Another log of a Newbie starting out with TBS rock!

gregt · 04/14/2005, 01:59 PM

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...49#post4751249

dwculp · 04/14/2005, 01:59 PM

OK, how about a little update........

Everything is going great!!!

Actually, um, everything is going great. I have fished a couple more peppermint shrimp out and now my green brain is back to looking good. He was always deflated and was losing flesh and showing skeleton, the damn peppermint shrimp were eating him.

I checked some water parameters today after not cheking in a LONG time:

pH: 8.4
Nitrate: 2.5
Nitrite: 0

And people say saltwater is hard. Pffffffffffffff!!!

Ok guys, a friend of mine is selling off his beautiful 20 gallon reef, here is what he has:

Corals include
Green Mushrooms
Orange and Purple Zoos
Yellow Colony Polyp
Button Polyp
Xenia
Kenya Tree
Green Star Burst(two types)
Red Brain Coral

Wildlife
Blue and Yellow Damsel
False Clown
Royal Gramma
Sand Sifting Star Fish
Coral Banded Shrimp
Hermits
Snails

Live Rock (20-25lbs)
Live Sand (20lbs)

Equipment
20 Gal Reg
Stand
Coral Life 65w compact light
Prizim Skimmer
Pumps
Heater

He wants $600.00 for all or $425.00 minus the equipment. I am thinking about doing it without equipment. What do you think??

ratherbediving · 04/14/2005, 03:08 PM

$425 seems a bit steep to me... maybe offer less and see if he accepts that? I think if you broke it out by how much you would be willing to pay for each peice if you saw it at the fish store.... do you really want a damsel, another CBS, another gramma etc?

reeferkid · 04/14/2005, 03:17 PM

if you buy it you wanna get rid of the damsel and the sand sifting starfish cos the damsel is evil and the star will die

xtrstangx · 04/14/2005, 03:21 PM

That seems a little bit on the high end, IMO.

patsan · 04/14/2005, 03:24 PM

A lot of money for such a small tank. I think you could do better looking around. For $400 you could get yourself a nice large RR tank, stand and sump.

dood68 · 04/14/2005, 08:28 PM

the curse of the splitting threads is upon us!!!!!!!!!!!

dwculp · 04/15/2005, 07:30 AM

Well, when you consider each piece individually:

Corals include
Green Mushrooms-25
Orange and Purple Zoos-40
Yellow Colony Polyp-15
Button Polyp-30
Xenia-50
Kenya Tree-45
Green Star Burst(two types)-40
Red Brain Coral-40

Wildlife
Blue and Yellow Damsel- Free
False Clown-15
Royal Gramma-15
Sand Sifting Star Fish-15
Coral Banded Shrimp-Yours
Hermits-Free
Snails- Free

Live Rock (20-25lbs)-120
Live Sand (20lbs)-25

What I could do with it is take the 80 pounds of LR in my 40, the 25 pounds I have in the 75 and 20-25 in his and make a 75 gallon reef in my 75. I would have everything need and it would all be pre-cured. I could also use the live sand from both reef tanks and the live sand in my QT tank.

The only additional item I would need to buy would be new lights for the 75 and that would cost me an arm and a leg - oh wait, I dont have an arm and a leg anymore, I filled my gas tank yesterday!

dwculp · 04/15/2005, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reeferkid
if you buy it you wanna get rid of the damsel and the sand sifting starfish cos the damsel is evil and the star will die

He has had the reef up and running for a few years and the star fish is still alive. However, I would get rid of it for other reasons, sand sifting stars tend to eat the flora and fauna in your sand bed - bad.

Not all damsels are bad. Yellow tailed damsels are not nearly as a gressive as others. His is great, I want about 5-6 for my reef.

dwculp · 04/15/2005, 07:37 AM

I could get two of these that would give me 520 WATTS above the 75 gallon (about 7 WATTS/Gal.) for less than $500.00.

H2OLUVSME · 04/15/2005, 07:37 AM

i think its a pretty good deal. you would be much happier with the 75, IMHO.

also if you search around a bit you can find good deals on used lights.

dwculp · 04/15/2005, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by H2OLUVSME
i think its a pretty good deal. you would be much happier with the 75, IMHO. also if you search around a bit you can find good deals on used lights.

$425.00 for all the livestock and corals + LR and LS is a pretty good deal I think. I just dont think I can afford it right now and get new lights on top of it.

I could sell my body on the street I supose.

bobt2 · 04/15/2005, 07:52 AM

on those lights you can get the coralife fixtures for $199. thats what i'm using, very nice. 260 watts

H2OLUVSME · 04/15/2005, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bobt2
on those lights you can get the coralife fixtures for $199. thats what i'm using, very nice. 260 watts

where'd you get them for $199 Bob?

i have one of those on my mushroom reef, but thinking of adding another to make the 520w Dave is talking about. id like to keep some clams and what not at work, and the boss is thinking about springing for the new lights

if i could find them for $200 she definatly bite

dwculp · 04/15/2005, 08:30 AM

I was about to ask the same thing. $199.00 per fixture would be doable for me, I can find them for about $220.00 at That Fish Place.

bobt2 · 04/15/2005, 09:12 AM

i got them a www.marineandreef.com.

dwculp · 04/15/2005, 09:20 AM

Ok, now I am tempted.

Stop me.

Please.

Really.

H2OLUVSME · 04/15/2005, 12:27 PM

i dont think anybody is going to stop you

dwculp · 04/15/2005, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by H2OLUVSME
i dont think anybody is going to stop you

Thats what I am afraid of.

ratherbediving · 04/16/2005, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dwculp
$425.00 for all the livestock and corals + LR and LS is a pretty good deal I think. I just dont think I can afford it right now and get new lights on top of it.

I could sell my body on the street I supose.

OK I have to play devil's advocate (don't know why)

Based on the #s you gave earlier, you had
$285 for the corals
$45 for the livestock
$120 for the live rock ($6 a pound-- isn't that high?)
$25 for the sand.

OK, that is worth $475 to you ... but you are paying $50 for Xenia (I think that is way too much) $6 a pound for live rock, paying for another royal gramma and a sand sifting star fish.... and you don't get to pick and choose your livestock, it's all or nothing? Sorry it stilll seems high. Maybe see if he will part some of it out; then you can get just what you really want.

As far as the lights go-- since you are thinking about 500 watts of PCs-- why not just go for 2 x 250 metal halides?

You up for some DIY? Maybe build a canopy...

scorp1on · 04/17/2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bobt2
i got them a www.marineandreef.com.

Bought my lights from a fellow reefer and he gave me a link to their site for the bulbs I need. http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro...laceLamps.html
Not just good prices but good customer service as well

dwculp · 04/17/2005, 11:59 AM

I dont think you guys need to talk me out of it, I have talked myself out of it. I just cannot afford it right now, I have too many other expenses right now. None of those expenses are mandatory expenses, I would be mostly trading one fun expense for another fun expense.

I think come September I will be ready to possibly upgrade the FO tank to a nice 180 gallon setup and rotate the reef into the 75 gallon. I will also have a few grand extra in order to do it, so I shall wait until then.

dwculp · 04/17/2005, 12:01 PM

Thought I would give another update.

Everything is going good.

People say this saltwater stuff is hard............

Actually, I am having one problem I hope someone can help me with. My gereen brain is showing more and more skeleton over time. It is the only thing in the tank I am having difficulty with right now. I am unsure if it is a water quality issue, light issue, feeding issue or the peppermint shrimp are nibbling it to death.

I have moved it higher onto the rocks so it can get more light. I hope that helps.

H2OLUVSME · 04/17/2005, 12:16 PM

have you tried spot feeding it?

dwculp · 04/17/2005, 12:22 PM

I wouldnt want to feed it spot, Spot is way to big to feed to a green brain coral, and besides, she might give the coral fleas.

04/14/2005, 01:59 PM	#2
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	OK, how about a little update........ Everything is going great!!! Actually, um, everything is going great. I have fished a couple more peppermint shrimp out and now my green brain is back to looking good. He was always deflated and was losing flesh and showing skeleton, the damn peppermint shrimp were eating him. I checked some water parameters today after not cheking in a LONG time: pH: 8.4 Nitrate: 2.5 Nitrite: 0 And people say saltwater is hard. Pffffffffffffff!!! Ok guys, a friend of mine is selling off his beautiful 20 gallon reef, here is what he has: Corals include Green Mushrooms Orange and Purple Zoos Yellow Colony Polyp Button Polyp Xenia Kenya Tree Green Star Burst(two types) Red Brain Coral Wildlife Blue and Yellow Damsel False Clown Royal Gramma Sand Sifting Star Fish Coral Banded Shrimp Hermits Snails Live Rock (20-25lbs) Live Sand (20lbs) Equipment 20 Gal Reg Stand Coral Life 65w compact light Prizim Skimmer Pumps Heater He wants $600.00 for all or $425.00 minus the equipment. I am thinking about doing it without equipment. What do you think?? __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

04/14/2005, 03:24 PM	#6
patsan Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 6,712	A lot of money for such a small tank. I think you could do better looking around. For $400 you could get yourself a nice large RR tank, stand and sump. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: spectator

04/14/2005, 08:28 PM	#7
dood68 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canton OH> Posts: 527	the curse of the splitting threads is upon us!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ Patience...... Patience.......uuuuhmm is that in the produce dept.? Current Tank Info: 90 g aga TBS LR ER CS6-2+ 40 G SUMP W/FUGE 2 250 W MH

04/15/2005, 07:30 AM	#8
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	Well, when you consider each piece individually: Corals include Green Mushrooms-25 Orange and Purple Zoos-40 Yellow Colony Polyp-15 Button Polyp-30 Xenia-50 Kenya Tree-45 Green Star Burst(two types)-40 Red Brain Coral-40 Wildlife Blue and Yellow Damsel- Free False Clown-15 Royal Gramma-15 Sand Sifting Star Fish-15 Coral Banded Shrimp-Yours Hermits-Free Snails- Free Live Rock (20-25lbs)-120 Live Sand (20lbs)-25 What I could do with it is take the 80 pounds of LR in my 40, the 25 pounds I have in the 75 and 20-25 in his and make a 75 gallon reef in my 75. I would have everything need and it would all be pre-cured. I could also use the live sand from both reef tanks and the live sand in my QT tank. The only additional item I would need to buy would be new lights for the 75 and that would cost me an arm and a leg - oh wait, I dont have an arm and a leg anymore, I filled my gas tank yesterday! __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

04/15/2005, 07:37 AM	#10
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	I could get two of these that would give me 520 WATTS above the 75 gallon (about 7 WATTS/Gal.) for less than $500.00. __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

04/14/2005, 01:59 PM	#1
gregt Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 17,986	This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...49#post4751249

04/14/2005, 03:08 PM	#3
ratherbediving Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 558	$425 seems a bit steep to me... maybe offer less and see if he accepts that? I think if you broke it out by how much you would be willing to pay for each peice if you saw it at the fish store.... do you really want a damsel, another CBS, another gramma etc?

04/14/2005, 03:17 PM	#4
reeferkid Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: England Posts: 583	if you buy it you wanna get rid of the damsel and the sand sifting starfish cos the damsel is evil and the star will die

04/14/2005, 03:21 PM	#5
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	That seems a little bit on the high end, IMO.

04/15/2005, 07:37 AM	#11
H2OLUVSME Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: MYRTLE BEACH, SC Posts: 5,048	i think its a pretty good deal. you would be much happier with the 75, IMHO. also if you search around a bit you can find good deals on used lights. __________________ Landon

04/15/2005, 07:52 AM	#13
bobt2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: long island NY Posts: 1,835	on those lights you can get the coralife fixtures for $199. thats what i'm using, very nice. 260 watts

04/15/2005, 08:30 AM	#15
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	I was about to ask the same thing. $199.00 per fixture would be doable for me, I can find them for about $220.00 at That Fish Place. __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

04/15/2005, 09:12 AM	#16
bobt2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: long island NY Posts: 1,835	i got them a www.marineandreef.com.

04/15/2005, 09:20 AM	#17
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	Ok, now I am tempted. Stop me. Please. Really. __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

04/15/2005, 12:27 PM	#18
H2OLUVSME Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: MYRTLE BEACH, SC Posts: 5,048	i dont think anybody is going to stop you __________________ Landon

04/17/2005, 11:59 AM	#22
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	I dont think you guys need to talk me out of it, I have talked myself out of it. I just cannot afford it right now, I have too many other expenses right now. None of those expenses are mandatory expenses, I would be mostly trading one fun expense for another fun expense. I think come September I will be ready to possibly upgrade the FO tank to a nice 180 gallon setup and rotate the reef into the 75 gallon. I will also have a few grand extra in order to do it, so I shall wait until then. __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

04/17/2005, 12:01 PM	#23
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	Thought I would give another update. Everything is going good. People say this saltwater stuff is hard............ Actually, I am having one problem I hope someone can help me with. My gereen brain is showing more and more skeleton over time. It is the only thing in the tank I am having difficulty with right now. I am unsure if it is a water quality issue, light issue, feeding issue or the peppermint shrimp are nibbling it to death. I have moved it higher onto the rocks so it can get more light. I hope that helps. __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

04/17/2005, 12:16 PM	#24
H2OLUVSME Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: MYRTLE BEACH, SC Posts: 5,048	have you tried spot feeding it? __________________ Landon

04/17/2005, 12:22 PM	#25
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	I wouldnt want to feed it spot, Spot is way to big to feed to a green brain coral, and besides, she might give the coral fleas. __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR