50 gal salt water set-up

picked up a bag of salt and a hydrometer today, gotta get 30 gals of RO water next,,, what about the water vending machines at the grocery store? I'd like to set this up on the stand where my planted 37 high is, gotta sell this one off though.

apfp sells rodi water

this is great i love it more salt water people YAY!!!

aaronfeeney wrote: what about the water vending machines at the grocery store?

NO

It contains different types of salts and chlorines.

Local fish store is a lot cheeper on water.
Glad to hear you're giving it a try.

well, hell. damned petco wants $11.95 for 5 gal of salt water, seems a bit steep to me

Yeah kinda considering you can buy a 50 gal mix for under 30$. But you still have to get RO and preferably RODI water. Some saltwater stores sell it for like 25 cents a gallon and some give it away free.
I order from foster and smith just about everything.
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go find a sw store like barrier reef or sea horse aquarium they i think sell it for 1-2$ a gallon (pre mixed salt w/RODI water) but some give you breaks the more you buy

where is seahorse aquarium?

Lilfishie, I think they are wanting RO water more so than the salt mixture. Do you know where that is cheaper to find? I would have gone to petco or petsmart as well, that would have been horrible price to pay. It would cost over 75 bucks to fill up a 30 gallon tank. ICK!!

dawgwe1 wrote:where is seahorse aquarium?

sorry there in Portland (that being said there are a ton of SW stores down here) it always the first name that comes into my head... i was meaning the one off 405 (newcastle i believe) that sits behind a MacDonalds and it entrance for the store is in the back of a building...kinda like a private hide out or at least thats what it felt like lol there only sign is on there door and like 4 parking spots

Go to A Place For Pets, I think RODI salt water is only 70 cents a gallon.

I had posted earlier .. .Any who indoor reef in tacoma sells ro and salt water.i cant think the price off hand but its not to bad and Paul is a great guy to ask ??? to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Here is where I'm different, I buy distilled water from the grocery store and mix my own. Eventually I may set up an RO sytem, but haven't yet. Cost is minimal $2.00 for 2 1/2 gallons, I do make sure to read how is distilled and most are R/O.

There is a place in Tacoma, past 512 that sells refiltered water from the Seattle Aquarium for $1.00 a gallon, you just need to add some trace elemants to it, I've used this a few times.

Be careful with the Hydrometer as they aren't always accurate, they tend to read low, which is okay as most people run their SW on the light side anyway.

Ok I got an RO/DI filter system and a sump skimmer today( thanks Gosu)
also eliminated plants and selling fish from my 37 g, shellies will move there from the 50B , and the salt water addiction will ensue in the 50 B. Met a reef keeper in my area, who offered some free live rock rubble to start me out. I think I'll take her up on that next week after the move.

The addiction has taken hold....and so it begins.

i think its just an RO unit not sure its RO/DI but your welcome, thanks for the bulbs canister and plants 30gal looks wicked now

If it is just an RO unit, it is easy to add another canister and DI resin.
Contact these guys. They can get you what you need and walk you thru it.
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Also....What are the dimensions of your tank? I have a 30" coralife pc lighting unit for sale. With legs. I think both moonlights are burnt out, but I have one replacement moon light and one replacement fan. Fan is still good in the unit. I just got an extra one just in case.
It is this unit here
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I decided to go with the 50 breeder at 36" wide I've got a twin tube t5ho set up , but will eventually need to add some more wattage.

I went with 750W of Metal Halide and T5's on the 75. Should be enough light..lol

I have an ad in the market section for filtered UV sterilized seawater. Removed the ad till I do some research.

Been sick for a couple days. Today I moved the shellies to the 37 high. drained and rinsed the 50B. Would it be ok to rinse and reuse the sand I had for the shellies? I would rinse it well and mix in a shit lot of aragonite. My other free option is to mix aragonite with brand new white sand. Oh, the old shellie sand is half white , 1/2 black/brown

I got some RODI water from a new reefer friend in my area, loaned me a couple books too. got the tank running just saltwater, picking up some LR rubble and a scoop of live sand to "seed " my system, maybe wednesday. also looking to buy some live rock , maybe 20-30 lbs to start.

Someone posted live rock for pretty cheap in the CL section, I think.

Got a scoop of live sand and a couple pounds of LR rubble today, to seed my tank. also got a clump of feather duster worms and a zoanthid frag. Its amazing how much life is hidden in a couple hunks of rock, I've seen a few brittle stars and some purple polyp things already. Looks like the CL liverock is still there. dude called me tonight , we;ll see if I can get that this weekend Here we go!

Welcome to the addiction, let me know if you need any advise, what is the tank size and your future plans, Fowlr, corals, soft, SPS.........................I may have missed your intentions if so I apologize

Sounds like a nice start, amazing the life in SW

50 gal (see thread title) 36x 18 foot print. I wish to start with easy beginner reef stuff. Advice so far is zoos, mushrooms, some other soft feathery thing was also suggested (and offered free, cannot remember name) basic clean up crew. My children would like to see a pair of clowns, and I want a mandarin Goby (later). eventually asI learn, I like some of the LPS and anemones, Brain corals are bad ass. Damn there is so much cool stuff. I don't really know much about any of them. Learn as I go.

Oh man I like the chalices and leathers too and the little spotted cardinal?

Cardinals are nice, but I heard they can be nasty. I have some cool leather corals in my tank now (thanks to unconventional-reefer) and they are growing like mad!

I really can't wait to see how your tank turns out.

I have a spotted (pajama) cardinal. He is very docile. Doesn't mess with anything, just likes to hang out.

This guy on CL with the 5 gal bucket of live rock. Is tough to get a hold of. If I can't catch up with him on this weekend, I'm gonna have to pay more elsewhere.

Hey Aaron, I actually got ahold of this guy a couple minutes ago and it weighs in at 19lbs and largest piece is only 6"x2". Its rubble rock. Unless you need some for your sump, Its not worth it.

aaron - sent you a pm for the following just put on craigs list

Saltwater aquarium live rock and coral - $3 (Mtlkterrace)

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Date: 2010-11-05, 9:41AM PDT
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I have about 60lbs live rock for your saltwater reef aquarium up for sale. Also some corals and fish. I'm asking $3 a lb thanks


Location: Mtlkterrace
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It is not rock that I am selling, just found it - wish I was ready to buy some or I would pick some up too.....

thanks lil fishie, I don't neeed more rubble. I'll look into your find there dawgwe1, thanks for lookin out guys

Aaron, I just picked up a nice HOB refugium, pump and protein skimmer for $50, used, from Mike at Aquarist World in White Center. He has more. Just a heads up, these are about $80 new (not including shipping) from Aqua Traders.

nice i may have to run to rat city

heading to lynwood for some LR and a cpr backpack , post pics when set up tonight

Those look like some nice size rocks. Do I see some coral in there

those 4 are 25 lbs total, the one on the right is 11 lbs alone. Yes there are a few purple xenia pieces, a zoa frag of some kind, and a single small mushroom. The xenia and zoa came with the live rock rubble, and some feather dusters too. the guy I bought the LR from today tossed in the shroom.

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hey I just found, what looks like small muscle on a piece of coral. looks just like the ones you find at the ocean attached to rocks.

Good Score! That looks like the nice blue xenia too. Not the big invasive pink stuff.

trying to pick up another bucket O' live rock today if this dude calls back, down to olympia.

Is that the guy in lacey? Did you see that for sale thread on RF?

yeah says he's got from rubble up to the average 5" pieces.

didn't here from that guy, but a buddy of mine quitting the reef hobby sold me a shitload of LR, dead LR and gave me a whole bunch of stuff, the surprise box, he filled it when I was eyeballing his tank.

heres some pics of the new arrangement.
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heater looks like hell but I didn't want to bury it permanantly

now we cycle for a while

Nice rockwork. Looking really good.

looks awesome!