View Full Version : ACK!!! Dilemma! 75g FW or 34 g Red Sea Max?
I have to decide tonight!
Should I go ahead and get the 75g or should I get a Red Sea Max?
LOL...I don't know what to do!
I never wanted to get big into SW...but the Red Sea Max looks like it's a lovely little unit...and 34g means less maintenance (my major worry with the 75g tank).
I don't want any bizarre fish:
2 Clownfish
1-2 Pjama cardinals
Green Chromis...
...and maybe one other I hadn't thought of yet...
...but the idea of watching live rock 'blossom' is very very appealing...
...and then I could have my anemone too!!!:nibble6:
kkyyllee
06-05-2007, 11:19 PM
if you have the money i'd say go with the red sea max, but thats like 600 for the tank and then the live rocks going to be $$$
I stopped by our SW store today and interegated the owner (nice guy!)...
He suggest 10 lbs of base rock and 10-15 lbs of live...
...so that's about $100...doable...
kkyyllee
06-06-2007, 12:11 AM
most people do 1-1.5 lbs per gallon
do you have any other marine tanks or is this ur first?
...this would be my first SW...
...total volume of the RSM is 34g...tank volume is 29...
Base rock (will come alive) is $2.50 a pound...I'm in no rush and thought it would actually be neat to see the base rock come alive over time...
He gets orders of really nice live rock in fairly often, so it's just a matter of waiting for the good stuff...
...so let's just say I buy 15 lbs of base and 15 lbs of live...that brings the grand total (before taxes) to: 37.5 + 127.5 = $165...
...still doable...
20 and 10 would be: 50 + 85 = $135...
cocoa_pleco
06-06-2007, 12:43 AM
go saltwater all the way and get good lighting. good lighting really pays off. I had a previously dead pale white piece of LR i used in the nano tank on top of the stack in the 33g, and within 2 days its colored and full of stuff
kkyyllee
06-06-2007, 01:03 AM
that sounds good, the redsea max has good lighting and i think it would be good enough for a bubble tip anemone, but you'll have to wait at least 6 months before you get one tho.
kkyyllee
06-06-2007, 01:05 AM
you know about cycleing and stuff right?
The Red Sea Max is a complete set up...have you seen it? If I order it tomorrow or Thursday I could have it as early as next week...if the fish goddess permits...
kkyyllee
06-06-2007, 01:23 AM
i havent seen it in person but i know what it looks like and what it comes with..and also a couple problems people have had with it
cocoa_pleco
06-06-2007, 01:50 AM
you know about cycleing and stuff right?
lol, rue sure does know about cycling!
kkyyllee
06-06-2007, 02:09 AM
okay, im new to this forum
cocoa_pleco
06-06-2007, 02:38 AM
lol, no prob!
rue, go saltwater! its a color explosion!
...well, I haven't ever cycled a SW tank...so that'll be new! :cat:
...I'm so undecided my tummy is in a knot...
cocoa_pleco
06-06-2007, 02:49 AM
...well, I haven't ever cycled a SW tank...so that'll be new! :cat:
Pretty much the same as FW! same bacteria, and the bacteria can live in salinity of up to 1.025
Trust me, saltwater tanks ALWAYS have something to watch. My damsel alone is so random that he's new everyday
...which reminds me...
...I'd have to learn about specific gravity and how to use a hydrometre...
cocoa_pleco
06-06-2007, 03:17 AM
EASY! You want about a 1.023-1.025 gravity, and you can get 1 0f 2 hydrometers, the floating or the ones you use by hand, i prefer the hand one. With the hand one, you just fill the plastic bottle with water and the needle rises to what gravity you have
...stop saying EASY! This isn't easy at all...lol...
...I feel like a traitor...
...to my much anticipated BGK...
kkyyllee
06-06-2007, 04:02 PM
its not as hard as you might think. i woudlnt say its easy but, if you dont mind water changes then theres not much to it, you just have to remember to go slow when adding things
kkyyllee
06-06-2007, 04:06 PM
also, u dont have to do this, but hydrometers tend to be off alot in there readings...try and get a Refractometer if you plan on having an anemone since there sensitive to salinty changes.
A refractometre can go on my Christmas List...since they run around $60...
...in the meantime...I bought a Deep Six calibrated hydrometre...because...
...I ORDERED THE RED SEA MAX TODAY!!!...
...I feel vaguely nauseated...lol...
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