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My background: I've been messing around with freshwater off and on for the past 15 years. I have been in the freshwater planted tank scene for the past year and a half. I have always been afraid of setting up a saltwater tank, but then it all hit me about a month ago....For all this time/effort/$$$ I put into a planted tank, I could be enjoying a beautiful saltwater tank.
My equipment on hand:
30 gal Oceanic cube w/stand, Rena filstar 3 canister filter, Orbit PC 2X40 lights - one 6500k and 1 dual actinic bulb.
29 gal regular w/stand, Rena filstar 2 canister filter, DIY 2X55 lights - both 9325k
What I want:
To begin with I would like a live rock tank w/a few fish such as clowns, gramas, chromis, and/or a blenny plus some inverts. Not too many fish, just a few happy ones. I would like to eventually add a few corals. I would rather go with the 30 cube because it is much nicer looking than the 29 gal.
What I know:
I know that it takes time to setup and cycle a SW tank. I am in no rush. I have spent a month so far just reading up. I really would like to go with a sump so that I don't clutter up my tank w/equipment and just to make life easier. But I don't want to drill holes in my tank and I'm scared of a HOB overflow box malfunctioning and flooding my floor. Is there a way to prevent a HOB from malfunctioning? If I need to I can use the canister filters and just plumb in the heater, but is this a bad thing over the sump? My canisters are really quiet and I love them and I have this longing feeling to incorporate them into my setup. But this may just be to justify the money that I spent on them.
So for now my 30 gal cube is just sitting there all cleaned out and ready to have sand, water and live rock added. I am just looking for some one on one advice that can help stear me in the right direction. I have been calling around for live rock prices at some LFS around my area. I have come up with $6.99 for premium fiji, $9.99 for Tonga, and $8.99 for marshal islands LR. Can I find it cheaper, but still good quality elsewhere? I guess the advantages of buying at the LFS is that it should be cured and ready to be added to the tank.
Well any advice is appreciated. Thanks.
This post is double posted on the TRT forums.
My equipment on hand:
30 gal Oceanic cube w/stand, Rena filstar 3 canister filter, Orbit PC 2X40 lights - one 6500k and 1 dual actinic bulb.
29 gal regular w/stand, Rena filstar 2 canister filter, DIY 2X55 lights - both 9325k
What I want:
To begin with I would like a live rock tank w/a few fish such as clowns, gramas, chromis, and/or a blenny plus some inverts. Not too many fish, just a few happy ones. I would like to eventually add a few corals. I would rather go with the 30 cube because it is much nicer looking than the 29 gal.
What I know:
I know that it takes time to setup and cycle a SW tank. I am in no rush. I have spent a month so far just reading up. I really would like to go with a sump so that I don't clutter up my tank w/equipment and just to make life easier. But I don't want to drill holes in my tank and I'm scared of a HOB overflow box malfunctioning and flooding my floor. Is there a way to prevent a HOB from malfunctioning? If I need to I can use the canister filters and just plumb in the heater, but is this a bad thing over the sump? My canisters are really quiet and I love them and I have this longing feeling to incorporate them into my setup. But this may just be to justify the money that I spent on them.
So for now my 30 gal cube is just sitting there all cleaned out and ready to have sand, water and live rock added. I am just looking for some one on one advice that can help stear me in the right direction. I have been calling around for live rock prices at some LFS around my area. I have come up with $6.99 for premium fiji, $9.99 for Tonga, and $8.99 for marshal islands LR. Can I find it cheaper, but still good quality elsewhere? I guess the advantages of buying at the LFS is that it should be cured and ready to be added to the tank.
Well any advice is appreciated. Thanks.
This post is double posted on the TRT forums.