First SW Advice plz [Archive]

Special-K

10-24-2007, 08:13 PM

ive been asking all these questions on nano reefs but i keep forgetting that this will be my first experience with SW at all!! So as i respect all of your imput so much i would like to ask what the best way to learn how to keep SW successfully. unfortunately i only can really afford a biocube... unless i just slowly accumulated all of the parts for a regular tank as i get paid (college student working part time lol). Would FOWLR be a better choice for a beginner?? getting RO water was concerning me too (I have alot of concerns). Any suggestions or recommendations would be awesome since i am so uncertain about any of it. i just want SW so bad!

CAF

10-24-2007, 08:30 PM

FOWLR is definately the way to go. You should be able to get RO and premixed SW from your LFS.

coachfraley

10-24-2007, 08:55 PM

FOWLR is definately the way to go. You should be able to get RO and premixed SW from your LFS.

+1

Corals are very expensive, and more demanding. But, and this is a big but...almost everyone who thinks they are going to go FOWLR eventually ends up getting corals (and I am speaking from experience).

I would suggest that you set up a FOWLR in your cube, cycle it, and then run it for a few months with fish. If all goes well, you can add some corals down the road (after your bank account recovers).

BTW, I use RO ($.20/G) & SW ($.60/G) from my LFS. This is a great choice for beginners, because it prevents SW mixing errors that many people have. Just ask your LFS what mix they use, and research to see if it is a good one.

Special-K

10-24-2007, 09:53 PM

if i was to start the biocube... would it be able to run decently as is? or would i need to set up a refugium in the back? i dont know much about them to mod the thing confidently

coachfraley

10-24-2007, 10:27 PM

You should be able to run it stock, at least until you are comfortable enough to make the mods. The fuge is more of a long term solution to keeping nitrates down. Once you decide to set one up, you will see that it is a very easy mod, and nothing to worry about. A couple of things:

Most cubes come with bio-balls stock, and most SW users remove them to prevent long-term nitrate buildup.

Most cubes also come with one or two sponges, which most SW users also get rid of. You CAN keep a course sponge in your tank, but you will need to clean it every 2 days or so. I like them at the beginning, because they help to clear up the dust cloud that comes when you introduce sand!

coachfraley

10-25-2007, 02:50 AM

Special K!

I saw this sweet deal and I thought you might want to look into it!

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

cocoa_pleco

10-25-2007, 03:09 AM

Special K!

I saw this sweet deal and I thought you might want to look into it!

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
thats a cool tank! and 6w/g lighting too!

Special-K

10-25-2007, 03:20 AM

wow, would you say that system is overall a better buy than the oceanic 14g??? cause if so im gunna jump on it

cocoa_pleco

10-25-2007, 03:34 AM

i would go with coach's link, that tank is really good, plus 6w/g means you can keep a good variety of corals

coachfraley

10-25-2007, 03:39 AM

that tank is really good, plus 6w/g means you can keep a good variety of corals

+1

It would allow you to get just about anything you wanted. Plus, it is always nice to know you got a good deal:thumb:

Special-K

10-25-2007, 04:11 AM

does this deal thing expire??? how much time do i have to get this price

zackish

10-25-2007, 04:19 AM

+1

Corals are very expensive, and more demanding. But, and this is a big but...almost everyone who thinks they are going to go FOWLR eventually ends up getting corals (and I am speaking from experience).

I would suggest that you set up a FOWLR in your cube, cycle it, and then run it for a few months with fish. If all goes well, you can add some corals down the road (after your bank account recovers).

BTW, I use RO ($.20/G) & SW ($.60/G) from my LFS. This is a great choice for beginners, because it prevents SW mixing errors that many people have. Just ask your LFS what mix they use, and research to see if it is a good one.

Dam my LFS charges $1 a gallon for R/O water.

coachfraley

10-25-2007, 04:25 AM

Dam my LFS charges $1 a gallon for R/O water.

lol, I feel bad because that is all I buy from the guy (I get my SW somewhere else), so my bill comes out to less than a dollar every time I go in.

zackish

10-25-2007, 04:27 AM

Eh...my friend works at the LFS so.....but for everyone else that sucks!

coachfraley

10-25-2007, 04:27 AM

does this deal thing expire??? how much time do i have to get this price

I'd call marinedepot to ask:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Zackish, I think the guy I buy my pre-mixed SW from is going to be raising his prices to $1/G. I heard him talking about it last time I was in there. How much do they charge for SW out there?

zackish

10-25-2007, 04:38 AM

We have this stuff that comes in a jug. The jug is right behind me in my closet but I really don't feel like opening it and checking the name. it isn't made at the store, it is made somewhere else and brought in.
Anyways, for premixed SW, it is $9.99 for 2.2 gallons and $19.99 for a 5 gallon bucket of it.
I just get R/O water and then mix it myself with my instant ocean salt.

coachfraley

10-25-2007, 04:41 AM

Special-K

10-25-2007, 04:46 AM

i really dont wanna mix my own :/
i feel like id screw it up and kill everything lol

cocoa_pleco

10-25-2007, 04:46 AM

its not too hard, ive always mixed my own.

Special-K

10-25-2007, 05:04 AM

Im VERY close to hitting the buy button on this 12g setup. Does everyone else think that this is a great buy??? i figure even if i cant afford to completely set the thing up right now i'll have a good tank for when im ready to buy live rock etc.

PS- Geeez! its 280 bucks on this site [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

cocoa_pleco

10-25-2007, 05:10 AM

trust me, that tank on coach's link is well worth it

coachfraley

10-25-2007, 06:11 AM

There are 2 separate threads on the nanoreef forum talking about the pricing on this cube. Nobody can believe it because the whole tank is cheaper than the light should be.

I'd buy one if I could, just for the light.

coachfraley

10-25-2007, 06:11 AM

Special-K

10-25-2007, 06:55 AM

is marine depot a reliable place to buy from?

A340

10-25-2007, 07:20 AM

The world of NanoCubes/BioCubes/AquaPods and Lord only knows what else they are called is very overwhelming, I know from experience.

I've been looking at them over the last couple of months and couldn't decide but in the end it was the price that convinced me with the BioCube 29. Sad thing is, I haven't even unpacked the thing and am already looking at different mods that can be done with it, such as increasing the lighting and adding a skimmer and eventunally a refugium.

The model that CoachFraley has provided the link to is a great system, with all that lighting you'll already be one step ahead of the game, so I agree with Cocoa and the Coach on that one.

As far as mixing SW and RO water, no LFS around here provides that sort of service, so I'm on my own on that one.

Special-K

10-25-2007, 07:39 AM

im pretty sure im going to buy the system if marine depot is reliable... i just wish shipping wasnt 40 bucks!!!!

cocoa_pleco

10-25-2007, 02:51 PM

that marine depot tank for sure is good.

i have a 400W MH for my 55g reef, but until the tank is established enough for it i have fluorescent lighting. ive spent about $450 on only 4W/g of fluorescent.

if you wanted a standard 10g to make a reef, it would be say $50 for a starter kit, and you probably only get 15W/light on it. after you upgrade the filter, and get 6w/g total lighitngs, its probably about $250-$300 with good equipment.

if i had room for it i would get that marine depot one

zackish

10-25-2007, 04:27 PM

Marine Depot is reliable but expensive I think. If you do a search on bizrate.com where they compare prices and stuff you should be able to find the same thing for less than $200.
By the way, have you looked into the Oceanic 14 biocube?

Special-K

10-25-2007, 06:03 PM

zackish

10-25-2007, 06:20 PM

i initially wanted the oceanic but this system has a great lighing system almost 6 wpg. i wouldnt really have to do much upgrading for corals in the future. there are no other sites that i can find that offer this kind of price
Go with that then. Just out of curiousity what brand is it?

Also, going back a few pages or so....about mixing the saltwater. It is actually really easy. I believe it is one cup per 2 gallons of instant ocean. What I like to do is fill a 5 gallon bucket up, drop 2 cups in and then measure. The I slowly add salt and keep testing until I am at desired salinity. It is really easy and saves money in the long run.

Another thing while we are on the topic of water.....make sure you do all your top offs with regular RO/DI water. This is because salt does not evaporate out of your tank and when you add RO water it stays the same SG for the most part. If you were to top off with saltwater it would dissolve the salt that is sitting on the sides of your tank after the evaporation and increase SG over time.

Special-K

10-25-2007, 06:25 PM

does the sunpod require a fan like the other systems do? the light is suspended above it so i would expect not?

Special-K

10-25-2007, 07:09 PM

Go with that then. Just out of curiousity what brand is it?

Also, going back a few pages or so....about mixing the saltwater. It is actually really easy. I believe it is one cup per 2 gallons of instant ocean. What I like to do is fill a 5 gallon bucket up, drop 2 cups in and then measure. The I slowly add salt and keep testing until I am at desired salinity. It is really easy and saves money in the long run.

Another thing while we are on the topic of water.....make sure you do all your top offs with regular RO/DI water. This is because salt does not evaporate out of your tank and when you add RO water it stays the same SG for the most part. If you were to top off with saltwater it would dissolve the salt that is sitting on the sides of your tank after the evaporation and increase SG over time.

Its by current USA. im going to start with just buying SW from the lfs with a box of RO water for top offs. that is good advice though, i should learn how to mix. i just dont wanna make any mistakes to start it off lol

unleashed

10-25-2007, 07:09 PM

im pretty sure im going to buy the system if marine depot is reliable... i just wish shipping wasnt 40 bucks!!!!
Well, I just got a shipment arrive on Tuesday from Marine Depot. And I live in New Zealand. I highly recommend them :)

Special-K

10-25-2007, 07:18 PM

well, i bought the aquapod!!! thanks for all your imput and especially for that link to this system. ill try to keep you guys updated on my first sw experience :)

spudbuds

10-25-2007, 07:28 PM

Congratulations! That link got me seriously considering it too. This hobby is so addicting!

Can't wait to see pics of your setup.

Special-K

10-25-2007, 07:36 PM

Congratulations! That link got me seriously considering it too. This hobby is so addicting!

Can't wait to see pics of your setup.

its a rediculous price.. ive found 2 other sites that have the same setup as $280! now i have some time to figure out what i want to put in it :)