[My2heartboys]

OK, I finally got my tank last night--still need to clean it out well but thought I would post some info anyway.

My tank is 47.4 gallons and it came with a Aquatech 20-40 120vAC .17amp 60Hz filter.

This filter was used for FWF and I am assuming that a new system will need to be bought.

Please keep in mind that, with the exception of size, this is strictly a beginner tank. No drilling, overflows, refugiums, etc. I barely have room for the tank!

I only plan to keep 2-3 soft corals, 2-3 LPSs, 3-4 fish, clean up critters galore. Eventually would like to get a clam and a sea cucumber to help with the sand issues.

I have figured out a few shortcuts, but those mostly deal with getting the LR and LS. Below is equipment need list and if somebody has some of it that has been lying around for a while and is willing to part with it cheap, please pm me. I don't need or want high end high dollar equipment-if there is a cheap knock off that works as well as the original that is good enough for me. OK, here it goes

Hood with reef lighting capabilities that is 48 inches long (from inside)
Heaters
Skimmer
Pump
Filter

I would rather try to buy used stuff before buying new stuff so that the other does not eventually wind up in landfills. The only stipulation is that the equipment needs to be in good working order still (your tank outgrew the current equipment).

Hope all of this makes sense.

Anne

[gqsmoothster]

Hi there. I like your enthusiasm, and we can all appreciate that. If I can offer you a few cents of advice, it would be this:

1.) start low and go slow. if you try to go too fast with all this, you'll start losing lots of money. it's OK to dream of a tank with all this, but just be realistic and take your time, making sure to check yourself and your equipment at each "level" before jumping off to the next.

2.) you'll need a great skimmer. a knock-off just won't cut it. the good Lord knows I've tried myself. you'll need to spend some money on this is it will be your most important piece of equipment if you want anything other than fish.

3.) you'll need good lights. from what I understand PC lighting alone won't cut it for clams. even soft corals probably, neither. you'll need to invest a good amount of money into lighting if you want those items. no shortcuts around it. i've got PC lighting and i'm hoping my LPS do well (they did at the LFS under the same, so I have a good chance). Lighting is probably your second most important piece of equipment.

4.) you left off test kit. you'll need one of these in the beginning to follow trends and discover chemistry issues that will need to be resolved. my test kit was the "cheapest" SW kit, and i think I'll need a better one... probably should have gotten a good one to begin with.

Moral of the story is that there are few shortcuts in this hobby. The ones you can usually take have to do with DIY hardware. This forum has a nice section on just that. Otherwise, just be careful with shortcuts.... I've learned from experience in the last year.

There's also a for sale/wanted section of this forum. I managed to get a used skimmer (Remora Pro) there for a great deal. Hope you have good luck finding your items as well.

Best of luck

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by gqsmoothster

Hi there. I like your enthusiasm, and we can all appreciate that. If I can offer you a few cents of advice, it would be this:

1.) start low and go slow. if you try to go too fast with all this, you'll start losing lots of money. it's OK to dream of a tank with all this, but just be realistic and take your time, making sure to check yourself and your equipment at each "level" before jumping off to the next.

2.) you'll need a great skimmer. a knock-off just won't cut it. the good Lord knows I've tried myself. you'll need to spend some money on this is it will be your most important piece of equipment if you want anything other than fish.

3.) you'll need good lights. from what I understand PC lighting alone won't cut it for clams. even soft corals probably, neither. you'll need to invest a good amount of money into lighting if you want those items. no shortcuts around it. i've got PC lighting and i'm hoping my LPS do well (they did at the LFS under the same, so I have a good chance). Lighting is probably your second most important piece of equipment.

4.) you left off test kit. you'll need one of these in the beginning to follow trends and discover chemistry issues that will need to be resolved. my test kit was the "cheapest" SW kit, and i think I'll need a better one... probably should have gotten a good one to begin with.

Moral of the story is that there are few shortcuts in this hobby. The ones you can usually take have to do with DIY hardware. This forum has a nice section on just that. Otherwise, just be careful with shortcuts.... I've learned from experience in the last year.

There's also a for sale/wanted section of this forum. I managed to get a used skimmer (Remora Pro) there for a great deal. Hope you have good luck finding your items as well.

Best of luck

__________________________________________________ ____

Thank you for your advice, Dr. I have somebody (God bless him) sending me a good used skimmer for just the cost of shipping. I have a penguin and a fluval 304 filter coming to me cheap. Somebody else has said (again God bless him) that he would send me test kits plus hydrometer. We have found that PC lighting was not going to be as much as we thought. As a matter of fact, we will be getting them cheaper new than it would cost for us to build them DIY fashion (and we were really trying to go cheap there too.) Our local DIY reef man said that, yes, I would be able to keep a couple of clams if I wanted, just need to compensate by keeping the lights on longer. Same with most of the LPS and softies should be no problem at all. It looks like I will still need to get a heater.

But, like you said, first things first. Once I get the equipment and then can get the LR and LS (our local club is putting together a mass order for some good LS), the tank will be "brewing" for a couple of months. Come to think of it I was going to ask if I could cycle the tank with just the standard flourscent lighting that I currently have until the lights get in.

BTW-our local DIY reef man has a HUGE (and I mean HUGE) tank of his own and been doing this for a heck of a lot longer than I have been thinking about doing it.

Anne Wanger

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by My2heartboys

__________________________________________________ ____

Thank you for your advice, Dr. I have somebody (God bless him) sending me a good used skimmer for just the cost of shipping. I have a penguin and a fluval 304 filter coming to me cheap. Somebody else has said (again God bless him) that he would send me test kits plus hydrometer. We have found that PC lighting was not going to be as much as we thought. As a matter of fact, we will be getting them cheaper new than it would cost for us to build them DIY fashion (and we were really trying to go cheap there too.) Our local DIY reef man said that, yes, I would be able to keep a couple of clams if I wanted, just need to compensate by keeping the lights on longer. Same with most of the LPS and softies should be no problem at all. It looks like I will still need to get a heater.

But, like you said, first things first. Once I get the equipment and then can get the LR and LS (our local club is putting together a mass order for some good LS), the tank will be "brewing" for a couple of months. Come to think of it I was going to ask if I could cycle the tank with just the standard flourscent lighting that I currently have until the lights get in.

BTW-our local DIY reef man has a HUGE (and I mean HUGE) tank of his own and been doing this for a heck of a lot longer than I have been thinking about doing it.

Anne Wanger

__________________________________________________ __

Forgot to mention that when the tank gets up, it will be dedicated (online at least) to those who have donated or have sold me good used equipment really cheap. My boys will know of their help so that they can learn about an ecosystem that they most likely will never see IRL.

Anne Wanger