First reef tank, what do you think?

[tsellers]

I'm in the process of purchasing the following set up: http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=62139&highlight=sump">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=62139&highlight=sump</a> and wanted to get some opinions on whether this is a good deal or not. This would be my first reef tank. I was in the process of setting up a 65 gallon and ran across this deal and thought it sounded good.

Thanks
Toby

 

[dawgface]

HAHA if you do, pick the tank up I want to buy down there as well!

I'll fill up your (gas) tank and give you some high dollar coral for your trouble.

And yes to answer your question, that is a pretty good deal.

 

[snowmansnow]

good looking deal BUT.. the only issue is that thats a LOT of livestock for a noob (unless u are going just the tank).

Just sayin....

b

 

[tsellers]

SnowManSnow;700885 wrote: good looking deal BUT.. the only issue is that thats a LOT of livestock for a noob (unless u are going just the tank).

Just sayin....

b

The set up does come with the livestock and I must admit that is somewhat of a concern of mine considering I am new to the hobby. I am hoping this forum and many more hours of reading and studying will get me through the transition.

 

[dakota9]

Take Dowgfan up on his offer, then pick his brain continuously on what you should sell and keep.

Forget about the gas money and coral he offered (you have more coral than you need right now)

That's the best payment for the trip anyone could give you right now.....

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

While it looks like a good deal and for an experienced reefer, it is......I am highly concerned about somebody new to the hobby taking on such an endeavor. It always seems easier to take over a tank that somebody else has running but take it from somebody that has done it before, it hardly ever works out in your favor. If you don't know now how to care for the inhabitants, the likelihood is you will suffer losses which will lead you to discouragement. At that point, you may give up on the hobby altogether. If it was tank and equipment only, I'd say absolutely, go for it. But with everything else, I would not advise it unless you have somebody in your circle of friends that can help you. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[tsellers]

DawgFace;700882 wrote: HAHA if you do, pick the tank up I want to buy down there as well!

I'll fill up your (gas) tank and give you some high dollar coral for your trouble.

And yes to answer your question, that is a pretty good deal.

I would love to help out (believe me, I am going to need all the help I can get) but the seller is going to bring the set up to me and help me set it back up.

 

[sra_chipmunk]

Glad to see you started this thread. Like I told you, numerous people would jump in and give you advice and opinions on it which will help you better decide. Its a lot of money to put forward for a setup and I want you to be 100% sure you are happy with it. Keep me updated on your decission. I marked my forsale post with sale pending but that can be easily changed if you change your mind.

 

[dawgface]

As for the livestock, I have a 93 cube that is empty atm. I'd be glad to let you store the livestock in there until your tank is setup and fully functional.

 

[ichthyoid]

DawgFace;700969 wrote: As for the livestock, I have a 93 cube that is empty atm. I'd be glad to let you store the livestock in there until your tank is setup and fully functional.

Great idea, and VERY generous-IMO.

Best thing yet, in addition to the seller bringing it and helping you set up.

Lot's of help on here. As posted above, you were very smart to ask for help. Keep asking...

 

[tsellers]

I really appreciate everyone's feedback thus far!

I plan on moving forward with the purchase. Huge THANK YOU to sra_chipmunk for being willing to bring the set up to me and help put it all back together.

I do realize that I am new to this hobby and this set up comes with livestock and I want to be a good steward to that livestock. That being said, can others take a look at the livestock list and let me know what wold be appropriate to keep as a beginner in the hobby? As far as the rest of the inhabitants I plan on possibly taking Dawgface up on his offer (THANK YOU) to hold them for me and/or part them out so that they can go to good homes where they will be properly taken care of.

 

[sra_chipmunk]

I am the seller of this and a good point was PM'ed to me by another member. I have had the tank set up for abuot 7 months now, fish in it for about 4-5 of those months. With that being said, in everyones expert opinions, would my sand have aquired enough detritus/gunk to cause a spike in Nitrite/Nirate/Ammonia and cause a crash during the re-setup? I thought that with the sand being fairly new, it wouldnt be a problem but the buyer is shelling out a lot of money and I dont want to sell him a tank that will crash soon after he gets it. Thoughts, opinions?

 

[db366]

I don't think it would be worth the risk of using the same sand without washing it out and such. Sand it cheap I'd just pick up a 40 lb bag and save a bit from your old to seed it.

 

[dawgface]

My help in this is of course free!

Just let me know.

 

[dme330i]

7 months, light bioload and ran GFO. If it were me, I probably would use the sand. At a minimum, I would use some of it to seed new sand.

 

[wshfulthinkn]

I would just like to share that Ted and I purchased a complete reef tank back in June of this year. You can see the link of the tank that I purchased http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=57352">here</a>. This was our first real reef tank. We had a bio cube for 9 months before purchasing the 220. Nothing ever seemed to go right with the bio cube. It was probably a heating issue. If we had never upgraded to a complete system, we probably would have given up on reef tanks. The 220 has been much easier to care for, other than the long water changes...

I am glad that we bought a complete set up livestock and all. We might have lost a fish or two due to the move, but not from a tank crash. We did buy new sand for the tank. To move the tank we hired Matt from Creation Reef. His team did a great job!

I also have to say that it is nice having great fish stores such as Creation Reef and Pure Reef that know my tank very well. Anytime I have a question about equipment or concerns about the parameters of my water both stores have been extremely helpful. It is nice to have those relationships. If you haven't been to either store yet I suggest that you make a visit to them.

I would say buy the complete system livestock and all. I would suggest testing and recording the parameters of the water before you take the system down. That way you can try to make the new water match the "old" water. Oh and try to save some of the old water from the tank as you take it down. You can get 5 gallon jugs from pretty much any fish store. When you set your tank up in your house add the old water into the tank. The old water will add useful bacteria back into the tank.

I hope this helps.

 

[ralph atl]

buy new sand and rinse it....what is it 20 bucks?

get a bottle of Seachem Stability and follow those instructions!

you will have too many people giving you too many (already, actually) different modes.


PLEASE LOOK AT THEIR POST COUNT & LENGTH OF TIME HERE ON ARC!

Dave (Acropora) is a good person to follow and pm questions.