Well guys, look at this, http://www.marcorocks.com/index.asp?PageAc...D&ProdID=62

When you really think about it, the most I'm saving is maybe like $50 using the dry rock.. Will it still look like a real live rock in a month or so? How long is cycle period? 4-8weeks?

Not sure on the length of cycle for using a bunch of base rock, but 2 months shouuld be within reason. Check your local fish stores, see if they have bins of base rock that you can pick from instead of ordering online.

well "macro rock" is supposedly the best type of dry rock in the world, it soaks up in days and is the most porous out there, every one I know that has used it won't stop talking about it haha!

does look nice! its your decision :-p
was just trying to think of money saving ideas

Macro rocks get good feedback. I believe Caribsea also has a similar product.

For a cheaper alternative you can usually find "Tufa" rock for pretty cheap (I think I paid less than $2/lb) and it's good for your aquarium from what I understand. I'm not a chemist, but when Tufa is placed in the alkaline environment of a saltwater tank I believe it can be beneficial to maintaining a stable alkalinity and calcium level. It is quite porous as well.

I would order this: https://www.marcorocks.com/index.asp?PageAc...D&ProdID=39

That's a 25 pound box of Fiji dry Marco Rocks. That will be a pretty good amount of rock for filling a 40 breeder. It's porous, so it's light. I've personally purchased that exact box before and would definitely recommend it. Then hand pick a few nice pieces of live from a LFS or a fellow reefer and seed it.

It won't LOOK completely live in a month or two, but it will be pretty good. In 6 months, you won't be able to tell the difference.

If you buy florida base rock its going to be more dense and not be as much rock per pound.

If you are looking for rock I would say give bulk reef supply a try. I picked up dry pukani rock from them (needed to be seeded) and it was very nice. It's dry rock so you get more rock per pound for your money (no water weight to add to the price). You can see what I got near the end of my 20H thread (page 4 or 5). It's very porous and it's shape is great for mounting frags.

That's all you recommend? Only 25lbs? The 40/40 box also comes with sand too though, idk

The 40/40 box would work, thats key largo rock though, it doesn't look as good as the Fiji. That would work though.

Well it's either i get that key largo (bc it's the only thing in stock now) or I go and buy everything Live.. =/

Didn't notice that, I saw the line above "Qty In Stock". Sorry. I would go the Key Largo route then. Thats a good price for the amounts you're getting.

Badass as in good. I had a skimmer rated for 225gal running on it.

I fed flake, bloodworms, mysis, cyclops, and nori sheets

I have a $50 gift cert to Marco Rocks I am willing to let go for $30 paypal via personal transfer

I bought some before I go it though, this is what it one of my aquascapes looks like.

I'll probably take u up on that offer soon enough, send me a pm if you'd like..

Well guys, as we speak the UPS guy just dropped off my aquaticlife mini-protein skimmer 115.. up to 30gallons.. Won't help much, but somethings always better than nothing right?

Btw guys I JUST got off the phone wit petland and the 40breeder is only $89.99! and If I get the rock and sand for $100 that leaves me with about another $100 or so! I could either keep saving and then invest that all into livestock, or i could maybe make a AC110 refuge, considering idk how cheap normal fuges are!

Btw guys, is Bahamas Aragonite Sand white? I really wouldn't want yellow sand =p And spanky, how does you rock looks after a few weeks of being in the tank? Fully white, or alittle yellow like in the picture??

I haven't tried marco rock in my tank yet (still waiting on the replacement stand for my solana). I did get dry rock before from tampa bay saltwater and it was a little whiter but it eventually got coraline and soem brown alga on it (which eventually went away). You don't notice how dirty live rock is untill you seed dry rock.

For the extra $100 save it. I just put the chateo in my display, either jammed it in the back or let it float around. I had a baseball size and pruned it when it got softball size.

In the many tanks I have set up, the quality of water going into the tank was the biggest factor in it looking 'nice'. This is compounded many times over with a 'naturally' filtered tank. I don't think the initial fill is too critical, unless you have really bad water, but you do want to use good water for top off and water changes. Check around at grocery stores and what not for ro/di water, you don't need the ro/di from the pet store specifically; though the patronage helps them out.

Yeah I'm thinking off getting a really nice size chaeto and sticking it in the back so no one can see it ever haha..




I'm probably just gonna go to Absolutely fish and just get like big JUGs of it for topoff/etc.. I have like 15gallon thingys that go in water dispensers from offices, know what im talking about?

Hey guys! Guess what?! I just got my 40breeder! Only $89.99, wasn't a bad price to me! Step one on the journey into the deep!

Guys how do you suggest me to start the tank? I was thinking get about 40lbs LR and let it sit in the tank alone (no sand) wit just a powerhead on it, then after about 3 weeks, add in the sand, and in another week or two, do a 100% water change?

Hey guys? Why isn't anyone answering =(

Good Plan! I look forward to seeing this progress.

Complementary bump!

I really need to know how to start the tank guys I think im getting fiji and tonga live rock very soon! Please help me out

I would go with one kind of rock.I dont think tank look right with all different types of rock

yea just grab some fiji and let it cycle without sand, siphion up die off and then add sand

It\'s ALIVEEE! I picked up 45lbs of Fiji rock (plus two tiny tonga branches =p) from my LFS Reef Encounter!

The first picture is without a light and the second is with the 175watt 20k MH..

Enjoy!

http://img69.imageshack.us/i/img0032r.jpg/

http://img23.imageshack.us/i/img0033ca.jpg/

(sorry i can\'t upload em to the forum bc they are 1.19mb each)

thats cool that got it going some what.Are you sure thats 45 lbs?

Yea That's 45lbs, why do you question? Another friend questioned that too.. I saw them weigh each piece twice.. they're just really large chunks.. Some porous, a few not..

You guys think I should add the LS after the cycle or in about 2-3 weeks?

bump

Just makes my 40lbs or so look like alot in my breeder.I would have stayed away from the real solid chunks.

really cool columns.

make sure to cure the rock.

Tank looks nice. Good luck and take it slow.

Rock is already cured and ready to go, it's just cycling now, but that rock is able to go straight into any display tank. What do you guys think about the sand? How should I do it?

Guys I JUST added sand, do I turn my koralia n filter on now or wait a few days for the sand to settle?!

Guys I need your help =(

I think you scared them off by your common sense ?s There is alot of good info out there if look.Dont think you need to ask a ? for every little thing.

I know what you mean but I'm just scared and would rather do stuff right the first time, know what I mean? Sorry =/ Your tank jus looks AMAZING and I would love to make something just like it thats why I try to ask so many questions

k i help then lol.You should always have flow with the lr so i would have filter and koralia on.

Okay so here's a big question.. I'm stuck on getting a AC110 and a koralia 1 or 2, or just getting a AC110 alone because it will give about 150-500gph depending on how much i put it on (and how much im aloud to have it on depending on the cheato)

Do you guys recommend this CUC -

* Scarlet Hermit Crab:10
Blueleg Hermit Crab:10
Brittle Starfish:2
Coral Banded Shrimp:1
Emerald Crab:3
Turbo/Astrea Snail:20
Cleaner Clam :2
Nassarius Snail - Group of 10:1

They want $120 for that online..

Or should I get this for $100 from my LFS

* 2 emerald crabs
30 blue n yellow tip crabs
30 snails


I'm looking on eBay and i see some CRAZY deals even WITH shipping on hermits alone or snails and such.. What do you guys find best for me??

Good luck with your cycle. Let me know if there's anything else I can help with.

Hey guys, Just installed my ceiling hanger for the 175w 20k MH! Here's some pics!

First is with flash (even though the MH is on)
Second is without flash with the MH on!

Enjoy!

Here's the second.. Couldn't upload both =(

look at reefcleaners......Dont get a cbs as they are the devil.I would also look into a hermit free cuc.I only have snails and a few emerald crabs in mine and works sweet.I would also get a koralia 2 to go with the ac110

I'm entered in a group buy from reef2reptiles
and I'm getting

Nassarius Vibex 6
Blue Leg Hermit Crab - Micro 6
Strombus Conch 2
Sea Cucumber 1
Peppermint Shrimp - Medium 2
Cerith Snail - Large 6
Turbo Snail 10

the one thing not get is a sea cucu, or I'm change
the herms, I'll see, but I'm also getting a small ricordea colony all for about $30!

Guys my order is placed and it will be delivered to me the week I'm back from Italy probably! I'm so excited I can't wait!

For a skimmer I think I'm just going to end up using my little 30gal one, I'll see how it does, if anything I'll buy a second one, which would be a 60gal skimming process, if you get what I'm saying? (2 30gal skimmers = 60 right? Or it won't work?)

I checked my Ammonia and Nitrite a few hours ago guys... This is my 7th day of cycle and 3rd with sand.. Here's what I got for both..

Ammonia I THINK is .25
Nitrite I THINK is .05

I got Red Sea master test kit, I hate it though because the way u test is SO frigen hard (You have to do everything within like 10 seconds, shaking, this and that, so I wasn't so happy with it) Do you guys think that's normal or bad?

Another question I have is live rock.. What if i wanna add more live rock RIGHT after the cycle like before even adding the CUC... My LFS has LR for $8/lb (Which is where I got this rock) and it's suppose to be "Display" rock, meaning it can go straight from their tank to mine because it's "already cycled".. Do you guys think I should add some more LR after the cycle? I'm scared to say that I feel that there's ALOT of room up top and the rock is all pounded into two small islands..

My Nitrite is practically 0 now guys, is that normal? The ammonia is still the second section (.25).. I think it might have even went up a bit..

I think that red sea is the brand that has bad test kits.

?? What you mean? I was told by many that red sea IS where it's at when it comes to testing, that it was the state-of-the-art testing kit...

Guess what I ordered last night guyssss =D

Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel - up to 65 Gallon (Blk friday sale off marinedepot and go it for only $85)

and a 32gal bag of Tropic Marin PRO REEF

I can't wait for it to get here, the only thing I'm scared of is if it will fit on the back because the tank is only like 17" high and the skimmer is 20".. Hopefully it'll sit good because if not I might have to return it and I'll be out of luck!

Guys, just reaquascaped, check it out! (Sorry for the sideways pic!)

I think you may be moving a little too fast. You should not have ordered your clean up crew, because your cycle is not over. Slow down and wait a month or so for things to settle down before adding any corals.
Love the MH.

No no no buddy, i ordered the CUC but i won't get it delivered till i get back from italy, the 14th, which by them it should be cycled.. See what im sayin?