New to the Forum!

[gcgrad]

Hello all, my name is Dean and I just joined the forum. I am in the process of a 55 gallon build which will be my first aquarium. I have researched the hobby for a couple years now and have finally taken the plunge. It will be a 55 gallon DT with a 29 gallon sump/fuge. Here is the equipment I have so far!

29 Gallon Tank (sump/fuge)
Glass Baffles (yet to be installed)
20 Gallon QT (back painted black/blue)
Reef Octopus Skimmer
2x Koralia Evolution 1050gph Powerhead
Koralia Evolution 550gph Powerhead
API Saltwater Test Kit
Mag Drive 500 Water Pump
8" Fish Net
65 lbs "Reef Saver" Dry Rock
Finnex 200W Heater
Finnex 150W Heater
75GPD RO/DI 5 Stage System

I will be getting a 55 gallon DT from my sister as well as possibly canopy, canister filter, and light fixture.

System will be a FOWLR for the first 6 months or so as I have read to not add corals until then. Looking into the LED lighting as of now but that purchase will not be made until I deem the tank as "Reef ready". Until then power compacts or some other cheap source of light will probably be used.

Next to be purchased is the salt mix, substrate, refractometer, and thermometer. Any suggestions for these? I look forward to communicating with you all through this exciting process and also reside in the Macon area. Anybody know of any reputable LFS in the area? Thanks

 

[coolsurf]

Welcome Dean. Sounds like a decent beginning. Check out our sponsers for your supplies and needs. They are reputable and can help you alot. Depending on your budget for salt, etc. there are many options. Some like Salinity, others like Reef Crystals personally I like D&D. You'll have to do some research and see what fits your needs the most. As you expand, you will need to expand your lighting of course so some options will be T-5, MH or even LED (the way of the future IMO). These of course are for "reefing" needs. I would also trade in the API test kit and go with Seachem, Elos or something a bit more accurate. For starters with a FOWLER, you'll be ok.

Any questions, ask away. BTW, a membership to ARC will help you save money as most sponsers offer a nice discount.

 

[ichthyoid]

Welcome to the ARC!

 

[gcgrad]

coolsurf;608910 wrote: Welcome Dean. Sounds like a decent beginning. Check out our sponsers for your supplies and needs. They are reputable and can help you alot. Depending on your budget for salt, etc. there are many options. Some like Salinity, others like Reef Crystals personally I like D&D. You'll have to do some research and see what fits your needs the most. As you expand, you will need to expand your lighting of course so some options will be T-5, MH or even LED (the way of the future IMO). These of course are for "reefing" needs. I would also trade in the API test kit and go with Seachem, Elos or something a bit more accurate. For starters with a FOWLER, you'll be ok.

Any questions, ask away. BTW, a membership to ARC will help you save money as most sponsers offer a nice discount.

Thanks! I was leaning toward the Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. I think I can use the API kit for breaking in the tank. As I progress and things the aquarium begins to have life, I can invest in a better test kit.

Amici;608925 wrote: Welcome! You have one heck of a great start! Kudos for doing your research :up:

If you want some ideas on installing those baffles in the sump then google Melev's Reef. His site is AWESOME.

For salt I would start off with Instant ocean. Its a good salt thats cheap. Once you get farther along and are more concerned with you calc, alk and mag then I would switch to Reef Crystals or Seachem Salinity (a bit pricey but I like it). Substrate, is a question of if you want SPS or not. If you want SPS then caribsea special reef grade is great sand that tends to stay down a bit better than most. If you dont want SPS you can go with a finer grain sand as your flow will be lower. Refractometer....just dont go ebay cheap and you are fine Finally for a thermometer, if its in your budget then a Reef Keeper Lite is the best thermometer, timer all in one unit that starts around $100 bucks and you can upgrade parts from there as you need.

I am not aware of any good stores in your area. My friend had a tank while at Mercer and asked me to bring most livestock from ATL for him.

I was going to go with the Instant Ocean Reef Crystals right away. For substrate, I was suggested Seaflor Special Grade Reef sand. Although I have seen someone review it saying that it's so fine that sand sifters can become scratched by them. Don't know how true that is. I was also suggested to get a Ranco Temp Controller. Haven't hear of the one you suggested though so I'll check that out. And as far as refractometer goes, I will purchase one from a reliable brand.

Also, I have checked out Melevsreef and have designed some sump setups on other forums. I actually started the installation of them today. So I will post a pick of that when it is finished. I painted the back of my QT black and navy blue, to see if I liked it enough to do it to the DT. The bottom was painted black as well, all to lower the stress level for the fish.

Hoping to make some friends on here! Especially some people I can enjoy the hobby with locally. I am on a few other forums but ya'll are all my fellow Georgians!!! I'll be sure to check in and keep ya'll updated as I make new purchases and take on other projects. Thanks for all the advice!!!

 

[gnashty]

gcgrad;609019 wrote:


I was also suggested to get a Ranco Temp Controller.

Get the Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Lite, for $99 it is ranco, PH monitor as well as thermometer all in one, and does so much more.

 

[cr500_af]

gnashty;609060 wrote: Get the Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Lite, for $99 it is ranco, PH monitor as well as thermometer all in one, and does so much more.

Agreed (but to be fair the $99 package doesn't have an SL1 or a pH probe, so to monitor pH would require add-ons).

 

[mapleredta]

Dean, there are quite a few of us down this way. I am from cochran and I am always around your area on the weekends.

 

[gcgrad]

cr500_af;609068 wrote: Agreed (but to be fair the $99 package doesn't have an SL1 or a pH probe, so to monitor pH would require add-ons).

Looks life for $120 you get the temperature probe, system interface device, programming coupler. For $280 you get the pH probes, System Lab 1, pH Cal solution, & Bus Cables. I don't know what the System Lab 1 or Bus Cables are. Assuming the 7 and 10 pH Cal solution is to measure calcium? That's a hefty device though, have to see what my budget looks like in the coming months. The $280 unit may be a purchase down the road. I don't even know what the $380 unit would do, take care of your aquarium by itself.lol:wow2:

mapleredta;609079 wrote: Dean, there are quite a few of us down this way. I am from cochran and I am always around your area on the weekends.

Huh. I would love to be able to collaborate with others on aquarium projects. I just don't know of anyone else around Macon. We don't even have a LFS. The best we have is a pet store that may have little to do with saltwater. But I would take anything they said with a grain of salt.

 

[cr500_af]

The pH cal is for calibrating the pH probe. The SL1 is the interface that the system uses to tie in the pH probe (and ORP probe, which very few use). Bus cables simply link all the pieces you are running together. Connector cables, if you will.

Has the RKL level one gone up to $120? Last time I looked it still had an MSRP of $99.

 

[gcgrad]

cr500_af;609099 wrote: The pH cal is for calibrating the pH probe. The SL1 is the interface that the system uses to tie in the pH probe (and ORP probe, which very few use). Bus cables simply link all the pieces you are running together. Connector cables, if you will.

Has the RKL level one gone up to $120? Last time I looked it still had an MSRP of $99.

I just googled Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Lite and this was the first link that came up.

 

[gnashty]

cr500_af;609068 wrote: Agreed (but to be fair the $99 package doesn't have an SL1 or a pH probe, so to monitor pH would require add-ons).

:doh: I always do that. I went straight for the RKE

 

[cr500_af]

gcgrad;609105 wrote: I just googled Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Lite and this was the first link that came up.
http://www.digitalaquatics.com/saltwater/RKL">http://www.digitalaquatics.com/saltwater/RKL</a>[/QUOTE]

So they have gone up. Still worth every penny IMO.

 

[gcgrad]

Alright, so I'm using the dry "reef saver" rock from brs. I will be adding rock to my QT and seed it in there while I'm trying to get the stand built and get the DT drilled and plumbing done and so forth. So that when all that is finished, I may have some beneficial bacteria growing on the rock. Would someone on here, geographically close, be willing to give me a cup of live sand that I may use to seed with?

 

[redstang]

gcgrad;608905 wrote: Hello all, my name is Dean and I just joined the forum. I am in the process of a 55 gallon build which will be my first aquarium. I have researched the hobby for a couple years now and have finally taken the plunge. It will be a 55 gallon DT with a 29 gallon sump/fuge. Here is the equipment I have so far!

29 Gallon Tank (sump/fuge)
Glass Baffles (yet to be installed)
20 Gallon QT (back painted black/blue)
Reef Octopus Skimmer
2x Koralia Evolution 1050gph Powerhead
Koralia Evolution 550gph Powerhead
API Saltwater Test Kit
Mag Drive 500 Water Pump
8" Fish Net
65 lbs "Reef Saver" Dry Rock
Finnex 200W Heater
Finnex 150W Heater
75GPD RO/DI 5 Stage System

I will be getting a 55 gallon DT from my sister as well as possibly canopy, canister filter, and light fixture.

System will be a FOWLR for the first 6 months or so as I have read to not add corals until then. Looking into the LED lighting as of now but that purchase will not be made until I deem the tank as "Reef ready". Until then power compacts or some other cheap source of light will probably be used.

Next to be purchased is the salt mix, substrate, refractometer, and thermometer. Any suggestions for these? I look forward to communicating with you all through this exciting process and also reside in the Macon area. Anybody know of any reputable LFS in the area? Thanks

Welcome Dean! I'll be following your build as I'm new to the hobby as well. Still in planning stages here.

 

[mapleredta]

Have you bought the rock yet?

 

[raisedonnintendo]

Welcome

 

[gcgrad]

mapleredta;609660 wrote: Have you bought the rock yet?

Yes. I purchased 65 pounds of the "reef saver" dry eco rock from brs.

 

[gcgrad]

RedStang;609656 wrote: Welcome Dean! I'll be following your build as I'm new to the hobby as well. Still in planning stages here.

Just make sure to research and research. And when your done researching, research some more. I've purchased a few books but I've learned mostly from online forums and such. People on here are a great help and can speak from experience. Hopefully one day I will feel comfortable lending advice and teaching the noobs instead of being one!:lol2:

 

[merkywater]

Tim one of our sponsers has the Reefkeeper Lite for $100 and his shipping is cheap...you may want to check with him.

 

[gcgrad]

Update. Got the baffles in my sump/fuge. Failed the leak test. There are two places that need to be sealed. Once it's finished I will post a pic. I will be ordering my sand, substrate, refractometer, and thermometer fairly soon. Next project is to get my pvc tables built that the rock will sit on. Sand bed in the DT will be 2" and in the fuge 6". Once the tables are built I will wash the dry rock off with RO/DI water, then add the rock to my QT and begin seeding the rock.

New question. Do most of ya'll get your fish from online or LFS? Are there any reputable LFS south of Atl? I have heard of one in McDonough but know nothing about it. If you suggest the LFS you patronize, is it possible for me to commute livestock from Atl to Macon. It would probably be a 1.5-2 hour drive. Plus I would hate to get stuck in rush hour traffic with livestock. Don't want to feel like I'm racing against the clock. Thanks