Beginners Plan

ksufiji · 02-16-2005, 10:08 PM

Okay everyone, I about to buy a 75 gallon All-Glass tank thats drilled, and has a built in overflow. I need some serious help of what to do next.

I am thinking about buying a refugium/with skimmer built in on ebay. But I don't know if thats the best option. Please help me becuase I'm tired of looking at internet aquariums, and want my own...

I plan on starting with fish, then adding live rocks whenever I can. I just need to know where to buy this live rock without going to the local fish store which sells it for $6/lb.

Please help me

OoNickoC · 02-16-2005, 11:32 PM

Well...small LFS dont get much cheaper...maybe a buck....they simply cant get the bulk discounts bigger stores can. If your going with fish only and LR at first ild go for a WET/DRY.....until you go through the paces for sometime. the WD filters offer premium stability if used properly with low maintanance.

JohnO · 02-17-2005, 02:07 AM

ksufiji,

I can't see where you are from but the first thing I would suggest is that you seek out a local Marine Aquarium Society, normally you pay just a small annual fee but you get that back tenfold in advice and support and freebies :-)

Secondly, just get your tank filled with water and sand and get it cycling, get yourself just 1 or 2 pounds of live rock and let it do it's thing as you can then, as you can afford it, load up the rest with 'dead' rock and if you are a little patient you will get some great results.

Once the initial cycle has finished, add a small fish and then another after a couple of weeks. While you watch them you will notice that the 'dead' rock you have been adding will show some biology and it will become seeded and inhabited by the critters. It's a great way to start a new tank.

John

ksufiji · 02-17-2005, 08:08 AM

I live in Kansas, middle of nowhwere, but there are a couple fish stores nearby. I haven't even seen the ocean in my life, and I'm 22. Laugh it up...

Okay, that sounds like a plan about using the dead rock. What type of filter is best for a fish only tank that will recieve more and more live rock as time goes by???

Jason McKenzie · 02-17-2005, 08:34 AM

ksufiji,
I would at least start with some LR. What ever you can afford. LR is a basis of your filtration in a SW tank. So really with out it you will be force to spend money on a mechanical filter. Then once you get enough LR your filter will be redundant. Know what I mean?
So Like JohnO said start with some and let the tank cycle (with out LR there really is no cycle) then add "Base Rock". Base Rock will not cause another cycle in your tank but will turn to live rock in your tank.

On the main page of 3Reef there are links to "The Step" give them a read they will help a lot.

Good luck and welcome to the addiction
Jason

RAVEN · 02-17-2005, 11:23 AM

Start out with a wet/dry filter under the tank and once you fill the tank up with .75-1lb/gallon live rock you can slowly remove the bio balls. *If you want to go the cheap route which would cost more in the long run you can use 2 penguin 330 or the new 350's hang on the back filters as your wet/dry till you get your live rock and sump/fuge going. *These filters do a great job, *I used them on my 120g till I got my sump set up. *The nice thing about these filters are they are cheap- about $25 online and you can remove the biowheels and use the filters for mechanical and chemical filtration. *The best thing to do in the long run would be to get a wet/dry that can be converted into a sump later on since your tank is drilled.
Welcome to the forum and this money pit of a hobby. LOL.