sand is probably not a good idea to transfer over but ????? I had a 180 and that was the worst move ever. Even empty the tank is a pain in the *** to move because that much glass is heavy. Or maybe I'm just a wimp??? My reasoning for starting small is just to not get discouraged. If you do your not out the $$$ that just salt and rock will cost you alone, much less time. Listen to ade though...he definately knows his stuff. Small steps definately.
 
Here is my opinion... There is an up-side and a down side to buying an established system ...

Up side is that you see what you get and there really arent many suprises ....
Down side is that you may not be getting exactly what you want .... When you say that the price is very good , that is a relative term ... What someone may be willing to pay I myself would probably not...

I say get the biggest size tank you feel comfortable with , can afford , and have space for.

What I would do is just what Ade said , get someone who know a bit to tag along ... I will volunteer and I am sure others would as well ...

The other option is to wait until you know exactly what you want and Patience is most definetly a virtue.... I have broken down systems and moved them , I have set up tanks and tore down tanks on a days notice, so it is possible , it's just not fun! .....

I usually will only buy systems if I have someone that wants everything else that I don't need... and then I keep what I want .... My advice is this .. Wait it out ... Do a tank crawl ...come see everyones setups and see what grabs your eye... What kind of fish do you want , what kind of corals do you like? ..Take your time in figuring all of this out .. this will mean less surprises and frustrations down the line... You will still have surprises and frustrations .. just less of them ...

This advice has been passed along through this reef club for a while and it allways hold true ... " Nothing good ever happens fast in reef keeping"


So to make a long post even longer I will say this ...


1) Do a tank crawl ..
2) Ask a million questions...
3) Get to know some of the member here ...
4) Take your time...
5) Don't rush into anything , as you will for certain regret it ...

All the best and it was great talking to you 2 at the meet sunday... My PM box is allways here and open =0)
 
My 55 was set up originally for fish only. It has compact flourescent lighting (230w), a filstar filtration unit (similar to Fluval), a seaclone skimmer, and a heater and thats it.

This tank quickly became an overflow for my 120, and to tell you the truth it has been so easy to maintain. The corals I put in there all thrive with the exception of high light stuff that I dont even bother trying. It seems to do better than the 120 and all I do for maintenace is the following.

-5 gallon water change weekly
-change the filtration media every 4-6 weeks and clean out the filters
-sample weekly, and add calcium, hardness, and iodine

if the coralife is only compact flourescent you will exclude yourself from most SPS corals, but can still put together a beautiful system with LPS and softies.

both my tanks are compact flourescent and I still manage to keep a few easier SPS (doing very well) and clams.

I really dont think moving a tank that size should be too much of an issue as long as you prepare and have some water made up ahead. I say if you can afford it, get it. you can allways mod as money becomes available, and you can allways find used equipment cheap.
 
Thank you all for all of your input:) The 60 gallon has a price of $450. Which to me is a very good deal since it has the skimmer, tank, etc. I have found a 75 gallon tank with stand for $150 that comes with a filtration system and a 65 gallon w/hood, light, filter,and stand that is set up for SW and coral for $275. I'm still not sure what to do. I don't want to rush into anything. I was talking to Brian last night and told him that I would much rather start from new to experience the whole SW set up and such. He is not very patient and he even said some of you were way over his head with SPS and such. LOL Bless his heart! But I was like that a few months agao and some things I still don't understand. But the more I research the more I am determined to have a reef tank!
As for the fish and such that I want the only thing I am set on is a purple firefish goby. The rest is up in the air right now because I have no idea what size tank I'll pick. I plan on having clean up crews that are reef safe and maybe a sand sifting star. As for corals I ahven't seen any that I wasn't in awe over! Right now I'm not set on anything, but just starting out I will need something hardy and forgiving.
A guy that I met online (in another forum who sent me the link to RC) has taught me alot about SW and has beautiful tanks and has answered alot of questions for me when I was just lthinking about setting up a reef. The internet is a great place for research and to meet good people. I am so glad I found this forum and look forward to getting to know each of you better and to learn from you all.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11220062#post11220062 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LuvinLife
The 60 gallon has a price of $450.
Click to expand...
IMHO, thats not a good price for the quality of the above listed equipment.

But, check it out in person and if you like what you see . . .
 
I agree. If you wait you can find tanks for FREE most of the time. There was a 200 gal. here with stand for free a few weeks ago. Check the main forums and check other sites too. People are always consolidating and upgrade/downgrade. I think you could get a lot more for < $450. But in the end it is your decision ............ I am impatient also so I know the struggle. Firefish are great and pretty easy to keep. Just be sure that you have some sort of anti-jumpout guard or hood. They can be jumpers and it sucks when that happens. I use that plastic mesh gutter guard (from Lowes) and just cut it to fit. You are more than welcome to come by and see my setup. Nothing major but we like it. I'd take some pix and post but the camera doesn't like to photograph the tank. Need a new one.
 
I would wait something better will pop up. Oh and i would get the biggest tank you have space for. It's actually easier with a bigger tank. Smaller nano tanks are actually not for beginners as the evaporation and other stuff happen very quickly in a small tank. More volume of water less room for mistake.
 
I love the firefish goby also but if you do not have a closed top it will end up dead on the floor, they are jumpers as ar many wrasses. I have lost many fish to the floors over the years and have learned to stay away from jumpers if your tank is open top.

Hate to see a $30 or $40 fish dry on the floor.
 
also the price is so so depending on the quality of the rock and corals, if it has nice rock and a few nice corals it becomes a good deal.
 
I have had a Purple Firefish successfully for almost 3 years ... No tops ever ... It can be done , there is just no science to it ... My best advice is that if you do add a Firefish , add it first with plenty of hide spots , and probably in a pair...Lots of rock that is set securely on the bottom .. and then add peaceful tank mates...
 
Each of you made some pretty good points, thanks for your input.
I am pretty sure that we have decided on the Finnex 30 gallon Nano. Finnex It comes with a fuge as well as many other features. IMO this will be much easier for me for my first SW tank. I will have to agree with the poster that said buying a already established tank could be bad because you may not be getting what you want. I know a 30 gallon limits what type of fish and how many that I can have but I'm OK with that because IMO the corals really make a tank come to life. Since the Nano comes with lighting (T5 24W X 2 + HQI 250W/10K ) I should be able to keep many types of corals. This IMHO is the best deal I have seen. I know some people are against beginners starting out in a Nano but I am committed at having a successful reef tank. I have had FW tanks almost all of my life and it is a hobby I take seriously. I think if I take my time and do it right I shouldn't have many problems.
The Nano will also be a great size for our home because with 3 FW tanks already set up in out Living Room we don't really have the space for a larger tank unless we get rid of some furniture
:lol:
 
I really don't think that a 30 gal is too Nano. It just makes it more managable. I think you went with the right thing and with that lighting setup you can keep any coral or clam you want. All in one (if you can afford it) really simplifies the experience. Not saying one is better than the other. It just keeps the Jerry-rigging to the minimum and honestly when you get into complex plumbing and sumps into fuge and all that you are asking for problems. Again they are the way to go in certain cases, like when you want a big tank or just have more volume, but evaporation is going to happen reguardless of your setup. Try to look into an auto top off system. This will further easy your aclimation into saltwater (pun intended) Good luck.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11227485#post11227485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by turbois300
I really don't think that a 30 gal is too Nano. It just makes it more managable. I think you went with the right thing and with that lighting setup you can keep any coral or clam you want. All in one (if you can afford it) really simplifies the experience. Not saying one is better than the other. It just keeps the Jerry-rigging to the minimum and honestly when you get into complex plumbing and sumps into fuge and all that you are asking for problems. Again they are the way to go in certain cases, like when you want a big tank or just have more volume, but evaporation is going to happen reguardless of your setup. Try to look into an auto top off system. This will further easy your aclimation into saltwater (pun intended) Good luck.
Click to expand...
With my first SW set up I want it to be as easy as possible to set up. Another reason for chosing this model. It is the best Nano I have found. Esp. the way it is set up with the skimmer and the fuge hidden. I am now looking into RO systems. Anyone recommend a certain kind?
 
If you look on drsfostersmith.com they have pretty much the hole gambit of setups. You can find one that will suite your needs for about $130-$150. I built one but if I could do it again I would have just bought one and been done with it....but. Also if you check out some of the sponsors they have the setups too. You want like a 3 or 4 stage I would say. Kent makes good stuff. That Pure H2O place seems to have good prices. You definately want the RO/DI . That really gets the water pure. Since you don't really need 100GPD or anything like that a smaller set up should do fine. I'll be getting one of these soon

http://www.purelyh2o.com/product.php?productid=16135&cat=249&page=1

Plus it has the ATO unit that comes with it to take out your top off issue.... But again......what do I know???
 
I think a 30 is a fine size... I have had my cube set up for a while now and love it ... Right now it only has a Clarkiiw/ Anemone & a Clown goby ... But for a while there I had all of my fish from my 72 in it and they did fine .... I dont think it limits you very much at all ... Good luck and keep us posted...
 
30 is a great size to start with. Yes it's still consider a nano but a big nano. lol it's easy to maintain just make sure you top off everynight.
 
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