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Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 6:41 pm
by sevenyearnight
Do you have a link to the ad? Does it have pictures?

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 7:33 pm
by goldielocke76
sevenyearnight wrote:Do you have a link to the ad? Does it have pictures?

No pictures, but I just called, (denzil said I could get whatever I wanted too as long as it fits! yay) and they said they sold about 10 minutes after they posted the ad = ( darnit. I didn't see it soon enough. He said it sold like a week ago.

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:31 pm
by sevenyearnight
I was pretty sure that's what he would say :)
You'll find another one :D

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:50 pm
by xrayjeeper83
If a tank has a great price, it will sell fast. Make sure you have time and cash in hand when looking

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 1:01 am
by goldielocke76
xrayjeeper83 wrote:If a tank has a great price, it will sell fast. Make sure you have time and cash in hand when looking

Thanks, I will keep that in mind. =D

Besides Craigslist, is there any other place that sells tanks and stands like Craigslist does? I just want to keep my options open. Now that I know there are no restrictions to what I can get, I might be on the look out for something bigger ^.^ max I can go though is 48" long.

So say I get a 72 gallon bow front, I know I can put at least 1 gsp in there. Are there any tank mates that he can have? Or would he do better alone? And do they eat coral, or can I get LR established and add frags? I would like to so something with it, but this will be my first SW tank. Any suggestions or comment?

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 6:08 pm
by puffpaddy
If the tank is 48" long bowfront you may get more than a 72 gal. He would do the best alone, GSP's are very aggressive little guys, one morning you may wake up to pieces of what used to be a tank-mate. They will eat soft corals, so just LR will be good for your setup. LR can be expensive so be sure to check CL regularly. Good LR at your LFS can run $8.00/Lb, I was lucky and got mine of CL for less than 3. Make sure when you do get LR to quarantine it, you never know what is living on someone else's rock!! All you need is a plastic tub and a powerhead and maybe a heater depending on where you are in CA. I'm in OC and I don't need a heater, as long as the water temp stays about 71-72 then you should be ok.

I'm excited to see what you are gonna come across for your tank!

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 7:04 pm
by goldielocke76
puffpaddy wrote:If the tank is 48" long bowfront you may get more than a 72 gal. He would do the best alone, GSP's are very aggressive little guys, one morning you may wake up to pieces of what used to be a tank-mate. They will eat soft corals, so just LR will be good for your setup. LR can be expensive so be sure to check CL regularly. Good LR at your LFS can run $8.00/Lb, I was lucky and got mine of CL for less than 3. Make sure when you do get LR to quarantine it, you never know what is living on someone else's rock!! All you need is a plastic tub and a powerhead and maybe a heater depending on where you are in CA. I'm in OC and I don't need a heater, as long as the water temp stays about 71-72 then you should be ok.

I'm excited to see what you are gonna come across for your tank!


Thanks for the advice! I keep checking CL's regularly, and of course, now that I do, I am seeing all kinds of LR for sale for $1/lb >< I am trying to get the tank first, because I don't know what size it will be at this point. As long as it's only 48" long, anything goes. Saw a 150g for sale that was 48" long....it was tempting, but I don't think I am ready for such a big tank in just a tiny apartment....the water changes would be ghastly hard. We will see. Still looking. =) I will keep everyone updated! Wish you had lived closer, I would have probably bought stuff from your previous set up. = / /sigh, such is life ahaha.

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:07 am
by goldielocke76
Okie dokie everyone!!! =D New GSP set up coming sooner than I expected! I bought this tank tonight, and I will pick it up on Sunday! Won't be able to get water in it as soon as I would like, as I need all the LR and live sand, but after next paycheck, that's next! Yay! LoL I am done buying tanks....I swear! ;)


http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/for/2633809370.html

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:26 am
by sevenyearnight
Don't buy live sand in a bag.
Do know how to cure/store the rock until your tank is set up?
Will you be buying premixed saltwater, or mixing your own?

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:29 am
by goldielocke76
sevenyearnight wrote:Don't buy live sand in a bag.
Do know how to cure/store the rock until your tank is set up?
Will you be buying premixed saltwater, or mixing your own?

These are very good questions lmao. I don't know. I haven't gotten that far yet. = / I guess I should start asking. Can't I "cure" LR in the tank (like it is cycling)....and how do you actually get live sand/aragonite (which is better?) And maybe, just buy premixed? Just for the first time, and then mix my own from there. This is going to be a learning experience. A BIG one. LoL


Actually might mix my own if it's ok to have the water then add everything else. I still can't use the search function for the forum = /

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:10 am
by sevenyearnight
I asked because you said you can't put water in it yet, but that you can get the liverock, the liverock needs to be kept in saltwater or everything will die off.
Google information on setting up a FOWLR tank, curing liverock, mixing saltwater, so on. It's nothing to rush into, there is a bit to learn for sure!

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:58 pm
by goldielocke76
So, looks like I am going fill the tank up, and try to get it to the right salinity. I think that is how it's supposed to be done, from what I have read on the internet. (Please please, correct me if I am wrong, I want to do this slowly and the right way, so I can introduce a little GSP into a near perfect habitat the first time.)

I will probably buy dry aragonite in bags from the local LFS. Is there any way to seed this eventually, or will adding the LR do that?

I think my two main concerns at this point is: I know I need power heads for circulation-- is that all I need? I have read mixed up information online. Do I need a protein skimmer and a canister filter? (for flow)

As for water, I am seriously considering getting distilled or RO. Only problem is is cost-- ~62 gallons, and that's a lot of water to haul around. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Sorry, doing lots of reading now, but these questions still pop up. Thank you for your time!

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:14 pm
by sevenyearnight
You'll want to mix the water to the right salinity before you put it in the tank.
This is what I am doing currently:
One of my LFS is dishonest, the other one is unethical, so that leaves me with having to mix my own water. I bought a rubbermade 32 gallon on wheels, a 550 GPH utility pump, pvc clear tubing, and 3 five gallon buckets (What fits in our car) We pick up the RO/DI water, and I mix it with the salt mix with the utility pump at least over night. Check the SG, connect the tubing to the pump, fill the tank. First fill up took a few trips.

You don't want to use a canister filter, but a skimmer is important. You will want to use circulation pumps, the ones with the wide grills. Powerheads are too narrow of a jet

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:24 pm
by goldielocke76
sevenyearnight wrote:You'll want to mix the water to the right salinity before you put it in the tank.
This is what I am doing currently:
One of my LFS is dishonest, the other one is unethical, so that leaves me with having to mix my own water. I bought a rubbermade 32 gallon on wheels, a 550 GPH utility pump, pvc clear tubing, and 3 five gallon buckets (What fits in our car) We pick up the RO/DI water, and I mix it with the salt mix with the utility pump at least over night. Check the SG, connect the tubing to the pump, fill the tank. First fill up took a few trips.

You don't want to use a canister filter, but a skimmer is important. You will want to use circulation pumps, the ones with the wide grills. Powerheads are too narrow of a jet

Hmm now I am seriously considering asking my step dad to put a RO system in my kitchen sink. We don't have a huge car and it's lowered, so any bumps that we go over are magnified times ten....I was looking at getting a hydor koralia, but I am not sure what gph rate I should get for a 65...any suggestions on gph and how many? Tank dimensions are: 48 x 14 x 21.5

Protein skimmer huh? Any suggestions on brand? Also, I know I asked in a previous post, but a lot of the setups (when I YT FOWLR) have sumps on them....is it truly necessary? Do sumps/refugiums make things easier? I am looking for this stuff on Amazon as we speak, as well as searching online and watching YT vids like crazy.

Going to have to noodle this a bit more, because the WCs/getting the water is making me nervous.

Re: Future GSP setup!

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:51 pm
by sevenyearnight
I don't have a sump. I don't think it necessarily makes things easier, I wouldn't use the word easier. It's a more complicated set up, but it's extra water volume, extra filtration, and a place to hide heaters, but I honestly don't really have that option atm.
Get 2 smaller Koralias, anything below the 550, over one large one.
Skimmers: Reef Octopus, Remora, someone else can suggest others. I'm buying this one http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewitem. ... ntent=ACRM when I have the moneys.