Setting up a 33gal. Need help

[fisherman45]

Hello every1,
I have been wanting to get my soft coral reef tank up and running. I am starting this in a 33 long. I have the tank, the ballast, sockets. I need 2 175 watt metal halide 10k bulbs. I have base rock, so I will need starter live rock. I need a protien skimmer that would be good for this size of tank.And I will need some sand to get it all started.
So if any1 has any of these things for sell or would like to trade for some freshwater Angels, please let me know. U can leave a pm, or just e-mail me. I have many types of angels, I have been raising them for over 20 years. Thank you all God Bless

 

[Reef4Fun]

I think JoMars in Nitro has the best live rock you can get around here. You pay the price for it, but to get nice rock like they get, it is so worth it. I got alot of rock off of ebay and believe me it is nothing like I got from JoMars. If you look in their tanks the rock doesnt show off the purples it really has in it, but once you get it in your tank and give the snails a night to clean it up, it is beautiful. Mine has feather dusters in it and two different type of corals that I have yet to identify. Island Reef over in Cross Lanes has live rock, but it is like the rock I got off of ebay and it has no corals or feather dusters at all. This has all been just my expierence and I do not mean in any way to say one LFS is any better than the other, I simply am stating that I have bought live rock from both places and these are my opionions of them. Good luck and welcome to our club, you will find it to be very informative and enjoyable.
Nancy

 

[firefish2020]

Nancy that was regular LR rock, you should see the premium, I am lucky enough to have a few pieces of it at home but as I recall people used to fight over it when it came in LOL just ask Chris about those days Im sure he remembers the lines, it was insane

 

[fishmon]

Hey fisherman45, would your name happen to be Tom?

 

[Reef4Fun]

Wow Ron, I couldn't imagine how nice that would be, the ones I got last week are amazing. The cool arched one has two corals on it that I have no idea what they are but they are beautiful. I am more than pleased with these pieces. My husband has a salwater magazine that has an article this month about an orginazation that is building reefs in different areas in NC. I will check more into it and post the info and the name of the magizne.
Nancy

 

[odoprelude]

Live rock shipment days at Jo-Mars??? Fugedaboutit... It is crazy and you find yourself buying some even though you don't need it.. and man the critters you find at the bottom of the box... it's like Christmas!!! When is the next shipment of that coming in btw? I need some more for the new office tank, I put the other I bought in my nano on my desk and I am not taking it out, looks too good!

 

[reefer_for_life]

fisherman,

i see you live in ohio. berts has really nice live rock, and its $6.00 a pound if you buy 40 or more pounds. if i remember right, the 33gallon is only like 12" tall, 175watts might be a bit much for soft corals. with a tank that shallow, i would go with VHO. as far as skimmers go, either the BakPak or a remora would be a good choice. good luck.

 

[fisherman45]

WOW U all have given me alot to think about. I never thought that 2 175 watt's would be too much. Yes I have seen the live rock from both Bert's And Jo-Mar's. They are all very beautiful. It is the tanks that both stores have set up that made me really want one. Jim and Barry both do such a wonderful job with their set ups. Someday I hope to have one like theirs. I just don't want to over load the tank at this first set up. And I want to have everything ready before I get too much inside. Our money situation keeps us from buying everything at once. So it's got to be alittle her and a little there. The Ballist and light setup we have, we paid over $300 for it all about 3 years ago. Just when I was going to set this up in a 90 gallon high. Things just didn't work out there. I have many sizes of tanks. So if you all think of a better size tank then let me know. So if any of you have any other tips. Please let me know. I am open for any suggestions on anything.
Yes Jim this is the same Tom..And Jim you know how long I have wanted to get a tank like this set up. LOL...:lol: :lol: :lol: Sorry for all of the questions exspecially to Jim and Ron. But I was always told that the only dumb question, is the question you don't ask.:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks to all Tom

 

[Reef4Fun]

Actually you are doing the setup the right way. Its best to get the water right and the rock in and let it cycle for a couple months. I let my new 120gal. cycle for 3 months before adding anything other than a few damsels to put a rush on the cycling, but I would not recomend that again. Unless you really like damsels, they are a pain, pick on everyone in the tank. (my opionion) I talked my sister-in-law into setting her 20gal tank up in saltwater, I bought her the sand, rock and gave her the salt. I went with her a week later because she couldn't wait on putting fish in it, so she got 2 damsels. Then........grrrrrr......she went the next day without me and bought fish that I was still waiting to add to my tank after waiting 6 months! She put 10 fish in her little 20gal tank. I don't recomend that either. Of course, they all died, even the crabs. I know I'm rambling, but my point is that you are doing it right going slow. People on here are great, you can ask anything at all, the club and this site has been such a blessing to me, in more ways than I can explain.
I am a newbie, so you will get better info from others on here.

 

[Nathan4Wvu]

I think that 2-175's would be fine, they should love it. It would not be any different then my 46 tank that has every softy that u will one day probably have just a few inches from the bulbs which are 175's. I would say screw the vho or pc's you will regret it one day.

 

[firefish2020]

they are a pain, pick on everyone in the tank. (my opionion)

Maybe your opinion but it's pretty much an accepted fact to me

Reef is doing great for a newbie (not a typical newcomer IMO), she listens and researches and uses every asset to her advantage which is great. I don't think anyone new to this hobby should trust or use an exclusive source of knowledge until he or she is fully aware of what works for their particular system. There are rules and then there are the "fuzzy rules", rules that work for a select few, but there I go again quoting my upcoming article .

I'll just quiet down for a bit.

Oh as for Berts LR, I saw it, and yep it's good looking stuff IMO

Later