Another log of a Newbie starting out with TBS rock!

[gregt]

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...49#post4751249

[dwculp]

OK, how about a little update........

Everything is going great!!!

Actually, um, everything is going great. I have fished a couple more peppermint shrimp out and now my green brain is back to looking good. He was always deflated and was losing flesh and showing skeleton, the damn peppermint shrimp were eating him.

I checked some water parameters today after not cheking in a LONG time:

pH: 8.4
Nitrate: 2.5
Nitrite: 0

And people say saltwater is hard. Pffffffffffffff!!!

Ok guys, a friend of mine is selling off his beautiful 20 gallon reef, here is what he has:

Corals include
Green Mushrooms
Orange and Purple Zoos
Yellow Colony Polyp
Button Polyp
Xenia
Kenya Tree
Green Star Burst(two types)
Red Brain Coral

Wildlife
Blue and Yellow Damsel
False Clown
Royal Gramma
Sand Sifting Star Fish
Coral Banded Shrimp
Hermits
Snails

Live Rock (20-25lbs)
Live Sand (20lbs)

Equipment
20 Gal Reg
Stand
Coral Life 65w compact light
Prizim Skimmer
Pumps
Heater

He wants $600.00 for all or $425.00 minus the equipment. I am thinking about doing it without equipment. What do you think??

[ratherbediving]

$425 seems a bit steep to me... maybe offer less and see if he accepts that? I think if you broke it out by how much you would be willing to pay for each peice if you saw it at the fish store.... do you really want a damsel, another CBS, another gramma etc?

[reeferkid]

if you buy it you wanna get rid of the damsel and the sand sifting starfish cos the damsel is evil and the star will die

[xtrstangx]

That seems a little bit on the high end, IMO.

[patsan]

A lot of money for such a small tank. I think you could do better looking around. For $400 you could get yourself a nice large RR tank, stand and sump.

[dood68]

the curse of the splitting threads is upon us!!!!!!!!!!!

[dwculp]

Well, when you consider each piece individually:

Corals include
Green Mushrooms-25
Orange and Purple Zoos-40
Yellow Colony Polyp-15
Button Polyp-30
Xenia-50
Kenya Tree-45
Green Star Burst(two types)-40
Red Brain Coral-40

Wildlife
Blue and Yellow Damsel- Free
False Clown-15
Royal Gramma-15
Sand Sifting Star Fish-15
Coral Banded Shrimp-Yours
Hermits-Free
Snails- Free

Live Rock (20-25lbs)-120
Live Sand (20lbs)-25


What I could do with it is take the 80 pounds of LR in my 40, the 25 pounds I have in the 75 and 20-25 in his and make a 75 gallon reef in my 75. I would have everything need and it would all be pre-cured. I could also use the live sand from both reef tanks and the live sand in my QT tank.

The only additional item I would need to buy would be new lights for the 75 and that would cost me an arm and a leg - oh wait, I dont have an arm and a leg anymore, I filled my gas tank yesterday!

[dwculp]

Originally posted by reeferkid
if you buy it you wanna get rid of the damsel and the sand sifting starfish cos the damsel is evil and the star will die

He has had the reef up and running for a few years and the star fish is still alive. However, I would get rid of it for other reasons, sand sifting stars tend to eat the flora and fauna in your sand bed - bad.

Not all damsels are bad. Yellow tailed damsels are not nearly as a gressive as others. His is great, I want about 5-6 for my reef.

[dwculp]

I could get two of these that would give me 520 WATTS above the 75 gallon (about 7 WATTS/Gal.) for less than $500.00.

[H2OLUVSME]

i think its a pretty good deal. you would be much happier with the 75, IMHO. also if you search around a bit you can find good deals on used lights.

[dwculp]

Originally posted by H2OLUVSME
i think its a pretty good deal. you would be much happier with the 75, IMHO. also if you search around a bit you can find good deals on used lights.

$425.00 for all the livestock and corals + LR and LS is a pretty good deal I think. I just dont think I can afford it right now and get new lights on top of it.

I could sell my body on the street I supose.

[bobt2]

on those lights you can get the coralife fixtures for $199. thats what i'm using, very nice. 260 watts

[H2OLUVSME]

Originally posted by bobt2
on those lights you can get the coralife fixtures for $199. thats what i'm using, very nice. 260 watts

where'd you get them for $199 Bob?

i have one of those on my mushroom reef, but thinking of adding another to make the 520w Dave is talking about. id like to keep some clams and what not at work, and the boss is thinking about springing for the new lights if i could find them for $200 she definatly bite

[dwculp]

I was about to ask the same thing. $199.00 per fixture would be doable for me, I can find them for about $220.00 at That Fish Place.

[bobt2]

i got them a www.marineandreef.com.

[dwculp]

Ok, now I am tempted.

Stop me.

Please.

Really.

[H2OLUVSME]

i dont think anybody is going to stop you

[dwculp]

Originally posted by H2OLUVSME
i dont think anybody is going to stop you

Thats what I am afraid of.

[ratherbediving]

Originally posted by dwculp
$425.00 for all the livestock and corals + LR and LS is a pretty good deal I think. I just dont think I can afford it right now and get new lights on top of it.

I could sell my body on the street I supose.

OK I have to play devil's advocate (don't know why)

Based on the #s you gave earlier, you had
$285 for the corals
$45 for the livestock
$120 for the live rock ($6 a pound-- isn't that high?)
$25 for the sand.

OK, that is worth $475 to you ... but you are paying $50 for Xenia (I think that is way too much) $6 a pound for live rock, paying for another royal gramma and a sand sifting star fish.... and you don't get to pick and choose your livestock, it's all or nothing? Sorry it stilll seems high. Maybe see if he will part some of it out; then you can get just what you really want.

As far as the lights go-- since you are thinking about 500 watts of PCs-- why not just go for 2 x 250 metal halides?

You up for some DIY? Maybe build a canopy...

[scorp1on]

Originally posted by bobt2
i got them a www.marineandreef.com.

Bought my lights from a fellow reefer and he gave me a link to their site for the bulbs I need. http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro...laceLamps.html
Not just good prices but good customer service as well

[dwculp]

I dont think you guys need to talk me out of it, I have talked myself out of it. I just cannot afford it right now, I have too many other expenses right now. None of those expenses are mandatory expenses, I would be mostly trading one fun expense for another fun expense.

I think come September I will be ready to possibly upgrade the FO tank to a nice 180 gallon setup and rotate the reef into the 75 gallon. I will also have a few grand extra in order to do it, so I shall wait until then.

[dwculp]

Thought I would give another update.


Everything is going good.

People say this saltwater stuff is hard............

Actually, I am having one problem I hope someone can help me with. My gereen brain is showing more and more skeleton over time. It is the only thing in the tank I am having difficulty with right now. I am unsure if it is a water quality issue, light issue, feeding issue or the peppermint shrimp are nibbling it to death.

I have moved it higher onto the rocks so it can get more light. I hope that helps.

[H2OLUVSME]

have you tried spot feeding it?

[dwculp]

I wouldnt want to feed it spot, Spot is way to big to feed to a green brain coral, and besides, she might give the coral fleas.