Well here's the story so far.
I've moved into my new apartment and landed a decent career here in Jersey and finally a hobby of mine decided to manifest itself in me. Fish Tank's!! Watching my father as a boy deal with his 40 Gal filled with Oscars and various other mismatched fish I was always facinated with the hobby. (Btw my fathers Oscars ate everything in the tank until only they remained for 3 years.) I decided to go the route of African Cichlids and purchased a 30 gallon tank + stand + other stuff for around 220 dollars Retail. After ornaments heaters and 8 Danios + 2 Substrate changes I spent over 400 dollars on the Freshwater and I hadn't even put in an African Cichlid yet lol. The tanks breaking in now in its 13th day.
I digress, after visiting my LFS nearly every day for 2 weeks to look at African Cichlids I would ALWAYS browse near the Saltwater tanks and amaze at what I saw. The fish the corals the PRICE OMFG..... Slowly before the African tank had even finished cycling I found my self looking for a bigger better fish tank to POSSIBLY start a saltwater tank. One day on Craigs List I saw a a 55 Gallon Bow Front Corner tank for 200 dollars including Live Rock, a Wet/Dry System, Heater, All tubing Lighting and Stand. I was shocked happy and pissed (I'd just spent 220 bucks for a 30 gallon tank with the same thing retail.) I took 160 dollars with me to meet the person selling the tank telling my self only and ONLY if they settled for 160 or less I'd tank the tank for "The Future." I got there and after mentioning the ad said Negotiable they said please take the tank 130 bucks will cover it. I said nothing else and left with my tank LUCKY. The Tank sat there for 2 days before I cleaned the Wet/Dry system and tank to get it set for saltwater.
Equip:
Aqua Clear Wet Dry Pro 75 with Built In Skimmer.
RIO 1700 Pump for the Sump and RIO 600 for the Skimmer (Venturi)
Stock Lighting with 1 Coralife 2000K Bulb and a regular Flourescent Bulb.
Various other "items."
Day 1 - I hate the Wet/Dry system. For a corner tank the tank has to stick out at least 4/5 inches from the wall in order to facilitate the HOB preskimmer and overflow box. I was victim to my first flood as I hit the swith on the powerstrip stopping the pumps and bang flood ville. BAH!
Day 2 - I purchased some new media for the Wet/Dry some ceramic media.
Day 3 - I mixed the salt water inside of the tank and run the system again to make sure everything was going right. I drained half of the salt water and put in 15lbs Carib-Sea Crushed Gravel Rock and 60lbs of Carib-Sea Live Sand creating about a 2.5/3 Inch bed.
Day 4 - Live sand has been churning and after scouting around and finding LR cheapest for 6.75 - 10.00 a Lb It seemed that I would need about 500 dollars + to have hope of getting my Aquarium off the ground. But my tank is called lucky.
Day 5 - Another day on the Craigs List and I located a man that broke down a 1000 Gallon tank and was selling 400lbs of live rock all corallined up. The tank was so huge that the Polyps and Zoo's in there had been spreading all across the tank. I picked up 60lbs of LR for 200 bucks and introduced them into my tank.
Day 6 - I hated the fact that my tank looked so ugly standing 5 inches from the wall. Lucky struck again and a Incorrect PRICING went missed at PETCO landing me a EHEIM Canister filter rated for a 125+ Gallon tank for 119 bucks. I took out half the salt water put on my canister filter and purchased a LEE Intank Skimmer rated for a 75 gallon + tank. After everything was up and running the tank securely in the corner the entire thing never looked so beautiful. I even noticed that 2 RED Mushrooms I have not been able to identify tagged along as well as 2 hermit crabs. I was able to purchase an Intensely bright Current - Sea Lighting fixture with a brand new bulb 50/50 in the box for 50 bucks from the same guy as the Live Rock. Yay Corals!!!!!!!!!!
I purchased 4 Green Chromis and introduced them into the tank.
At this Point. I have no idea what to do next.... help?
I've moved into my new apartment and landed a decent career here in Jersey and finally a hobby of mine decided to manifest itself in me. Fish Tank's!! Watching my father as a boy deal with his 40 Gal filled with Oscars and various other mismatched fish I was always facinated with the hobby. (Btw my fathers Oscars ate everything in the tank until only they remained for 3 years.) I decided to go the route of African Cichlids and purchased a 30 gallon tank + stand + other stuff for around 220 dollars Retail. After ornaments heaters and 8 Danios + 2 Substrate changes I spent over 400 dollars on the Freshwater and I hadn't even put in an African Cichlid yet lol. The tanks breaking in now in its 13th day.
I digress, after visiting my LFS nearly every day for 2 weeks to look at African Cichlids I would ALWAYS browse near the Saltwater tanks and amaze at what I saw. The fish the corals the PRICE OMFG..... Slowly before the African tank had even finished cycling I found my self looking for a bigger better fish tank to POSSIBLY start a saltwater tank. One day on Craigs List I saw a a 55 Gallon Bow Front Corner tank for 200 dollars including Live Rock, a Wet/Dry System, Heater, All tubing Lighting and Stand. I was shocked happy and pissed (I'd just spent 220 bucks for a 30 gallon tank with the same thing retail.) I took 160 dollars with me to meet the person selling the tank telling my self only and ONLY if they settled for 160 or less I'd tank the tank for "The Future." I got there and after mentioning the ad said Negotiable they said please take the tank 130 bucks will cover it. I said nothing else and left with my tank LUCKY. The Tank sat there for 2 days before I cleaned the Wet/Dry system and tank to get it set for saltwater.
Equip:
Aqua Clear Wet Dry Pro 75 with Built In Skimmer.
RIO 1700 Pump for the Sump and RIO 600 for the Skimmer (Venturi)
Stock Lighting with 1 Coralife 2000K Bulb and a regular Flourescent Bulb.
Various other "items."
Day 1 - I hate the Wet/Dry system. For a corner tank the tank has to stick out at least 4/5 inches from the wall in order to facilitate the HOB preskimmer and overflow box. I was victim to my first flood as I hit the swith on the powerstrip stopping the pumps and bang flood ville. BAH!
Day 2 - I purchased some new media for the Wet/Dry some ceramic media.
Day 3 - I mixed the salt water inside of the tank and run the system again to make sure everything was going right. I drained half of the salt water and put in 15lbs Carib-Sea Crushed Gravel Rock and 60lbs of Carib-Sea Live Sand creating about a 2.5/3 Inch bed.
Day 4 - Live sand has been churning and after scouting around and finding LR cheapest for 6.75 - 10.00 a Lb It seemed that I would need about 500 dollars + to have hope of getting my Aquarium off the ground. But my tank is called lucky.
Day 5 - Another day on the Craigs List and I located a man that broke down a 1000 Gallon tank and was selling 400lbs of live rock all corallined up. The tank was so huge that the Polyps and Zoo's in there had been spreading all across the tank. I picked up 60lbs of LR for 200 bucks and introduced them into my tank.
Day 6 - I hated the fact that my tank looked so ugly standing 5 inches from the wall. Lucky struck again and a Incorrect PRICING went missed at PETCO landing me a EHEIM Canister filter rated for a 125+ Gallon tank for 119 bucks. I took out half the salt water put on my canister filter and purchased a LEE Intank Skimmer rated for a 75 gallon + tank. After everything was up and running the tank securely in the corner the entire thing never looked so beautiful. I even noticed that 2 RED Mushrooms I have not been able to identify tagged along as well as 2 hermit crabs. I was able to purchase an Intensely bright Current - Sea Lighting fixture with a brand new bulb 50/50 in the box for 50 bucks from the same guy as the Live Rock. Yay Corals!!!!!!!!!!
I purchased 4 Green Chromis and introduced them into the tank.
At this Point. I have no idea what to do next.... help?
