[Rattsnewtreef]

So.. a few weeks ago I posted a thread, or more a plea, for a 75g on my local reef clubs forum, that I was in NEED of an upgrade. Having been searching for months for a decent priced 75g on craigslist was coming up short.. they were either listed for $800- $1000 or up and disappeared before the seller had a chance to hit send...what was it about these tanks, that ppl act as tho they were made of diamond or somn.. geez..
anyway. I got about 6 replys in the first 25 minutes.. a 60g, a 40b,nah..a brand new 75 drilled with g**holes OF $225-tank $100 OF...close but nah.. then I get a reply 75g RR $115 w/oak stand $150... wooot! I gotta see this one....
So I figure it's time to get some planning done for my upcoming project. A 75g Mixed Reef to house a few SPS and some LPS corals and a few choice fish that I've been obsessing over for years now...

I found a deal from a local reefer that I'm pretty darn comfortable in purchasing and have witnessed it up and running. So I can testify to the quality and the condition of the equipment I'm getting.. and IMHO it is a freaking steal... ..

here is the message he sent me after meeting with him about just the tank and deciding on asking what he wanted for the whole kit and kaboodle..

*red lettering by me

Hey Mike -

Here's what I would sell each item for separately:

tank - 115 75g reef ready (left of center full height OF)
lights - 225 see below: and I can attest his corals, esp. SPS looked amazing..
skimmer - 85 SWC Extreme 200 big ol' thing
ehiem 1260 pump - 50 (im not sure if i want to sell this yet or not though)

Here's what I'd do if you bought all of them together:

tank
lights
skimmer
ehiem pump (if i decided not to keep it)
-------------
415

tank
lights
skimmer
---------
380

tank 115
lights 225
----------
320

A few comments on these things...

The lights are 150 watts each and are HQI not mogul sockets. I think for a 75 these are a good wattage. Not as much heat as the 250 but still can get good light down to the bottom on that depth. The ballast has a built in timer right on it as well.

The skimmer, in my opinion, works very well. I paid quite a bit more than i'm asking for it so i think its a good deal. But here's the only issue i have with it...the pump can be a pain to get started. It runs fine once its going, but you basically have to start it outside of the water and then hook it up while its running. As long as you're not shutting it off frequently it wont really be an issue. Also, the impeller is not the pinwheel type, it is has been switched to a mesh mod impeller. I should have some mesh to give you to replace it occasionally if you did decide you wanted the skimmer.

Let me know what you're interested in.

Thanks,

Obviously I said I'd take it all... (Ill throw 385 at him and see if he bites lol)
If I need a new pump for the skimmer so be it.. but the thing is a monster
I do have an Ecoplus 1267 sitting idle waiting to fling water if need so even w/o the eheim pump I'm ok there..
those items are what Ill have in about a month.. He needs to find homes for a number of extremely nice pcs before he can tear it down which I said Id be More than willing to help him find a home for a few... :dance:

This is what I'm gonna need:

Stand- he has one for this tank but it will not fit the sump I want for it. so a DIY stand will have to be built... YAY!!

Sump- I'm going to go with a 30g breeder for this one.stand to over- accomidate. one baffle- skimmer on one side, return on the other.. *{pondering a 10g "settling tank" directly under drain- 10g aquarium drilled with 2 overflows directed into 30b and set on elevated position} Height may be a factor here, Ill have to do some measuring.

Some form of waterflow- most likely candidate will be Vortech MP30-40s for this tank.. the 30s are more than powerful for a 75g and our local club gets really good discounts at a few stores both online and in the area, so I may get a pair to synch.. and possibly a few Korilia Evo 750's for behind the rock..

Controller- I'm pretty clueless on these as far as what features to look for so any input you guys have is handy..

I'm sure I'll need various reactors and such to make my SPS pop like Ca and CO2 but it is a very good start..

The bulbs in the fixtures were only 5 months old and every coral in the tank from top to bottom was bright and beautiful...
Well this is the start of MY build thread.. Hope everyone that tags along will enjoy and feedback is always welcome.. It'll be slow going for a bit so bear with me but should be a lot of fun..:rotflmao:

 

[scotkenny]

Sounds like a sweet setup should be fun!

 

[DM1975]

Nice find. I can't wait to see it all come together.

 

[dirtycontour]

Good for you Ratt, I'll be following.

 

[Rattsnewtreef]

updates..

There are days when I'm really kinda glad that I'm single...and quit smoking.... month 4 in the books yesterday so I decided to splurge.. if I did have a wife she'd prolly Bobbit me..

So.. a local reefer was getting out of the hobby and selling a bunch of stuff. stuff that I just so happened to "need" at the time.

First: Had to have this

then he had this:

and finally I figured I'd help the guy out and take this off his hands for him:

Grand total: $300 about 35# of LR,2 month old vortech MP10w, and a BRS RO/DI filter with about 4 months use on all filters..

I think I spent my play $ for the month.. It'll be ramen noodles and brats for this lonely reefer.. but no more trip to the LFS for pecking water...

 

[dirtycontour]

Awesome! Looks like your on your way. When you get more play money I would get some new filters for the RO/DI. Do you have a TDS meter?

 

[Rattsnewtreef]

not yet.. in a few weeks. I didnt test the water from the fish store either so at this immediate moment its not a major setback.. and when I order new filters Ill get a TDS meter as well.. I need a refractometer too but the RO/DI has been a necessity I couldnt ignore any longer .. the vortech and LR were just a lucky find.. He wanted $350 for all.. talked him down a bit..

 

[DM1975]

Awesome. Luck is following you around right now. As for the smoking, it is month 17 for me. I smoked for over 22 years and quit cold turkey on a whim. Glad I did too.

 

[SaltyBiker]

Looks like somebody is getting them a Copperbanded Butterfly to mark off the bucket list

 

[Rattsnewtreef]

Wow!! I'm bad...

so.. I had contacted another local reefer when I decided to go BB on my 38g that had a 70w MH nano light for sale on the club forum for $75.

While I was chatting with her I learned that she has had SW tanks for 35 years and has a 29 yr old reef tank!!... Sounds like just the person I'd like to learn a bit about this great hobby from.. and a Super nice lady she is too.
With 4 IMO opinion, beautiful , works of water art in her small home. I thought they looked awesome.. To her, they are dirty in spots, and looking crumby today.LOL

The 55g is 29 yrs young and is a thing to behold. I really wish I woulda taken pics..
I did make the deal with her that after the switch is done Ill be allowed to get some proper photos of this marvel..She is moving it into a 75g which she says is totally stressing her out..I could only imagine Her 150g is just as spectacular, along with the two nanos she had setup .. one with an assortment of cups, rics,acans, and some of the most beautiful and colorful species I've seen that close..

and then the chatting and oogling began... lmao Some of the things she had in those tanks were just wow.. stuff growing everywhere.. zoos growing in places along the glass that I wasnt aware they could grow on.. tubeworm "nets" that contain nearly 200 individuals covering certain small rocks and shaded areas.. I could've spent hours staring and chatting..
I truly can appreciate what people that have longterm tanks, like PaulB on here, have in their glass boxes.. with some different and amazing form of life in just about every possible place you can look and on every surface.. some see ugly clutter, I see truly amazing...

Needless to say I came home with a bag full of goodies...

I got, in no particular order...
3 blue mushrooms
1 large green hairy mushroom
1 frag of pulsing xenia with a bout 40 heads on it..
1 thin stick of gorgonian
And a large branch of prolly the "oldest bubble coral in captivity" according to her..It was the first coral she ever bought 29 years ago and she's had it the whole time. she said it dropped a bud, if thats possible, or a branch a few weeks ago and I could have it.. wasnt sure if it would survive, but it Does have a bit of skeletal growth so there may be a chance for it..

cost of todays critters.. $10 folks.. wow!!..

I did buy this light from her for my nano which is what I went there for in the first place...

not sure what the lines on the pics are from but I imagine that light will grow corals, huh? It's a 14k bulb and it is bright!!!

:beer: Cheers everyone..

 

[DM1975]

Wow... The hits just keep coming your way dude. I thought I had good luck but man, you got it going on.

 

[Rattsnewtreef]

Looks like somebody is getting them a Copperbanded Butterfly to mark off the bucket list

You smell what I'm steppin in...

But that is ,at minimum, of a year old tank before I introduce one.. This puppy will be STABLE before I get him.. I've kinda figured most of the fish I want.. and it will not be many.. My 4 green Chromis will be head hanchos for months after the CUC. no crabs in this one they eat all my snails.. prolly 6-7 months after cycle is done Ill get some captive bred bangaii's a mated pair if possible..I'd love to have these even lay eggs in the tank.. A CBB after the first year.. what a wonderful "Tankday" Present that would make. then lastly a yellow eye or even a tomini..whichever will make the more peacful companion.. .this is the CBBs tank after all..

I have alot of LPS corals going over to the new set up and a bunch o softies going to the nano... Its all about hurry up and wait now..hmmm maybe I'll go fishin tomorrow..

spose I should post an update for the nano jam .

 

[SaltyBiker]

You smell what I'm steppin in...

But that is ,at minimum, of a year old tank before I introduce one.. This puppy will be STABLE before I get him.. I've kinda figured most of the fish I want.. and it will not be many.. My 4 green Chromis will be head hanchos for months after the CUC. no crabs in this one they eat all my snails.. prolly 6-7 months after cycle is done Ill get some captive bred bangaii's a mated pair if possible..I'd love to have these even lay eggs in the tank.. A CBB after the first year.. what a wonderful "Tankday" Present that would make. then lastly a yellow eye or even a tomini..whichever will make the more peacful companion.. .this is the CBBs tank after all..

I have alot of LPS corals going over to the new set up and a bunch o softies going to the nano... Its all about hurry up and wait now..hmmm maybe I'll go fishin tomorrow..

spose I should post an update for the nano jam .

Sounds like the making of a sweet set up for the CBB!
Yesir nano jam update is called for here lol.

 

[SaltyBiker]

And geez i though last night was an exciting day for me you made bank on your visit with that lady!

 

[Rattsnewtreef]

Yeah she has an amazing reef there.strike that .. 4. and get this.. wellwater.... Straight from the ground... No rodi.. she doses with amquel when the fish and corals look a bit down or when she has to rid the tank of a diotom explosion..and sugar to keep the nitrates down.. wcs about once a month, I think, she said... Hey, 29 yrs, she's gotta be doin something that's working.. she's got a few big ol tangs in her 150 too..

 

[SaltyBiker]

Wellwater, if only we could be so lucky as her eh? Ive researched people dosing sugar, and even cheap grain Vodka in their tanks. Something about it does something with the carbon (not filter active carbon) in the enclosed system making the benificial bacteria work on overload with ammonias and nitrites. Crud im going to have to find that material and read it again. I had thought about trying it but as dosing anything you got to be super careful or you screw the delicate balance within the tank, algae blooms, or worse "reef nuclear fallout". You got to get some pictures if you get a chance. I and I'm sure others here would love to see this fully mature 29 year old piece of ocean. Thats neat as heck!

 

[Rattsnewtreef]

ill mssge her and see if she has any pics she can send me to share with you guys.. she says she has browsed this site before and has even chatted with PaulB about his success..
I'ts funny how everything we are told and the debates we have about how to care for them. And some of these people that have tanks set up long term do things that go against most of them and their tanks thrive... I spose if you care for a system a certain way long enuff the system adapts to the care you give it.. does that make sense?

 

[Rattsnewtreef]

I hooked the MP10 up in my 38 last night and was playing with the controls a bit.. :dance: What an awesome new toy..I may have to get another one for the otherside of this one too.. If I dont sell this tank.. had a buddy stopby this morn.. I told hm $400 for what I got now. He sounds interested.. Tee hee.

New corals are looking awesome I'll snap pics later..

 

[Rattsnewtreef]

New Critters

Here are the new additions.. some will get moved to my nano. But first morning in the new home, and all is well

The xenia: starting to open up.. a lil groggy this morn need coffe I think.. she gave this to me cause it was everywhere but not overcrowding..

The Big hairy green mushroom.. she had like 40 of these growing up the back wall of her 150g reef.. really neat some were almost 5"..

a small twig of gorgonian that she said fell off about a month ago and started growing.. lol she gave me this..

more to come..

 

[Rattsnewtreef]

more pics..

firstly.. The Shroom Pit.. HAHA... trying to keep em all together before the move to the nano.. A brown, white(ish), and 3 blue mushroom... maybe theyll morph into an american flag or somn...

and then a couple pics of my bubble coral she gave me.. so far so good.. keeping an eye on this one.. I'd love to have a 29 year coral someday too..

P.S. some of thes guys really stink when you pull em out of the water..