New Player in the Game

[AlexStinson]

Ok, so I just got a 14g biocube and decided to make it marine. Now, I have extensive experience in freshwater aquariums but not a single clue as far as marine goes. So far I have...
8lbs base live rock
.3lbs pretty live rock
16ish lbs live sand
lots of dead rock
coral banded shrimp
2 hermit crabs
too low of pH
no experience
a dead coral

I am goign to be free sunday to go shopping and hoping ya'll could direct me towards some local places to find good live rock and somebody who knows how to get me on the right track.
So far i've visited fish mania, bermuda triangle and petcare warehouse (closest to me) Everyone was out of nice live rock, or the peice was just too big for my aquarium.

Also, I couldnt seem to find the when/where on meetings, can someone fill me in, cause it wouldn't hurt to have some friends who know what they are doing.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Hi Alex welcome to CZ and welcome to REEFS!! Hands down you missed the best store for reefing.

Located directly across the street from Cracker Barrel in East Ridge TN.

5th Day Creations
1463 Mack Smith Rd
East Ridge TN 37412
phone: 423-664-0500

Ask for Donny or Brett and tell them you came from Club-Zoa to see them. Donny and Brett have been active with our local club and are not only store owners but they are hobbiest.

As far as the next meeting goes we have yet to set up a January date.

 

[jermpool]

What kind of kick back do you get for that plug David? That was a good one.

 

[AlexStinson]

Are they open on sunday, their website seems to be currently inoperable

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Yes they are open on Sunday. Call in advance.

They are a new store so their website is still under construction.

 

[jermpool]

I think they are open from 1-5, but like rev said just call in advance they are a real friendly store.

 

[AlexStinson]

Thanks for the advice guys, it worked out great. Hopefully I'll be running at full capacity before long.

 

[Biertrinker]

Welcome Alex! As far as the local reef club, just check back in with the forum periodically. This is where we post the time and place of our monthly meetings. I am sure you will receive plenty of advice; some might even be helpful

Most in the club are a bit partial to 5th Day. I assume you will be visiting all the stores in the area, so you will probably see why.

I also like the Aquarium, a store in Knoxville. It's not a reef focused store like 5th Day, but it's got some cool stuff, especially for someone like you with freshwater setups. There is another store in Marietta, GA called Cappuccino Bay that I have heard was very nice at one time, but I wasn't very impressed during my last visit.

I think the only other local store not yet mentioned is Jaws, Paws, and Claws on Dayton near Signal Mtn. Blvd. The owner seems real nice, but the fish are in bad shape. Last time I visited, my eyes couldn't stop burning.

You new to Chattanooga or just to reefing? Glad to see someone else into Cichlids and planted f/w. What kind of Africans are you keeping?

 

[AlexStinson]

Im not new to the area, I was born here and been here most of my life. For africans I have yellow labs which just had their first set of fry, a jewel cichlid, a pair of jacobfreibergi peacocks and a few others I can't name off the top of my head. But the tank is very heavily planted with a CO2 system and so such, containing huge amazon swords, lots of java fern, and a patch of microsword, amongst others.
It's nice having my aquarium mostly setup I got a live rocks with corals on them and a kenya tree (i think) and it's all looking incredible, so i'm happy. I just can't wait to get to the cool stuff.
Oh and I'm working on building a 29gal refugium, just because my 14gallons has too much variability, I'm sick of my water readings being different every few hours.

 

[bkv1997]

Nice to see someone new on the forums. Thanks for posting alex.

Let us know if you have any questions that we can answer.

Welcome.

 

[salt newbie01]

Glad you found us!! Welcome to Club-zoa and the Chattanooga reef club!! Sorry I am so late getting in on the welcome - Not had much time to post lately. As said earlier 5th day is awesome - donny and bret are great and will be very helpful. Also Bermuda is a great source. Between those 2 stores you should be covered. Also please post here with any questions we might be able to help with. As Brian said some of the advice you get here might even be helpful!!

Good to see someone keeping cichlids! I kept south american cichlids for 10 years or so but then fell for african cichlids. I kept the yellow labs as well as demasoni's, acei's, lab. fuelleborni and red zebras. And boy do they reproduce!!! I didn't have a planted tank as you do - would love to see your set up!

We should be planning a january meeting soon. I hope you will be able to attend. Also several of us should be going to the frag swap in nashville. Hope you can make it as well. should be lots of cool stuff to buy. Look forward to meeting you.

Again WELCOME to club-zoa and to the Chattanooga reed club

Patrick

 

[ironman]

Welcome alex, hope everything is going good for your tanks so far. as everyone else has mentioned if you have any questions please feel free to ask. We will usually have a answer for you. Look forward to meeting you

 

[jermpool]

It might not be a serious thought out correct answer, but it will be an answer. Just kidding this is a great group that realy knows what they are talking about.