Deathies 110 Gallon

[charlie]

Yeah, that should get you a skimmer to be proud of!!! You have just taken the first really important step in your reef's life.

[charlie]

Thats 23 days away, idk if i wanna run my tank for that long without the skimmer. And whats better, an in sump or out of sump skimmer?

I cannot say, I have only ever used an external on my 300. It all depends on how much room you have in your sump and or outside your tank.

[metalhead]

My LFS has been in the business since '76 so he seems legit. Checking with things on these forums and with what he's told me he hasnt tried to screw me once for a buck.

Stick with him!!! Highly uncommon nowadays! See what his price is on the skimmer too and don't forget to figure in shipping. I'd be giving him all my business if I were you, you are very fortunate to have a good LFS to deal with.

Theres nothing in my tank but the live rock. Everything has just been pumping. Id get my skimmer put in before i put any marine life in there.

Good call!

Looks like ill be returning my PS3 bundle i bought myself for Christmas, ill have nothing to open now xD

Sorry to hear about the PS3 but I think you'll be happy you did... Or if not at least your reef will be. Besides, you can wrap the skimmer box up and open that, after you've installed the contents in your sump of course.

Then you'll be looking for things to return for coral money but be warned, a crack habit would probably be less addictive and maybe even cheaper!

[Parrothead]

You could have a new skimmer to open Just think, the smell of fresh skimmate...................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. It would almost bring a tear to a glass eye.

Love ya like a brother, but dude, you gotta get out more

Robert

[Deathsmile]

@ Metalhead: My LFS has the skimmers in store, so no shipping. Its an all aquarium store, so they only deal with salt water tanks and all the good stuff. Empty Skimmer box for christmas, woot! I plan on only doing business with him.

@Charlie: If my first step for my reef is giving up PS3's, then i dont wanna know the next steps fisrt my car, then my house My wet/dry is more then half as long as my tank, and even though i wanted an outta sump one, i may have more room in my sump for one.

What kind of corals would you guys suggest for the future?

[Parrothead]

lets get the hardware in place first, remember your Elders

Tanks,
Robert

[charlie]

@ Metalhead: My LFS has the skimmers in store, so no shipping. Its an all aquarium store, so they only deal with salt water tanks and all the good stuff. Empty Skimmer box for christmas, woot! I plan on only doing business with him.

@Charlie: If my first step for my reef is giving up PS3's, then i dont wanna know the next steps fisrt my car, then my house My wet/dry is more then half as long as my tank, and even though i wanted an outta sump one, i may have more room in my sump for one.

What kind of corals would you guys suggest for the future?

That is all going to depend on what you do for lights. We will get to that further down the road here!!!!

[Deathsmile]

Id like to just be able to buy new bulbs and put them into my existing PC's i have. Ive heard a lot about T5's my LFS even mentioned them. I know id need to get lights before coral, the above post was just some ideas so i can go research. But i deff know lights and skimmer before fish and coral >:| Another fish store closer to me where i get my water told me "Yeah you can put fish and stuff in your tank no problem, even though your pH is low you can put fish in tonight" that was on day 2 of the tank being up. The only thing i trust getting from them is RO water and fish.

Itd be nice to use the money from my PS3 and put it into a skimmer and lights. Would i be able to get a decent skimmer and lights for around 450 bucks?

[charlie]

Not unless you could find a deal on some used stuff. Look around a little, and ask the guy at the LFS you trust.

[Deathsmile]

How much can lights really be? I have the ability to add up a good # of lights, so maybe 6 semi good lights compared to 2 good ones?

[charlie]

Can you get us a pic of the bulbs themselves and the inside of the canopy?

[Deathsmile]

I have a few in my main post, but ill take some more when i get home from my gf's house. What length for the bulbs would i wanna get. Its 48 1/2 long.

[charlie]

I want to see a better pic of what you have before I really say anything here, OK? I also would ask that you take a pic of the "boxes" and the wiring. Sorry to be such a PITA.

[Deathsmile]

Its not a bother at all. I need and WANT all the advice and suggestions that you guys have to offer, especially since youre running a 400 gallon reef, im pretty sure itd be wise for me to do everything you say to a T. ill take the pics of the canopy and all the lighting wires and such too when i get home.

[charlie]

Let's put it this way, we will do whatever it takes within your budget, and go from there. As long as you don't have critters in there, lighting is the second thing we need to center on.

@Charlie: If my first step for my reef is giving up PS3's, then i dont wanna know the next steps fisrt my car, then my house

Yeah, it gets pretty ugly after number 2!!!

[Deathsmile]

Yeah, i deliver chinese food right now about to start an EMT academy so money is kinda tight.

The critters are on a standstill, i wasnt so patientand kinda put a fish in a little early. So while that fish was in my buddy across the streets tank.. lets just say that he wasnt quick enough for his eel :/ But ive learned and im better now :] im over my addiction

[charlie]

We live and learn.

[Deathsmile]

Sorry about the lack of pics tonight. Ended up going to a buddy's house with my girl and got ****faced. Ill take pics in the morning of what you asked for and we can pick everything up from there. Hopefully my PS3 comes in the mail soon so i can take it back and then scope out some skimmers and such at my LFS ill prolly be ok with spending around 300 on a skimmer. A 300 dollar skimmer should get the job done right? ill go to the LFS and see what brand it is and such and update you guys.

Special thanks to Charlie, Parrothead, and Metalhead

[metalhead]

@ Metalhead: My LFS has the skimmers in store, so no shipping. Its an all aquarium store, so they only deal with salt water tanks and all the good stuff. Empty Skimmer box for christmas, woot! I plan on only doing business with him.

@Charlie: If my first step for my reef is giving up PS3's, then i dont wanna know the next steps fisrt my car, then my house My wet/dry is more then half as long as my tank, and even though i wanted an outta sump one, i may have more room in my sump for one.

What kind of corals would you guys suggest for the future?

I was trying to say figure shipping on your end when you compare your LFS's prices to what you see on-line. I have a local guy that I like to deal with but he gets a little crazy with his prices sometimes, especially on equipment such as skimmers and lighting. My rule of thumb for dealing with him is 50 bucks... In other words if I can save 50 bucks or more ordering myself then that's what I do, otherwise I generally buy from him.

As for lighting/corals... As the great council of elders has advised you, don't get in a hurry. If you want some idea though of what you will eventually need start looking at t5/MH combos. With the depth of your tank I would say you will want at least two 250w MH pendants with or without some combination of t5's as well. I only run t5's on my frag tank, I use MH only on my main displays and have very good growth from LPS and SPS corals.

[charlie]

You make a good point on the depth of the tank!!!!