My wife bought me my late Father's Day present from PetSmart yesterday. It was a day only sale and I got a 56 gallon tank + a Stand for just under $200. Which to me...is a steal. The LFS down the road from me wanted $400 for theres. Everything came up to $166.
So I will be documenting my progress in the weeks to come. But I do have a question...
The stand is weird, I'll post pictures tomorrow. It doesn't have enough room for a sump or anything. Basically it isn't configured to where you can store your sump, or fish equipment....anything of the sort.
So what do you guys suggest I do. I was thinking about buying an AquaClear100 HOB Filter, and a HOB Refugium (or one that actually sits in the tank). But, I am asking for any opinions or suggestions on how you veterans would set up a tank like this. I don't plan on getting a different stand in the near future though, for those that would suggest buying a new one. My budget for each piece of equipment is $200 (give or take depending on how much more better piece of equipment would be)
Also, lighting. I have yet to really understand what lighting I would need for what set up. Right now I have frag rock that has 4 mushrooms on it, a Haitian anemone, and a frag of a yellow star poly. But I would like to expand in the near future. I was thinking of a Metal Halide/T5 combo, but then I would need a chiller for the metal halides. I would like to spend around $300, but it wouldn't be out of the question of spending more then that for lights in order to get my tank set up appropriately. I would like to get enough lighting to where I wouldn't have a problem growing/sustaining anything. I am also not that much of a Do-It-Yourselfer though, not right now anyway.
Any and ALL help is greatly appreciated and I very anxiously look forward to hearing what you veterans have to suggest!
So I will be documenting my progress in the weeks to come. But I do have a question...
The stand is weird, I'll post pictures tomorrow. It doesn't have enough room for a sump or anything. Basically it isn't configured to where you can store your sump, or fish equipment....anything of the sort.
So what do you guys suggest I do. I was thinking about buying an AquaClear100 HOB Filter, and a HOB Refugium (or one that actually sits in the tank). But, I am asking for any opinions or suggestions on how you veterans would set up a tank like this. I don't plan on getting a different stand in the near future though, for those that would suggest buying a new one. My budget for each piece of equipment is $200 (give or take depending on how much more better piece of equipment would be)
Also, lighting. I have yet to really understand what lighting I would need for what set up. Right now I have frag rock that has 4 mushrooms on it, a Haitian anemone, and a frag of a yellow star poly. But I would like to expand in the near future. I was thinking of a Metal Halide/T5 combo, but then I would need a chiller for the metal halides. I would like to spend around $300, but it wouldn't be out of the question of spending more then that for lights in order to get my tank set up appropriately. I would like to get enough lighting to where I wouldn't have a problem growing/sustaining anything. I am also not that much of a Do-It-Yourselfer though, not right now anyway.
Any and ALL help is greatly appreciated and I very anxiously look forward to hearing what you veterans have to suggest!