New to the Bay Area and starting up a new nano reef!

N

Newreeflady

New member
Hi there. I moved to Berkeley from Florida last year. Haven't kept any tanks since i've been here. Looking at setting up a 12g nanocube and would love the scoop on where to buy things in my area. I would like to support local reefers and dealers who support reef-safe catch methods and local breeders.

I have posted in the nanoreef forum with my startup plans for this tank. I plan to go down to The Octopus Garden in Berkeley tomorrow. I am hoping to find this tank in stock somewhere local to the Bay Area, so if anyone has seen it, please let me know where.

setup plans

As far as stocking is concerned, I will be looking for Indo-Pacific area specific coral, rock and inverts. I am not planning an sps heavy tank, this will be a tank that doesn't require calcium dosing. I may keep it soft coral specific due to toxicity. I might consider a captive bred bta and anemone shrimp.

So, I just wanted to introduce myself in case you hadn't seen me on the forums before (i've been out of the hobby for a while.) I hope to meet my fellow local reefers and hopefully do some buying and trading from you all in the future.

Thank you for your support!
Angela.
 
Welcome to Cali Angela!

Bareefers.org is a non profit organization that most of us are in where we interact with each other and get freebies :P

You can stop by SF and check out a few new stores that has been popping up. I do not know the addresses, but they were posted in the past week.

If you go to Fremont or that area, there is Atlantis Aquarium, Aquarium Concept, Aquascene, Great Bay Aquarium, and a few others.

SF you have 6th avenue, Lucky Oceans, Tropical Reefs on 28th and Taraval.

South bay.. I don't know. Don't really go there.

If you want to get live rocks, a lot of people around here are breaking down their tanks. You might get a good deal off of them.

That Carib Sea Bio Activate Sand looks really nice. Its not complete sugar grain, and its pretty white.

Here is a link of stores:
http://www.bareefers.org/resources.aspx
 
Hi Angela - last I saw in your area, Aquarium Concept in Hayward had some nice selection in Nano Cube.

Steve (good guy to know and talk to) in New Alameda (in Alameda) has a new nano cube type tank that is nice - I forgot what it's called but, it certainly a worth while to take a look at it. This type of tank also has the built in filtration in the back.

HTH.. Good luck in your search and welcome to the bay area.
 
Hi Angela, I am not too far from Berkeley and I think you are in good hands this side of the Bay without having to head into the city. My personal favorite is All About Fish which is in Pleasant Hill. Something a little closer is Wet Pets in El Sobrante. As already mentioned above make sure you check out our club's sites at www.bareefers.org We have an amazing group of members and access to some pretty cool things going on locally and not so locally (Our former President is currently running a coral propogatioon farm in Tonga!)

Welcome to the area and good luck.
Dave
 
Hi everyone! Thanks for your replies. I don't get to the city all that often, but would rather drive out there than order something online if the costs will be similar (who knows with Alameda tax!)

To-Arbritrate: Do you know how I can find Steve? Is that also his username? I'd love to ask what he has going and where he found it.

Capescuba: I will head out to the Octopus garden (South Berkeley on Shattuck) later on, the other stores will have to wait for a weekend. Have you been to this one? Thanks for the suggestions of your fav stores. I will definitely check them out. It is a lot easier getting around on this side of the bay (and parking!)

Psionicdragon: I checked out the site. Looks cool. I see you guys did a frag swap recently. I would love to meet up sometime and see members tanks. As far as rock is concerned, that sounds great if they would be smaller pieces. I know that when I had my large tank not much in there was suitable for a nano. I didn't see any LR listed in your buy/trade forum, though.

Thanks everyone! I will keep you updated on my progress and I hope to meet you all soon!

Angela.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6968187#post6968187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Newreeflady
To-Arbritrate: Do you know how I can find Steve? Is that also his username? I'd love to ask what he has going and where he found it.

Angela. [/B]
Click to expand...

New Alameda Aquatics

Steve can probably get you anything you'd like. But, I would check out the one on his counter.
 
Thanks!

I have joined the BAR club! You guys are so helpful, what a find. If only all communities were so active, the reefing world would be a better place:D

So, I guess i'm going to see about grabbing the car and heading down there.

Does anyone have a small piece or two of seasoned LR, maybe a handful of sand and/or a piece of used polyfiber media to spare? Once I get the tank running, it'd be great to avoid a cycle. :)

Thanks again, you guys are great!

Angela.
 
Newreeflady,
I some used southdown sand approx half of a 5 gallon bucket you can have. I can probably give you a cup of sand to seed also. PM
 
pm sent!

I visited The Octopus's garden today. I did not find anything there. They do not stock and do not like any jbj products. I understand that some of the tanks have cracked, so it is there preference for this. Although, I have had great experience with the lighting. I will leave a note in the fish store experiences thread here.

So, I look forward to getting to the Alameda store, but not able to make it today. The 6th street store in SF stocks the jbj 12g dx, but after reading reviews, i'm not sure I want to support that store so i'll be looking for other alternatives.

:)
Angela.
 
"All About Fish, Etc." in Pleasant Hill would be my suggestion, fair prices on dry goods, great prices on LR, and a great selection of everything.

good luck :)
 
Thanks all! I have found a local deal through the forum here. I'm looking for the following items, so if anyone has them for sale or sees them please give me the heads up:

-70w hqi retro kit.
-established small/medium live rock and/or rock rubble (local.)

Once set up, I will need a small clean up crew (a handful of small snails of different types, maybe some worms.)

So, if anyone wants to help out a local with some rocks and stuff, and in the future some tiny frags, let me know! I love small frags, I feel so accomplished when they grow up and I can frag them.

Anyhow, I will probably meet some of you at the meeting on the 8th.

thanks!
Angela.
 
Hey angela!
I'm in berkeley too!

Some cool places to checkout in terms of fish stores:
New Alameda (like people have said)
Lucky Goldfish in Oakland
All About Fish in Pleasant Hill (I work 4 min away actually)

Let me know if you need anything! I'm right around the corner!


Also, for raddogz: Metal Halides make tanks look brighter in general, IMO looks better brighter. I'm getting a 70watt hqi for my 5g pico that's only zoanthids, cloves, and a xenia ;) I believe she also mentioned wanting an anemone.

Also getting a Metal halide also gives her more options if she ever changes her mind to go SPS.
 
Hi all!

raddogz: I am going with MH to have more flexibility with the tank. I was initially planning a stock setup, but got a good deal on a tank locally without a working lamp, so decided i'd retro it. Yes, the tank will probably now be mixed, but i'm really not decided yet. Like I said, this will just give me more flexibility in stocking and in trading with all of you great locals!

koden: That's great! I'd love to check out your setup sometime! Thanks!

To-Arbitrate: Thank you for the link!! I found someone selling this exact kit on here, but didn't realize that the brand new unit was so affordable. You rock!

Angela.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6978936#post6978936 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Newreeflady
Hi all!

raddogz: I am going with MH to have more flexibility with the tank. I was initially planning a stock setup, but got a good deal on a tank locally without a working lamp, so decided i'd retro it. Yes, the tank will probably now be mixed, but i'm really not decided yet. Like I said, this will just give me more flexibility in stocking and in trading with all of you great locals!

koden: That's great! I'd love to check out your setup sometime! Thanks!

To-Arbitrate: Thank you for the link!! I found someone selling this exact kit on here, but didn't realize that the brand new unit was so affordable. You rock!

Angela.
Click to expand...

I got the illuming 70watt hqi retrofit last year, and my goodness it is wonderful. VERY well made, good reflector, good quality everything, free shipping, i'd highly recommend it. The reflector should fit most fixtures, but mine needed a bit of a modification. You should be good with that one.

there are some other slick fixtures already out that aren't too bad, there's one by JBJ called the k2 viper or something that clamps on and is very adjustable.
 
Welcome to BAR. Have fun setting up the tank. There are pics of ours tanks on the BAR forum under SF tank tour. In case you wanted to see what some people do.
 
Well, I stopped by Alameda Aquatics today, Steve is a nice guy. I did see a used jbj system like the one i'm getting and it looks like it might be a little more of a project to retro the halide in the hood. I still may be able to work it, but it will take some thought and a trip to home depot or two. I will see if anyone has retro'd this one and get plans if possible. That or I could try to get a clamp on and just take the hood off. I like those ones with legs, but not sure if they have them in 70w.

Anyone know the total height of the 70w illumig lamp and reflector?

Thanks!
-A
 
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