want to purchase wet/dry

S

sinful

New member
I've decided I'm going to start upgrading my freshwater cichlid tank with stuff I will need when I convert it to saltwater later on down the road. So I'm looking for basically everything needed to get a wet/dry up and going. Overflow, wet/dry/sump, return pump, bio balls..etc. my two emperor's are starting to become a pain. If anyone has anything they think would be great for this cichlid tank, plus something that could convert to saltwater easily later on, let me know. I'm not looking for something spectacular, just something that could work for both. Thanks
 
What type of tank are you looking to setup? If this is going to be Fish only a wet/dry would work well. For reef setup's i would look into a refugium style sump.
I just finished converting an old wet/dry to a refugium, not hard at all and i think it will benefit the tank in the long run. Hunt around on RC, there are many many threads that bicker about the merits of both. You are at the perfect stage now to pick your components once, unlike many of us who have drawers (or garages) worth of old junk that hurt the tank more than they helped.
 
yea that basically what I'm wanting to do, just buy equipment once. When I convert to saltwater (way later down the road), it will be a fowlr so yea...a wet/dry is what I have decided on getting. I'm pretty sure someone around here has an old one lying around, like you mentioned, that would love to sell to me for cheap =)

right now I really like my cichlid tank, but to be honest...I'm tired of going away for the weekend to come back and find corpses. Also, I can't turn the lights off at night or I will awake with corpses..lol, sucks. So eventually I want a peaceful saltwater fowlr. My current tank is a 75g nondrilled. filtration includes an emperor 400 and 280(which are becoming a major PITA!) Thanks
 
I have 2 wet/dry with or without bioballs just taking up space...

They can be used as regular sumps too....I can send pics as well...let me know if interested and I can let you know more details.
 
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Why cant you turn off the lights? And why would fish die at night? And why do the fish die when you leave for a couple days? Doesnt sound right. Something definetly must be wrong. Figure out whats doing that first, before you go to marine.
 
Stevemc, my guess is he has to many male peacocks in one tank with not enough rocks, caves and crevices for them to hide. Theyre killing eachother...That alone would make anyone convert to a nice reef setup IMO, thats what I did.
 
almost don, I dont have any peacocks though. couple kenyi and one mean mean mean *** labatrocious(sp?) lab is all I know..lol. He is constantly reminding everyone in the tank he is the boss. I do have a ton of rocks and caves for em, they are just mean as hell..haha. I think when I turn the lights off completely they think its hunting time. And if I leave for the weekend, I think they get hungry and do what nature tells them to do. Hell I didn't even find the corpse or bones or anything from the missing tiger barb this past weekend.


the main reason I want to convert to marine later on down the road is simply for the goby watchman and shrimp pair up. I think that is freaking awesome. Do most people with reefs have this pair?
 
I dont...where are you located in Tampa?? I have some stuff I can give you to speed up YOUR converting cycle. I cant beleive you had a tiger barb in with some cichlids...LOL, I once put a Beta I bought from Wal-Mart in with my cichlids. It was really my wife who wanted it but I knew the outcome...it was hillarious, he never had a chance with them crazy Africans. No offense to any fish!!! There was no way of saving him being that it was in my 210gal with 20 Wild Tanganyika Illangi's...they're like piranhas!
 
actually man, the tiger barbs are usually quick enough to get away from them. And I was told by the store that if I had 5+ they would be ok becasue they school. 3 tiger barbs left so far..haha. I've had them in there about 3 months aswell. I live in Temple Terrace, close to 301/bush. I'm still a good ways away from starting marine, just kinda planning ahead
 
Oh...Ok, you not that far im right across from the Casino. Barbs are quick, but Africans are also quick and aggressive. 5 or more is just more for the cichlids to chase...LOL, What store told you that?? No forget it--dont tell me, I dont wanna open up the CAN.
 
haha yea I'll keep my mouth shut! Thats one of the bad things about having cichlids, can't have much of a variety at all. Pleco's even get taken out by em. I have one pleco left and he isn't even close to keeping up on the algea.

my main problem with the tank now is the filters. I have a 400 and 280 emperor for 75g. They work really well untill they start getting clogged up, then its a pita to clean and get running normal again. I figured a wet/dry would be alot easier to maintain/service. You agree?

can't believe you dont have the watchman and shrimp pair man, those 2 are awesome, or so I've read.
 
Yea, I had a pleco get taken out by a bunch of Sciaenochromis fryeri babies. I would say you have good filtration, remember cichlids are more hardy and do good in an algae infested tank. As long as your amonia is down. I new some one who raised the babies in some green algae water that he made...that stuff stinks! I had my 210gal up for about 7 months and only did two water changes on it. I have a 35gal wet and dry that I made, I can sell to you for $30. in a month. LMK, if you want it. Its under my 210gal and I have to take my tank off the stand to get to it...
 
I wish you had been looking about 7 months ago. I moved from Tampa to Cary, NC, and was selling my setup down there (didn't want to move it).
 
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