Sunnie's 46g reef tank

justsunnie · 03-13-2007, 01:40 PM

So here goes: I'm about to plunk down a nice chunk of change on a new reef tank.

The sweet part is that I'm getting the tank, a 46g bowfront, for free from my brother. I'm also getting the the sand and live rock from a friend who is breaking down his reef tank. He will also be giving me and the bf some corals, but I've got to wait to put any of them in the tank until it cycles really well.

I bought the stand this weekend and rinsed the tank (formerly fw). Thursday my bf is going to help me move it and we're going to head up to the store to sacrifice some of my tax return.

I want to get a full spectrum light + metal halide. Any suggestions?

Also, what else am I going to need equipment-wise?

blue_eyes53813 · 03-13-2007, 02:06 PM

A good skimmer, and also a refractometer. For lighting I would check into T5. A 175 watt metal Halide might work as well.Im not sure of the dimensions of a 46 bow front,

sasquatch · 03-13-2007, 10:52 PM

The skimmer and lighting are the big start up cost but will save you money by not having to upgrade later, are you buying local or on line?Steve

lcstorc · 03-14-2007, 11:08 AM

Definitely Skimmer and lights. What kind of reef do you want? Softies? LPS? SPS? Clams? Anemone? That will make a large difference on the lighting necessary.

justsunnie · 03-14-2007, 04:29 PM

1) I am buying local if everything is available. I'm hoping since my bf and I have been such loyal customers at the local store if I come in with a list of things I need and get it all at once they'll cut me a deal. They're always cutting us deals on fish, so why not equipment as well.

2) I want to put everything I can in the tank! haha, seriously, I'd like corals of all kinds and as few aggressive species as possible. I'm doubtful about the anemones; once again I know they are agressive and some species tend to move around a bit. I would love a clam or two.

justsunnie · 03-19-2007, 12:58 PM

Well, I did it!

Friday I purchased a Coralife 36" with two 150W 20,000k bulbs, a marinelife 220 undertank filter, and a coralife skimmer.

Then the bf and I forewent making the trip to Savannah for St. Patty's Day (we were gonna be missing the parade anyway) and made a trip to visit a friend of his who was breaking down his 55g reef.

He gave us everything. Live rock, sand, tons of corals. One very lovely coral beauty. FREE. Obviously most of the corals are staying with the bf until my tank cycles, but I also put a few in my nano.

Among the corals:
several polyp rocks (mostly zoos), tons of mushrooms (blue and red), a maize brain, a sad looking montapora, a candy cane, staghorn, frogspawn, and a couple of small toadstool leathers.
My bf claimed the maize brain and the red shrooms, as well as the coral beauty and a couple of polyp rocks, but everything else is mine.

Of course I took pictures of the set up and the new additions in my nano, but my camera suddenly stopped reading my memory card! Ack! I'll figure something out and get pics posted soon.

lcstorc · 03-19-2007, 01:04 PM

Sounds like a great deal. I love getting free stuff from other reefers.

justsunnie · 03-22-2007, 11:26 AM

justsunnie · 04-03-2007, 04:47 PM

So, I'm not sure if my tank is cycling, if it already has, or if it's going to at all. I added the LR/LS on 3/17...so far the only waste level that has gone up at all was ammonia, and it has never gotten over 0.5ppm. I've been checking at least 2-3 times a week, so I'm sure I'd notice if there was a change.

The LR I got was cured (from an established tank), transported in water from the donor tank, and placed in my tank less than 8 hours later.

Also, I have algae growing all over the walls of the tank, my intake/outlet, the powerhead, and the parts of the skimmer hanging inside the tank.

What do you guys think? Do I wait it out or go buy a cleaner crew?

wasupdavey · 04-03-2007, 11:04 PM

How bout your other test Nitrites and Nitrates? All good? If so then it should be fine

saltwaterfarm · 04-03-2007, 11:27 PM

In addition to the Nitrite/trate tests results... did the ammonia go back down to 0? I'd say after it's been 0 with everything else in check for a week, it's OK.

justsunnie · 04-05-2007, 05:10 PM

Trates and Trites have always been 0.

As of Monday ammonia was <.5 but not quite zero. I meant to test last night but I got home late, so tonight's the night.

0 for a week? Sounds like a good rule of thumb to me! Thanks!

justsunnie · 04-12-2007, 06:44 PM

I'm getting a cleaner pack on Monday! Any suggestions?

lcstorc · 04-12-2007, 07:38 PM

Personally I say skip the crabs and get conchs, snails, and shrimp. The conchs though are my very favorite CUC.

justsunnie · 04-19-2007, 12:15 PM

I got my cleaner crew in yesterday! Everyone looks great so far.
eTropicals.com - Live fish, corals, inverts, plants, live rock & sand

3 peppermint shrimp
10 astrea turbo snails
6 cerith snails
3 bumblebee snails
3 queen conchs
2 redfoot conchs
2 lettuce slugs

------------
if you don't like crabs, stop reading now
------------

10 dwarf blue leg hermits
10 dwarf red tip hermits
3 emerald crabs
1 arrow crab

03-13-2007, 01:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
justsunnie Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 189 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Sunnie's 46g reef tank So here goes: I'm about to plunk down a nice chunk of change on a new reef tank. The sweet part is that I'm getting the tank, a 46g bowfront, for free from my brother. I'm also getting the the sand and live rock from a friend who is breaking down his reef tank. He will also be giving me and the bf some corals, but I've got to wait to put any of them in the tank until it cycles really well. I bought the stand this weekend and rinsed the tank (formerly fw). Thursday my bf is going to help me move it and we're going to head up to the store to sacrifice some of my tax return. I want to get a full spectrum light + metal halide. Any suggestions? Also, what else am I going to need equipment-wise?

03-13-2007, 02:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,255 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank A good skimmer, and also a refractometer. For lighting I would check into T5. A 175 watt metal Halide might work as well.Im not sure of the dimensions of a 46 bow front, __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

03-13-2007, 10:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank The skimmer and lighting are the big start up cost but will save you money by not having to upgrade later, are you buying local or on line?Steve

03-14-2007, 11:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,461 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank Definitely Skimmer and lights. What kind of reef do you want? Softies? LPS? SPS? Clams? Anemone? That will make a large difference on the lighting necessary. __________________ 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.

03-14-2007, 04:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
justsunnie Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 189 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank 1) I am buying local if everything is available. I'm hoping since my bf and I have been such loyal customers at the local store if I come in with a list of things I need and get it all at once they'll cut me a deal. They're always cutting us deals on fish, so why not equipment as well. 2) I want to put everything I can in the tank! haha, seriously, I'd like corals of all kinds and as few aggressive species as possible. I'm doubtful about the anemones; once again I know they are agressive and some species tend to move around a bit. I would love a clam or two. __________________ Sunnie 46g bowfront reef RIP 12g nano Mar 06-Nov 07 10g prop 72g FOWLR

03-19-2007, 12:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
justsunnie Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 189 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank Well, I did it! Friday I purchased a Coralife 36" with two 150W 20,000k bulbs, a marinelife 220 undertank filter, and a coralife skimmer. Then the bf and I forewent making the trip to Savannah for St. Patty's Day (we were gonna be missing the parade anyway) and made a trip to visit a friend of his who was breaking down his 55g reef. He gave us everything. Live rock, sand, tons of corals. One very lovely coral beauty. FREE. Obviously most of the corals are staying with the bf until my tank cycles, but I also put a few in my nano. Among the corals: several polyp rocks (mostly zoos), tons of mushrooms (blue and red), a maize brain, a sad looking montapora, a candy cane, staghorn, frogspawn, and a couple of small toadstool leathers. My bf claimed the maize brain and the red shrooms, as well as the coral beauty and a couple of polyp rocks, but everything else is mine. Of course I took pictures of the set up and the new additions in my nano, but my camera suddenly stopped reading my memory card! Ack! I'll figure something out and get pics posted soon. __________________ Sunnie 46g bowfront reef RIP 12g nano Mar 06-Nov 07 10g prop 72g FOWLR

03-19-2007, 01:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,461 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank Sounds like a great deal. I love getting free stuff from other reefers. __________________ 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.

03-22-2007, 11:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
justsunnie Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 189 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	First pics!!! __________________ Sunnie 46g bowfront reef RIP 12g nano Mar 06-Nov 07 10g prop 72g FOWLR

04-03-2007, 04:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
justsunnie Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 189 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Cycle??? So, I'm not sure if my tank is cycling, if it already has, or if it's going to at all. I added the LR/LS on 3/17...so far the only waste level that has gone up at all was ammonia, and it has never gotten over 0.5ppm. I've been checking at least 2-3 times a week, so I'm sure I'd notice if there was a change. The LR I got was cured (from an established tank), transported in water from the donor tank, and placed in my tank less than 8 hours later. Also, I have algae growing all over the walls of the tank, my intake/outlet, the powerhead, and the parts of the skimmer hanging inside the tank. What do you guys think? Do I wait it out or go buy a cleaner crew? __________________ Sunnie 46g bowfront reef RIP 12g nano Mar 06-Nov 07 10g prop 72g FOWLR

04-03-2007, 11:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
wasupdavey Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: California Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank How bout your other test Nitrites and Nitrates? All good? If so then it should be fine

04-03-2007, 11:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
saltwaterfarm Manta Ray Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,222 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank In addition to the Nitrite/trate tests results... did the ammonia go back down to 0? I'd say after it's been 0 with everything else in check for a week, it's OK. __________________ Lisa 90 Gal AGA, DIY Sump/Fuge, Current Outer Orbit 250w MH's with T5's. AquaC Remora Pro Skimmer, RK2.[/font] Purple LTA, pair of Percula Clowns, Clams, Softies, Shrooms, Ricordea, Echinophyllia, Torch, Frogspawn, Blastos, Sponges, Acro, Wellso, the NEW Zoa Mountain, and some more stuff... 3 Gal Sexy Shrimp Pico. 29 Gal Oceanic BioCube, Current Sunpod 150w MH.

04-05-2007, 05:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
justsunnie Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 189 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank Trates and Trites have always been 0. As of Monday ammonia was <.5 but not quite zero. I meant to test last night but I got home late, so tonight's the night. 0 for a week? Sounds like a good rule of thumb to me! Thanks! __________________ Sunnie 46g bowfront reef RIP 12g nano Mar 06-Nov 07 10g prop 72g FOWLR

04-12-2007, 06:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
justsunnie Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 189 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank I'm getting a cleaner pack on Monday! Any suggestions? __________________ Sunnie 46g bowfront reef RIP 12g nano Mar 06-Nov 07 10g prop 72g FOWLR

04-12-2007, 07:38 PM	#14 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,461 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sunnie's 46g reef tank Personally I say skip the crabs and get conchs, snails, and shrimp. The conchs though are my very favorite CUC. __________________ 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.

04-19-2007, 12:15 PM	#15 (permalink)
justsunnie Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 189 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Critters are in! I got my cleaner crew in yesterday! Everyone looks great so far. eTropicals.com - Live fish, corals, inverts, plants, live rock & sand 3 peppermint shrimp 10 astrea turbo snails 6 cerith snails 3 bumblebee snails 3 queen conchs 2 redfoot conchs 2 lettuce slugs ------------ if you don't like crabs, stop reading now ------------ 10 dwarf blue leg hermits 10 dwarf red tip hermits 3 emerald crabs 1 arrow crab __________________ Sunnie 46g bowfront reef RIP 12g nano Mar 06-Nov 07 10g prop 72g FOWLR

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