Hello, New to the forum!
- Thread starter Willie T 0813
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Willie T 0813
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Thanks Everyone for the welcome and your welcome, I served like my Dad and other family members before me. omykiss001 I agree and that is what I am doing now, research! In about 2 more years I will be buying a house here in Clearwater Fl. So for now I am thinking of using my 40 gal as a startup project, small and simple with all artificial then when I get moved to the new house go with a bigger tank. I do have the 55 gal tank but its just the tank no stand or anything. The bigger tank in the future will be at least a 120 and maybe even up to a 300 gal. This part of Florida has a lot of tanks for sale all the time on the local craigslist. So for now I am going to research and ask a lot of questions!
steelheader.262
Valuable Member
Welcome!!!
Dom
Full Time Reef Keeper
Hey Bill,
I've asked myself; what would I do in your situation. In all honesty, the answer I arrived at was to start from scratch. I understand that there are budgetary constraints, but it is important to do this right or else you will spend a lot of money and have little to show for it.
I've only been on R2R about a month and it has been a humbling experience as I have discovered I only know a fraction of all that there is regarding the hobby. That being said, what I offer you is another perspective… food for thought if you will. There are many reliable heavy-hitters in the hobby on here and you will receive tons of good info.
Live rock is important as it serves as a place for nitrifying bacteria and other micro organisms to colonize and grow to meet the bioload of the tank. This is important to the success of a reef tank. Cured live rock would be my choice.
Lighting is also important, especially if you are thinking corals and anemones. I don't know that your existing lighting is sufficient. I like your choice of clownfish to start. They are hearty, resilient and stood up to a lot of mistakes I made as a newcomer to the hobby.
Unless I misunderstood your post, you have a 55 gallon that you plan to set up in the future. WHy not start with it and make your 40 gallon a sump?
Welcome again!
Dom
I've asked myself; what would I do in your situation. In all honesty, the answer I arrived at was to start from scratch. I understand that there are budgetary constraints, but it is important to do this right or else you will spend a lot of money and have little to show for it.
I've only been on R2R about a month and it has been a humbling experience as I have discovered I only know a fraction of all that there is regarding the hobby. That being said, what I offer you is another perspective… food for thought if you will. There are many reliable heavy-hitters in the hobby on here and you will receive tons of good info.
Live rock is important as it serves as a place for nitrifying bacteria and other micro organisms to colonize and grow to meet the bioload of the tank. This is important to the success of a reef tank. Cured live rock would be my choice.
Lighting is also important, especially if you are thinking corals and anemones. I don't know that your existing lighting is sufficient. I like your choice of clownfish to start. They are hearty, resilient and stood up to a lot of mistakes I made as a newcomer to the hobby.
Unless I misunderstood your post, you have a 55 gallon that you plan to set up in the future. WHy not start with it and make your 40 gallon a sump?
Welcome again!
Dom
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Willie T 0813
New Member
Hey Dom and everyone else I will continue this thread until an admin moves it lol. My original thoughts were this, I have had freshwater tanks for many years and just like freshwater, saltwater has to have something to hold the beneficial bacteria I do understand that. Yes I have a 55 gal tank it is a 48x12 and will make a great saltwater tank. I was trying to decide if I needed to have it drilled or not and that's even if it can be drilled. It is just the tank and it was gave to me so I have no stand or anything for it so it is a clean slate if you will, a start form scratch. From what I have read so far I know my freshwater background is a good background to start with. I know we need beneficial bacteria and water temps etc. I know that just like freshwater tanks there's different ways to setup different saltwater tanks.
With that said, I am going to keep my freshwater knowledge but I am doing the saltwater just like I did my freshwater, books, books and more books! RESEARCH! lol Dom I think you were actually reading my mind, I had originally thought about setting up my 55 with a sump in the long run. I have a lot I want to learn before I setup ANY saltwater tank. I do know I need a protein skimmer and that's a must. From there will be my starting point. So lets start here shall we? I have decided I will setup my 55 gal and my primary fish will be Clown Fish. Ok so now we know what my primary fish will be in a 55 gal tank, do I setup a sump and go with live rock etc or do I go with artificial? Hmmm this is where I will have to research. I want COLOR and lots of it. Also how many fish can I keep in the 55 gal? What other fish can I keep? I do prefer the smaller colorful fish I will say that. So a peaceful non predatory tank is desired.
Now do I go with live rock? I do know that all of the photos I have looked at with live rock and fish only, to me is not enough color. So to get the color I want I will need to go with a reef and fish tank. Geez I have a headache! lol Not really but you know what I am going through!
So now I say let the fun begin!
With that said, I am going to keep my freshwater knowledge but I am doing the saltwater just like I did my freshwater, books, books and more books! RESEARCH! lol Dom I think you were actually reading my mind, I had originally thought about setting up my 55 with a sump in the long run. I have a lot I want to learn before I setup ANY saltwater tank. I do know I need a protein skimmer and that's a must. From there will be my starting point. So lets start here shall we? I have decided I will setup my 55 gal and my primary fish will be Clown Fish. Ok so now we know what my primary fish will be in a 55 gal tank, do I setup a sump and go with live rock etc or do I go with artificial? Hmmm this is where I will have to research. I want COLOR and lots of it. Also how many fish can I keep in the 55 gal? What other fish can I keep? I do prefer the smaller colorful fish I will say that. So a peaceful non predatory tank is desired.
Now do I go with live rock? I do know that all of the photos I have looked at with live rock and fish only, to me is not enough color. So to get the color I want I will need to go with a reef and fish tank. Geez I have a headache! lol Not really but you know what I am going through!
So now I say let the fun begin!
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Willie T 0813
New Member
Hey jsker are you talking about pulling the lid off when I get my saltwater setup?
Naiad
Valuable Member
If you are going small and peaceful you can do quite a few fish in the 55. Wrasse, gobies, blennies and cardinal fish are good choices to look at first to get you started. Then there are very colorful inverts like blood shrimp to consider. Most online fish sites will split wrasse into Reef safe and fish only, keep to reef safe lol. You can get a lot of color with the right live rock and some easy corals.
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Willie T 0813
New Member
I have been here on the forum only 2 or 3 days and I Have had more response on one thread than I have had in several months on another forum that I was on. Thank you! This is the response and the information I am wanting.
Naiad thanks for the tip, I will use it in my research. Putting this all together in my head and down on paper (actually a folder in my laptop lol) I am putting together a plan of action to set the 55 gal up as a future saltwater tank. Is there anyone here from my area that anyone of you know of? I live in Clearwater Fl a cross the bay from Tampa Fl. Here in my area there are a few LFS's that do saltwater fish. One local store that I have went to has a bigger selection of saltwater fish and reptiles than freshwater fish. They do have a few freshwater fish but most of their fish are saltwater. I would like to find someone local that is experienced in saltwater fish and tanks to be like a personal teacher. If you are or you know someone on this forum from my area introduce yourself or introduce us please.
Now here is a tidbit about me, my oldest brother is a retired cabinet maker and I myself a few years ago, I had my own little woodshop. I made all kinds of things from birdhouses to small country style furniture pieces. That was back in Arkansas and now I'm in Florida and in an apartment with no shop or tool's but I could possibly buy some hand tools and build my own stand. I will if I can't find what I'm looking for in my price range lol. Your thoughts,opinions and advice will be appreciated!
Naiad thanks for the tip, I will use it in my research. Putting this all together in my head and down on paper (actually a folder in my laptop lol) I am putting together a plan of action to set the 55 gal up as a future saltwater tank. Is there anyone here from my area that anyone of you know of? I live in Clearwater Fl a cross the bay from Tampa Fl. Here in my area there are a few LFS's that do saltwater fish. One local store that I have went to has a bigger selection of saltwater fish and reptiles than freshwater fish. They do have a few freshwater fish but most of their fish are saltwater. I would like to find someone local that is experienced in saltwater fish and tanks to be like a personal teacher. If you are or you know someone on this forum from my area introduce yourself or introduce us please.
Now here is a tidbit about me, my oldest brother is a retired cabinet maker and I myself a few years ago, I had my own little woodshop. I made all kinds of things from birdhouses to small country style furniture pieces. That was back in Arkansas and now I'm in Florida and in an apartment with no shop or tool's but I could possibly buy some hand tools and build my own stand. I will if I can't find what I'm looking for in my price range lol. Your thoughts,opinions and advice will be appreciated!
glb
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Welcome! I'd definitely go with live rock (or dry rock that can become live over time). It will help immensely with filtration and reduction of nitrates. You'll save yourself tons of time with less water changes to keep things in check. I'd definitely buy a skimmer if you want a lot of fish. Again, it will keep the water cleaner which is less maintenance for you and happier fish. Good luck!
jsker
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Yes, if your concerned about the fish jumping us a screen, and the light also penetrates a screen better then glass
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Willie T 0813
New Member
I have not been on my local craigslist lately so I went on just now and the drilled tanks on there are priced right. I may go with that route. I hope I can post the links to the tank pages and not get in trouble lol. Check out this drilled 75 gallon with cabinet stand and canopy. https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/for/5542687373.html
And this one too! https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/fod/5572517314.html
And this one is a complete setup! I just don't like the metal stand I like the wooden cabinet stands. But this is not a bad deal at all.
https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/for/5576807370.html
I think that going with a drilled tank and sump in the long run will be my best option. As you can see if you follow this link https://tampa.craigslist.org/search/sss?sort=rel&query=saltwater aquarium I have a great selection of used tanks and stuff.
I went to the LFS I spoke of in an earlier post to just check and see what his prices where. He said he could set me up with a 75 gallon saltwater tank with all the equipment no substrate or anything just the complete tank for about $2000 Sorry no can do lol. I did fall in love with the Red Sea tank it was a complete setup with lights,sump,skimmer and even a reservoir and an automatic tank top off, or so he said. Tank setup was just over $5000 but was a nice 110 gal setup. Anyway I think I will go with a good used drilled tank!
And this one too! https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/fod/5572517314.html
And this one is a complete setup! I just don't like the metal stand I like the wooden cabinet stands. But this is not a bad deal at all.
https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/for/5576807370.html
I think that going with a drilled tank and sump in the long run will be my best option. As you can see if you follow this link https://tampa.craigslist.org/search/sss?sort=rel&query=saltwater aquarium I have a great selection of used tanks and stuff.
I went to the LFS I spoke of in an earlier post to just check and see what his prices where. He said he could set me up with a 75 gallon saltwater tank with all the equipment no substrate or anything just the complete tank for about $2000 Sorry no can do lol. I did fall in love with the Red Sea tank it was a complete setup with lights,sump,skimmer and even a reservoir and an automatic tank top off, or so he said. Tank setup was just over $5000 but was a nice 110 gal setup. Anyway I think I will go with a good used drilled tank!
welcome to the forum! I've just read through your information. I think you've come to a great conclusion - having a sump will make life so much easier in the long run. Checking the local listings is another great option and you're already doing that. That you have woodworking skills can only be an asset in this hobby! I love clown fish and kept a fish only tank for many years when my kids were little - it's a lot less work than a reef tank. I would suggest you check out some of the designer clowns - so you have an overview of the different types that are available. Once you settle on your clowns (a pair is preferable) they will most likely be with your for years. There are many colorful and interesting fish in this hobby - you can check out diver's den on the web to look at the different varieties that are available. Try not to get damsels (although clowns are damsels) - they are colorful, cheap, but can be very aggressive. Diver's den also gives information about eating, hardiness, and optimal tank sizes for the different varieties.
Welcome to this wonderful hobby! I think most of us have started in freshwater so that background will also be an asset to you.
Welcome to this wonderful hobby! I think most of us have started in freshwater so that background will also be an asset to you.
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Willie T 0813
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The LFS I spoke of has so many different Clowns. Some are as small as your thumb nail lol I now have to decide on size of tank and what tank mates I want to get to go with the Clowns and what corals etc I want for the best colors.
bigsarge81
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Welcome
