New and have 2 quick ?'s

[shanet1975]

Morning....After many discussions and reading n these forums I have made my purchases. Everything will be arriving tomorrow. I have a 55 gallon tank and bought a super skimmer, a emperor 400 filter, various test kits, hydrometer, a koralia 3, and salt. I will be making a trip out to Boston on Saturday yo pick up some live rock. My questions is, I currently have a repitle cage lid on top with a flourescent strip light. I haven't saved enough for the Nova Extremes yet, so this will have to do for now. I'm not sure what to do with the top. I see pictures of tanks with no tops. Do the fish attempt to jump out? I know the t5's have brackets to suspend the fixture which will be great, but is it ok to leave it open like that???
One other live sand question. The gentleman I am buying the liverock from also has livesand as well for a buck a lb. But...he mixed some of the dark sand in with the lighter sand. Not too fond of that. Is there any difference between live sand that has ben in a tank for a while and the live sand I would find at the lfs?
Thanks for your help again!!!

[APISTOBORELLI]

Welcome to the club.

If I'm reading right, you're using a reptile cage for the tank? If so, bad idea. The feces and urine from reptiles will certainly cause problems for a reef. It can get into the silicone and it's almost impossible to remove.

On to the sand, if you can find the right stuff, you can buy play sand from Home Depot. Someone in the club will certainly give you a cup or two to "seed" the tank.

Hope this helps.

[Behrmon]

Many folks like myself leave the top open for several reasons, heat, evaporation, gas exchange etc. Certain fish such as many wrasses are prone to jumping but any fish basically can. You may want to go the canopy route if most of the fish you would like to keep are known jumpers.

As for the sand, if you don't care for it don't buy it as it will be difficult to change out in the future, you can seed it with a few cups of live sand from the LFS or a member.

Welcome to the club.

[shanet1975]

I had originally bought the fish tank and had freshwater fish. Then we had a little ribbon snake in there for about 2 weeks. I washed with vinegar and water. I'm hoping that is okay...I guess we'll find out...I will buy a few lb's of live sand from the guy I am buying the live rock from.
What is better, the really fine sand, or the live sand in the bags, like the araga-live stuff?
Thanks again...

[shanet1975]

One more quick question.
Would these lights be any good for soft corals. or should I hold out for t5's?
Thanks
http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-LIGHT-48-ODYSSEA-260WT-POWER-COMPACT-W-FANS_W0QQitemZ250159985013QQihZ015QQcategoryZ46314 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[stingythingy45]

Hmmmmmmmm.....decisions,decisions.:D
It's tough when you don't have a few $1,000 kicking around to buy everything that is "prefered".I know,would like to say I've been there and done that,but I'm right in the middle of it.Like you,not upgrading,just getting what's needed to start up.Most of the folks on this forum will say to hold off til you can get the t-5s.But for the price of the light,the fact that it has pretty good reviews(mostly fans burning out)......why not?You'll be able to keep softies and some LPS under that light.You can always upgrade later,it's not like you broke the bank on this light set up.I would just be cautious of the seller.There's also some very good power compacts for sale in the equipment forum.
Good luck and welcome to the addiction.:p
Now I'm off to the LFS...

[Jennifer]

Welcome.

[shanet1975]

Thank you....
Well, I just bought a used setup. 55 gallon with tank stand, 4 65 watt pc's in a custom hood, sand, about 50 lb's of liverock, 2 powerheads, a bioball wet./dry filter with an attached skimmer underneath.
I'm hoping these lights are OK for some anenomes and soft coral. Still testing the waters and just finished a 50 % waterchange yesterday. Hopefully that will help things out a bit...

[saltnut]

Welcome
What kind of anemone? Anemone's prefer high light / most recomend MH and are usually added to an aged tank(like a year old). Not really for newbies or new tanks. This is not to say that it has never been done. Did you add new water or was that also used? Did you test yet?
Good luck and again welcome to the club

[stingythingy45]

Thank you....
Well, I just bought a used setup. 55 gallon with tank stand, 4 65 watt pc's in a custom hood, sand, about 50 lb's of liverock, 2 powerheads, a bioball wet./dry filter with an attached skimmer underneath.
I'm hoping these lights are OK for some anenomes and soft coral. Still testing the waters and just finished a 50 % waterchange yesterday. Hopefully that will help things out a bit...

Sounds good shanet,
I have almost the same set up as you do.As far as the anenome goes I would just keep that in mind for a later addiction to the tank.And as saltnut mentioned they need high output lighting.It looks like you've already caught the bug so you'll find yourself reading like crazy.Good luck and happy reefing.:D

[Moe_K]

Hi Shanet,

http://www.ottoaquarium.com/fishswim.gif

to the Boston Reefers' Society!

[Jennifer]

Hi Shanet, I have the same amount of lighting that you do. I have a Long tentacle anemone that is getting absolutely gigantic. I have had it for 9 months, the oral disk when I got it was 2 inches now the disk is like 10 to 12 inches with the tentacles it must be almost 18 in across. Though as recomended you should wait till your system has been up and running for at least 6 months before adding an anemone. Good luck - Jennifer