PLEASE READ... im a noob and need HELP

[newbie094523]

hello everyone,

got 2 problems:

(1) i am new to the hobby and really want to get that "Southdown Tropical Play Sand" stuff that everyone seems to say i can obtain at a Home Depot. well, i have visited both Home Depot's in Madison, WI and both do not have any. I talked to a guy at Home Depot (EAST) and he says as long as i can get the 13 digit UPC # (on the bag) he can track it and order it for me, but otherwise he said no can do. So please, if ANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE SOUTHDOWN SAND BAGS laying around, PLEASE email me the Number

(2) how do i get "PURE" water? would distilled work? or how bout bottled water? where do all of you get the water from?


-->CHRIS

 

[centrek]

This is the information that I have on Southdown numbers from Home Depot


SouthDown Tropical Play Sand
SKU # 578-819
UPC # 0-210026-16865-5
Model # 420-100

 

[ReefLion]

In the long term, the most economical way to get pure water is by using an RO/DI filter, that's "Reverse Osmosis/Deionization." There are a number of different units, and some people use only one or the other type. Most people agree, however, that using both types of filters in series provides the best filtration and purist water.

Just do searches on this board for "RO/DI" and you'll get lots of info.

Tim

 

[newbie094523]

centrek, thank you so much!!! i was so close to just buying the expensive stuff at the LFS! and reeflion, i am equally thankful you helped me out as i could have definately hurt my water quality and in the long run couldda hurt the bank too. well thank you two for so much help, jeez, this board really comes through (and quickly too!) thanks again!!! oh im so excited!!!!!!!!!

-->CHRIS

 

[Garry thomas]

wellcome newby hope you get started ok! have you read any books? mags, done any homework? research?

 

[Anonymous]

Depending on the size of your tank, you might want to consider buying RO water from your LFS... Decent RO/DI's usually run up around $200 or so.

I'm fortunate that I can get pre-mixed RO/DI water for $1/gal. at my LFS.

I only have a 30 gallon tank so that's a lot of water changes before I could have paid for an RO...

Just a thought......

And one other (from one newbie to another) do a LOT of reading before doing anything... I've had to make a LOT of changes to my tank since getting started and just learned that I have to do another.. I'm lucky though, I don't have much of anything at all in it..

(I didn't put my rock down below my sand...)

 

[newbie094523]

gary, yes, ive been on the internet for the past 3 months looking through sites on how to get started, pointers on maintaining the tank, etc. i got a pretty decent set up right now i think...

i got a 55 gallon tank, with a 200w heater, 2 marineland penguin 300gph powerheads, and an Eheim Ecco 2233 (200Liter model) water filter for my tank. i was going to buy a skimmer as well but i think for now, i can use my powerheads to put oxygen into the tank - you can adjust how much air in the powerhead is puched through from none to all. but other than that, im ordering the southdown tropical play sand today and should be getting in next week hopefully... then i will get around 50lbs of uncured live rock to put on the 4.5" sand bed (to save $$$) cuz i can be patient for a few months... and then in around 3-5 months i imagine i can start to put a damsel in. i got this sweet PH testor my friends' dad hooked me up with (hes a biotech guy) that reads to the hundredths for PH and got the Nh4, No3,& No4 testors as well.

so what do you guys think of me set-up??? anymore suggestions/comments??? (i cant spend much more money at all, the 150$ water filter drained me and now i gotta borrow my friends' ro/di filter to fill teh tank up! lol

 

[Anonymous]

Take a look at RO units at Premium Aquatics or Marine Depot. You most likely don't need a really high output one, you can pick one up for $100 to $150.

Grateful Diver:

I'm fortunate that I can get pre-mixed RO/DI water for $1/gal. at my LFS.

What is premixed RO/DI water? What kind of lights are you running? If you evaporate a gallon a day, plus 30 +/- to initially fill the tank you would pay for a RO unit in a couple months. I wish you lived by me, I would sell you all the water you want for a dollar a gallon.

 

[Anonymous]

2 marineland penguin 300gph powerheads, and an Eheim Ecco 2233 (200Liter model) water filter for my tank.

Save yourself a headache and buy a skimmer.

CPR BakPak or AquaC Remora.

 

[Anonymous]

What is premixed RO/DI water?

It's the same thing that you'd use for water changes... RO/DI + salt.

What kind of lights are you running?

Right now? - Just a couple of regular flourescent bulbs for the moment.. I just added sand and a couple lbs of rock the other day.. I have to save up for lights yet.. (2x96 PC's..)

If you evaporate a gallon a day, plus 30 +/- to initially fill the tank you would pay for a RO unit in a couple months.

Right now I'm lucky if I evaporate a gallon a week, but yeah, eventually I'll get one. It's just not in the budget right now.... Until the old house sells, this is where the $$ goes...

 

[Anonymous]

If you're not sure what RO/DI is, it's RO plus deionization... Those are the units that typically have at least 3 stages and are going to run you more into the $200 range..

 

[Anonymous]

Oops, I thought you were talking about top off water. Most people use more water for top off than water changes. I don't deny that it would be nice to have an ro/di with all the bells and whistles. You can get by with a bare bones ro unit in the $100 range though. Once you get those 200 watts of pc over your tank you are going to evaporate alot more water. Scurrying back and forth from the lfs is going to get old. I used to have a 29 with a 250w mh that would lose about a gallon and a half a day. The light was low though and I was running a fan. You will definitely use more water for top off than water changes though.

 

[Bluetangclan]

2 or 3 months before adding a damsel? A: if doing a reef tank, dont bother with a damsel, go with a chromis, same price, just as tough, not aggressive. I put one in on day 2 and he is alive and well to this day. They are good for cycling tanks.

 

[newbie094523]

well with untreated live rock i doubt thatd be good for the fish...?