Hi I'm new to saltwater

Beau is hosting the January Meeting this coming Saturday the 14th at 6PM.  It will be BYOB as well as a snack to share and raffle items are always welcome.  It has been requested that there be “NO SHOES” on the carpet due to it being a whitish color.

He doesn’t have a tank to view but we will have plenty to discuss in hopes that it will get the NEW YEAR off to a good start.  The annual membership fees are due, so now would be a good time to get them in to our Treasurer Stacey Hahn.   Fees are $20 per individual or $25 per family

Attendance was low at the election meeting in November and no votes were taken at December’s meeting so we have decided to take votes for anyone that didn’t get the opportunity in November and will be attending this meeting.  
We will add the votes to November’s ballots and the announcement will be made during the meeting so we can go forward.
NOMINATIONS:
President:  Jim & Nacho
V. President: Ed, Bo & Daniel Leigey
Treasurer: Stacey
Secretary: Carmen & Angie

Let’s hope the New Year brings new members, returning members and new ideas.  The club is always willing to take suggestions to get the most out of the hobby we all enjoy.

Please PM Nate C. by clicking here for directions if you are not a club member.  

Club members can click here to go to the club member only forum to get directions.

Hope to see you all there!

•    About the Club
•    MCMAC 2009
•    Constitution
•    Bylaws

[Guest]

Welcome, Guest.
Please login or register.

1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever

Login with username, password and session length

[Andy]

Hi, my name is Andy Wegner I live in Pasco. I’m new to the hobby. I talked to Rick Berg on the phone once. He told me about the club. I hope to make next month meeting.

I’ve had a 29 gallon freshwater tank for about 8 years.  I’m planning on setting up a 55 gal acrylic reef tank. I’ve been reading about reef tanks for about 6 months. I think I will set the tank up with the Berlin style. If anyone has different ideas I’m open to suggestions. I’m still in the beginner learning stage. I don’t think that I will get the tank set up for at least another 6 months.

I have been looking at fish and corals. I will start off with easy to take care for species.

Wrasse
Dartfish
Goby
Clownfish
Damsel

Misc cleaner inverts along the lines of these

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...cfm?pCatId=1944
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/....cfm?pCatId=482

for coral I like these
I think this first one would be the easiest to start with.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/....cfm?pCatId=714 
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...cfm?pCatId=2140

I believe all these species are compatible and reef friendly. I think this would be a good starter setup. I’m not set in concrete about the fish and corals. I’m open to ideas.

I hope to save myself some money by purchasing 60 lbs base rock and 25 lbs of live rock and take the time to seed. I will do the same with the live sand.

I also plan on building a close loop circulation system using an OM Squirt

http://www.oceansmotions.com/store/...7b6ad28b18f9d6e

The close loop will have 1” inlet and ¾” outlets. I’m sure I will drill the tank for the inlet and outlets. The return from the sump will be ¾”.
My overflow will be made of 1 1/4” pvc contained in an overflow box. (Stand pipe design).

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=saltaquarium&cdn=homegarden&tm=96&gps=137_288_1276_815&f=11&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.rl180reef.com/pages/standpipe/standpipe_frame.htm

I need to know about my flows. How Is 300 to 400 gph through the sump/refugium system? I was thinking of 500 gph through the closed loop. I figure 2/3 will go to the skimmer and 1/3 to the refugium. Are these flows adequate thought both systems?
For light I have to look a pricing for power compact T-5, VHO fluorescents, or metal halides.
Any info is welcome and thank you. If anyone has better ideas on plumbing size, fish, corals and lights please let me know.

Andy

[nacheetah]

I wish we could help you but we still ask for advice on our new 125 gl set up, which comes from the experts in the club.  Attending the meetings is a great plus because you always learn something new or get different ideas.   


WELCOME TO THE CLUB!

[jewels]

I second what Nacheetah said! Coming to the meetings is a great way to get advice and learn a thing or two. Plus we have started doing raffles at the meetings, being new you could benefit from it. 

We look forward to seeing you.
Julia

P.S. We have a 29 gallon Salt tank that we are still learning about, you actually seem to know more than we do 
One thing on the Damsel fish, if you do get one make sure you get it last. They can be aggressive (we had one but had to get it out of the tank) If you get it last it MAY work with other fish, it MAY not.

[angelscrx]

Welcome to the club!  I'd stay away from the damsel though.  Most folks aren't aware that clowns are from the damsel family and they can be a pain with other damsels.

[tyler5g]

welcome to the club.  I must agree with Angel, stay away from the damsels.  As far as the wrasse, thats a pretty large family of fish, some are great in a reef , others will just see it as their own private buffet, so beware. As far as equipment, before you set anything up, we can all show you our systems, so you can see how they are set up, and get you some good ideas.  If you wnat to forward me your email and contact info, I will add you to my list of people that I email about the meetings.   I do have some power compact lighting systems here that would work out great for a 55.(What a shameless plug )

[Andy]

Thank you all for the warm welcome. I’m looking forward to chatting at a meeting.

Ok scratch one damsel.

Tyler I sent you an email with my contact info. I will keep the shameless plug in mind.

Andy

[Ed]

Hello Andy,
     The more tanks you see the more diffent angles you will learn.    I look forward to meeting you.
Welcome
Ed

[Nate C.]

Hi Andy,

Welcome to the club!

We have some base rock that you can have if you want.  We aren't going to need it.  Give me a call if you are interested in stopping by.  No charge, just haul it away.

Nate 366-3450

[luvnsalt]

Hey Nate.
What Andy doesn't take of that base rock, can I have it? I would like to rid my tank of some of the rock I have since I can't seem to whip the hair algae nightmare!!!!!    Also, WELCOME TO THE CLUB ANDY!!!!!!!!!!!   Hope to see you at the next meeting.

[Nate C.]

Sure thing Dashia.  We have a bunch in the current 75 that if you wanted to spend time scrubbing annoying feather dusters, you could even swap in good cured and ready rock.     That will be a few weeks out yet though.  Have to get everything moved over to the new tank first.

[psa]

Speaking of rock, and I know this isn't really contributory to the original topic (Hello and welcome, Andy!  Hope to see you at the next meeting), I'm coming up quite a bit short on live rock as I rebuild all of these tanks and will eventually be looking for a fair amount of it.  I could use as much as 30lbs immediately and possibly more than twice that much in the future if I set up the big tank.  The last stuff I got was from the club group order a couple years ago (wonderful rock, that) but I haven't really sourced any other in the area since I moved back the TriCities three years ago.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I'm flexible on how much/little life is on the rock, as long as the structure is nice.  I could especially use larger pieces.

[Nate C.]

Speaking of rock, and I know this isn't really contributory to the original topic (Hello and welcome, Andy!  Hope to see you at the next meeting), I'm coming up quite a bit short on live rock as I rebuild all of these tanks and will eventually be looking for a fair amount of it.  I could use as much as 30lbs immediately and possibly more than twice that much in the future if I set up the big tank.  The last stuff I got was from the club group order a couple years ago (wonderful rock, that) but I haven't really sourced any other in the area since I moved back the TriCities three years ago.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  I'm flexible on how much/little life is on the rock, as long as the structure is nice.  I could especially use larger pieces.

We paid $5.25/lb for the stuff in ours.  It's completely live, still had critters and coral and stuff growing on it.  Only problem is, you have to go to Silverdale to get it. 

[psa]

The piece right in the middle here came from the Shark Reef in Silverdale, chock full of life.  Still one of my favorite pieces.  But it's now 4-5 hours away, rather than 10 minutes. 
Looking forward to seeing your tank now that it's set up.

[Andy]

I would like to thank Nate & Colleen for showing me their tanks, and giving me about 50 lbs of base rock. Both of their tanks looked great. I learned a lot, just from the ½ hr or so I was at in their home. I'm one step closer to getting a tank up and running

Thank you
Andy

[Nate C.]

No worries!  We were glad to be able to help out.