29 Gal Build Log : My First SW Tank

[spllouder]

Well after much research and looking for cheap deals on craigslist . I found a 29 Gallon AGA Aqaurium with a Stand . Bought for $60 Dollars .

I plan To Purchase a 150w Visi-Therm Stealth Heater , Maxi-jet 1200 Powerhead , 50 # IO Saltmix , and IO Hydrometer online for $58 shipped . and buy 29 gallons of local RO/DI for .45 cents a gallon . Setup cost = $131.05 with no live sand or coral . With Live Sand and Rock (see below) Total = $299.73

1. Dry Good List :

-CD-517540 Maxi-Jet Powerhead/Pump Model 1200 (295 gph) $17.19

-CD-116528 Aquarium Systems Synthetic Sea Salt Instant Ocean 50 gallon mix $10.39

-CD-116658 Hydrometer 1.000 to 1.030 specific gravity $6.79

-CD-18713 Stealth Heater 150W $17.99


2. Live Goods

- 30 Pounds of fiji white Live sand (Shipped) . W/Fiji rumble = $28.99 (EBAY)

- 40 Pounds Fiji Live Rock Local (5 mins away) .
First 10 pounds = $4.99 Every pounds after $2.99
This is nice preumium Cured fiji live rock . Total cost = $139.69 .


What do you Think ?


Update !!! Tank holds water tested it today .

[spllouder]

It does have alot of marks on the inside . There has a reptile held in it at one time. But the front side where are the marks are will be the back of my Aquqrium !

[spllouder]

Just bought some nice dead base rock . Great price of $1.30 / Pound Shipped . I will buy 30 pounds of live sand soon and the dry goods above , and get it cycling . Then when i get like $100 bucks i will buy localy 25-28 pounds of live fiji rock . Heres some pics of the dead rock i got !

[spllouder]

I plan to buy a 130 watt PC with daul fans after my tank cycles ( i will use 15 watt normal florcnts for the cycle.

But i have two questions ?

First . I can get a 30 " or a 24 " . The 24 is cheaper but same wattage ? actually everthing else is the same . both models probally have 24 inch bulbs or the same ones ? So my question is will a 24" work fine ?

Second . What kind of corals can i kepp with 130 watts ? I only really care about keeping soft corals and LPS . ? would a calm be ok ?

[Lotus]

A lot of people say that live sand in a bag is a waste of money. Getting aragonite sand that's not live should be fine, the live rock will seed it.

The PCs should support most soft corals and some LPS. A clam definitely needs MH or T5HO with individual reflectors. You should be OK with the 24" fixture, but you may have to keep your higher light corals towards the center of the tank. You might want to look into getting a used MH or T5 system, if you're looking to save money but want to have fewer restrictions on corals.

[spllouder]

Yes i agree Lotus , But this live sand is preety cheap even cheaper if i want his non live sand .

He sells a 30 pound bag of live sand from his holding tank along with Rumble and 2 snails and alittle cheato . only $29 shipped for 30 pounds ,

he also sells same sand just aragonite for .40 cents a pound . but with shipping its like $24.50 but no extras.

heres a link 30LB NATURAL WHITE FIJI LIVE SAND + REFUGIUM KIT - (eBay item 250161279798 end time Sep-13-07 08:10:39 PDT)

[Lotus]

OK, sorry, I had misunderstood. That looks like a reasonable price/deal.

[spllouder]

Dry Goods update . Well iam always looking for a deal to save a few bucks and things changed . and getting alittle more stuff . i think is good to have .


1. Hagen aquaclear 30 Powerhead New in Box x2 pack $22.00 (ebay)

2. Instant Ocean 50 Gallon Salt Mix $ 10.39


3. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Master Test Kit
Item $ 13.69 ( Are these good test kits ? )

4. Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm Stealth Heater-150 Watt $ 17.99

5. Mag-Float Magnetic Aquarium Acrylic Cleaner- Small $ 6.99 ( bigals.com only have a small one in acrylic safe will these still work good on my glass ? )

6. Red Sea Hydrometer W/Digital Thermometer $ 7.99 ( Is this any good ? Only reason i want it is becuse the temp reading ? or should i get a IO hydromeater and a digtal lcd temp ?)

[TRe]

looks good..u may wanna find some better powerheads.....as far as live sand in a tank that small id just go with the live stuff but when you need 10 bags i feel yur better off with the dry stuff

[spllouder]

TRE Is the power heads just a bad brand ? or i need more power . I can get Two aquaclear 40 's for $6 bucks more .

But the reason i thought the 30's would work is because i will be adding a HOB filter Down the road . Like a Aquaclear 110 or Aquamaster 600 (both Around 500 gph). So i tought i would have alot of flow and didnt need really powerful power heads ?

Yes I agree any sand i buy after the 30 pound live bag will be just be the dry sand . Plus i need live sand becuase iam going start my cycle with the 30 pounds of live sand . and 16 pounds of the dead rock above ? Will that work , Then in 2 weeks i can afford the 25 pounds of live fiji rock . I have patience .

What do you think? Thanks