New to the area and reefing.

[HeadDoc]

I have had a FOWLR tank for going on 2years now. I just recently moved to Brentwood and would like to convert my 75g Reef Ready in to a reef tank. I already have the lights and my tank is cycled. So Im looking for a good protein skimmer and some nice corals.

-George

 

[HeadDoc]

I guess I should mention a little more about me, LoL! I recently moved here from Miami, FL. I am a graduate from UM. I also recieved my PhD in clinical counciling from UM and BS in Oceanorgraphy.


Where are all of the store local saltwater fish stores in the Nashville area?

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

Depending on where you live most likey the closest is FINS in Franklin a bit south of you and a lit towards Nashville is The aquatic critter. Even further is Emerald Bay.


My favorite so far is the Critter , very large selection of corals and fish but a bit low on drygoods and equipment.

FINS is more of a small store. Very little in corals , a fair amount of fish and very few in the equipment and drygoods.

I still need to make it out to EBAY.

We just moved here a few months ago from CA , welcome to the area ! The next club meeting will be really close to you , hope to see you there.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10133264#post10133264 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crumbletop
<u>Nashville Area:</u>
The Aquatic Critter (http://www.aquaticcritter.com/) |<a href='http://www.mtrc.org/vendorpages/aquaticcritter.html' target=_blank>MAP</a>|
Emerald Bay (http://www.ebayfish.com/) |<a href='http://www.mtrc.org/vendorpages/emeraldbay.html' target=_blank>MAP</a>|
Fins of Franklin |<a href='http://www.mtrc.org/vendorpages/finsoffranklin.html' target=_blank>MAP</a>|

<u>Clarksville:</u>
L & L Pet World |<a href='http://www.mtrc.org/vendorpages/llpetworld.html' target=_blank>MAP</a>|
Pet Palace (http://www.petpalaceofclarksville.com/) |<a href='http://www.mtrc.org/vendorpages/petpalace.html' target=_blank>MAP</a>|

 

[crumbletop]

[welcome]

Welcome, George! I live in Brentwood too

There is a "where to buy stuff" thread stickied at the top that has some info on the LFSs, etc. MTRC members get a 10% discount at the 3 Nashville area LFSs.

RE corals -- folks from the club can likely hook you up with some frags. HowardCath made the transition from FO to a reef, much like you are. He may have some good pointers for you in terms of what he did to improve his water quality in order to keep corals.

RE a skimmer -- there are many options. Best would be someone in the club selling one used. You can usually get a really good deal that way.

 

[HeadDoc]

I saw the post about the stores after I posted that. I had just skimmed through the titles when I discovered this board.

Thanks everybody for the warm welcoming!

 

[fallinapart]

Hi George, Welcome
Hope your transition to reef tank will be a smooth and enjoyable one. Good to see your Oceanography background, I spent 2 yrs aboard an Oceanagraphic Survey ship back in the 70's, really fun, but I was in the medical field and only watched the Oceanographers do the work. Glad to see you in Nashville.

Norman

 

[Tennsquire]

As someone who also escaped the hell that S. Florida has become (at least I think so), welcome to Tennessee. I went over the wall in '91, and only go back when I have to. I think you'll find folks here much more pleasant; even downright agreeable at times.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10926670#post10926670 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HeadDoc
I guess I should mention a little more about me, LoL! I recently moved here from Miami, FL. I am a graduate from UM. I also recieved my PhD in clinical counciling from UM and BS in Oceanorgraphy.


Where are all of the store local saltwater fish stores in the Nashville area?

 

[torpedo101]

Hey welcome to tenn..moved last year from tampa area..i am thinking of selling some fiji live rock if interested have 50lbs ..oh did you ever meet richard from tampa saltwater store? welcome mary

 

[mikemartinez]

welcome... Good luck on your conversion from FOWLR to Reef... Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[HowardCath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10926975#post10926975 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crumbletop
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

Welcome, George!

RE corals -- folks from the club can likely hook you up with some frags. HowardCath made the transition from FO to a reef, much like you are. He may have some good pointers for you in terms of what he did to improve his water quality in order to keep corals.

Pointers from ME?? I've had my own brand of success this past year (happy with hardier soft corals) by doing just a few things that may have caused losses for me in the past. I am trying to KISS my way through reef keeping. I keep it simple partly because it seems to me that there are so many varied opinions on how to do things right, that I get confused.

I make my own salt water from tap water (my area has zero phosphates in the tap, but others may not be so lucky) and I don't use a skimmer (may be necessary for harder to keep hard corals - don't know). I have learned that the temp. in my tank varies considerably with the seasons in my house, so I learned to keep the tank cool in the summer by just opening the canopy and running a fan onto the water. I stopped deep cleaning my sand base, as I think I may have been disrupting good microbes. I stopped adding iodine -- hard to know if I was helping or hurting things. I don't add anything except Reef Complete (for calcium) and a buffer once a week. I change 20% of my water monthly. It's a schedule that I can easily maintain.

I don't have the beautiful hard corals that I've seen other members have, but I'm very pleased with what I have with minimal complexity of equipment. I like the fish as much as the corals and I've been able to keep 14 fish happy in my in 120 gal. tank. Also, a year ago, I had only 2 corals, so I feel I've come a long way.

It would be great to hear some oceanography tales. Looking forward to meeting you.