New to R2R, Suffern NY

Kcstoker1 · Feb 12, 2012

Hey all,

I've been a reefer since 2004. I am currently running a rimless 100(ish)g cube (30"l x 30"w x 24"d) on a 150+ total system with 55g sump, 20g long frag tank an 20g high fuge.

I took down a 125 last summer and put this tank up for a more unique shape. Due to a silicone curing problem, I had to take the tank down just after Thanksgiving and finally got it back up just after New Years.

I lost most of my coral and all my fish due to the silicone problem and the subsequent transfer stresses... So I'm staring over...

Equipment:
Lighting - ATI 6-bulb 24".
Mag 7 return
2 Koralia Evo 1400s
Koralia 4
MSX 200 skimmer

Here are a few pics.

Fish:
2 neon gobies- blue-stripe
Starry Blenny
Yellow Watchman Goby
Wheeler's Shrimp Goby

4 Ignitus Anthias in QT. All 4 are eating and I'll start treating with Fluke tabs on Wednesday.

Future fish:
Pair of Black and White Ocellaris
Tanaka's wrasse
Longnose Hawk
4 Red Firefish

Corals: SPS and LPS dominated, one Tyree Toadstool, various zoas, ricordea.

Considering a BTA, but I don't wan to deal with it hitch hiking all over the tank and wiping out corals. I know that once he finds a spot he likes he will stay... Just not sure if I want to go through all that.

Anyway, thanks for browsing.

Aquaph8 · Feb 12, 2012

Sorry to hear about the silicone problems but glad to see you've bounced back. Welcome to R2R.

Russellaqua · Feb 12, 2012

Welcome to our forum!

swannyson7 · Feb 12, 2012

Welcome to R2R! 1smile1

stingray 125 · Feb 12, 2012

Welcome!!! Man that is tough losing all your fish. Glad you stayed with it.

Kcstoker1 · Feb 13, 2012

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. It's a great and magnetizing hobby. I find myself either strongly attracted to, or strongly repelled from it on a regular basis.

Anybody on R2R in my area? (Rockland County NY, Bergen County NJ)

revhtree · Feb 13, 2012

Looks great and welcome to R2R!

ReeferDre · Feb 15, 2012

Hey good luck starting over I'm almost in the same boat. I'm originally from nyack but I'm in New England now. I have a buddy that lives in Middletown and always has some nice stuff. I don't know his name on here but on manhattan reefs he's igotrice. Where do you but locally. I used to like bietalls aquarium in orangeburg. I thought pet place 2 was over priced.

Kcstoker1 · Feb 15, 2012

Nice to see you on here. I work in West Nyack. I'd love to meet your Middletown guy if he's on here.

I'm part of a small Reef Club, HVRK, and we have a few Middletowners, but it seems like there are a lot more reefers outside our club than in it.

I don't do much locally. PPII is, as one reefer put it to me on one of my first trips there, "the home of the $80 Yellow Tang". On my way home from there I got an email from an online vendor for $7.99 Yellow Tangs. Years later I ended up getting screwed by PPII on a trade-for-store-credit and I haven't been back since.

Beital's has always seemed scary to me. He's pushy for sales, he'll tell you that Lionfish and those damsels will live fine together, and that most dwarf angels are reef-safe. He also took advantage of me in a drastic time of need and charged me $19 for a threaded bulkhead. I needed it right away and he was the only one open so I had to pay...

I guess I look like a sucker. That's the only $19 he's gotten from me in three years. I probably would have dropped a lot more there if not for that one experience.

If I have to do business with LFS, I drive the 40 minutes north to Fishtopia (RIP) or 30 minutes south to Absolutely Fish. I do a lot of fragging so I trade for most of my corals. Fish, CUC and inverts I get online or with Store Credit.

akma · Feb 16, 2012

Nice, I live in bergen county right on the border of rockland county so not too far. I wouldn't really trust fish from pets place. They always look sick. Reef encounter in hackensack is ok but hit or miss for fish there as well.

ReeferDre · Feb 16, 2012

Believe it or. It I had great luck at the Petco in Middletown when I lived up there. There was a kid that knew what he was doing working there. They had some nice corals too but has been 2 years since I lived there so I can't vouch for it now. I know what you are talking about with bietalls

Kcstoker1 · Feb 17, 2012

I haven't been down to Reef Encounter yet. Is that the one on 46? I may look them up and stop by sometime.

I've heard a few good reports about Petco in Middletown, but I haven't ventured out there yet. Like you said, it's tough to put any faith in a Saltwater section of a box store. I don't end up in Middletown very often but if I do I'll check it out.

You just can't beat Diver's Den or LiveAquaria's 2 week guarantee at LFS without being buddies with a Wholesaler, IMO. I've had close to a 90% survival rate from online sources and much less than that from LFS, where I pay more with no guarantee.

ReeferDre · Feb 17, 2012

I talked to my buddy in Middletown and he said that the Petco went down hill since the one guy left. Divers den is awesome I agree.

slugwall · Feb 17, 2012

hello!

Kcstoker1 · Oct 19, 2015

Long time, no post.

Kinda stayed away from Reef Sites and Clubs for a while. Too busy.

Tank still going strong, though. Did my first "Live Sale" on Saturday with Cherry Corals and got a few more pieces to add to the tank. Good to see things on R2R are still going strong.

I'll try to get back to posting updates and following along with things.