OK I'll start off hi everyone i have been reading the site for about 3 hours now, gathering as much info as possible. I am new to salt water, and am planning on getting a tank. i see a lot of talk about these bio cubes and stuff, but i am looking more in the 55 gallon range, is this ok for a beginner?? next, i have someone that can sell me a 58 gallon tank with an overflow (she said it was an overflow, it is a big black column in the back of the tank with two holes drilled at the bottom) would this be a wise choice for me and what equipment should i get to go with it. i have read a few books over the past few weeks, and still feel confused about what to get. my initial plan is FOWLR. my main problem here is the girl who is selling the tank has another buyer lined up and i have to let her know soon if i want it. and help would be greatly appriciated
i would go with the 58 if the price is right on it. with it having a built in overflow you will have the option to make it a reef when the time comes (and it usually comes). if you dont want to use the overflows ... you can always plug off the holes and use the tank by itself.
for a tank with overflows ... you usually want to run a sump either under the tank or in a remote location. if you want to start out FO and switch to reef you will already have the tank. then you will just need to buy the other equipment ... skimmer, lighting, sump tank or tub, etc.
__________________ Bobby
"I FORMERLY glued animals to rocks" NO TANK RIGHT NOW, but you never know when I might throw one together !! I have everything I need but the time!!
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Thanks, i will be picking up the tank most likely tomorrow, woudl you be able to direct me to a good place to leanr about/buy a sump because none of the books i have really cover them in detail. i understand the basic principal, and is seems most poeple think that live rock is the way to go, but the process of getting the right one is still confusing me, but for now i at least i know that the tank will do. THanks again!
Thanks, i plan on it, from what i have read they seem to be very helpful. i was in a rush for the tank, because i needed to buy it, but i am planningn on learning as much as i can before i buy anything else so i can figure out exactly what would be the ideal set up for me. any suggestions would be welcome.
what would the ideal setup would be, will depend on what you are planning for the future of the tank. HOWEVER, a sump is, IMO, an excellent piece of equipment for any marine tank.
check this out for sump ideas, he sells them too !!
A bigger tank is always more forgiving and a 58 is a nice size. Nanos are great, I have one, but it is much more sensitive than my 54. Like Bobby, I definitely recommend a sump. I am a fan live rock (LR) and a deep sand bed (DSB) for your tank's filtration. If you are on a budget you will find that you can buy mostly base rock, like this Dry Rock from a TR sponsor, Marco Rocks and and a smaller amount of LR. The LR will seed the base rock and it will all be live eventually.
As far as sand goes I recommend a product like this aragonite from The Cultured Reef, another TR sponsor. Make sure to read the Skimek article on the site. I am not a proponent of so called live sand in a bag. After all how lively would you be sealed in a plastic bag and stuck on a shelf for who know how long? Once again the LR will seed it. Even better, get a local reefkeepers or two to give you a cup of sand from their tank.
How large of a sump should i use for my 58, the link above says that as large as possible, but what would be a good starting point so i can get an idea of a good size?
thanks again for all the help
Jay
Last edited by asneeze531; 01-16-2008 at 12:51 AM.
i would say to go with the biggest that you can fit under the tank (in the stand), but be sure to leave enough room to get your hands and possibly ARMS into. i would estimate that a 40breeder would be a good starting point if you want to do a DIY type sump, but it is hard to say without knowing the measurements inside your stand.
__________________ Bobby
"I FORMERLY glued animals to rocks" NO TANK RIGHT NOW, but you never know when I might throw one together !! I have everything I need but the time!!
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THanks, that gives me a good place to start, along with the link you provided earlier. i am downloading the podcasts as wee speak, and plan on listening tho them asap. thanks guys! really glad i found this place.
OK so i had a change of plans, the tank that i was going to get had a crack in the side, the owner said it woudl be fine, but i didn't trust that, so i passed. my friends mother is moving and has a salt water set up that she never used, and she sold me her stuff. so i now have a 46 gallon bow front with a stand, a wet dry filter system with the siphon to hang on the back of the tank and the pump to go with it and a lighting system for the tank. so now for the questions. i know everyone says to go with the sump, but i didn't have a choice but to take the wet dry filter, she was selling it as a whole package. it has those bio balls in it, again it was never used, but i see a lot of people say to not use them and use live rock instead. what it seems people are suggesting is to remove those balls and put live rock in there instead. is this what i should do? what else besides the protein skimmer shoudl i get to go along with it? I decided to go this route because the price she gave me was about what i woudl spend on the tank and the stand alone, so i figured it couldn't hurt.
OK so i had a change of plans, the tank that i was going to get had a crack in the side, the owner said it woudl be fine, but i didn't trust that, so i passed.
Okay...there is reason number one to ask others and not depend on a "seller". Uhuh...and I have a propane grill that is "okay" too...but the tank leaks...just a little
Quote:
Originally Posted by asneeze531
my friends mother is moving and has a salt water set up that she never used, and she sold me her stuff.
My only concern here would be: How long has it been sitting around? I've seen some tanks come out of the back rooms of LFS that are so old that the silicone is useless. Before you get too excited... do a leak test on that bad boy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asneeze531
wet dry filter system
Please do read about natural filtration and the pros and cons of wet/dry systems...k?
Quote:
Originally Posted by asneeze531
know everyone says to go with the sump, but i didn't have a choice but to take the wet dry filter, she was selling it as a whole package. it has those bio balls in it, again it was never used, but i see a lot of people say to not use them and use live rock instead.
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to TR!
