New hobby I've found, time for a huge thread.

[BrianKC]

Will the LFS truly quarantine? Usually LFS have all their tanks running on the same overall central return sump so they aren't quarantined, just held in a separate tank for observation. That isn't really QT. who knows whether the last day held wasn't the day flukes, ich, etc were introduced to the system. My LFS got hit by something (dunno what) but within 48 hours every tang in the place was showing severe HLLE. You should also make sure they don't run with constant copper to mask any illnesses.

You will get a variety of opinions, but I'm with you on just dipping coral before placement.

 

[ClownFishGuy6]

What's this CL you are all talking about is it a website? Can someone link me

 

[BrianKC]

What's this CL you are all talking about is it a website? Can someone link me

Ha. I'm not sure I'd buy "used bacteria" from Craigslist but it's worth a shot!

 

[leviburns89]

I was hip to that knowledge as well, but this is just a small ma' n pa' lfs, he had a 200g tank with only live rock, and said some of the rock at the bottom was almost 7 years old, with no signs of aptasia or other pests. They mostly have just bread n butter fw fish. But they have a small sw room, most of the tanks are on a circuit, but they have a set of about 15, 5 gallon tanks, that are on individual systems. The owner seems super down to earth, and really knows his stuff, so I may take his word on it. It's also on my way home from work, so I could stop by every night to check up on it, without any extra hastle.

Kinda my best option. Next best, is ordering str8 from liveaquaria, (which is 3 hours away) and getting next day delivery, and doing a simple fw dunk, followed by a medicated dunk.

Not optimal I know, but I also know several people who just dump the whole bag in the tank, and have success. So I figure if I do what I plan on doing, I'm 100X safer than those guys, and still make my wifey happy.

 

[leviburns89]

What's this CL you are all talking about is it a website? Can someone link me

I would also say, you probably shouldn't buy bacteria or live things from Craigslist. Lord only knows what the person has had going on.

That being said, I would be more than willing to ship the needed portion free of charge, as long as shipping is paid for on your end.

 

[BrianKC]

I was hip to that knowledge as well, but this is just a small ma' n pa' lfs. They mostly have just bread n butter fw fish. But they have a small sw room, most of the tanks are on a circuit, but they have a set of about 15, 5 gallon tanks, that are on individual systems. The owner seems super down to earth, and really knows his stuff, so I may take his word on it. It's also on my way home from work, so I could stop by every night to check up on it, without any extra hastle.

Kinda my best option. Next best, is ordering str8 from liveaquaria, (which is 3 hours away) and getting next day delivery, and doing a simple fw dunk, followed my a medicated dunk.

Not optimal I know, but I also know several people who just dump the whole bag in the tank, and have success. So I figure if I do what I plan on doing, I'm 100X safer than those guys, and still make my wifey happy.

If what they are telling you is true, I'd say it totally optimal.

Also, don't let the LA hype fool you...even though they're great, if you ever order a fish from them you should still fully QT it. I've dodged the bullet so far but after all my reading of horror stories, it's QT all the way from now on.

Also...since you're so close to LA would they still do shipping, or could you just go pick it up? That's the DD facility right? I heard they allow local reef clubs arrange "field trips." You should do it.

 

[leviburns89]

Also...since you're so close to LA would they still do shipping, or could you just go pick it up? That's the DD facility right? I heard they allow local reef clubs arrange "field trips." You should do it.

Yea, their main shipping facility is in Wisconsin, and I live in western Minnesota, so it's not far at all.

I will make a post on my local club, and see what they can come up with.

THAT being said, my local club probably has someone with clowns for sale. Local clubs are the way to go, I've seen several people get $1000 Worth of coral frags for free just by asking.

An average of $45/frag adds up super fast. I watch unboxing vids all the time, and these guys order like 15+ varieties at a whack. Meanwhile I'm punching the calculator, wondering what drugs they sell to pay for all that.

 

[BrianKC]

Yea, their main shipping facility is in Wisconsin, and I live in western Minnesota, so it's not far at all.

I will make a post on my local club, and see what they can come up with.

THAT being said, my local club probably has someone with clowns for sale. Local clubs are the way to go, I've seen several people get $1000 Worth of coral frags for free just by asking.

An average of $45/frag adds up super fast. I watch unboxing vids all the time, and these guys order like 15+ varieties at a whack. Meanwhile I'm punching the calculator, wondering what drugs they sell to pay for all that.

That's me [emoji51] I sell software instead of drugs, though. Landlocked in Kansas City with one LFS that charges $75 for a 10-polyp zoa frag and another that doesn't tend to have a lot of unusual stuff, that's what it's come to.

 

[leviburns89]

That's me [emoji51] I sell software instead of drugs, though. Landlocked in Kansas City with one LFS that charges $75 for a 10-polyp zoa frag and another that doesn't tend to have a lot of unusual stuff, that's what it's come to.

Haha I know the feeling, I visited about 3 LFS, and they all had the smallest frags for about $60-$100 a pop.

Made those online shops look reaaaaallly good. Especially considering that's probably the same place they are ordering from.

Makes me want to start an lfs lol

 

[BrianKC]

Haha I know the feeling, I visited about 3 LFS, and they all had the smallest frags for about $60-$100 a pop.

Made those online shops look reaaaaallly good. Especially considering that's probably the same place they are ordering from.

Makes me want to start an lfs lol

My wife occasionally threatens to become a real estate mogul and make tons of money and worries that I'd be threatened by her income. I always tell her that I'd love it because I could open up a reef shop. I don't think there's any real money in it (there's too much markup too far up the supply chain), but it sure would be cool.

 

[leviburns89]

My wife occasionally threatens to become a real estate mogul and make tons of money and worries that I'd be threatened by her income. I always tell her that I'd love it because I could open up a reef shop. I don't think there's any real money in it (there's too much markup too far up the supply chain), but it sure would be cool.

I have seriously wondered how they can stay in business... it seems more like a hobby than a business. Once you crunch the numbers, they have to be breaking even, at best.

 

[BrianKC]

I have seriously wondered how they can stay in business... it seems more like a hobby than a business. Once you crunch the numbers, they have to be breaking even, at best.

Yeah...the better of the two had to retreat from a pretty choice shopping center to the middle of nowhere. I actually thought it had closed til someone tipped me off. I guess rent was too much. The pricey one is in one of the most expensive shopping centers in the whole metro. They offer complete tanks, livestock, and monthly maintenance. My wife's theory is that they prey on buzzed doctors, lawyers, and dentists who wander in after dinner and say "yeah! I want that in my lobby! $5,000 for a nano cube, average coral, and a pair of clownfish sounds just fine! You'll come take care of it for just $??! per month? Perfect!"

 

[leviburns89]

Quick update:

Tank is looking great. Haven't noticed any algae blooms or bacterial blooms as of yet.

The live rock I added is showing a few asterina starfish, a few chitons, and a micro brittle starfish.

Did a 12% wc yesterday.

My testing supplies were supposed to be delivered yesterday, and I even got a notification saying they were delivered. But everyone at my house said nothing showed up. So I think it got delivered to my neighbors house, and they kept it for themselves. I filed a claim thru usps, and will be filing a claim thru amazon on Tuesday.

Had vinegar running thru my veins, I know my POS neighbors took my package, and now I have to wait 2 more weeks before I can order more. I would go to my LFS for tests, but they cost $97 at the LFS vs $39 on amazon.

 

[BrianKC]

Hopefully they realize their mistake. My neighbor accidentally got one of our packages a while ago but it sat for a day until the wife went to open it and realized it wasn't theirs. Hubs didn't look at the label.

 

[leviburns89]

Well I've had issues with these neighbors before. The guy flat out said, we never got a package. But the mailman said that's where they put it.

So hopefully amazon let's me do a resend, I've already filed a claim with usps. Amazon is usually really good about these things.

Just bummed me because I really wanted to see the numbers on my tank for the first time.

Went to a few LFS to look at corals, and it got me super geeked up.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

My wife occasionally threatens to become a real estate mogul and make tons of money and worries that I'd be threatened by her income. I always tell her that I'd love it because I could open up a reef shop. I don't think there's any real money in it (there's too much markup too far up the supply chain), but it sure would be cool.

I think you have to do tank service to make it profitable

that said when she does become a mogul I am ready to move to god's country and become accountant / assistant

 

[leviburns89]

Well, I've opened a file with USPS, and they will be sending an investigator to my dbag neighbors house.

In the meantime, I contacted amazon, and without question, they sent me a new order, and should arrive this weekend.

So I'm only a week off track. Really wanted to have some documented params by now, but oh well. I guess this extra week of waiting should only help.

Tank is looking great, still no blooms. I've noticed a few of the tiny asterina starfish are getting pretty big, they started off the size of a bb, and now the ones I can see are about the size of a pencil eraser. So almost a doubling in size.

 

[leviburns89]

Ok ladies and gentlemen, the results are in.

Finally got my test kit in the mail.

It's the red sea ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, and kh kit.

I only did the first 3.

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10


I don't know if the red sea kit nitrate test is 10 ppm or .1ppm.. it doesn't specify.

This test was conducted after 3 weeks of ghost feeding, one dose of smartstart complete, 10 or so lbs of liverock, and weekly 10% wc.

I won't be able to afford my first livestock until the first week of March, but ironically, this is right on track with my first post. So I think I'm doing pretty good.

Tank isn't showing any signs of algae, or dinos, or anything. All still looks clean n clear.

Lights will be going on 8 hrs a day, starting this week.

Will be using 1 ati blue plus, alongside a 10000k grow bulb. Both are 48" 54w.

This lighting combo will be my starting spectrum for my corals. Leds will be introduced in roughly a month, give or take a week. Leds will be used in combination with the t5 combo.

Lemme know what yall think.

 

[BrianKC]

I'd call that 15 on the nitrates. But, you're doing well! 15 at the end of a cycle is good! A couple of water changes and you're in good shape (after all, that ghost feeding goes ammonia > nitrite > nitrate, and nothing removes nitrate except water changes). Happy you found a lighting solution that works!

 

[BrianKC]

Also. You should check phosphates. Ideally start with that under control as well.