Hey Jack!

lt_smash · May 8, 2013

Hello Everyone

My kids won a gold fish, now 3 weeks later, I am obsessed with fish tanks. We got a little 20G long fresh running and its still cycling. I watch the silly tetra in hopes they would do something cool.

Anyhow, I am the new owner of a Coralife Biocube 29g. (not setup yet) My main concern with salt is the access to water. I would love to go with a 120g, but at 10% weekly water changes would be costly over the span of a year and a pain to have to run to the fish store every week.

A few questions...
1. If I get a 55 gallon drum and store it in my garage, how long will the water last?
2. Could I get some water at one place, then get it at another the next time. I live in the middle of 3 shops, so it will depend which direction I am coming from
3. What is recommend for a salt beginner, fish, coral, or both in my biocube? I purchased all the recommended pumps and other gadgets Atlanta Aquarium suggested for the Cube, so I am good to go with hardware for now.

Basil

heathlindner25 · May 8, 2013

I would buy a ro/di unit and never drive for H20.
there's a good chance you'll be upgrading your tank.

ringo® · May 8, 2013

heathlindner25;865124 wrote: I would buy a ro/di unit and never drive for H20.
there's a good chance you'll be upgrading your tank.

Yep.....If you're hooked, it will pay for itself in no time versus purchasing water.

bycjoe · May 8, 2013

First off, welcome! You'd be better off buying a RODI unit from our sponser Air, Water, Ice, it'll be cheaper in the long run for pure water and it'll give you better control over your reef tank and is better to use in your freshwater tank as well. As for being a beginner and what type of tank to setup, I'm comepletly new to the hobby and am doing a 40g breeder reef tank setup, just got my first clownfish on Sunday. The more research and planning you do now the easier it will be down the road.

heathlindner25 · May 8, 2013

if you become a paying member they're always up for sale in our "for sale threads" I saw one a couple days ago for 60 bucks

Edit:

Bycjoe;865129 wrote: First off, welcome! You'd be better off buying a RODI unit from our sponser Air, Water, Ice, it'll be cheaper in the long run for pure water and it'll give you better control over your reef tank and is better to use in your freshwater tank as well. As for being a beginner and what type of tank to setup, I'm comepletly new to the hobby and am doing a 40g breeder reef tank setup, just got my first clownfish on Sunday. The more research and planning you do now the easier it will be down the road.

Ro/di is not good to use for freshwater it's too sterile and freshwater fish like the minerals. in all reality it would probably kill your freshwater fish....lol

lt_smash · May 8, 2013

RODI..ugg more stuff to research...

But from what I have read, I can hook a RODI to a hose and make my water in the garage? There is no way my wife will let me tap into the plumbing

picoreefguy · May 8, 2013

+1 rodi isnt good for fresh water. seachem makes a product called replenish that replaces the minerals if youre using distilled or otherwise purified water. but that would be a waste since you could just use tap.

heathlindner25 · May 8, 2013

lt.smash;865135 wrote: RODI..ugg more stuff to research...

But from what I have read, I can hook a RODI to a hose and make my water in the garage? There is no way my wife will let me tap into the plumbing

just don't tell her...lol you can hook it up in the laundry room no" tapping "required
oh , and you might as well learn this now, everything cost $20!

picoreefguy · May 8, 2013

lt.smash;865135 wrote: RODI..ugg more stuff to research...

But from what I have read, I can hook a RODI to a hose and make my water in the garage? There is no way my wife will let me tap into the plumbing

yes they make adapters to fit hoses and sinks but honestly it would be easier to just tap into the plumbing and ask for forgiveness later because youll be hooking up and unhooking all the time where as with tapping into plumbing all you have to do is turn a valve. and either way make sure you get a float valve to prevent overfills 6 bucks in a float valve is much cheaper than a few hundred to a thousand in damages to walls or floors

Edit:

heathlindner25;865137 wrote: just don't tell her...lol you can hook it up in the laundry room no" tapping "required
oh when you might as well learn this now everything cost $20

+1 never reveal the true cost of anything unless its less than 20 bucks like the float valve lol my radion was only $150

sn4k33y3z · May 8, 2013

heathlindner25;865137 wrote: just don't tell her...lol you can hook it up in the laundry room no" tapping "required
oh , and you might as well learn this now, everything cost $20!

:up:

rdnelson · May 8, 2013

heathlindner25;865137 wrote: just don't tell her...lol you can hook it up in the laundry room no" tapping "required
oh , and you might as well learn this now, everything cost $20!

The best way to hide if from your wife is to put it in the laundry room. They never go in there. For extra security put an ironing board in there too. Hehehehehehe.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ripped tide · May 8, 2013

rdnelson99;865212 wrote: the best way to hide if from your wife is to put it in the laundry room. They never go in there. For extra security put an ironing board in there too. Hehehehehehe.

Sent from my iphone using tapatalk

+1

lt_smash · May 8, 2013

rdnelson99;865212 wrote: The best way to hide if from your wife is to put it in the laundry room. They never go in there. For extra security put an ironing board in there too. Hehehehehehe.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Shes in there all the time.. The problem is I am NEVER in there, except to pull out dirty clothes to wear again. I do not want to get caught in there.

Our laundry room is not that big, so will not work.

From the little research I have done, it appears, these RODI setups are not small.

The more I research, the more discouraged get

ripped tide · May 8, 2013

Back in the day, I used to hook my RO unit up to the faucet outside and make water out there. It kept the wife happy when we were limited on space.

You'll want to either run the line carrying good water back into the house, or make sure that it have an easy way to transport water back inside.

lt_smash · May 8, 2013

Ripped Tide;865331 wrote: Back in the day, I used to hook my RO unit up to the faucet outside and make water out there. It kept the wife happy when we were limited on space.

You'll want to either run the line carrying good water back into the house, or make sure that it have an easy way to transport water back inside.

I do not mind mixing it outside. I only have a 29g right now and I would only be making and carrying 5 gallons for now.

ripped tide · May 8, 2013

lt.smash;865334 wrote: I do not mind mixing it outside. I only have a 29g right now and I would only be making and carrying 5 gallons for now.

There ya go! Problem solved. When you aren't using the RO/Di, store it inside and avoid sunlight when it is outside. Try to make sure that the membrane stays wet- don't drain it after use.

skosbu · May 8, 2013

I just started a few months ago with the 29 biocube (also from Rit at Atlanta Aquarium)...so I can give you my 2cents...but that may be all it is worth!

1. +1 on the RO/DI unit. It is next on my list of things to buy because I am tired of lugging buckets of water around. Even though my water change fits in a 5 gallon bucket nicely...it is a pain.

2. If you have not done it yet...join ARC. The people on here are great, and as you look to go bigger (it took me 6 months to start planning my first upgrade) you will find some great deals on the sale page. Plus, Atlanta Aquarium and Nemo’s are sponsors and will give you a discount…Pays for itself!

3. To answer your question on fish vs. coral...I started with fish, coral and a shrimp, and have not killed much so I recommend all of the above (I did not care much for coral...then I bought some. Now that has become my favorite part!). I added the cheap stuff first to make sure I was not going to kill anything...maybe a little bit of a mistake because of point #4:

4. Plan ahead and take it slow! Especially if your kids are going to get into it with you (my 8YO LOVES the tank!), be careful of random trips to the fish store and picking the pretty fish that just happens to be in stock. I speak from experience on this one b/c my 6 line wrasse loved the little firefish we bought him...it tasted yummy! For the 29, the # and types of fish you can put in are limited, so the planning helps. If I could start over I would have a 'peaceful' tank...but I love my Wrasse. If you create a list of the fish you want, I am sure everyone here can help guide you on how to add them in order to avoid feeding a wrasse a $15 lunch!

5. Some of my favorites (I do research on Live Aquaria and do all my buying from AA or Nemo’s – I use AA for coral and Nemo’s for fish…but both are great for either)
Coral - 
EASY WIN - If you want an easy win, my Kenya tree and Anthelia (from Atl Aquarium) see to be made of steel. I don't do anything special, and they just keep getting bigger! Now they are starting to get too big, but I have not learned what to do about it yet 
MY Favorites (from AA) - I have a Duncan that started as one head small and has taken off, and I have a Torch Coral that my clown fish has taken a liking to (I am not sure the Torch likes it much, but it has been 4 months and the coral still looks healthy). I just added some Frog Spawn and trumpets from the coral expo this weekend, and we will see how they do.
Fish, Shrimp, etc. - 
Easy Win - My Percula clown fish is great...and I am about to try to find her a mate. If you are unfamiliar with the mating of clown fish...It is a cool process and one that has my kids asking all sorts of questions (they have been reading up on the process and tonight at dinner my 8YO asked What a hermaphrodite is) 
Other Favorites - My skunk cleaner shrimp and serpent star are fan favorites. Easy to care for (the LFS can hook you up with the right stuff). The 6 line wrasse is a great fish to watch and my most beautiful fish...but he is a bit of a bully and has me hesitant to add anything else.

Hope this helps...Again, take it for what it is worth given that I am just about as new to this as anyone!

lt_smash · May 8, 2013

skosbu;865355 wrote: I just started a few months ago with the 29 biocube (also from Rit at Atlanta Aquarium)...so I can give you my 2cents...but that may be all it is worth!

1. +1 on the RO/DI unit. It is next on my list of things to buy because I am tired of lugging buckets of water around. Even though my water change fits in a 5 gallon bucket nicely...it is a pain.

2. If you have not done it yet...join ARC. The people on here are great, and as you look to go bigger (it took me 6 months to start planning my first upgrade) you will find some great deals on the sale page. Plus, Atlanta Aquarium and Nemo’s are sponsors and will give you a discount…Pays for itself!

3. To answer your question on fish vs. coral...I started with fish, coral and a shrimp, and have not killed much so I recommend all of the above (I did not care much for coral...then I bought some. Now that has become my favorite part!). I added the cheap stuff first to make sure I was not going to kill anything...maybe a little bit of a mistake because of point #4:

4. Plan ahead and take it slow! Especially if your kids are going to get into it with you (my 8YO LOVES the tank!), be careful of random trips to the fish store and picking the pretty fish that just happens to be in stock. I speak from experience on this one b/c my 6 line wrasse loved the little firefish we bought him...it tasted yummy! For the 29, the # and types of fish you can put in are limited, so the planning helps. If I could start over I would have a 'peaceful' tank...but I love my Wrasse. If you create a list of the fish you want, I am sure everyone here can help guide you on how to add them in order to avoid feeding a wrasse a $15 lunch!

5. Some of my favorites (I do research on Live Aquaria and do all my buying from AA or Nemo’s – I use AA for coral and Nemo’s for fish…but both are great for either)
Coral - 
EASY WIN - If you want an easy win, my Kenya tree and Anthelia (from Atl Aquarium) see to be made of steel. I don't do anything special, and they just keep getting bigger! Now they are starting to get too big, but I have not learned what to do about it yet 
MY Favorites (from AA) - I have a Duncan that started as one head small and has taken off, and I have a Torch Coral that my clown fish has taken a liking to (I am not sure the Torch likes it much, but it has been 4 months and the coral still looks healthy). I just added some Frog Spawn and trumpets from the coral expo this weekend, and we will see how they do.
Fish, Shrimp, etc. - 
Easy Win - My Percula clown fish is great...and I am about to try to find her a mate. If you are unfamiliar with the mating of clown fish...It is a cool process and one that has my kids asking all sorts of questions (they have been reading up on the process and tonight at dinner my 8YO asked What a hermaphrodite is) 
Other Favorites - My skunk cleaner shrimp and serpent star are fan favorites. Easy to care for (the LFS can hook you up with the right stuff). The 6 line wrasse is a great fish to watch and my most beautiful fish...but he is a bit of a bully and has me hesitant to add anything else.

Hope this helps...Again, take it for what it is worth given that I am just about as new to this as anyone!

Hey this is great advice...Thank You

lt_smash · May 8, 2013

Can an AC condenser pump handle the RODI waste? Right now my AC condenser pump pumps out to a 'rain' barrel for my garden. I have some room next to my HVAC unit for a tall narrow barrel.

rodasphoto · May 8, 2013

lt.smash;865399 wrote: Can an AC condenser pump handle the RODI waste? Right now my AC condenser pump pumps out to a 'rain' barrel for my garden. I have some room next to my HVAC unit for a tall narrow barrel.

The compressor on your a/c from my understanding of how it works does not pump water. The water is from condensation from the evaporator. That water then is directed outside.

I personally have my rodi in my laundery closet and have the waste water connected to where my washing machine dumps used water. Also maintaing a saltwater tank is not as overwhelming as it may seem when you first get into the hobby. Just remember to keep up with your water changes

Hey Jack!

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