Starting up my very first marine tank

[enwelz]

Well I posted on the club board that I'm looking for some equipment and got a couple responses. I'm gonna see if the guy will sell me just the tank and light. He's selling a stand with it but I don't need the stand.

He mentioned a Sump. Are sumps strictly necessary? Just wondering. Because I dont' know how to drill or plumb one... so. I do have a couple 10 gallons laying around and 10 gallons is 25% of the capacity so I got that part of it covered. I can run my Algae turf scrubber on that to help with the algae in the display. And if it does the other things it says it will do... fantastic.

they aren't requierd but they are very nice, you but all your equipment in there so your display is neat looking, and they add water volume. I just set up my 100gallon with a 50 gal sump and i used a CPR Cs202 dx overflow http://www.fishsupply.com/siwcp-cs202.html

I really like it as it has an aqualifter pump to keep it primed. But they are more work to get going! And you still have to buy a pump, adding more water to your system is nothing but good stuff all around

 

[Liz Sagara]

I dunno how to make one though. I have no skills with this sort of thing.

 

[FLESHY]

Wow heath, impressive job finding that aquarium club!

I got my water professionally tested here at the university that I work for and attend because it wasnt that expensive, and tested for other things that I was interested in as well. It was very comprehensive, and gave me (hopefully) the most accurate results that money can buy.

 

[Liz Sagara]

Yeah I asked the club and they said our water is no good. Said it's even worse in old houses because of the copper piping. I have an old house with copper piping.

 

[Heathd]

I cant really take credit for finding it. I had Melev (Marc) get me the link, he knew of one.

Sumps arent 100% necessary, but there are tons of tutorials and info on how to build one. melevsreef.com has all sorts of good info on it. Read up on it, get comfortable with it, and go for it. You wont regret it.

As far as clubs go, there are typically dues. Ours are yearly, and 20 bucks. It gets you access to all sorts of great things, including the monthly meetings. The best thing is, you have found people local to you who have experience and a general willingness to help. Everyone here is willing to help too, but we dont live close enough to do any hands on demonstrations or teaching.

 

[Liz Sagara]

I got invited to the meeting in April.

 

[Liz Sagara]

There was no mention of dues. I'll look it up though.

 

[Liz Sagara]

I think I got a good deal on a tank and light. He wants 250 and the tank is a 40 gallon breeder with a metal Halide light fixture.

http://lubbock.craigslist.org/for/2268373252.html

Any thoughts? Good set up?

 

[Liz Sagara]

I'm liking the idea of a club. They're super nice and they gives me deals.

 

[Heathd]

fishneedit.com 250watt MH new 170.
40 gallon breeder during the dollar per gallon sale at petco 40 bucks (about twice a year)
so that is 210 total.


I would try and get him down to about 150. I know thats a relatively huge difference, but I think that is all its worth. Unless its coming with more then tank, stand, canopy, and light.