New to the area

DripN.Wet

New member
Hey there everyone, I just wanted to kinda say hi and ask a couple questions as I am new to the pittsburgh area...actually in ohio but close to pittsburgh. I currently am looking for inexspensive frags and equiptment for my reef tank.... the tank has been up and running for about 7 months and the few fish and corals i have are doing great, it's just getting boring looking at the fake corals in the tank. So it is time to stat adding a little more. Anyone willing to help me out with info will be greatly appreciated.

thanks everyone
--Chad
 
The best way to get frags and find local used stuff stuff is to come to the meetings - there is a Chinese auction for frags each meeting that people donate to the club. Talk to people there and we will certainly help you out with what ever we can. What specific equipment are you looking for?
 
acer, thanks for the reply where are the meetings and when are they held? I have a 125 gal reef 75 gal refugium protien skimmer and a metal halide fixture I would really like a calcium reactor and a nitrate reactor...I am thinking I can probably make a simply one but don't really know the best place for purchasing the media for in it....still new to the reef tank so I really have a limited knowledge of terms and abbreviations.
My local fish store is a small store with little to no knowledge on saltwater fish....so far i have been pretty lucky finding lights and live rock through friends that know people and my fish that I currently have came from a small pet store that went out of business the 28th of feb. I am not really lookg for high end corals or frags at this time as i want to make sure i have more knowledge before keeping delicate corals. So I guess I am looking for the things no one else wants. Anything hardy and nice to look at.
Also I would like to know what do you feed your corals, or what do you suppliment them with? I am currently feeding microvert and frozen phytoplankton...should i look for other options? Are there other options that are less exspensive, this is just what was reccomended to me from the store that went out of business..... microvert there was 24.99 for a 16oz bottle and the phytoplankton was 6.99 for a small pack of cubes

thanks --chad
 
I use live phytoplankton for the smaller polyp corals such as gogians and pipe organs and it definitely helps the copepod population. I grow cultures in my basement.
I also use frozen cyclop-eeze and daphnia, at times I'll feed the paly's and torches squid and clam.
I could get you some phyto to start growing your own culture for yourself if you'd like.
 
I use DT's phyto only about 1x/week and cyclopeze 1-2x/week. Meeting dates are listed under PMASI club - top of the page thread- we do have a website also= pmasi.org I believe. I am sure people have frags of beginner/hardy corals that they will sell cheap. Sounds like your set with the basic equipment - I do not have either a calcium or nitrate reactor- so I would not be one to get info from. I know a great way to get frags is go to the Cleveland fragswap. I usually pick up several at that event.
 
hey chad, always nice to hear from somebody new. Most corals are photosynthetic, if you didn't know, but as mentioned feeding them is a good idea esspecially if you want them to grow fast. I use a product called phytomax. i think it works great and you only need 1-2 drops per 50gal. a few times per week. I also wanted to make you aware that you can build your own ca reactor for cheap, if you get the parts from lowes. hears a link that i think would work great. http://michiganreefers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64781
Then just get you media online from any of the top suppliers. Hope this all helps.

Derek
 
I built something very like what's listed above, and would be happy to help with whatever you need to make it happen, but it is a kalkwasser reactor, not a calcium reactor, just to make sure to make the clarification, because in this hobby, they are about as different as could possibly be, and still achieve the same basic ends.
 
Wow!!! You guys are great!! so much info that you are willing to share, now that is priceless in a hobby that can be quite exspensive.
``the2ofus-- I would love to have some live phyto for a culture if you'd be willing to share the secrets of growing a culture.
``Masterderrull-- great link very informative and even a dummy like me should be able to follow those plans. Oh, and where would i get the phytomax seems a drop or two a week would be alot better than the 3 Tsp 2-3 times a week.
``cloakerpoked-- would be cool if you would give me a hand, i'd greatly appreciate it and i'll have to see what i can find out about the two devices and see which is better.... any suggestions??
``Misled--(WAVES BACK)

thanks again i really appreciate the info and suggestions
 
I could probably make you a mini zoanthid starter pack if you would interested. It would include 5 or 6 different kinds, probably 6-10 polyps each. Let me know.
 
Hey man, I live in Shadyside, and my buddy lives in Martins Ferry. That shop you were talking about is Tanks A Lot isn't it? If you ever want to get together and see what we've got going on with our setups, just let me know. My buddy, Raptor 90 on here, has a 90 gallon with a 75 sump, and I've got a 75 with 30 sump, as well as a standalone 30 gallon. We are in the process of setting up a 70 gallon frag tank to hook up to my system now.
I'm in Pittsburgh right now, and will be until Friday, but like I said, if you wanted to stop over, we may be able to help you out with some frags for cheap. Also, on the 4th is the Cleveland drag swap, lots of good stuff up there.
-Mark
 
that's not too bad, about an hour away from my place. I used to work up in Cadiz with Ryan (Raptor 90) at Finney Automotive. He's the one who got me into this hobby. Just send me a PM if you want to set something up, I work in Martins Ferry at Frito Lay so I get done around 1-2pm Thursday through Monday. You got any pictures of your setup?
 
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