^&right
Community Member
Hello all, well, it's been a crazy few days. Binge watching YouTube and learning a lot - which translates to I had no idea how much I didn't know and how much this hobby has changed!!!
Stopped into the best salt water store near me tonight to get some questions quickly answered. I suddenly felt like because I'd grown up with a model T I was being thrust into a Tesla. Holy cow I had zero idea how far tech had come, and how much some costs had risen, especially for livestock.
But, I'm committed now and I'm going to do it right. I did purchase a used sump tank they had. Was less than buying a 40g and a Figi kit (pic below). I wanted to do a felt roller set up, and he showed me how one could be retrofitted, but I don't think changing socks is going to kill me.
To answer the above question, no my tank is not drilled. I'm not afraid to do it myself, but I'm also just as happy hanging the overflow with jake tubes on the back. Thoughts? I appreciate the tip on sizing a skimmer. I was going to buy one for a heavy bacteria load for a 150. Thought it would give me a nice safety margin. More is better, right?!
After talking with the shop tonight I plan on doing 2 down tubes and a good pump for return. I'd appreciate input here.
Also, I had no idea about automatic water changes. This was the sole reason I was hesitant to get back into the hobby. Who like water changes right! And dosing, I didn't know what that was until I was shown at the shop, yeah, gonna need that! The sump I bought was already set up with an auto fill valve so thats a plus. A ~3" hole was already drilled for an external return pump. I'm blocking that off, don't like that idea.
And lighting.
How did that get so spendy. I had T5's on my old set up, which apparently not many new set ups use anymore and LED is king.
But here is my plan, I LOVE the idea of auto dosing, auto water changes, etc. I'll spend the $$ for that. Don't expect it to make any tank hands off, but the convenience of lightening the load is very attractive.
Should I start another thread, of am I good here. Looking for seasoned input. I'd like to get pump, plumbing, skimmer, etc., etc., etc., ordered this weekend. Went to bulk reef and order a RODI kit based on hard well water. Want to start off with every advantage I can.
Stopped into the best salt water store near me tonight to get some questions quickly answered. I suddenly felt like because I'd grown up with a model T I was being thrust into a Tesla. Holy cow I had zero idea how far tech had come, and how much some costs had risen, especially for livestock.
But, I'm committed now and I'm going to do it right. I did purchase a used sump tank they had. Was less than buying a 40g and a Figi kit (pic below). I wanted to do a felt roller set up, and he showed me how one could be retrofitted, but I don't think changing socks is going to kill me.
To answer the above question, no my tank is not drilled. I'm not afraid to do it myself, but I'm also just as happy hanging the overflow with jake tubes on the back. Thoughts? I appreciate the tip on sizing a skimmer. I was going to buy one for a heavy bacteria load for a 150. Thought it would give me a nice safety margin. More is better, right?!
After talking with the shop tonight I plan on doing 2 down tubes and a good pump for return. I'd appreciate input here.
Also, I had no idea about automatic water changes. This was the sole reason I was hesitant to get back into the hobby. Who like water changes right! And dosing, I didn't know what that was until I was shown at the shop, yeah, gonna need that! The sump I bought was already set up with an auto fill valve so thats a plus. A ~3" hole was already drilled for an external return pump. I'm blocking that off, don't like that idea.
And lighting.
How did that get so spendy. I had T5's on my old set up, which apparently not many new set ups use anymore and LED is king.But here is my plan, I LOVE the idea of auto dosing, auto water changes, etc. I'll spend the $$ for that. Don't expect it to make any tank hands off, but the convenience of lightening the load is very attractive.
Should I start another thread, of am I good here. Looking for seasoned input. I'd like to get pump, plumbing, skimmer, etc., etc., etc., ordered this weekend. Went to bulk reef and order a RODI kit based on hard well water. Want to start off with every advantage I can.
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