returning to hobby

[surfingdude]

Hello all...new to the hobby, well not really, been away for about 30+ years. Had both salt and fresh but it looks like some things have changed. Was gonna do a cichlid tank but decided to the salt route.

Purchased a 60 gallon and as of a couple weeks ago, have everything up and running. I did go with a canister, but from what I read, a no no but may replace it with a sump in the future and use the canister for a future cichlid tank. I will be cleaning the filter out regularly to avoid pollution.

Guess I should of came on the forum sooner, but did have someone with salt experience to point me in the right direction on items I would need. So far everything is going good and parameters looking good.

I built the stand...did not like the particle board looking stand it came with..no way I was gonna trust that stand.

framed it out in 2x4's and wrapped it in 1x's. This is going to be in the living/kitchen/dining room. Its just one big room and built it to kinda match the decor. One thing I wanted to do was hide the crap behind the tank so I built sides that I can easily remove to access behind the tank. I also painted the back black. Happy with the way it turned out.

Iam sure I will have many questions to follow...looking at a low bio load / hardy specimen tank, at least from a fish standpoint. The usual clowns, some chromas, couple firefish, and a few cardinals and hardy corals.

Really excited:bounce1:!

 

[surfingdude]

here a few pics...now debating on lighting. I have a cheap led that it came with Anyone heard of orbit marine lighting? any good? Was thinking of this one or get some goose neck mounts and mount them to the wall and go with maybe kessel's. My canopy slides backwards to feed and do maintenance but think I can still do this with an led strip...I really like the look of those kessel's...but $$$$.

 

[hearttx]

If I can make one suggestion it would be to change that outlet behind the tank to a GFCI outlet.

 

[ericarenee]

Welcome Back..

Nice looking tank.

Do you live down under ?

 

[scybulski]

I was out of the tanks for about 13 years. Started back up about a year or so and oh my. Things have changed so much. Thought I would just use my old equipment... na things are so much better down. hell even using live sand instead of dolimite! night and day and things are much better now... and this is for Salt tanks

 

[AwesomeDavid]

Get a light that gives enough light to have LPS on the bottom of your tank. Then you won't end up like me. Nice tank as well.

 

[surfingdude]

If I can make one suggestion it would be to change that outlet behind the tank to a GFCI outlet.

On it!! Heading to the store.

What is up with the upside down pics:crazy1:? cant edit them.

 

[ericarenee]

On it!! Heading to the store.

What is up with the upside down pics:crazy1:? cant edit them.

i just thought you were in Australia . Everything there is upside down to us


I am not sure why that happens upside down but it has happens to me before

 

[surfingdude]

Welcome Back..

Nice looking tank.

Do you live down under ?

No...us...east coast.
Those pics are driving me nuts...right side up.

 

[surfingdude]

i just thought you were in Australia . Everything there is upside down to us


I am not sure why that happens upside down but it has happens to me before

funny:spin1:!

 

[hearttx]

Oh and I forgot to say nice looking setup! I have been looking at the Chinese led for some time but have not pulled the trigger on them yet. I understand that they are cheaper and you usually get what you paid for but the reviews have been good that I have read . The one thing you do lose out on is controllability but if you are ok with just timers and one manually controllable intensity then they seem to be ok. The brand I was looking at were the viparspectra mainly because they come with a 3 year warranty and have timers built in. I am sure someone is likely going to say don't go with the "cheap leds" but it's hard to argue with the price and the result people are having with them. Good luck with whatever you choose and let use know!

Organ donation works....just ask me.

 

[ericarenee]

Oh and I forgot to say nice looking setup! I have been looking at the Chinese led for some time but have not pulled the trigger on them yet. I understand that they are cheaper and you usually get what you paid for but the reviews have been good that I have read . The one thing you do lose out on is controllability but if you are ok with just timers and one manually controllable intensity then they seem to be ok. The brand I was looking at were the viparspectra mainly because they come with a 3 year warranty and have timers built in. I am sure someone is likely going to say don't go with the "cheap leds" but it's hard to argue with the price and the result people are having with them. Good luck with whatever you choose and let use know!

Organ donation works....just ask me.

I have 5 of the above lights.. The timers are static but each channel can be set independent.. so two timers.. the 3 over my big tank are set blue on then blue on second then blue on 3rd... then white on blaa blaa . then off in reverse order of the evening.. as moon lights come on.. its a serperate light on its own timer.. all the ramping stuff is just for the users enjoyment and the corals or fish do not care

Sorry op i know this is kinda off topic..

 

[marper331]

Welcome back, your tank looks great! I got out of the hobby in 2004 and just got back in about 6 months ago. What a difference in products/equipment and livestock. I decided on a Red Sea Reefer 350 system. I like the look of the rimless tanks.
I especially like the lighter demand on my monthly electricity usage.

 

[surfingdude]

Welcome back, your tank looks great! I got out of the hobby in 2004 and just got back in about 6 months ago. What a difference in products/equipment and livestock. I decided on a Red Sea Reefer 350 system. I like the look of the rimless tanks.
I especially like the lighter demand on my monthly electricity usage.

They are awesome looking tanks...Iam already having tank envy. I could of fitted a 120 in this spot. I love the look of the rimless. Just looks more natural. I can see myself upgrading in a year, and it will definitely be rimless. This current tank will eventually be turned into a cichlid tank that I will put in a guest bedroom.

Gonna start a water mixing station, which is going to be in the garage. No rodi unit yet but will be getting one in the near future. Currently using bottled distilled water...double checked it..tds is 0.

 

[surfingdude]

amonia 0, always has been always around 0...but just checked, my nitrites are finally 0! They never were real high but now, zippo... stoked!

 

[surfingdude]

To make water changes, purchased remote switch. Have my pump plugged into this...trying to make water changes quick and painless. I don't want anything deter me from maintenance.

Have my 30 gallon mix in garage...tubing running from mix to DT. I was worried about turning the water on and off and figure this would be the easiest solution. Only $12. Gonna have a valve close to the DT too. May use that to siphon out, as well as to control incoming water flow. Still working on making siphoning painless too.

Pump I got has plenty of head pressure...gotta go up about 8' and length of 20'.

Got my lights too...Mars aqua imports. Had to redo my a canopy a bit to hide the lights...canopy is few inches taller. Need some timers...

 

[surfingdude]