Hello

MasterDrazhar · 01-15-2008, 08:39 PM

Hi my name is Jeff (Friends call me Draz)

I'm looking into starting up a Saltwater tank just trying to gather as much info as my brain can handle before I pull the trigger on this idea.

I have a tank, If I recall correctly it's a 65 or 68 gallon corner tank that I had my Africans in a number of years ago, that I'll be using.

The plans so far are a live reef with compatible fish, etc.

I hope I can learn enough here to be comfortable with actually following through on this idea, which I've ALWAYS wanted to do.

I'm located in Connecticut (for anyone who might be local). My other hobbies include things such as Sport Bike riding, Gaming (Console and PC), Jeeping (I have a jeep I've built for off-roading and rock crawling), computers, dirt bikes & ATVs, snowmobiles, hunting & fishing, paintball, RC cars and airplanes, and a few other things here and there... I'm an IT professional, I design, implement, secure and maintain computer networks including servers, routers, firewalls, etc.

Draz

P.S. I was referred here by a friend from another unrelated forum

.

AQTCJAK · 01-15-2008, 08:53 PM

Welcome Aboard

panmanmatt · 01-15-2008, 09:19 PM

to RS

tbittner · 01-15-2008, 09:34 PM

Welcome to RS!

Are you sure you have the time for a reef???

Man, you're a busy person with all those hobbies.

Very COOL hobbies though. If you're wanting to use the corner tank for a reef, first thing I'd suggest that you look at are designs for lighting an odd shape like that. Are you interested in DIY (do it yourself) projects or are you going to buy everything off of the shelf?

MasterDrazhar · 01-16-2008, 10:13 AM

Definitely have a few hobbies, I usually manage to spread my time amongst them fairly well though.

Though the snowmobile is up for sale, if anyone wants a '98 Arctic Cat ZRT 800

I am certainly not against any DIY projects as long as the ROI is worth the effort. Sometimes off the shelf IS better than any DIY is worth.

I'm thinking about 100 to 125 lbs of live sand and rock, was planning on about 2.5 to 3 inches of sand. Fish will eventually be added, but will run with the reef only to start once the setup is stable. Figure I'll start adding corals and anemones after about 2-3 months.

I'm thinking of using 3 Aqua Clear 50 power heads for water flow, and a skimmer (Haven't picked one out yet), and have thought of designs for Airflow across the water surface.

Anything I should rethink?

.

Witfull · 01-16-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterDrazhar

.
I am certainly not against any DIY projects as long as the ROI is worth the effort. Sometimes off the shelf IS better than any DIY is worth.

FU factor should always be applied~

lcstorc · 01-16-2008, 10:55 AM

Welcome to RS!
Sounds like you are very busy.
The one thing that comes to mind is you should skip the anemone for now.
Anemones require a lot of light and a very stable established reef. It is generally accepted that they should be in systems at least a year old.

hma · 01-17-2008, 11:52 AM

Welcome to RS

MasterDrazhar · 01-17-2008, 04:38 PM

With all the reading I've been doing, things are only getting MORE confusing.

And people really need to stop with the damned acronyms!

So, in just starting out do I NEED a sump tank or can I run with just my main tank with LS/LR to start out with?

What are Kalk Reactors? and what do they do?

What is RO/DI? I know something to do with water, but not sure what it does...

I just want to get started, but if I need all this other stuff I might just hang up the idea and leave my tank in storage.

I may just be suffering from info overload...

.

BigAl07 · 01-17-2008, 04:45 PM

Only have a moment so I'll pick ONE item and explain.

RO/DI is Reverse Osmosis / Deionized water. It's HOW the water is filtered and the ONLY way to be sure your reef water is PURE to begin with. It's more of an investment and the ROI on it is noticed in 3-6 months depending on how MUCH water you use. If you don't do RO/DI now you WILL later and odds are you MAY have water quality issues until you do. It's much easier (and cheaper) to go ahead and get it from the beginning and eliminate one source of likely problems from your reef tank.

Good luck and TAKE A BREAK from reading

It's about ENJOYMENT!!

lcstorc · 01-17-2008, 04:50 PM

It is easy to get overloaded. Just take you time and learn piece by piece and ask questions when you get confused.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterDrazhar

With all the reading I've been doing, things are only getting MORE confusing.

And people really need to stop with the damned acronyms!

Here is a link to help with the acronyms.

Acronyms / Abbreviations
So, in just starting out do I NEED a sump tank or can I run with just my main tank with LS/LR to start out with?

You do not have to have a sump. It is something very nice to have but not necessary. It can always be added later or you can run without one. They give you more water volume as well as a place to keep equipment so it does not clutter the display.

What are Kalk Reactors? and what do they do?

I'm not the best to answer this one but basically kalk will help keep your parameters stable. It is not required but again is nice to have particularly if you have a lot of calcium loving organisms.

What is RO/DI? I know something to do with water, but not sure what it does...

Revere Osmosis/ De Ionized water. Basically very very clean water.

I just want to get started, but if I need all this other stuff I might just hang up the idea and leave my tank in storage.

I may just be suffering from info overload...

.

Hope that helps.

SaltwaterGeek · 01-17-2008, 05:33 PM

Welcome to RS!

Chris

zy112 · 01-17-2008, 05:51 PM

Welcome!

Dentoid · 01-17-2008, 05:58 PM

01-15-2008, 08:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
MasterDrazhar Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hello Hi my name is Jeff (Friends call me Draz) I'm looking into starting up a Saltwater tank just trying to gather as much info as my brain can handle before I pull the trigger on this idea. I have a tank, If I recall correctly it's a 65 or 68 gallon corner tank that I had my Africans in a number of years ago, that I'll be using. The plans so far are a live reef with compatible fish, etc. I hope I can learn enough here to be comfortable with actually following through on this idea, which I've ALWAYS wanted to do. I'm located in Connecticut (for anyone who might be local). My other hobbies include things such as Sport Bike riding, Gaming (Console and PC), Jeeping (I have a jeep I've built for off-roading and rock crawling), computers, dirt bikes & ATVs, snowmobiles, hunting & fishing, paintball, RC cars and airplanes, and a few other things here and there... I'm an IT professional, I design, implement, secure and maintain computer networks including servers, routers, firewalls, etc. Draz P.S. I was referred here by a friend from another unrelated forum .

01-15-2008, 08:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,937 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Welcome Aboard __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

01-15-2008, 09:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
panmanmatt Acropora Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 1,908 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello to RS __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

01-15-2008, 09:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Welcome to RS! Are you sure you have the time for a reef??? Man, you're a busy person with all those hobbies. Very COOL hobbies though. If you're wanting to use the corner tank for a reef, first thing I'd suggest that you look at are designs for lighting an odd shape like that. Are you interested in DIY (do it yourself) projects or are you going to buy everything off of the shelf? __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

01-16-2008, 10:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
MasterDrazhar Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello Definitely have a few hobbies, I usually manage to spread my time amongst them fairly well though. Though the snowmobile is up for sale, if anyone wants a '98 Arctic Cat ZRT 800 I am certainly not against any DIY projects as long as the ROI is worth the effort. Sometimes off the shelf IS better than any DIY is worth. I'm thinking about 100 to 125 lbs of live sand and rock, was planning on about 2.5 to 3 inches of sand. Fish will eventually be added, but will run with the reef only to start once the setup is stable. Figure I'll start adding corals and anemones after about 2-3 months. I'm thinking of using 3 Aqua Clear 50 power heads for water flow, and a skimmer (Haven't picked one out yet), and have thought of designs for Airflow across the water surface. Anything I should rethink? .

01-16-2008, 10:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,528 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Welcome to RS! Sounds like you are very busy. The one thing that comes to mind is you should skip the anemone for now. Anemones require a lot of light and a very stable established reef. It is generally accepted that they should be in systems at least a year old. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

01-17-2008, 11:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
hma Acropora Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Posts: 1,950 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Welcome to RS __________________ Heinz Luck is a good health and a bad memory (Albert Schweitzer) Balling Method : Balling +Plus Video : Centropyge potteri Tools : Balling Calculator My Chronicle and ReefDreams HM-Aquarium Photo Calendar 2008 "IF SHARKS DIE, THE SEA DIES"

01-17-2008, 04:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
MasterDrazhar Tunicate Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello With all the reading I've been doing, things are only getting MORE confusing. And people really need to stop with the damned acronyms! So, in just starting out do I NEED a sump tank or can I run with just my main tank with LS/LR to start out with? What are Kalk Reactors? and what do they do? What is RO/DI? I know something to do with water, but not sure what it does... I just want to get started, but if I need all this other stuff I might just hang up the idea and leave my tank in storage. I may just be suffering from info overload... .

01-17-2008, 04:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Only have a moment so I'll pick ONE item and explain. RO/DI is Reverse Osmosis / Deionized water. It's HOW the water is filtered and the ONLY way to be sure your reef water is PURE to begin with. It's more of an investment and the ROI on it is noticed in 3-6 months depending on how MUCH water you use. If you don't do RO/DI now you WILL later and odds are you MAY have water quality issues until you do. It's much easier (and cheaper) to go ahead and get it from the beginning and eliminate one source of likely problems from your reef tank. Good luck and TAKE A BREAK from reading It's about ENJOYMENT!! __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

01-17-2008, 05:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
SaltwaterGeek Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 401 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Hello Welcome to RS! Chris

01-17-2008, 05:51 PM	#13 (permalink)
zy112 Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: IN Posts: 984 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello Welcome! __________________ Zach

01-17-2008, 05:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Hello __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

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