an someone help me pick out a filter for my setup

[Solace]

Ok , nice. I have a source for live rock, i found the guy in advance.
is 4 dollars a pound a good price for it? not sure

[Pufferpunk]

Are you setting up the SW tank now? $4/lb is good but it should be found cheaper from a local reefer. Offer him less, like $3-3.50.

[Lil' Swimz$]

And you don't need to buy all of your live rock, if you've got time to spare. You can get a couple big chunks, and then seed some DR and let it grow. Just throwing it out there.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Are you setting up the SW tank now? $4/lb is good but it should be found cheaper from a local reefer. Offer him less, like $3-3.50.

Maybe it depends on where you are, but in my area, local folks don't sell theirs for less than six.

Edit - Oh, you're both in Chicago.

[Pufferpunk]

Hmm... I've seen it as low as $2 here but not often & it gets bought up quick!

[LilGreenPuffer]

TWO DOLLARS? God, I wish I lived in Chicago.

[Pufferpunk]

More concentrated reef keepers around here=more competition.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Well, if I ever get a marine tank I know who to visit! Speaking of Chicago, you'll never believe this. We went down to the Shedd last June. Out of all the days in a year, it had to be Free Day. The line was 3 and a half hours long! We bailed and went to the Museum. Sorry, off topic.

[Solace]

Are you setting up the SW tank now? $4/lb is good but it should be found cheaper from a local reefer. Offer him less, like $3-3.50.

Nope not now, just like I said I like to have a plan in advance and I found a guy who always has it year round for that price.
My issue with setting it up is that the 55 gallon is right where I want the 100 gallon to be. I found a wooden bar (like for drinks) years back and I made cabinet doors for the backside where the shelves where so its like a giant aquarium stand. Reinforced it to hold the 500lbs plus of a good aquarium. Just the issue now is when the time comes, where to put the puffers while the 55 is taken down and the 100 is still cycling. Will have to deal with that when the time comes. I think I will just make a hospital type tank for them to spend that time in down the road.

I was at the aquarium that day too. It was INSANE! We ended up just leaving too.

[Lil' Swimz$]

I was really bumbed. I had gone there before, but was so young I don't remember it. It alos took 3 hours to get there, and the bus tickets weren't cheap.

[Pufferpunk]

You don't have to cycle a SW tank. Just move the LR over. Actually even with FW, just move everything into the larger tank from the smaller tank if upgrading & the larger one will be cycled.

[Solace]

Thats great to hear! so just slowly move the 55 to marine conditions and then pump some of the water out until I can move the 55 out of the way, put that water in the 100 with the puffers and then put the remaining water into the 100 gallon so that it is half full. Then add water/salt mix till it is full?

does that sound about right?

[Pufferpunk]

That' about it. Just don't leave the LR out in the air.

BTW, here's a fellow locally selling 200lbs of premium LR for $3.50/lb:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1712858

[Solace]

THANK YOU! he lives in the same small town I do!

What salinity do I need to sustain those? I am at 1.006 now, probably too low

[Pufferpunk]

I'd say minimum 1.018-20. You could keep them in a garbage can with a powerhead & heater but there are sales like that here all the time. You chould check out that forum, it's out local reef club.