Ordering components, that is!
We've toyed with the idea of setting up a reef tank for some time, but have always backed off due to the overwhelming learning curve involved- you have to invest time in this stuff.
I made the committment this week by purchasing yet another 90 gallon tank- this one drilled. I will be asking plumbing questions out the yahoo once I get involved in the actual set up- until now deciding on various components took up all of my brain power.
I just sent off a couple of rousing first orders- please tell me I've chosen the right paths, and if I screwed up lie to me.
Ok- don't lie.
But be nice
I went with a Euro Reef skimmer (CS6-2-B) for in my sump. I kept hearing about folks buying one skimmer, then trying another never to be satisfied. I really want to get this right the first try.
The sump will be a combo skimmer chamber/return chamber/refugium that was blatantly copied directly from this design but built in an old 40 gallon breeder aquarium. Return pump is a Mag 9.5, and the refugium will be fed by an offshoot of the return line- lit by I don't know what yet. I copied lots of my plumbing plans from this website- I owe him a big thank you!
I'll use a closed loop system for circulation- one SCWD and a Velocity T-3 pump (ouch!).
Got a Kent Maxxima Hi-S RO/DI unit.
Test kits out the bazoo.
And other assorted goodies- bulkheads, durso standpipe, tubing etc not worth mentioning.
I have on hand already 220 watts of 9325º K power compact and 80 watts of NO actinic bulbs- for 3.3 wpg. I am hoping this is sufficient to get the live rock established- come tax refund day we'll upgrade the lighting to either MH or T-5... haven't decided yet.
Have heaters lying around if I need one. I'm in South Florida and keeping this thing cool concerns me a whole lot more that heating it up.
I am starting out (well... once I learn how to work and plumb all this crap) with a "package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater. I plan to get that in the week following Christmas and just letting things simmer until the lighting upgrade around March- then adding things slowly and after lots of study.
I feel as if I have completed Phase One today by finally actually ordering these things.
As with most fields of study I've learned just enough to show me how much I don't know.
Let the real learning begin...
We've toyed with the idea of setting up a reef tank for some time, but have always backed off due to the overwhelming learning curve involved- you have to invest time in this stuff.
I made the committment this week by purchasing yet another 90 gallon tank- this one drilled. I will be asking plumbing questions out the yahoo once I get involved in the actual set up- until now deciding on various components took up all of my brain power.
I just sent off a couple of rousing first orders- please tell me I've chosen the right paths, and if I screwed up lie to me.
Ok- don't lie.
But be nice
I went with a Euro Reef skimmer (CS6-2-B) for in my sump. I kept hearing about folks buying one skimmer, then trying another never to be satisfied. I really want to get this right the first try.
The sump will be a combo skimmer chamber/return chamber/refugium that was blatantly copied directly from this design but built in an old 40 gallon breeder aquarium. Return pump is a Mag 9.5, and the refugium will be fed by an offshoot of the return line- lit by I don't know what yet. I copied lots of my plumbing plans from this website- I owe him a big thank you!
I'll use a closed loop system for circulation- one SCWD and a Velocity T-3 pump (ouch!).
Got a Kent Maxxima Hi-S RO/DI unit.
Test kits out the bazoo.
And other assorted goodies- bulkheads, durso standpipe, tubing etc not worth mentioning.
I have on hand already 220 watts of 9325º K power compact and 80 watts of NO actinic bulbs- for 3.3 wpg. I am hoping this is sufficient to get the live rock established- come tax refund day we'll upgrade the lighting to either MH or T-5... haven't decided yet.
Have heaters lying around if I need one. I'm in South Florida and keeping this thing cool concerns me a whole lot more that heating it up.
I am starting out (well... once I learn how to work and plumb all this crap) with a "package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater. I plan to get that in the week following Christmas and just letting things simmer until the lighting upgrade around March- then adding things slowly and after lots of study.
I feel as if I have completed Phase One today by finally actually ordering these things.
As with most fields of study I've learned just enough to show me how much I don't know.
Let the real learning begin...
