Off Topic -Aquarium

[mud1059]

I know it's off topic, but I have to ask locally. I just picked up a 180 gallon aquarium which I intend to make a reef tank. Where is a great place in WA to get startup equip? ie live rock, refugium plants, live sand, ect. Is there a local club I could get info and/or cultures from? Also, is there an online forum on the topic as cool as you guys? Yes, that was me kissing a little butt. Thanks for any help guys.

I'm also thinking cheap as I'd need 100-200 lbs of rock at $5.00/lb, my jeeping hobby would be out of commision for quite awhile.

 

[XJLaredo]

I got some rocks for the 80gal i used to have straight from the ocean(near Kalaloch) It looked better that store bought rocks. As far as the rest of the stuff, I stayed with fresh water so not sure where to get it from.

 

[XJCasper]

I am sure there are better sources for info, but if I were desperate, I would ask at Petco.

Check out your local Yellow pages

 

[red91]

Take out a second mortgage if you can....that stuff is crazy expensive...although it does look very COOL.

 

[mud1059]

Take out a second mortgage if you can....that stuff is crazy expensive...although it does look very COOL.

You're tellin me! I'm looking at an ARB just for the lighting. I'm going to be in it a 4.7 stroker, D44 front, and long arms by the time this aquarium is setup! I wish I could just stick to one overly priced hobby, but nooooo.

 

[workaholic]

indoor reef on 6th ave in Tacoma does really good. Also there is a shop in renton at the N end of hwy 167 (forgot the name) that does pretty good. some really like aquarium paridise in lakewood of pacific hwy as well.

I've had aquariums for years. For a 180 gallon tank when that things all said and done (which should take you a couple years) to have a good size wall in the back of it you'll need probably in the area of 350-500lbs of live rock, depending on how you want it to look. For fish, inverts etc. hit up saltwaterfish.com and sign up for their automatic email ads. They send out an email when they have their specials (which only subscribers have access too) which are the cheapest i've ever seen. they give you free nextday shipping and only have a minimum order of $60 IIRC.

For lighting: I've gotten the best results from metal halides, regardless what type of corals you intend to keep just make sure you keep it light with at least 3watts per gallon of water volume. Drsfostersmith.com does pretty good for lighting. Ebay I've found to do very well. any metal halide (plant or otherwise) will work its the color temp of the bulb itself is what is key. I used a 8k metal halide IIRC (lots of blue spectrum) and it did great with everything from soft corals to anemone's

Tom

edit: do NOT replicate what XJLaredo did (no offense) but that is fine for a freshwater tank but unless you take the large amount of time and work to clean the rocks properly before introducing them into a saltwater tank (especially a reef tank) you run the high possibility of killing everything in the tank.

 

[XJLaredo]

edit: do NOT replicate what XJLaredo did (no offense) but that is fine for a freshwater tank but unless you take the large amount of time and work to clean the rocks properly before introducing them into a saltwater tank (especially a reef tank) you run the high possibility of killing everything in the tank.

No offense taken, everyone does things there own way.

It took me a few day to properly clean those rocks, i didn't just throw them in the tank.

Jamez.

 

[PDeeXJ]

What ever happened to just adding water to sea monkeys? Simple and satisfying.

 

[Sniggs]

Lake Wenatchee has cool gravel for your tank. I saw some in Cle-Elum Lake too!

 

[XJCasper]

If you need larger rocks for your aquarium, just go dig in my yard.

That is where my larger terrarium rocks come from.

 

[mud1059]

hey thanks workaholic! and uh...thanks to you other guys too I was at aquarium paradise up next to McChord and loved it. Their look down tank is AWESOME! I'm looking at building 2 cans for 4 400 watt ballasts off craiglist with ebay lights at about 14k. Then of course having the 2 power compact actinics. I just got done with 2/3 of the plumbing for the refugium. Tomorrow I should have the water flowing and adding salt....slowly. Thanks again!

 

[XJCasper]

Near McChord? Where is it?

Jason

 

[mud1059]

Aquarium Paradise is about a block N of Bridgeport on Pac highway or S Tacoma Way, whatever it is there. The front of the building is facing I-5. Definately worth checking out. If you go to the back right corner/nook area, the tank facing the back wall is the look I'm going for.