starting over...need advice
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=981
Printed Date: June 26 2026 at 4:29am
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Topic: starting over...need advice
Posted By: Guests
Subject: starting over...need advice
Date Posted: September 13 2003 at 9:17pm
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i was an avide reefer 7 years ago. however, i moved to the caribbean and had no need for a reef in the living room. i am now back in the states and ready to dive back into the hobby. i sold everything before i left. so, i will be starting from scratch, and i am seeking advice on setup. i will likely purchase a 60-75 gallon(shallow) aquarium(reef ready) for fish, inverts and mainly soft corals. i am basically looking for hints, suggestions, or "if i could start over i would..." is a plenum still the way to go? what about live sand in the bag? i had a red sea skimmer before, are there better and cheaper skimmers now? i would like a skimmer that i can drop into my sump. are the power compact lighting systems worth the money? also, how much lighting and type would be sufficient for shallow 60-75 gallon aquarium? any other advice, web sites or book suggestions would be appreciated. the book i use now is julien sprung's reef aquarium book from the late 90's. |
Replies:
Posted By: Suzy
Date Posted: September 14 2003 at 7:27am
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Welcome back to the hobby, and welcome to WMAS! We have pics of our tank in the gallery, and TOM. I will upgrade the lighting in our reef tank when "I start over". Alot of people use metal halides, but I think with a shallow tank you could grow anything with VHOs. I don't think they are as hot.Think about what you want to grow, then find out what their lighting requirements are....We have removed our plenum, and now have a moderate sand bed. If you use smaller diameter sand (sugar sized), you don't need as much. As far as the bag o' sand, you can get lots of biodiversity from other members tanks. We can always donate a handful of bacteria packed sand and so will lots of other members. We have a small sea clone skimmer in our sump, but we don't use it. I hate the thought of growing/paying for additives and then just skimming them out.We do have a lot of natural filtering, though.
There is a place where you can get sand and rock for free! Ask Mark! |
Posted By: scroll
Date Posted: September 14 2003 at 11:51am
give me a call and if you live close maybe come check out my tank. if it seems like somthing you would like to do or simulare to it I can definently hook you up with the right people. Ryan 897-2000 looking forward to hearing from you. ------------- just my 3 cents shy of a nickel. Ryan 897-2000 1 125 gallon reef 1 120 gallon reef tank and stand custom built by MSM |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 14 2003 at 4:58pm
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Take time to read the posts on this message board that apply to your questions and you may find multiple answers and still need to decide for yourself. Also read the Tanks of the Months and the Sea Star Online (see buttons to the left)
In the seven years that you have been gone, it appears to me that: 1) the DSB with various sized particles has won many hearts 2)Compact Fluorescent lights have lost momentum in favor of MH and VHO combinations, which seem to provide the best coral growth and color 3)skimmers are still recommended and are getting better and better 4)Reverse Daylight Refugias are used by many avid hobbyists with notable success and benefit 5)many more people are in the hobby with just as many new opinions of what is best! ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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