New member looking for direction

[daveverdo]

EllieSuz and Capt_Cully both brought up the 75g vs 90g question (Ithink I posted 70g earlier but meant 75g, sorry). When choosing my current tank I was undecided between the 90g and 75g. I said if I need the same stand and canopy for both why not get the 90g it will only be small percentage more and I get a bigger tank. I choose the 90g. In retrospect, I think the 70g would have been just as good, would have cost less, would have kept my sleeves drier (as EllieSuz pointed out), the lights I have would have provided more intense light at the bottom of the tank, and I would have as much "empty space" in the upper levels of the tank where light is most intense.

My tank is up about 8 months and is beginning to fill in. I still need to build up the rockwork higher to let some of the corals be closer to the lights. This isn't a great representation of what a 90g tank can look like because the aquascaping is only the first iteration. As I said I plan to make the stack higher.

Dave Aquaria

One thing to keep in mind, the tank and stand are small cost compared to other things. In my opinion the two single biggest cost in setting up are the lights and the live rock.

 

[Neoz]

dave great information there. I would say I am going to use a sump . There are a ton of benefits to it as I now see thanks to your post. But when that times comes will that book explain to me step by step how to make a sump and hook it up?

We will now be studing about clowns and seeing what they are all about. But we both agree (my wife and I) we like the soft looking corals. So we will be doing some researching about them as well.

I can't begin to tell you all how glad I am to have the help of this forum. It seems we have so much research to do before we even purchase one piece of equipment! Even the lights I see.

Here comes a question and I know many many factors can impact this but.. beside the tank and stand. What would be a FAIR assetment of cost for equipment to build a 70 gallon setup? Not talking sand, coral fish, just equipment. Plan on going used for most of it but good quality. $2000, $5000? Not looking for exact. Just trying to get some sort of budget together for our project. Because we really have no concept of what equipment costs for this hobby.

We have changed our mind and will be going with a 70/75 gallon tank. It only makes sense after reading..

 

[daveverdo]

Don't base your decision to get a 75g on my comments alone, let some other chime in.

Much of the cost issue depends on how handy you are. There are many things can be do it yourself projects. I built my own stand out of walnut (I have not finished the raised panel doors yet, it has only bee six months) and it most likely cost more than a store bought stand. I also built the canopy and used retrofit T5 lights. As I mentioned earlier I am plumbed to a basement sump. I did not use a lot of live rock. I don't have an exact figure but I know all the hardware, sand and live rock cost less than $1500. So it can be done for that. I also wasted some money on things that didn't work out as planned. If you get some used equipment you can most likely cut that price a little. If you get more rock and higher end lights (which you might need to keep an anemone) you might go a bit higher. Don't think you will get up to $5000 unless you get the most expensive version of everything.

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[daveverdo]

One other thing, if you are thinking of going with a sump, you may want to consider a reef ready tank. That is one that is drilled and set up to work with a sump. Sumps can be made out of pretty much any tank that fit in your stand and can be gotten used for little expense.

Off the top of my head I don't think Paletta talks about sumps to much in his book, but ask on this board and you will get lots of help.

Dave

 

[daveverdo]

There are also things like this.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1527185

You could have gotten the whole shooting match for $900.

If you see adds like this, ask here to see if it is a good deal.

People will give their opinions, thats for sure.

Dave

 

[Neoz]

That seemed like a good deal but as you said I would have to ask as I'm not sure. Of course good deals always come up when your not ready right.

I would have to get a tank and stand setup as I'm not a handyman with wood. When the time comes I will get a reef ready tank. I seen them in the local fish store.

Also it wasn't just your suggestion that changed my mind on the size of tank. I read several other threads commenting on the very things you pointed out. But I need to research more for my clowns and the anemones. If my studies show I need the extra volume then I'll go that route.

I would really love the opportunity to see a complete setup in person. Sump plumbing and all. Maybe be able to wrap my head around things better. Maybe see if the local fish store has a full setup to view. Not sure... Off to read more...

 

[daveverdo]

Your location only says NY, where are you located? There are lots of people in the Binghamton area that would generously let you in to see things. Same over my way in Elmira/Horseheads/Corning.

You could just start a new thread asking who is willing to show off their tank in your area.

Dave

 

[Neoz]

Yeah I might do that after I get more of my questions gathered up. Try to at least start understanding how the equipment works and such. I actually live in Whitney Point NY. But travel to Endicott everyday as I work there.

 

[fatrip]

as it is the holidays now im not sure who would be offering up to show you there set up right now but i would look into asking SPN, with a behind the wall sump, frankandmaura, which has an under the stand sump, as well as Dr. bronx for the under tank sump. and nwrogers for the basement sump just to get a good idea of three different ways to plumb. also thepircs has an interesting set up to see as well. I would offer mine up but it was just down graded to a 22g with the sump built into the back of the tank. all of these tanks are in the general vicinity of vestal and endwell. if i left some one out that would want to show off i am sorry...lol...just going of the top of my head from ones in the area.

 

[Neoz]

Yeah as I said after the holidays get by and I do a lot more research and learning then I'll post and see if I can take a look under the hood so to speak

I'm looking to get a few different ideas and or views. Try to really take my time doing my planning and setup. Hopefully do this right the first time. I don't mind learning from my mistakes, just want to keep those mistakes to a minimum

 

[fatrip]

So you said that you want a clown fish and anemone in the tank. with that combination I would say that depending on the anemone really the only corals that would live in peace with it would be soft corals esp if the anemone is very active and moves around the tank. just some food for thought

 

[fatrip]

well i would say to get your head rapped around the chemistry part of it first. chem this is a really good thread that has a lot of articles by Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley, a very knowledgeable chemist that has done great amounts of research into the topics that he has written about.

 

[fatrip]

another thing to think about as well would be if this is in a living room or a place that noise level should be low i would take that into accountability when choosing some of the equipment that would be going in and under the tank...

 

[thepircs]

you are more than welcome to come and look at our setup, please just let us know when!
btw, we have had many types of clowns and all but 1 pr has hosted.
Carol and David Pirc

 

[Neoz]

Yes this setup will be going in the living room. So the noise level would need to be on the quiet side. I expect to pay more for better equipment to accomplish this.

Did i read your post right "if the anemone is very active and moves around the tank" You mean the clown fish right? Unless anemone's move? Because I was not aware of that info..LOL Too funny... I thought they stayed were you put them.

I have to locate a book on clowns to see how many and what different types go with what anemones. We would like a variety if possible.

thepircs I would love to take you up on your offer to see your setup. oh and here comes another question... what does hosted mean? Noobie here.

 

[Neoz]

Just seen this on Craiglist and was wondering if this is worth what they are asking? Course I don't want to really buy anything until I know what setup I need. Is it possible to go to big for a first time setup?

"up for sale is a 125 gal fishtank. it comes with brand new glass hoods, 6' light. store bought stand. stand alone was more than $400. tank cost over $300. live rock is seperate, but will sell for $100 extra. also has the salt water. this is over a $1,000.00 worth of equipment for $500.00. if you want the live rock it is an extra $100.00. the live rock is over 7 years old and worth well over $16 per lb"

 

[thepircs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13965795#post13965795 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Neoz


Did i read your post right "if the anemone is very active and moves around the tank" You mean the clown fish right? Unless anemone's move? Because I was not aware of that info..LOL Too funny... I thought they stayed were you put them.

Anemones move. My two Rose Bubble tips move constantly.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13965795#post13965795 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Neoz


thepircs I would love to take you up on your offer to see your setup. oh and here comes another question... what does hosted mean? Noobie here.

Hosted means that the clowns go into the anemone. Yes just like in "Finding Nemo". The clowns tend to get a bit more aggressive when they host and if you have a small system then different types of clowns may not work out. Here is a picture of a clown of mine hosting.

This rose even climbed into a frag specimen cup.

 

[daveverdo]

Anemones are mobile they move around.

A good general reference book on marine fish is Scott Micheal's Pocket Guide to Marine Fishes.

A lot of good information about all types of fish. He does talk about which Clowns tend to host with which anemones. It is a general reference. A similar book is Ronald Shimek's Pocket Guide to Marine Invertibrates which will have some basic info on different Anemones.


Amazon has a search in side feature, search for something like Clarkii in the Fish book to see what the books are like. You can search for Rose Anemone in the Invert book for examples.

Dave

 

[fatrip]

first yes i meant the anemone. depending on the type and actually the individual specimen they move around the rocks to find a place they like. some time they don't like any place and keep on the move. also I personally wouldn't suggest to have more than on pair of clowns usually they are very territorial and will fight with each other until one pair dies off esp in a 75 or even a 90 gallon tank.

host is when the pair of clowns live in the anemone, some clowns will not even go in an anemone. my pair that i had, now dave and carol have the pirc's, hosted in a patch of pom pom xiena.

no not a good idea from the post i would say that it isnt reef ready so it doent have any hole to go to a sump and that the rock that is in there was bought locally. the 6" light since the rock is 7 years old i would guess that it is NO light...Noraml out put and wouldnt sustain coral let alone an anemone. and if those conclusions are correct then the tank had a hang on back filtratino system which wouldnt filter the tank well and i would say that the rock, if it was really in there for 7 years would be full of phosphates, and nitrates that would not be good to have in anything other than a fish only system....just my thoughts on the tank...lol...srry for the rant.

 

[daveverdo]

thepircs

thepircs

Dave,

Just curious what lights do you have for Rose?

Dave