BIG TANKS

[esmithiii]

Kirtis,

FWIW on my 180G tank, I have about $2500 invested, and that doesn't include 90 lbs of LR, the sand (Home Depot SouthDown) nor 90% of the corals, nor most the livestock since I upgraded my 55 and transfered all that stuff to my 180G. Thad doesn't include the lighting, either.

Also keep in mind that I am a do-it-yourselfer with lots of tools, so I made my hood, my stand, my sump, the PVC frame for my liverock and all the plumbing myself. The tank itself was the least of the expenses, BTW.

Also beware of used tanks. You usually don't get any warantee, and cleaning up 220 gallons off your floor is a much bigger deal than you think. My buddy miscalculated the glass thickness on a 200+ custom tank he built and it broke when he was filling it. His whole basement was flooded with a 3" of water!

Anyway, my advice is to plan, plan, plan and then take your time when looking for the tank. Keep in mind that my 180G tank weighed in at over 200lbs dry! I am a "big-ole-boy" and it about killed moving the thing into the house and onto the stand. For a tank that big you have to brace the floor joists so they don't bow or break.

Just my $0.02

E

 

[SPC]

Oh Ernie, that was so nice.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Kirtis,
I got my 6' long 100 gal on Ebay ($150). Check there. But I also had a roomate to help me move it , and oh yeah , A Truck with a lift gate. and dollies , packing blankets , an ELEVATOR to get it to my top floor apartment , The thing weighs about 350 pounds when empty.

Now it is a goldfish pond. It has 18 feeder goldfish (10 for $1) and a plecostomus ($3 at Wal-mart)
Add on the canister filter it came with, and wallah. I have a great big tank in my living room
for $155!

Never mind the other $1000 or so. Lights , airpumps substrate , fascade for the stand and canopy made from cedar , food , medicine, GFCI.

The list goes on...

Have you ever thought of racing motorbikes?

B

 

[31-2c]

Hey Kirtis

Go to your local YMCA. I am sure they will be more than willing to let you turn their swimming pool into a tank! And just think how much stuff you can throw in their, and then throw out a few days later!

Wouldn't that be COOL!!

What do ya think??!!!


Get a life you ignorant juvenile delinquent!

 

[sawcjack00]

My Christmas wish has been answered...Kirtis is back!!!

Kirtis! Kirtis! Kirtis!


This really is the best day ever!

 

[Anonymous]

There's someone posting under the name of Marinerules over on RC whose posts seem to bear a marked similiarity to Kirtis' posts here.

 

[fishfarmer]

Well let's see, the 120 gal 6 foot FOWLRLS I maintain, cost about $500 used. That came with tank, stand, amiracle w/d, emperor aquatics skimmer, some bleached corals, and 100 watts of triton tubes.

Southdown sand cost = $35
40 lbs Fiji rock cost = $191
Heater, titanium probe, salt, etc.= $149.65
Two powerheads, prolly need more= $83.98
Hydrometer= $13.39
Misc. hardware= $8.00
More misc. hardware= $8.00
Even more misc. hardware= $40.00
The rest of the hardware= $18.00

Better lighting would cost at least $500 minus hood.

This ain't factoring in livestock like snails, hemits, fish, food, yada, yada.

This doesn't factor in RO/DI costs(hassles) either.

So my math puts this tank at $1547.02 to make it reef ready, but that don't factor in an elaborate water topoff system in the adjacent room to alleviate the evaporation from the metal halides.

Oh yeah, doing water changes with a 5 gal bucket don't cut it with this tank, you need BIG containers. 20% water change a month will be 24 gals, every two weeks thats 12 gals. Start adding salt and your bill gets higher and higher. Also don't expect to move the darn thing anytime soon, all that stuff is heavy.

 

[Anonymous]

you guys are hysterical , oh yeah!

 

[newreefman1]

Notice Kirtis hasnt posted again.
LOL.
I happened to be here for some earlier kirtis threads

 

[danmhippo]

Kirtis, I hope you don't mind I post our private message here. I just want everyone to know how you feel:

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>
i was wanting to set one up with freshwater like the petstores 220 , and yes patience is the game, I WOULD NOT HAVE ICH RIGHT now if it weren't for that one fish i bought, THAT ONE FISH I BOUGHT MADE THE CLOWN GET IT not my water conditions, noone can understand that my water is fine , everything , EVERYTHING is doing great except the clown and only cause he got it from the trigger, and he is getting better, i am medicating the tank , SOMEONE told me to buy a coral banded shrimp to clean the ich off the fish
<hr></blockquote>

Kirtis, Just want you to know, the reason you have ich is not because of that "one" fish. It's the overall health of the tank degrading. It doesn't matter if you move up to 500G tank, it's your stocking habit that is killing it.

Just a friendly reminder. (remember, I was the stupid one tried to be nice by telling everyone that the alias is not kirtis?)

Jimmy

Oh, one more thing, I hope you haven't got the coral banded shrimp yet. If you indeed have, I guess you should've guessed it.......eel food. If not, good for you. Lesson #2, don't rush into buying critters at this stage. Also, whoever told you to get a coral banded shrimp, don't take his advice anymore........he is waaaaaaaay wrong.

[ December 10, 2001: Message edited by: danmhippo ]

One more, are you medicating the WHOLE TANK?? (Is your heart sinking too?)

[ December 10, 2001: Message edited by: danmhippo ]</p>

 

[monkeyboy]

My eyes lit up when i saw who was posting the BIG TANKS thread.

Well say you get a big tank cheap, where's the money going to come to get equipment? I think i'm done trying to help.

I second:
Yeah, kirtis is back!

 

[TimberTDI]

I think us new people deserve to hear the rest of the story...

What's up with this guy? I can only imagine.

 

[kirtis]

yes i am posting over there, they help me more and are more nicer , don't talk to me if you are from here over there,

and bye the way my tank is fine , clown got it two days after i put sick fish in ,

for the 100th time

 

[TimberTDI]

NEVER MIND!!!

I just went back and read the old post. Holy S man. You gotta be kidding me. This can't be real. It't too good to be real.

Reminds of Forrest Gump.

 

[tazdevil]

I wouldn't know where to begin.
Basically, he sets up a 20, lets it run about 4-6 wks, tranfers everything to a 30, then about 4 days later, transfers everything to a 55, expecting no new cycle, and adding fish to it. He also keeps species in a 55 that were to small for it. Do a search on his member # and read all his threads. You'll see what we mean. Basically it comes down to the fact that "Nothing in this hobby that is good, happens fast. The only things that happen fast in this hobby are the bad things." He also has gone out of his way to infuriate some members by telling them there suggestions are stupid etc. that have been keeping reef tanks longer than he has been on this planet. If you don't like someone's opinion, you can question them, but you don't call them idiots.

 

[Anemone]

Hey Kirtis -

How is the green brittle/serpent doing with the trigger...or was it two serpents? 'Cause first your were asking if you should get one, then a few days later said you'd had one for weeks, then a week or two later you were asking for the habits on green serpents all over again saying you were thinking of getting one. - that whole episode had me very confused.

Oh yeah, but at first it wasn't you that bought the trigger, it was your friend. Well, actually, you later said it was you, but when the trigger developed ich you "threw it out." So, are the serpent(s) still alive?

Let's just say you occasionally contradict yourself in different posts...actually in the same post too......like the one you first mentioned you had a mandarin. Someone asked you, exactly, what fish you had, and you replied you had a tomato clown and an eel. Then later, you were quite emphatic in telling everyone that it was okay, because the mandarin was eating frozen food (very lucky for you, if it's the truth).

Finally, are you really "Eels are awesome" as well as Kirtis? I'm having trouble tracking all this.

Please help me figure all this out.

Kevin

 

[Anonymous]

I'm sure J@C could explain it.

 

[suckair]

Tanks are Free!!!!!!

Get the Lights, "the right ones" pumps, high power skimmer, ca reactor, and the Live Rock, critters, and don't forget the chiller and other needed equipment!

Now lets talk cost!

I just got a 120g Oceanic rr Starfire tank for 300 bucks.. but you can bet my total cost will be way more than that when finished.. A good pump will cost me 200+!!!!!!!

If you are worring about the cost of the tank.. you are in for some real shockers!

My first setup sat in my living room empty for 8 months before I dumped in water! Thank God I found discussion forums, chat rooms and Books! I was lucky. Due to research and a good basic understanding I did not have to purchase my lights, skimmer, or other equipment more than once! If I had listened to the LFS I probably would of spent 3x as much and been upset with the results..

Randall

 

[rishma]

WHOLLY CRAP!!!!!!!!


I was reading this thread in disbelief at what a bunch of jerks you all were! I found an old Kirtis thread......I stand corrected.......this kid cannot be old enough to use the internet!!! I hope this is just one of you old salties having some fun with us, otherwise someone needs to sterilize kirtis and euthanize his poor parents.


I don't know what board is being "more nicer" to kirtis, but I can't image anyone is this tolerant.

beating sense into children became unacceptable years ago, but one can't help but wonder if it might do some good.

I dont usually read threads for laughs........

cheers,

 

[rishma]

I really hope English is a second or third language for kirtis. Hooked on phonics