monosyth Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Current FTS, Nov 10, 2016 Previous Inhabitants - follow the thread for changes!Inverts:Random snails including 2 Mexican TurbosRandom HermitsPistol ShrimpHitchhiker crabCrocea ClamCorals:Whatever you see in the pix.Fish:2 True Percula ClownFlame AngelBanggai CardinalYellow Watchman GobyBlue Yellowtail Damsel30 lbs Live Rock30 lbs Live Sand34 Gal RSM 130DMods and Additions:Aquaticlife 24" 4x24 T5MP10Tunze 9002 and skimmer cupinTank RackJBJ ATOStealth 150w heater - (A different brand now, I don't trust Stealth anymore - June 2014)Mighty Mite RO/DIHi all,I've been on this site since last September and have finally moved to a place that I can fit an RSM 130D in. So I just wanted to go over my shopping list and am asking for suggestions:- Red Sea Max 130D (Dr Fosters has a $75 coupon for liveaquaria.com)- Koralia 2- Flo-Rotating Deflector- API Master Salt Water Test Kit- API Calcium Test- API KH/Carbonate Test- Chemi-Pure Elite 11.74 oz- Purigen- 1/2" diameter Tubing (10 ft)- 150 watt Visi-Therm Stealth Heater- Portable Refractometer- Maxi-Jet 1200 Powerhead- Coralife Digital Thermometer- Tunze 9002 Skimmer- StevieT's RSM accessories - rack, skimmer cup and poly filter- JBJ ATO- (2) 5-gal buckets - From LowesWhat else is there that I may be missing?I am planning on 40# of LS and 40+# LRAlso, mostly corals and inverts, a few fish: goby, percola, cleaner shrimp Link to comment
StevieT Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Is the maxijet for the ATO? what is water repair? I see no use for this product. A stealth 200W heater is fine, a 150W is more than enough though. The Tunze is going to run you $152 no matter where you look. They have a price lock. Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 3, 2009 Author Share Posted June 3, 2009 Thanks for input. The Maxijet is part of the kit they are selling, to use for mixing water. It's part of this list: (I figure that I can save some by getting the kit vs separately. Saltwater Mixing Kit (dr fosters) includes: ~ 1/2" diameter Tubing (10 ft) ~ 200 watt Visi-Therm Stealth Heater ~ Portable Refractometer ~ Maxi-Jet 1200 Powerhead ~ 16 oz Water Repair™ Neutralize ~ Coralife Digital Thermometer So, I'm wondering what else i need to make that JBJ ATO work... Link to comment
StevieT Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 screw the kit. Get a 150W stealth. Siphon tube at a hardware store or petstore Use the pump from the Stock protein skimmer Stock RSM heater Cheap corallife therm You can use a maxjet 1200 for a JBJ ato and 1/2" ID tubing. Unless their kit is worth it, price it out since it comes with a refractor ($40) The water repair is junk don't use it. RO/DI water and salt is what you use in your mx. Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 3, 2009 Author Share Posted June 3, 2009 Perfect, this is very helpful. I forgot I could use the pump from stock skimmer. Link to comment
StevieT Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 it makes for a really nice water mixing pump, plus you can add air into the water Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 Alrighty, I've ordered everything!!!! I'm so psyched. Shopping Spree! Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 What kind of tongs should I get to move stuff around? and should I get gloves, any recommendations? Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 5, 2009 Author Share Posted June 5, 2009 I did end up ordering everything separately and not getting the "mixing kit". Got (2) 5 gal buckets from Lowes tonight. Need to pick up tongs of some sort and a turkey baster at walmart as well. I guess I will look for long gloves too. I also ordered a Mighty Mite with DI as well. I don't want to lug water all over the place. Link to comment
StevieT Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 My main tool is my hand. I never wear gloves. I do use the turkey baster every now and then but for reaching in I use a this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...fm?pcatid=13943 say a snail needs to be moved or something small that I don't want to get wet or something gets behind a rock. tongs are still good Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 5, 2009 Author Share Posted June 5, 2009 Yay! Some things arrived today.. I have no patience... I overnighted / 2 dayed everything. Except the ground shipped RSM. Oh well, by the time it gets here I'll have gone through all the extras and gotten to know them individually. I was looking at the Flo Deflector and thought that went on the Koralia 2, but I think I've realized that goes on the jet output on the tank? Link to comment
Vesian Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Yay! Some things arrived today.. I have no patience... I overnighted / 2 dayed everything. Except the ground shipped RSM. Oh well, by the time it gets here I'll have gone through all the extras and gotten to know them individually. I was looking at the Flo Deflector and thought that went on the Koralia 2, but I think I've realized that goes on the jet output on the tank? Yes, The Hydor Flow goes on the return and disperses the water in different directions. I had one for my 14g BC but ended up ditching it because it dramatically cuts the amount of flow into the tank, and also is kinda flimsy (prone to breaking/not rotating correctly) Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 5, 2009 Author Share Posted June 5, 2009 And another package arrived... now where's my RSM and media baskets Oh yah, I ordered a medium mag float... it seems big! What do you all use in your RSM's? Link to comment
SpankythePyro Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 nice, take your time and I hope you've been saving your pennies, You've spend alot already and you dont even have any rock, sand, corals, or fish Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 6, 2009 Author Share Posted June 6, 2009 I know, I know! I am going to have to have jedi force patience with livestock et al. I wanted to do this right, so I just went all out and got what was recommended by all on here. I am open to advice as I go through this adventure! Link to comment
SpankythePyro Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Well its good to buy everything you need at the beginning, allows stuff to be set up and balanced before the more fragile things arrive (bacteria,fish,corals). Goodluck, I love the sleekness of RSM's, I wanted a 250 but the store that was having its liquidation sale sold it before I could get there Link to comment
StevieT Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 I have added you to the RSM Index Thread Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 7, 2009 Author Share Posted June 7, 2009 Thanks StevieT! And now for my personal reviews on LFS for North County San Diego Ok, today I ran all over north county (San Diego) and went to 4 LFSs. My goal was to find the best live rock. Notes on LFSs (My opinion may change later on.. but... anyway. I've also been to all of these stores but it's been a while) Encinitas Tropical Fish: (El Camino Real) This place isn't bad. They have live rocks in huge bins. But pieces are big and the water it sits in is kinda brown.. but maybe thats normal. $5-6 /lb pretty good coral selections. good prices. Creative Aquatics: (Oceanside Blvd and I-5) This place well, is best left for the birds, cause all they got is pickings left. A sad excuse for a store. However, I think they do a lot of servicing and house calls? Live rock looks like it was left over from other tanks. Yikes. Tri-City Tropical Fish: (Melrose, Vista/Oceanside border) This place isn't bad they didn't have any live rock in store. He said he could order it, but it would be 50lbs, and I would get the whole box. No hand picking. They have good prices here however. Equipment, fish and coral. Not a huge selection, but looks OK. This place is closest to me. Deep Sea Creations: (79 S in Temecula next to Best Buy) If Apple made an aquarium store, this would be it. It's a beautiful store. It's like going *to* the aquarium. Awesome selection of CUC critters. Good/OK selection of corals (last time i was there, there was a better selection). The guy that owns this place is super helpful. Plus, he has a demo of a Red Sea Max set up. Oh... and the live rock selection - Perfect! an area with 3 small acrylic bins of rock. Tongan (I was surprised... can't normally get this stuff), and 2 other kinds.. Tongan was $10 a lb! High! But it's rare nowadays. the middle bin was $5 lb looked like the usual stuff. and the last bin had 2 types, at $9 /lb.. that type was flatish, good for "shelves". Anyway, so this place has prices that run high, except on corals and fish and some other stuff. LS was pricey but I picked some up and said I'd be back for the LR. To be able to hand pick that beautiful rock is worth the money. I'll probably get 10lbs of Tongan and 35+ lbs of the $5/lb. I want to see what 10 lbs looks like though. I would like to get some nice branches to create a great dynamic look. Being a graphic designer, I know I will want to move that rock around and have it look perfect. So yes, this place is a bit pricey, but they are super friendly, and super knowledgeable. I didn't get to Aquatic Warehouse in San Diego, which is another favorite for me. They have a HUGE selection of corals for good prices. Huge selection of fish too. They are always busy there, but I like this place. Fish Haven in Escondido: This used to be my LFS, but I've since moved. I do like this place, and will probably visit at some point. They have a good selection of corals. I remember seeing them randomly have bins of Live Rock... I knew they wouldn't have any on hand. Also, at a couple of places I noticed Aiptasia on stuff in the tanks, is that normal and a sign of a busy LFS, or a bad sign of a careless LFS? Anyway, long day and I ended up with 40# of Caribsea Fiji Pink. I will probably use 30# of it. OH but I did take a pic of their Red Sea Max (RSM) display - it was beautiful: Link to comment
SpankythePyro Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 That is a really nice display tank, but I dont see any fish other than the helfrichi. How active was it? I've heard they are a bore. Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 It didn't seem to move too much, I never have seen them move much, actually. They sure are purty though. Figured out my ATO yesterday, set up with two buckets to see how it works. Makes sense to me. Tracking the RSM... 2 more days it says... Link to comment
StevieT Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 I have enjoyed my experience viewing your picture. A few more would really make my journey complete. Nice work, cool koralia placement Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 oh, that was the display RSM at the LFS... I was drooling over it. I had to get a photo, because I liked the tonga rock and wanted it for reference... I am still waiting for mine to arrive.. it is interesting koralia placement though isn't it? Link to comment
StevieT Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 What was I thinking, you are just setting up. I would like a refund on my experience please Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 no refund until i get my media baskets! Link to comment
monosyth Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 Well.... Went to go pick up my RSM at the shipping warehouse... got it home. Opened it up... and there it was... a crack in the corner. about 8 inches down the front left corner. I am sooooooo bummed. I've called Drs Fosters... and they are contacting Red Sea about this. Link to comment
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