jjz_13
04/20/2006, 01:49 PM
Hi - I am just getting into the aquarium hobby and have been doing a lot of research lately. Most of it has been through books and forums like this. I have definitely learned a lot, but it would be nice to get some feedback from some seasoned veterans about the whole setup, rather than just on individual items and methods.
What I am trying to do is set up a 150gal reef tank (I know - maybe a bit large for a beginner, but I've read bigger is easier and I know I would want to upgrade soon anyway.) I want to do things the right way, so I've figured out most of the items I need to make this work. I would really appreciate any feedback you could give me on some of this equipment and my plan of attack.
I plan to go slowly, stocking my tank one species at a time and then moving on to corals and probably other fish. For each species, I plan to quarantine them for 3-4 weeks before placing into the main tank - in this order.
1 6-line wrasse
2 Clark's Clownfish (with anemone)
6 Green Chromis
1 Kole's Tang
1 Yellow Tang
Questions about stocking:
I believe I should quarantine these separately per species (i.e. quarantine all the chromis at once) so they can all be introduced to the main tank at once. Is this correct? What about the Clownfish? Are they going to be okay together in a 10gal tank for a few weeks?
Also - when I introduce the Clownfish, should I put in the anemone at the same time or wait to add that until I start adding corals? Should it be 2 anemones?
Questions about equipment:
Besides the obvious buckets, plumbing supplies, food, additives, what else am I missing on this list?
I want to paint my tank black on one side. Is it okay to paint a glass tank? What type of paint should I use? I don't want acrylic, because I'm afraid my kids will scratch it up.
I live in FL, but I keep my house air conditioned at 75 degrees, so I don't think I'm going to need a chiller. Any thoughts on that?
Here are the items on my shopping list - most are being bought online, the rest are from an LFS ("Marine Warehouse" in Tampa). I have provided links to the equipment where I can. Again - any feedback on any of this equipment would be appreciated, and also suggestions on different items/brands.
Cabinet/Canopy
-Dayton Cabinets (eBay - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7755829685)- I already received this and am in the process of staining it. If you are looking for a good-priced tank stand and canopy, and don't mind applying the finish yourself, I highly recommend this one.
Tank
-All-Glass 150gal, 72"long x 18"deep x 29"high (pre-drilled)
Substrate (to create a 4" sand bed)
-120 lbs CaribSea Arag-Alive
-120 lbs Aragonite Reef Substrate
Live Rock
-200lbs Fiji Base Rock (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7759976146)
-will probably buy a couple of smaller pieces of Tonga or something from the local shop to decorate
Mechanical Filtration
-Model 200 Berlin Sump (not sure who makes this - looks like about a 20 gallon sump - no Bio-media)
-Little Giant 4-MDQ-SC Pump (for return)
Chemical Filtration
-Protein Skimmer -RS-135 EuroReef
Lighting - combination of Metal Halides(3x250watt), Compact Flourescent(2x96watt), 2 moonlights
-2 Coralife 36 Inch AquaLight Compact Fluor. Retrofit Kit w/ 1-96W 50/50 Lamp Square Pin (https://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES01690)
-Retrofit System - 250W 10000K Ushio (https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104300.html)
-Retrofit System - 2-250W 10000K Ushio (https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104301.html)
-2 R2 Solutions Moonlight 11000 MC (https://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=RM1111)
-2 Ice Cap Canopy Fan, 4 inch (http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/fans.html)
Water Movement
-4 Rio SEIO M1100 Super Flow Pumps - only 2 will run at a time, alternating every 15min (https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/pumps/104671.html)
Temp Control
-2 TS Series Heater 200 watts (https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/heaters/100156.html)
Water/Salt
-Instant Ocean
-125GPD Reverse Osmosis Water Filter (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4454548130)
Misc (Timers for lighting and powerheads, test equipment, etc)
-Coralife Power Center Single Timer (https://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES01690)
-2 Coralife Power Center Dual Timer (https://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES01691)
-Rid-Volt Titanium Grounding Probe (https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/misc/103488.html)
-American Marine Pinpoint Wireless Thermometer w/ One Remote Sensor (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=AM1131)
-SeaTest Hydrometer (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=AS2141)
-Hagen Master Test Kit (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=HG17860)
-Net
-Gravel Vacuum
-10gal Quarantine Tank
If you've read this far down on this post, thank you for your time and thanks even more if you can provide any feedback/advice. In a few months, I hope I'll be proud enough to post some pictures on this thread...
What I am trying to do is set up a 150gal reef tank (I know - maybe a bit large for a beginner, but I've read bigger is easier and I know I would want to upgrade soon anyway.) I want to do things the right way, so I've figured out most of the items I need to make this work. I would really appreciate any feedback you could give me on some of this equipment and my plan of attack.
I plan to go slowly, stocking my tank one species at a time and then moving on to corals and probably other fish. For each species, I plan to quarantine them for 3-4 weeks before placing into the main tank - in this order.
1 6-line wrasse
2 Clark's Clownfish (with anemone)
6 Green Chromis
1 Kole's Tang
1 Yellow Tang
Questions about stocking:
I believe I should quarantine these separately per species (i.e. quarantine all the chromis at once) so they can all be introduced to the main tank at once. Is this correct? What about the Clownfish? Are they going to be okay together in a 10gal tank for a few weeks?
Also - when I introduce the Clownfish, should I put in the anemone at the same time or wait to add that until I start adding corals? Should it be 2 anemones?
Questions about equipment:
Besides the obvious buckets, plumbing supplies, food, additives, what else am I missing on this list?
I want to paint my tank black on one side. Is it okay to paint a glass tank? What type of paint should I use? I don't want acrylic, because I'm afraid my kids will scratch it up.
I live in FL, but I keep my house air conditioned at 75 degrees, so I don't think I'm going to need a chiller. Any thoughts on that?
Here are the items on my shopping list - most are being bought online, the rest are from an LFS ("Marine Warehouse" in Tampa). I have provided links to the equipment where I can. Again - any feedback on any of this equipment would be appreciated, and also suggestions on different items/brands.
Cabinet/Canopy
-Dayton Cabinets (eBay - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7755829685)- I already received this and am in the process of staining it. If you are looking for a good-priced tank stand and canopy, and don't mind applying the finish yourself, I highly recommend this one.
Tank
-All-Glass 150gal, 72"long x 18"deep x 29"high (pre-drilled)
Substrate (to create a 4" sand bed)
-120 lbs CaribSea Arag-Alive
-120 lbs Aragonite Reef Substrate
Live Rock
-200lbs Fiji Base Rock (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7759976146)
-will probably buy a couple of smaller pieces of Tonga or something from the local shop to decorate
Mechanical Filtration
-Model 200 Berlin Sump (not sure who makes this - looks like about a 20 gallon sump - no Bio-media)
-Little Giant 4-MDQ-SC Pump (for return)
Chemical Filtration
-Protein Skimmer -RS-135 EuroReef
Lighting - combination of Metal Halides(3x250watt), Compact Flourescent(2x96watt), 2 moonlights
-2 Coralife 36 Inch AquaLight Compact Fluor. Retrofit Kit w/ 1-96W 50/50 Lamp Square Pin (https://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES01690)
-Retrofit System - 250W 10000K Ushio (https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104300.html)
-Retrofit System - 2-250W 10000K Ushio (https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104301.html)
-2 R2 Solutions Moonlight 11000 MC (https://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=RM1111)
-2 Ice Cap Canopy Fan, 4 inch (http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/fans.html)
Water Movement
-4 Rio SEIO M1100 Super Flow Pumps - only 2 will run at a time, alternating every 15min (https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/pumps/104671.html)
Temp Control
-2 TS Series Heater 200 watts (https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/heaters/100156.html)
Water/Salt
-Instant Ocean
-125GPD Reverse Osmosis Water Filter (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4454548130)
Misc (Timers for lighting and powerheads, test equipment, etc)
-Coralife Power Center Single Timer (https://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES01690)
-2 Coralife Power Center Dual Timer (https://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES01691)
-Rid-Volt Titanium Grounding Probe (https://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/misc/103488.html)
-American Marine Pinpoint Wireless Thermometer w/ One Remote Sensor (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=AM1131)
-SeaTest Hydrometer (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=AS2141)
-Hagen Master Test Kit (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=HG17860)
-Net
-Gravel Vacuum
-10gal Quarantine Tank
If you've read this far down on this post, thank you for your time and thanks even more if you can provide any feedback/advice. In a few months, I hope I'll be proud enough to post some pictures on this thread...