Just started my 37 gallon have some questions

[joshainga]

I'm new to the saltwater hobby and recently started my 37 gallon tank and had a few questions. i have an eclipse 3 hood (I know its crap) but i do like the look of it and i'm looking for a pc retrofit kit with 24" bulbs but seem to be having a hard time finding one. Does anyone know of a place i can get one or is there a home made kit i can piece together that is fairly inexpensive? I also have a magnum 350 canister filter im going to use in place of the crappy stock filter. Also wondering if anyone knows where i can get some cheap cured live rock (i'm still gonna quarintine) but want to use it fairly quick. right now i have 40lbs of carribsand live sand and 24lbs of fiji live rock. My livestock consist of 1 green chromie, 2 blue damsels my cycle fish, 5 blue legged hermits, 1 juvenille maroon yellowstripe, and a condylatus pink tip anemone (which lighting seems to be ok on) i eventually wanna start some soft corals after the light change. any ideas on what other types of livestock i should add? Thanks Loving the new hobby btw

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[joshainga]

I'm new to the saltwater hobby and recently started my 37 gallon tank and had a few questions. i have an eclipse 3 hood (I know its crap) but i do like the look of it and i'm looking for a pc retrofit kit with 24" bulbs but seem to be having a hard time finding one. Does anyone know of a place i can get one or is there a home made kit i can piece together that is fairly inexpensive? I also have a magnum 350 canister filter im going to use in place of the crappy stock filter. Also wondering if anyone knows where i can get some cheap cured live rock (i'm still gonna quarintine) but want to use it fairly quick. right now i have 40lbs of carribsand live sand and 24lbs of fiji live rock. My livestock consist of 1 green chromie, 2 blue damsels my cycle fish, 5 blue legged hermits, 1 juvenille maroon yellowstripe, and a condylatus pink tip anemone (which lighting seems to be ok on) i eventually wanna start some soft corals after the light change. any ideas on what other types of livestock i should add? Thanks Loving the new hobby btw
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[joshainga]

yeah question is finding someone breaking down a tank within a decent distance from me lol

 

[drnecropolis]

How long has the tank been up?

The condy is alright for now but in the long run it might not be able to survive under a lesser lighting setup..

The damsels will more than likely become unholy terrors in the future, bullying each new addition..

My best suggestion would be to slow down and research as much as possible..

Welcome by the way!!

 

[joshainga]

im not planning on keeping the damsels they were solely used to cycle the tank cheap and effective lol. tank has been up a month and a half and the addition of the maroon yellowstripe and condylatus were as of today. im looking on redoing the lighting asap so i can get a bubble tip anemone. i know i need a sandsifter i was thinking of maybe a cucumber or a wrasse and a cleaner shrimp for when i get my tang. what do you think would be good additions for a future reef tank set up? and thank you glad to be here

 

[joshainga]

tank has been up a month and a half the damsels were solely used for cycling the tank and will not be permanent residents of my tank. the maroon yellowstripe and condylatus were new additions as of today. i'm looking at doing the lighting asap because i want a bubble tip anemone more likely my clown will host. i know i need something to turn my sand thinking of maybe a wrasse and i know im going to get a couple of cleaner shrimp for when i get my tang. but kind of undecided what else to add in the future. im doing this slowly and i constantly check my water parameters. so it doesnt become an unnecessarily expensive hobby with avoidable casualties.

 

[smoothie]

You don't need a sand sifter. A good cleanup crew will do fine. Especially don't need a cucumber if you get a sand sifting goby as the sifter. You will just need to be sure to get the goby to eat foods like pellets if you do go that route but a good cleanup crew will do great and produce less waste imo.
Do not get a tang for that size tank. Read up on the minimum requirements for your fish before you buy them. If you see a fish you have to have most lfs will take a deposit to hold it and this will give you time to do your research. Be sure you tell the stores about your setup so that they may help make your experience in the hobby a successful one. Our sponsors here are our sponsors because that is one of there many great characteristics. They want YOU and your LIVESTOCK to be happy

 

[rolo65]

Honestly that tank is to small for even a small tang...I have a small sailfin in my 58....he's about 2.5" long and even he is getting to big for my tank....I personally wouldn't recommend getting any tang for that size tank....a small fairy/flasher wrasse would probably be ok in there...also that maroon clown will get BIG....and will soon outgrow his home....and morons are very territorial...more so than percs or occilaris clown....although all clowns are usually pretty territorial....you could get a goby/shrimp pair and they would do well in that size....PC lighting will rarely be enough for a BTA....maybe for the Condy it will suffice....for a Bubble tip I would recommend getting at least some T5s in a retro fit.....in that size tank it "may" be ok with T5s....but it's pushing it...

 

[joshainga]

i read that the sand needs to be turned due to i guess gasses that can be toxic from live bacteria dying or something like that and my sand bed is almost 4 inches. i just started with this tank to see how i would be able to handle i have future plans of shutting down my 125 fw community and converting or doing one of my 2 55 gallons i have sitting which one is lake malawi cichlid right now and doing it next still not 100% on which one.

 

[joshainga]

well i know its not gonna be my only tank i have others just wanted to start small for the next couple of months to get a good feel for it i think more than likely my 125 fw will be sacrificed for a reef tank lol whick i already have a few pieces of the puzzle for a friend of mine gave me a 25watt tropical marine centre uv sterilizer with a heater module for and a protien skimmer for it so saves me a little right there but that lighting is so expensive plus the amount of rock i would need so i said i'll just start slow and build as i go

 

[rolo65]

Only the top of the sand really needs sifting and that's mostly for the aesthetic purpose...is say get a small diamond goby....or even a small dragon goby....they will keep you sand clean.....but make sure before you get one that it is eating pellets or frozen food like smoothie said above....

 

[smoothie]

Go with the 125 later. Alot of tangs will stay small enough to find that length suitable. Actually they will be happy with it.
The sandbed is supposed to trap and break down organics for you. Along with the canister filter you mentioned have you looked into adding a skimmer and a sump to your setup?
Amping up the flow will also help in keeping waste in the water column to be sucked out rather than ending up in/on the sandbed.

 

[joshainga]

well the more i look it up the more it looks like the old eclipse hood will be garaged and i'll just end up going with a mh set up with maybe some type of crate top

 

[joshainga]

i actually have thought about it but wasnt sure of the right way to set it up being the tank isnt drilled (i know total newbie) i have a 20 gallon just sitting and a rio 2100 powerhead. i even started looking into the hob skimmers but prefer it hidden

 

[smoothie]

JOSHAINGA;542470 wrote: well the more i look it up the more it looks like the old eclipse hood will be garaged and i'll just end up going with a mh set up with maybe some type of crate top

That sounds like a good plan for the future. Here is a great one for the top http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=34002">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=34002</a>
Also the 20 would be great under your tank for the sump. Get an in sump skimmer and hide it like you want. Since the tank is not drilled get a hang on the back overflow for it. You really sound like you are loving and reading into this alot and you are very enthusiastic about it. I can't wait to follow and see what becomes of your tank(s) in the years to come. I'm thinking good stuff. Just please don't use any more livestock to cycle a tank. There are many other ways we can fill you in on when the time comes:D

 

[littlej2455]

A couple LFS have a lot of used stuff, you could try some of those.

 

[chefrepo]

Looks like things are going good so far. Remember that NOTHING happens fast in a reef tank unless its bad. The best way to keep that from happening is by going slow. Make an addition or a change and then wait for things to catch up. Your wallet and sanity will appreciate it. Keep an eye on the forums and you can pick up some great deals on LR and equipment. Now that I think of it I will probably have some nice pieces coming up for sale in the next few weeks.

Oh yeah......Welcome to the ARC! Its great to have another westsider!

 

[rale2001]

you might want to get rid of the damsels while you dont have a lot of rock because when they start harrassing the fish that you desire it will be a PIA trying to catch them i thought i was big and bad and would be able to catch them. They didnt bother my clown pair but when i add my firefish they chewed up his whole top fin. it took me several hours and had to remove all my live rock and i have 35 lbs of it to catch them.

 

[rale2001]

tank looks good though you may wanna look into a goby/shrimp pair

 

[joshainga]

Well i bought a few more things for my tank the damsels and chromies are on the way out in next day or so. I ended up getting a coral beauty and a scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp.