New Guy

[Snowboarda42]

Hey I'm brand new here so I thought I would register and say whatsup? I've been reading topics on this site and thought it was a great source for information and whatnot, so I registered.

As for the Tank, I just bought an All-Glass 45 Gallon Aquarium and Black Wood stand with a glass top.







I've been into Tropical Freshwater for a while now with good results, and have always been into saltwater. So I'm giving it a try.

My Name is Elliott, I'm 21, I live in Wenatchee, WA (Right in the middle of the state). I work for an Ambulance company out here as a Full Time Emergency Medical Technician.

For the Tank I'm going to go full reef. I've been reading lots for the past two months to see what I'm getting into.

 

[Anonymous]

Let me be the first to give you the

:welcome:

 

[Anonymous]

I like the tank shape. Have you considered getting it drilled to make it "reef ready" so you can have a sump to hide your gear? Are you partial to hang on back (HOB) stuff.

Have you given any thought to

Lighting

Flow

Filtration

Critters (sometimes drives the above)

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome to our addiction!!!

 

[Snowboarda42]

I like the tank shape. Have you considered getting it drilled to make it "reef ready" so you can have a sump to hide your gear? Are you partial to hang on back (HOB) stuff.

Have you given any thought to

Lighting

Flow

Filtration

Critters (sometimes drives the above)

I think I'm going to stick to the HOB items. Im buying a Fluval 305, Current USA Nova Extreme T-5 Fixture W/ Actinic and Lunar Lights (156 Watt), Prizm Skimmer, Visi-Therm Stealth 200W Heater, Two Zoomed 226 Power Sweep Powerheads, Maybe a Red Sea Wavemaker Pro, 52Lbs Fiji/Lalo Live Rock, Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand 1-1.7mm, Etc.

Any good experiences with the FLO Rotating Deflectors?

Kent Marine Additives, Kaulkwausser and Reef Crystal Salt Mix. Also a Portable Refractometer.

As for live Stock I'm going with the Following:
Silver Pumping Xenia
White and Green Starburst Polyps
Colony or Green Button Polyps
Cauliflower Colt Coral
Kenya Tree Coral
Toadstool Mushroom Leather Coral
Spaghetti Finger Leather Coral
Some Hawaii Feather Dusters
Some sort of Bulb Anemone possibly.
I might that list up a bit to add more color to the tank.
Any Suggestions?
Maybe one of these, as soon as I figure out what it is:






Inverts:
Dwarf Electric Blue Hermits
Cleaner Shrimp
Anemone Shrimp
Porcelain Crab(s)
And a Big Algae Cleanup Crew

Fish:
1 Ocellaris Clown
1 Fridmani Pseudochromis
2 Green Chromis
2 Kaudern Cardinalfish
1 Flame Hawk
1 Sailfin Algae Blenny
1 Pistol Shrimp and Goby (hoping for Symbiotic Relationship)

If anyone has any input/Suggestions I'd appreciate it. Especially towards corals. I don't mind putting alot of effort into the tank either.

Also, where is a reputable place to buy coral online (theres no coral stores nearby)

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, make sure that your fish will be fine in your tank size and will get along with each other. Also find out if your fish will nip your coral (reefsafe). Do your research. A good reputable site is www.wetwebmedia.com .

Your leather and polyps with have a chemical warfare and you will most likely lose your polyps.

DON'T get a prism skimmer. I had one and hated it. Get a Aqua C Remora if you want to get HOB skimmer.

My experience on online vendors....... www.premiumaquatics.com (quality) or www.saltwaterfish.com (quality & good shipping prices). I've tried petsolutions.com (unsatisfied with livestock) & petsupply.com (expensive for shipping).

 

[Snowboarda42]

Ok, make sure that your fish will be fine in your tank size and will get along with each other. Also find out if your fish will nip your coral (reefsafe). Do your research. A good reputable site is www.wetwebmedia.com .

Your leather and polyps with have a chemical warfare and you will most likely lose your polyps.

DON'T get a prism skimmer. I had one and hated it. Get a Aqua C Remora if you want to get HOB skimmer.

My experience on online vendors....... www.premiumaquatics.com (quality) or www.saltwaterfish.com (quality & good shipping prices). I've tried petsolutions.com (unsatisfied with livestock) & petsupply.com (expensive for shipping).

I've been reading lots of articles from liveaquaria.com and drsfostersmith.com and picked those out. As for the leather and polyps fighting, is that only if they're close together?

What didn't you like about the Prizm? My friend wants $30 for his...

As for getting livestock, does Liveaquaria have a decent reputation?
I'm going to check out premiumaquatics right now.

What site should I get the Aqua C Remora from? I would Love a standalone skimmer that I can put under the tank Without a wetdry/sump.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, make sure that your fish will be fine in your tank size and will get along with each other. Also find out if your fish will nip your coral (reefsafe). Do your research. A good reputable site is www.wetwebmedia.com .

Your leather and polyps with have a chemical warfare and you will most likely lose your polyps.

DON'T get a prism skimmer. I had one and hated it. Get a Aqua C Remora if you want to get HOB skimmer.

My experience on online vendors....... www.premiumaquatics.com (quality) or www.saltwaterfish.com (quality & good shipping prices). I've tried petsolutions.com (unsatisfied with livestock) & petsupply.com (expensive for shipping).

I've been reading lots of articles from liveaquaria.com and drsfostersmith.com and picked those out. As for the leather and polyps fighting, is that only if they're close together?

What didn't you like about the Prizm? My friend wants $30 for his...

As for getting livestock, does Liveaquaria have a decent reputation?
I'm going to check out premiumaquatics right now.

What site should I get the Aqua C Remora from? I would Love a standalone skimmer that I can put under the tank Without a wetdry/sump.

Yes, I would trust liveaquaria.com . I forgot about them. You have a 45 ga tank. I had a chemical war in my 100ga.

My experience with the prizm, I had one on my 30 ga and it did not skim well and I had to constantly adjust the valve. You have to make sure that the collection cup is completely in place otherwise, the skimmate will seep through the seal and end up on your floor. I hated that thing. It's cheap for a reason.

I think you can get an Aqua C :

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_pro ... sp?CartId=

http://www.proteinskimmer.com/products/Remora.htm

ebay, even looking at our For Sale threads. You can find a used one that will do just as good.

 

[Snowboarda42]

Sweet Thanks for the input. Ebay has them for 140ish. I Think i'll go that route.

Any idea what this is?

Im having so much trouble finding it, i dont know where else to look

 

[ChrisRD]

They're commonly referred to as "Christmas Tree Worms"...

More info here: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... toonen.htm

 

[Snowboarda42]

Sweet Thanks!

Heres another question:

Is it worth Bracing the bottom of the glass on my tank? Its completely open and only supported on the edges (designed that way). My thoughts were to take a piece of a 1x4 and run it across the bottom of the tank to support the weight. Am I wasting my time with this? Or is it worth it?

 

[turnburn]

DON'T get a prism skimmer. I had one and hated it. Get a Aqua C Remora if you want to get HOB skimmer.

Amen to that. I stuck a Prism on my first tank and hated it! I was happy to give it away. You'll be much happier with the Aqua C Remora.

 

[ChrisRD]

Is it worth Bracing the bottom of the glass on my tank? Its completely open and only supported on the edges (designed that way).

For this type of design I never support the bottom and I've never had a problem.

 

[Anonymous]

I think it's a christmas tree feather duster but I'm not sure on that. I'll look it up.

EDIT to say that Chris already ID'd it.

 

[mr_X]

your fluval 305 will have to be cleaned very often, like once a week.
i had a rena xp3 on my tank for a while and it worked against my live rock producing nitrates. once i got rid of it completely, i was much better off.
...and that flame hawk might pick on your smaller crustaceans.
alot tell me this, and it has stopped me from purchasing one as of yet

 

[cindre2000]

Annihilate is a better word. Hawkfish naturally prey upon crustaceans in the wild and your shrimp would be quick work. However, I have kept a good sized cleaner shrimp with a Falco Hawk, and I like them a bit better anyways.

 

[trido]

Welcome to our addiction!!!

LOL, I noticed the skis. Mission ridge, here we go.



You will have to give up one of your hobbies. You wont be able to afford the newest skiis and the newest reefer products on the market.

Your leather and polyps with have a chemical warfare and you will most likely lose your polyps.

I disagree with this statement. You are not necessarily doomed. Leathers release a chemical compound into the water called turpines. Some more than others. I have four different leathers and several different colonies of zoas and one of yellow polyps in my 30G. Everything is growing and reproducing quite well.
Turpines slow calcification in stoney corals but your are setting up a softy tank so It shouldnt be an issue for you. Most dont mix leathers and SPS just for future reference.
One way to help aid in cleaning the water of turpine is the use of carbon. I use a DIY carbon reactor 24/7 and change it monthly to pull toxins out of the water. I have no problems at all with chemical warfare.

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome to our addiction!!!

LOL, I noticed the skis. Mission ridge, here we go.



You will have to give up one of your hobbies. You wont be able to afford the newest skiis and the newest reefer products on the market.

Your leather and polyps with have a chemical warfare and you will most likely lose your polyps.

I disagree with this statement. You are not necessarily doomed. Leathers release a chemical compound into the water called turpines. Some more than others. I have four different leathers and several different colonies of zoas and one of yellow polyps in my 30G. Everything is growing and reproducing quite well.
Turpines slow calcification in stoney corals but your are setting up a softy tank so It shouldnt be an issue for you. Most dont mix leathers and SPS just for future reference.
One way to help aid in cleaning the water of turpine is the use of carbon. I use a DIY carbon reactor 24/7 and change it monthly to pull toxins out of the water. I have no problems at all with chemical warfare.

How did you make your carbon reactor? I'd like to do this well maybe I need it.

 

[SnowManSnow]

I second everything about the skimmer. VERY few ppl have been satisfied with their PRISM.

B

 

[trido]

How did you make your carbon reactor? I'd like to do this well maybe I need it.

Real easy, I used 2" PVC.

Buy a slip on end cap, a threaded/slip coupler, and a threaded end cap. I used John guest fittings tapped into my return line to feed it (you could use a maxi jet 400)and drilled a few holes in the solid end to let the water flow back int the sump. I use coarse black filter to hold the media in. It just sits in my sump. At 8" long it holds about 4-6 cups of carbon.

I also built a smaller HOB design with john guest fittings on both ends fed by a rio50 for my 30G tank.
These are literally 20 minute projects if you have the tools and materials on hand.