Gettin back to reefin..

[taat2d]

Hi all I'm looking to get back into a reef tank. I currently have a 65gal African Cichlid tank that I'm in the process of tearing apart. I will be using a Pro Clear Aquatic Premier 75 sump with a Catalina Aquarium CA2200 pump. I'm looking to start a FOLR tank for now, and hopefully with the help of you guys jump back into reefin, it's been well over 10 years since i dabbled in a reef tank. I KNOW alots changed since I had my last reef tank. Looking forward to getting to know some of you.
Thanx
Joey

 

[masterswimmer]

Hey Joey,
Welcome to MR and welcome back to a whole new world of reefing.

So much has changed in ten years your head will spin.

Have you thought about the skimmer and lighting you plan to go with? The lighting for a FO system does not need to be anything elaborate. However, you eluded to the fact that you'd like to get back into reefing. It would be much more cost effective to buy lighting now that would be adequate for a reef rather than to have to upgrade in the future. Obviously up to you and your budget though.

Not sure what the attributes of the Pro Clear Sump is. Hopefully it isn't one that utilizes bio-balls.

Anyway, spend a lot of time reading and asking questions and you'll embark on this new journey well informed and with the necessary components to succeed.

Good luck,
Russ

 

[DEEPWATER]

Welcome to MR Joey

Glad to see back in the game !!

Youll need some of the following to get you started .

SKimmer
heater
sump (wet/dry ) or refuge all up to you
some live rock
also a power head for some flow in the tank

Is your tank RR or you going to use an over flow box ,Note that overflow boxes are an accident waiting to happen ,,,if your tank is not Reefready (RR) I would drill the tank .

Good luck

Ronen

 

[Craig]

thread hijack

Ronen...why is an overflow box an accident waiting to happen?

 

[taat2d]

Hi and thanx for the welcome. I plan on using the Pro Clear as a sump. Not sure about lighting or a skimmer yet. And I'm here to rob your brains of knowlege. LOL I wanna do things right. I'm not looking to rush into this. As far as the tank no its not drilled. Does that really make a big dirrerence? And Ronen where in Brooklyn are you? I grew up in Sheepsheadbay,moved to SI a few years ago but still work in Brooklyn. So with the fact of starting slowly in this whole endeavor do you guys really think I should be concerned with lighting already? Also can you help me out with a good skimmer? And as far as heating I'm planning on using a Visitherm 250w Stealth unless this won't be good. Lemme know.
Joey

 

[DEEPWATER]

Hey joey

Im at kingshwy and bedford ,grew up in brklyn and still here

Im not a fan of overflow boxes ,if siphoning stops the pump keeps running and may overflow your tank making the pump run dry and the other way around ,just something to think about .This is also for the CPR overflows ,they have a siphon ,(the air pump) ;0)

Drilling the tank is a piece of cake.Having the bulkheads for a return and drain will allow any accident to happen within the tank and sump ,unless you have a leak from the pipes(which if done correcly ) will never happen.Im aplumber and yet to see a leak from PVC piping

Skimmers is really up to what you are willing to spend ,you can buy new or try to find one used for the time being.but it is an important if the the most important piece of equpiment needed

BRB someone at the door

Ronen

 

[masterswimmer]

Joey, like I mentioned earlier, getting top of the line lighting is not required to keep a FO tank. However, you mentioned you wanted to eventually turn it into a reef. A reef tank requires much more specialized lighting to maintain the animals properly. I've always been a proponent of buying once (when possible) rather than buying one fixture for FO and then upgrading to a fixture capable of supporting a reef.

Necessary? Definitely not. Adviseable? Maybe. A good idea? Definitely.

Russ

 

[marki24]

i can take your africans they will have a good home

 

[taat2d]

i can take your africans they will have a good home

Hey if they move in with you can I come over to visit them? LOL

 

[taat2d]

Joey, like I mentioned earlier, getting top of the line lighting is not required to keep a FO tank. However, you mentioned you wanted to eventually turn it into a reef. A reef tank requires much more specialized lighting to maintain the animals properly. I've always been a proponent of buying once (when possible) rather than buying one fixture for FO and then upgrading to a fixture capable of supporting a reef.

Necessary? Definitely not. Adviseable? Maybe. A good idea? Definitely.

Russ

Hey Russ if I start a FOLR tank I'm planning on using my existing double AGA light strip that came with the tank. I'll bug you guys for the right light whwen I start my reef tank. HEHE

 

[crox99]

Joey welcome back to reefin........Do you have the wet/dry or you have to buy one?

 

[aaron]

crox your always asking questions tht have been answered in the posts above

 

[crox99]

crox your always asking questions tht have been answered in the posts above

Can you show me where. I believe he said that he's "planning in using the ProClear". I was just asking since I have exactly the same one laying around I wanted to know if he's interested in buying it.

 

[masterswimmer]

Hey Russ if I start a FOLR tank I'm planning on using my existing double AGA light strip that came with the tank. I'll bug you guys for the right light whwen I start my reef tank. HEHE

Good luck with everything. Please post pix of your progress.

Russ

 

[taat2d]

Can you show me where. I believe he said that he's "planning in using the ProClear". I was just asking since I have exactly the same one laying around I wanted to know if he's interested in buying it.

Damn I wish i would have checked here first. Ordered it ans I should be getting it on Friday.