WTB:tank stand and equipment

[tinatuom]

Hello fellow mariners!
I am new to this site and new to the wonderful world of saltwater. I have 1 55 gallon tank set up and running for about 4 months now, and we just purchased another 55 gallon tank to set up in our bedroom. We are in need of almost everything for the second tank!

Currently we have 2 light fixtures and some whisper filters that we can use. I am looking to see if anyone has a nice looking stand before my hubby and I have to build one! Also looking for a heater, a canister filter or sump, live rock, live sand, power heads, etc.

I do not understand how to set up a sump, but I do not that it is the best way to filter, so that is why I ask for either a canister or a sump. Any usefull comments are always welcome too! We are learning by trial and error, but absolutely love the hobby! I didn't think I would fall in love with a pet that I cannot touch, but we find ourselves completely ignoring the tv and watching our tank for hours!

Please shoot me an email with anything you have and prices and pics if possible!
Thanks,
Tina

 

[lvpd186]

Welcome to the hobby! If you are interested you can go to the official OMS website. We are always looking for new members and we try help out newbies when ever we can (sometimes its too easy to become frustrated and quit in this hobby). As for a sump I have one you might be interested in. Sumps work great for a place to put equipment, like a good protein skimmer. After work I will try and get a pic of the sump and send it to you.

It might also help to know what your plans are for the tank; ie fish only, soft corals, sps corals or even a full blown reef set up. There are some differences in the set up for the different kinds of tanks.

 

[tinatuom]

Thanks for the response and offer of advice! I did email Ray about joining OMS, but have not heard back from him yet. Right now the tank we have has xenia and 2 different button polyps. The new tank will probably have some soft corals too. I just like the colors that corals add to the tank.

I am not sure what kind of fish to put in it yet. We currently have a semi-aggressive tank with a yellow tang, a one spot rabbit fish, a 3 stripe damsel, a maroon clown, a blenny, a mandarin goby, a coral banded shrimp, 2 anenomes, a few turbo snails, and 2 blue crabs. Oh, and maybe a starfish that surfaces every once in a while (he came with a rock!) I do know that I want to find a mated pair of percula clowns for it, as I love watching our maroon burrowing in his anenome!

The tank will probably end up being close to what we have now, but with different fish. I see so many pretty fish out there, but I know that you can't over-populate a tank!

We have to build a stand for the new tank so I can incorporate a sump underneath if I learn how to use it! I found a woman who has a 20 gallon tank, sand, rock, corals, etc for sale and she said I could use the 20 gallon for a sump if I can learn what to do with it! Any advice would be appreciated, and any other offers of equipment.
Thanks,
Tina

 

[pcpets]

Hello Tina,
Just a suggestion, but have you got any books yet on saltwater setups? They would definitely be a good investment for information. Also find a good aquatics guy at one of the LFS'. you are welcome to come to our store and check out how sumps work and ask as many questions as you like. You can even sit in our coffee shop and read a book or two.
Jeff
Paradise Cove Pets
293-1050

 

[lvpd186]

The sump setup isn't really that hard, it may just sound complicated. The 20gal tank would work great as a sump. The basic principal is water is skimmer off of the tank via a skimmer box (this can be either built in to the tank or an over-the-top overflow box), the water goes to the sump where your main filtration is (a good skimmer), and then the water is pumped back in to the tank via a pump. If you haven't set up the tank yet I would recommend getting the tank drilled instead of using an over-the-top overflow box. If you go to PCP talk to Joe, he can drill the tank and show you the basic setup. Check out this site for great info on sumps and how they work.

If you would like, send me a PM and I will get you signed up for OSM membership.

 

[tinatuom]

Jeff,
Thanks for responding! I have been reading some books on the saltwater world. I just haven't gotten into any yet that detail the sump pump. I understand the principal of it, just didn't know how to set up one with a tank that wasn't predrilled for a sump.

I will definitely bring the tank into paradise cove and have them drill it, once we have the equipment all bought! I love the store, in fact we were just in there today and purchased a serpent starfish from you! He of course is hidden under a rock, but he is so neat to watch. ( Don't ask me why I say "He", I have 5 boys and a husband so the gender term is always "He" in my house!)

I will have to get a book on sumps and equipment so that I can understand how to set one up!
Thanks,
Tina

 

[tinatuom]

Thanks lvpd186 ! Pm sent!