Be nice to the new guy!

[VAreef]

Hey and welcome to the site. Just thought I would add my own in here.

For water there are companies that will come and install an RO unit for you free of charge, do all membrane changes and maintenance free of charge, and only charge you 13-25 cents per gallon of the water that you use. If I didn't live in an apartment that would be my first choice for an RO water source. A lot of local reefers where I live use this service and everyone of them love it. It's a good alternative to buying an expensive RO setup and having to maintain it. I use a DI filter for my make up water and it works fine. It takes forever to make water at only 10 gallons per hour though. It does just screw into a faucet which is ideal for my living situation. I'll never use tap water again in a saltwater aquarium.

For lights. Man you sound like your going to get just as addicted to it as I am. I would just bite the bullet and get the metal halides in a fixture that does it all. I bought the corallife pro with a 150w metal halide 2 65w actinics and lunar lights all built in and love it. I got a seperate timer that turns the actinics on 1 hr before the halide and then off 1 hr after the halides go out. When the actinics go out the lunar lights come on. Definitly buy these online as local fish stores tend to up the price alot on lighting. I initially wanted a fish only aquarium then said I might as well add in some live rock. Then right before I bought the lights I decided I wanted corals and didn't want to need to upgrade my lights later. If you buy lower lights now then want more later those cheaper lights are kinda money wasted in my opinion.

As for rock. It usually sells 7-8$ per pound in VA where I am too. I got most of mine on sale at $4.88 a pound. If you look around you might find a fish store doing the same thing. I did go to a local reef club meeting Sunday where the guy had never bought any live rock and only seeded it with the rock the corals came on and it was gorgeous. I would never had known he didn't buy every bit of it as live rock. He just got dead rock and set up his initial rockscape then when he added a few softies it took off.

I think most people keep fish in quarantine about 4 weeks. Since I don't quarantine( I was going to but don't have more room for another tank) I can't say for sure. I like the blue green chromis but if you want a more colorful starter fish maybe a clown? They are pretty hardy fish I think.

Good luck and welcome to the site. And welcome to the most addictive (and rewarding) hobby I have ever had.

[reeffreak]

I agree with everyone else,use RO/Di water,either bought from the LFS or buy a filter setup.I hear Walmart sells RO/DI water also.Dr Foster and Smith website has reasonable prices.I don't make my own water,I buy it from a LFS that has an elaborate filtering system,it has worked for me the last 7 years now.Salt mixes is subjective so I can't recommend one over another, but the water I buy from the LFS use Kent Marine.

[kevinsimons]

I'm going to start ordering my stuff so it's all here when I get back from Hawaii in early June - the only thing that remains to be selected is testing equipment - anybody have any guidance? I know WHAT I'm supposed to be testing, just don't know if there's a preferred vendor over any other... any and all help, as always, greatly appreciated.

By the way, fellow mariners (do they call us that?)... the shark attacks that occurred in Maui earlier this week are right in front of the place I'm staying - ON MY BEACH. Sheesh.....

[reeffreak]

The Salifert test kits are considered the best IMO.You mentioned vendors,did you mean online...I use this site....Pet Supplies, Dog Supplies, Cat Supplies, Pet Meds & Pet Products: Drs. Foster & Smith Pet Supplies

BTW,we're Reefers not to be confuse with the other kind of reefers.I think I would stay out the water.Have fun on vacation...good luck

[yote]

Ive heard that the Salifert kits are the best on the market,Ive never used that brand myself so can only say what ive read on the forums.The API kits are decent and not as pricey,and seem to do pretty good.

[yote]

Almost forgot,ever thought about doing a little shark fishing?Grilled shark steaks are awesome.

[kevinsimons]

Hey kids - back from Maui - yes, we had shark encounters - TWO of them - on our Beach (14', probably a tiger or a bull shark; first time he swam about 10' behind my partner, who was out bobbing in the waves; 2nd time, next day, same sized shark swam UNDER a dude on an air mattress.... I did no more swimming on that beach after this.... I was fortunate to have several green turtle encounters while snorkeling (one HUGE guy - largest I have ever seen) and the best part? A green lionfish - looked just like a piece of seaweed, until it swam against the movement of the surf... closer inspection revealed it's true identity as a fish - not a plant. Never knew they came in green!

SO - back onto topic - got my RO/DI from Champion on Friday, and it's dripping away - all operational and good; so far have about 15 gallons of uber-pure water in the new tank. The light, unfortunately, from Drs. Foster & Smith, came with a broken bulb and cracked housing (The Nova T5)... they are air shipping the replacement (when the box arrived falling apart I held little hope that the light would come out in one piece).

I bought an Instant Ocean Hydrometer, which my LOFS frowned on - says it's inaccurate - anybody have any thoughts on that? Also, he was sold out of Kent salt (which I wanted to go with) so I purchased Oceanic, instead - do you all recommend NOT changing brands? The Kent RO/DI experience is good, and I figured I'd stick with them - I like their scientific approach to Marine Tank keeping.

I also purchased with what is clearly too large a power head (Hydro Koralia 1400GPM - I will be returning this for 2 smaller ones - this tank is only 55 Gal!), and a Visi Therm Stealth heater.

So, the new hobby is underway... Any comments or answers to questions above ALWAYS appreciated (you guys are my #1 most trusted source!)

[Bifferwine]

Hydrometers are okay, just remember that they do tend to go bad after awhile, you need to replace them every 6 months or so. A better idea is to purchase a refractometer, which you can find for around $45 at Drs. F & S. These are more accurate and don't go bad.

[reeffreak]

Originally Posted by kevinsimons

Hey kids - back from Maui - yes, we had shark encounters - TWO of them - on our Beach (14', probably a tiger or a bull shark; first time he swam about 10' behind my partner, who was out bobbing in the waves; 2nd time, next day, same sized shark swam UNDER a dude on an air mattress.... I did no more swimming on that beach after this.... I was fortunate to have several green turtle encounters while snorkeling (one HUGE guy - largest I have ever seen) and the best part? A green lionfish - looked just like a piece of seaweed, until it swam against the movement of the surf... closer inspection revealed it's true identity as a fish - not a plant. Never knew they came in green!Glad you had a good time on vacation

SO - back onto topic - got my RO/DI from Champion on Friday, and it's dripping away - all operational and good; so far have about 15 gallons of uber-pure water in the new tank. The light, unfortunately, from Drs. Foster & Smith, came with a broken bulb and cracked housing (The Nova T5)... they are air shipping the replacement (when the box arrived falling apart I held little hope that the light would come out in one piece).Sorry to here about the broken bulbs,,,the 2Docs are great for customer service

I bought an Instant Ocean Hydrometer, which my LOFS frowned on - says it's inaccurate - anybody have any thoughts on that? Also, he was sold out of Kent salt (which I wanted to go with) so I purchased Oceanic, instead - do you all recommend NOT changing brands? The Kent RO/DI experience is good, and I figured I'd stick with them - I like their scientific approach to Marine Tank keeping.To be on the safe side,use 2 different brand hydrometers or get a refractometer instead.

I also purchased with what is clearly too large a power head (Hydro Koralia 1400GPM - I will be returning this for 2 smaller ones - this tank is only 55 Gal!), and a Visi Therm Stealth heater.I recommend two Hydor Koralia model 2,I like the stealth heaters also since they are encase in plastic

So, the new hobby is underway... Any comments or answers to questions above ALWAYS appreciated (you guys are my #1 most trusted source!)

Welcome back and post pics once everything is setup.
Good luck

[LionFish]

Originally Posted by Bifferwine

Hydrometers are okay, just remember that they do tend to go bad after awhile, you need to replace them every 6 months or so. A better idea is to purchase a refractometer, which you can find for around $45 at Drs. F & S. These are more accurate and don't go bad.

well, I learned from this comment ! I was un aware that they went bad I was told that if you clean it good after you use it that it would last 2 years or more ! Ill get a refratometer. thanks biff!

WOW a green Lionfish! I wonder if he was sick or something how big was it? I wonder If it had gotten in to some seaweed to feed, and some algae could have been on him making him have a green look ! Neat !