I've done it now!

[Ginger]

I've been keeping fish off and on most of my life, over 30 years. A couple of years ago, I had a reef tank for 8 months before selling it due to a move. I sold it because I knew I'd be unsettled for a while and I didn't want to take a chance on damaging it and its inhabitants. It is still alive and well with its new caretakers.

That was 2 years ago, and now I want another reef tank. Yesterday, we all got a surprise bonus at work so I decided this might be the time. I walked into a LFS and found a used 55 gallon complete reef setup, including inhabitants, and it was in my price range. It must've been fate. They're delivering it tomorrow morning.

I've been reading everything i can find, since I'm still a relative newbie with saltwater. But, I'm excited!

 

[bleedingthought]

Well, welcome to RDO!

 

[ChrisRD]

Hi Ginger, and :welcome:

 

[SnowManSnow]

COOOL

if it was a LFS you may consider removing the mechanical filtration

just guessing!

b

 

[WRASSER]

Welcome Ginger,
looking forward to hearing from you and seeing pics of your tank :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

welcome to the RDO.

 

[Anonymous]

welcome aboard!

 

[LA-Lawman]

Welcome!!!

we are here to help. ask away. there is a lsot of seasoned reef keepers around here. we can point you in the right direction.

 

[Ginger]

Thanks for the warm welcome, folks!

Snowman, yes, it does have a canister filter. I have removed the bio balls, and sponge from the filter and use it strictly for water movement. It has a LOT of algae, and I suspect the filter may be partly at fault. A cleanup crew is the top of my list of things to add.

I hesitate to post pics at this point, because it looks so pitiful, with lots of algae and cyano bacteria.

The tank: 55 gallon, 80 lbs. live rock, a large rock covered with green star polyps, various zoos, a good sized piece of purple rimmed montipora, a candy cane, mushrooms, plenty of aiptasia and it's blue-green cousin, and one blue devil. A hang-on berlin skimmer, 3 power heads and fluval 404 filter.

THe lights: 2-110 watt vho, 2-55 watt actinic pc bulbs on timers in custom canopy with thermostatically controlled Ice Cap fan.

Stand and canopy were custom made.

 

[Anonymous]

Keep up with some frequent water changes with clean water and things should start to get better. Keep a decent amount of flow going. Do you have a skimmer on the tank? If so get it skimming wet. If no skimmer then I highly recommend you get one.