Would like your expert opinion please!

[reefgirl189]

Hello everyone.

I've got 12 years FW experience and am looking to jump into reefkeeping. Of course the costs of starting up brand new are high so I am looking for a gently used and well started system. I found this one:

http://reddeer.kijiji.ca/c-pets-othe...AdIdZ327414515

I'm very interested in it. The gentleman selling it says it IS NOT run off of a sump though. It comes with Metal Hallides, the whole shebang. It's been up and running for 4 years and is well established, the corals are healthy and growing and the livestock are happy.

So my question is:

Would you recommend this for a first time reefer? Or should I start from the ground up? I got a quote from Bow Valley aquatics (I know, I know... but I have time and patience on my side) and was also thinking of going that route.

Is it better to start from ground up little by little or do a big, complex move with a fully stocked enormous aquarium?

Also can you guys help me identify some of the corals in this tank?

Thanks!

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

For a tank that size and $3000, it really should be reef-ready with a big sump. In terms of corals, its almost all softies. Big one up top-middle is a toadstool leather. There are huge masses of waving hand anthelia (weed-type soft coral on the bottom). The rest are mainly zoas, palys, and different leather corals.

NOT worth buying IMO.

Look on Canreef. You can probably find a much nicer setup for much cheaper with sump, skimmer, lights, etc. and nicer corals (LPS and SPS - ie. hard corals) as opposed to the soft corals in this setup. Great for newbies, but not for $3000. Softies are much more forgiving, but without a sump, not reef-ready and just softies, the system is totally a rip-off.

Anthony

[Aquattro]

Well said Anthony. Additionally, moving something like that could result in a cascade of issues. You'd have to unsettle all the rock and sand, potentially releasing lots of nutrients, which could result in huge algae outbreaks. In itself, that can be managed, but if you're new to SW, it could be more than you are able to deal with, and quickly end your time in the hobby.
I'm all for starting big, but that might be a bit much for a start in the hobby. Not much in FW translates over.

[Proteus]

Don't do it. Start fresh and learn you way through it. I wish I had never bought a established set up. Everything from die off to tank collapse. Cost me twice as much in long run

[russp]

In my opinion start from scratch for the reasons already posted & we enjoyed watching the reef come alive as we started . Every day there was something new to see , maybe a crab , macro algae , mushroom or a polyp . even when my children & granddaughters would come to the house they would go straight to the tank & grab the flashlight & start exploring . It was very rewarding to watch it grow & add a piece at a time . There are always great deals on equipment here & great advice too .

[reefgirl189]

Thanks guys. I'm going to go with my Bow Valley tank then.

It's bowfront and he's throwing in a 130 gal sump and internal overflows for me.

The only downfall to this is I live in the middle of nowhere and the closest LFS who deals with Salt is in Edmonton, a 2 1/2 hour drive away. So adding new stock might be an endeavor. Oh well. I've never been one to back down from a challenge.

Thanks again,

Christina

[reefgirl189]

Sorry forgot to add that I did look in the classifieds here on canreef. Lots of great deals but unfortunately I am looking for a specific footprint to fill my space.

The Tank has to be 6ft long and 24" Wide. Height not important. Unfortuantely this size of tanks are usually scooped up fairly quickly. I can't find anything here on site.

I looked around on Kijiji and found lots of great deals, or so I thought, but like a PP already mentioned, the big ordeal of moving is not really worth it. I guess I just liked this Red Deer one because it already had all the corals but now that I think about it moving this unit 5 hours down the higway in December would not be any kind of fun.

[Aquattro]

A standard 180 fits that, and is fairly common here. That size never sells too quickly, and they're often fairly cheap.

[Lampshade]

a 210 is the same footprint, just slightly taller, 180's are more common, but you may find a 210 as well. I'm casually looking for a tank (just the tank) the same size, hard to find.

[Blom]

Too bad 6ft is your tops. Im selling a 180g but its 7ft long with a standard 180 for a sump.