Hi, I'm Cyndi and I'm a Newbie who tried to save money (should be a 12 step program)
A little background. I began SCUBA diving at age 14 and since then have been hooked to the ocean. I wanted to be a marine biologist (until I spent 2 weeks with one and they talked me out of it), and got my first freshwater tank. I had numerous freshwater aquariums until after college when I got too busy to maintain one. Several months ago, I decided to start a freshwater cichlid tank at my office at work, and 2 months ago I decided I wanted a tank at home again. I went back and forth between fresh and saltwater. I have always wanted a saltwater (my parents laughed when I requested one at age 14), but have been afraid to try. I talked with someone at a LFS and decided to try. In my stupidity (step 1, admitting I have a problem), I tried to see how inexpensive I could do it.
I found a 55 gallon tank and stand at Petsmart for 50% off!! I bought it, went to the LFS got 50# of live rock, live sand and saltwater. I decided against a sump or protein skimmer and got a HOB filled with sponge, carbon and live rock. I let it cycle for the next 4 weeks and slowly added some ricordea, zoas, and leather corals. I picked out 2 clownfish as my first fish. I began researching and reading and joining this club to learn all I could. My water parameters were not completely stable, but not horrible as well and I was doing 10% water change every week. I stared having lots of algae, and cyanobacteria, with high phosphates and nitrates. I decided maybe I needed a sump, refugium and protein skimmer to keep my tank looking great ( I had also added a 6 line wrasse and golden head goby). This time I did not go cheap, but looked for inexpensive, but quality. I then measured my stand and went shopping.
I bought an Eshopps 20 gallon refugium sump + overflow and a Reef Octopus 110. I went to Frank's Tanks and talked to Frank about installing and plumbing the sump for me. I didn't want to risk doing it myself and screwing it us as I have no handyman skills (Step #1, I am powerless over my tank). We set it all up and Art came to install and found out that even though the sump is the right size, it would not fit through the door to the stand [smilie=sweating.gif] [smilie=speechless.gif]. Talked to Frank again and set up a new time for 2 people to come out and take the stand apart. ***Fast forward*** Now the sump fits in the stand, but the skimmer is about 1/2 too tall for the support shelf in the stand [smilie=swear.gif]. So we manipulated and turned the sump sideways (sticking about 1 foot out of the back of the stand), got the sump and skimmer up and running, and I planned to have Frank build me a new stand.
***Fast Forward***
First night: overflow lost its siphon and tank began leaking onto the floor (thank God I have tile and was in the room when it happened). Was able to fix and get it running again.
Second night: Woke up in the morning to about 5 gallons of water on the floor and an empty return chamber. Not sure how it happened, but was late for work, so turned off pump and skimmer and threw HOB back up so I could get to work. When I got home I filled the sump back up, turned everything back on and no problems. [smilie=wondering.gif]
Happened again the next day while I was at work......
At this point I decided FORGET THIS STUPID SET UP, and decided to call Frank and order a reef ready tank and start over from the beginning (Step #2 Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. AKA Frank). Decided to go with the 75 gallon reef ready with stand from coastal aquatics.
***Fast forward to yesterday***
After a few more overflow floods (again thank GOD for tile floors), Art and Bill from Frank's Tanks came and installed the new system!!! [smilie=clapping.gif]
Now everything looks great, no leaks....just several hundred dollars and hours of frustration and cleaning in the hole.
Happy Fish and Happy Owner [smilie=smile.gif] [smilie=smile.gif]
Now at Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
A little background. I began SCUBA diving at age 14 and since then have been hooked to the ocean. I wanted to be a marine biologist (until I spent 2 weeks with one and they talked me out of it), and got my first freshwater tank. I had numerous freshwater aquariums until after college when I got too busy to maintain one. Several months ago, I decided to start a freshwater cichlid tank at my office at work, and 2 months ago I decided I wanted a tank at home again. I went back and forth between fresh and saltwater. I have always wanted a saltwater (my parents laughed when I requested one at age 14), but have been afraid to try. I talked with someone at a LFS and decided to try. In my stupidity (step 1, admitting I have a problem), I tried to see how inexpensive I could do it.
I found a 55 gallon tank and stand at Petsmart for 50% off!! I bought it, went to the LFS got 50# of live rock, live sand and saltwater. I decided against a sump or protein skimmer and got a HOB filled with sponge, carbon and live rock. I let it cycle for the next 4 weeks and slowly added some ricordea, zoas, and leather corals. I picked out 2 clownfish as my first fish. I began researching and reading and joining this club to learn all I could. My water parameters were not completely stable, but not horrible as well and I was doing 10% water change every week. I stared having lots of algae, and cyanobacteria, with high phosphates and nitrates. I decided maybe I needed a sump, refugium and protein skimmer to keep my tank looking great ( I had also added a 6 line wrasse and golden head goby). This time I did not go cheap, but looked for inexpensive, but quality. I then measured my stand and went shopping.
I bought an Eshopps 20 gallon refugium sump + overflow and a Reef Octopus 110. I went to Frank's Tanks and talked to Frank about installing and plumbing the sump for me. I didn't want to risk doing it myself and screwing it us as I have no handyman skills (Step #1, I am powerless over my tank). We set it all up and Art came to install and found out that even though the sump is the right size, it would not fit through the door to the stand [smilie=sweating.gif] [smilie=speechless.gif]. Talked to Frank again and set up a new time for 2 people to come out and take the stand apart. ***Fast forward*** Now the sump fits in the stand, but the skimmer is about 1/2 too tall for the support shelf in the stand [smilie=swear.gif]. So we manipulated and turned the sump sideways (sticking about 1 foot out of the back of the stand), got the sump and skimmer up and running, and I planned to have Frank build me a new stand.
***Fast Forward***
First night: overflow lost its siphon and tank began leaking onto the floor (thank God I have tile and was in the room when it happened). Was able to fix and get it running again.
Second night: Woke up in the morning to about 5 gallons of water on the floor and an empty return chamber. Not sure how it happened, but was late for work, so turned off pump and skimmer and threw HOB back up so I could get to work. When I got home I filled the sump back up, turned everything back on and no problems. [smilie=wondering.gif]
Happened again the next day while I was at work......
At this point I decided FORGET THIS STUPID SET UP, and decided to call Frank and order a reef ready tank and start over from the beginning (Step #2 Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. AKA Frank). Decided to go with the 75 gallon reef ready with stand from coastal aquatics.
***Fast forward to yesterday***
After a few more overflow floods (again thank GOD for tile floors), Art and Bill from Frank's Tanks came and installed the new system!!! [smilie=clapping.gif]
Now everything looks great, no leaks....just several hundred dollars and hours of frustration and cleaning in the hole.
Happy Fish and Happy Owner [smilie=smile.gif] [smilie=smile.gif]
Now at Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
