Needed

[My2heartboys]

I am just getting started in this hobby and need a few things if anybody has them lying around.

To clue you in more on our situation, my husband is a public school teacher and we have 2 children with heart conditions and the older one of the two has multiple other health and educational issues. Because of these issues, I have had to remain a stay at home mother (which most of the time does not bother me).

The reason I am getting into this is because of my children. I know that more than likely we will never get to vacation in a place where corals and life surrounding them exists.

I am getting a 29 gallon tank with hood (not reef ready). These are the things I need.

Hood with good reef lighting already installed. (willing to trade old hood for this)

Powerheads

skimmer

I do not plan on keeping much in the tank. 3-4 fish, 2-3 soft corals, 2-3 hard corals, a clam or two, and a scallop, and as much clean up crew as I can comfortably fit into the tank. I have already been offered frags of soft corals for which I am extremely grateful for.

At this exact moment my tank is still on layaway and will be out at the end of this month-so I am not in a HUGE rush. It will be the end of September before I can get the testing supplies and basic chemicals for the tank.

I also know that once my corals are ready to frag out, I do know that if someone needs them that is just starting and tight on money I plan on passing the frags on. The other option would be to talk to my husband's school biology dept. head and see if they would want to set up a tank in the school and get some of their frags from me (at no cost).

Any and all I help I can get will be greatly appreciated and eventually passed on.

Thank you.

Anne Wanger

[Sugar Magnolia]

Hi Anne. What you want to do for your children is admirable, I know they will enoy the tank. Some of the things on your list of needs aren't feasible with the kind of set up you want to keep, so I thought I'd point those out for you so you'd understand what it is you will be able to keep.

For your lighting, in your situation, power compact lighting is probably going to be your best bet. Most systems that would give you ample light for softies and some LPS (large polyp stonies) run in the $100 to $200 range depending upon the manufacturer. Without proper lighting, you won't be able to keep corals at all. Hopefully someone has a fixture lying around collecting dust.

I'd advise against the clam at this point. They really are for more advanced aquarists and are rather expensive to purchase, not to mention the cost of the phyto needed to supplement their diet. Flame scallops should never be bought. Their survivability rate in captivity is dismal. They usually starve to death within 6 months.

I've tried to locate a local reef club for you in the Wichita area, but there isn't one in the club forums at RC. Maybe you could ask your LFS if they know whether there is one. Local clubs are a great place to get donations from other club members.

Again, glad to havae you aboard!

[My2heartboys]

Thank you for your advice, it is greatly appreciated. I am glad you clued me in on the scallops and clams. If anything, those would have been the very last additions to the tank, but it looks like the scallop will not be added.

Are there any bivalves that are relatively easy to keep?

Are there any downloadable programs that would allow me to diagram what I hope my tank would be and post it to see if it is feasible? Maybe one with pictures that you click on and then click where you want them in the tank?

Sorry to sound stupid, but I figure it is better to ask now. I also know that in being able to show somebody what I want in my tank and where it would be would also be of help and would hopefully avert some disaster at least.

Anne

[TranZ]

Don't be sorry for asking, members in this forum are glad to answer any question. this hobby is expensive enough that u want to do everything the first time. so read read and read then ask ask then ask.

[My2heartboys]

Thank you for help. I FINALLY have a tank that I will be picking up tonight. It is a lot larger than originally wanted. When I figure out how many gallons it is, I will be asking what kind of equipment I will need. Please keep in mind, with the exception of the size, this is a typical beginner tank that will not be drilled, no sumps or refugiums or hanging overflows (what are those and what are they supposed to do?) I barely have room for the tank itself and I know I sure don't have room for sumps, refugiums, etc. at this point. I am hoping that all of that will come at a later date when we are in a bigger house.

I do know that it was usedfor FWF, and I will need to clean just about everything (tank included) and the tank has some calcium buildup on it. I had planned to use some CLR to get that off and rinse the tank really, really, really, really well. After that, we will put some sort of cover over it to prevent dust from settling in until I can get the rest of the stuff together and also to give it a chance to air dry really well.

Does anything sound wrong here, if so please clue me in.

Anne

[FishinInTheDark]

I don't think I would use CLR. Is it a glass tank? If so, just use a flat razor blade to remove the buildup.

[Doctor_Reef]

Has this tank ever had copper used as a treatment in it???? And I agree with Conni...I wouldn't use CLR either...Could leave a residue!!!

[My2heartboys]

Not that I know of. Copper as a treatment? Not sure what you mean about that.

Anne

[Doctor_Reef]

If this tank was set up for fresh water fish...sometimes fish get sick and need to be treated...some types of parasites can be treated with copper type chemicals to kill the parasites...so if this tank has had copper it can adhere to the silicone and glass and leach into the system...inverts like snails will be cleaning the glass and silicone and copper is lethal to inverts....So that is basically why I asked the question....Lots of tanks that have been used for fresh water fish have had a copper safe treatment used in them for Ich...

[gman0526]

Use white distilled vinegar. Completely safe.

[My2heartboys]

Copy you on the vinegar treatment.

Copper safe treatment? Does that mean I may not have to worry about it?

The guy we bought this aquarium from said that this aquarium has not had a copper treatment that he knows of.

Does this help?

Anne

[Doctor_Reef]

Yep...that is good...You don't want a tank that has copper used in it to treat a sick fish...Copper safe is a type of copper treatment...and it is not safe for inverts... :) But if he said this tank has not had copper in it you are good to go!!! :)

[bigfoot]

i have used clr on a tank before there was no die off in mine but it was a fresh i second both sugar and george use distilled white vinegar and a nice 20 pack of straight edged razors if its bad thew will dull pretty fast what are your tanks measurements ? theres a tank volume calculator here from jman somewhere anybody know where its at??? as for the lighting go with some metal halides depending on the tank mikes the light guru around here so ask him what might be your best bet he knows and amazing amount of scientific lighting stuff what filter are you going to use? i use all different types there are some good retro kits on line and some good power compacts too i have even seen that 4 48 inch regular flourecents will work on an sps frag tank so keep us posted :)

[My2heartboys]

Thank you for all of your help. I will start another thread that gives the info on my tank. I will admit that when it comes to creating my own lights and stuff, well, I am sort of rather on the stupid side of things.

Anne

[bigfoot]

NOT STUPID!!!! inexpierenced is all you might get shocked a couple times but its actually very easy :)

[My2heartboys]

NOT STUPID!!!! inexpierenced is all you might get shocked a couple times but its actually very easy
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I guess I should have said inept. I am not mechanically or electronically inclined. Shoot something goes wrong with the computer and I just wait till hubby gets home.

I think I listed some of the stuff I need on this board somewhere. Like I said in that post, I have no problem with used equipment as if it is not currently being used it will eventually wind up in the landfill and I really don't want that.

Anne