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Luckedout 
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 Topic: New to Forum and Hobby
Posted: October 11 2009 at 7:30pm |
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Hello! As per topic subject I am new to the hobby and to the forums here. I am glad that I found some local aquarists though! I recently purchased a 90g corner tank from another aquarist in SLC and have decided that I should give a saltwater tank a try. I have had several freshwater tanks in the past, including a custom one I built out of an old TV from the DI. I have always been fascinated by the saltwater tanks but ignorantly thought that they would be several thousands of dollars to simply put together. Let alone maintain.
Now that I've done a lot more research and have found out that the hobby isn't as inaccesible as I thought. I figured that this new tank presented a great opportunity. I hope to build a FOWLR tank with the hopes to upgrade it to a reef tank in the future if things go well.
I also had a question that I was hoping could be answered. I want to make the tank as natural as possible. I want to minimize it's impact on reef resources, so I plan on curing most of my live rock and sand. Is there any local stone or sand that is usable as live rock or sand? I've also looked into making some of the rock myself, but would prefer to find something a little better. Any tips are welcome!
Edit: Failed to mention that I'm in Logan. I will update my profile soon.
Edited by Luckedout - October 11 2009 at 7:33pm
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Dion Richins
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 7:33pm |
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Welcome!! We harvest rock and sand locally. There are many tanks in the valley useing LBTR (lake bonneville tuffa rock) as well as sand from the lake. (my self included)
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Luckedout
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 7:46pm |
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Really? That would be great! I'm sure there are certain areas for collection of the tuffa rock. Anyway I could find out? Thanks a ton!
Edit: Nevermind. Found a post on it! Thanks! I'll get the hang of things here soon
Edited by Luckedout - October 11 2009 at 7:48pm
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Dion Richins
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 7:48pm |
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There are harvesting trips that go on during good weather. Otherwise post on the board and there are members with rock and sand available.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 7:51pm |
Welcome,
You have come to the best place for honest reliable help with your new hobby.
FYI, fish are more trouble to keep than coral. I would recommend you just go ahead and add the easy soft coral from the start.
Fish pollute the water.
Coral filter the water.
Plus, for best fish health a FOWLR tank ought to be set up the same way as a reef tank so it makes sense to just go ahead and have fun with coral.
Here is a very old thread that still offers help with setting up an even more affordable reef aquarium using, as Dion mentioned, the utah rock and sand:
Edited by Mark Peterson - October 11 2009 at 7:53pm
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Mike Savage
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 8:09pm |
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Luckedout
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 8:17pm |
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When is the next harvesting trip? If there isn't one planned I might just try to head down there this coming Saturday. The weather is suppose to be nice and since winter seems to be insisting on coming early this year, I better get out there while I can. If someone has some rock and sand they don't need, I'll gladly take it off your hands. Just PM me. Thanks
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TriggerHappy
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 8:22pm |
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Welcome to the site Luckedout!
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210 gallon Mixed Reef
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Dion Richins
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 8:40pm |
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Post in the buy/sell forum for rock and sand. If you don't get what you need I can try to direct you to where its available. (I don't think there is any trips planned)
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RockStarFish
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 9:34pm |
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Is you tank drilled? What type of filtration are you planning on running(sump,HOB)?
I have some nice Ut rock in the back yard waiting for a new tank.
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Mike Sanches
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Dion Richins
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 10:04pm |
Thats What IM TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!
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EvanB756
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 10:18pm |
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welcome luckedout, I'm new to the hobby as well and I can tell you that this site is where I get most of my information. everyone on here is reliable in what they say about this hobby. and that link Mark Peterson gave you up there ^^^^^ is SUPER helpful when your just starting out. Hope you enjoy and welcome again!
ps: just go with corals right away if that's what you want to do, there are some great softies you can keep under very low light. Then build on that in the future. Just my two cents.
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90gal display w/ 30gal sump.
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griffith
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 10:55pm |
Welcome - this is a great site and an even better club.
We all help each other out.
You can learn a lot from people on this board.
Good luck
Linn
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Luckedout
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 11:13pm |
 RockStarFish wrote:
Is you tank drilled? What type of filtration are you planning on running(sump,HOB)?
I have some nice Ut rock in the back yard waiting for a new tank.
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It has a build in overflow and was pre-drilled. I'm still trying to work out my filtration, mostly trying to see how much I can fit in the cabinet underneath. The corner tanks don't have a ton of space. I will do a sump and refugium with some macro-algae, LR and LS. Mostly just worried about the size of them. I want to maximize the amount of water i have circulating through there.
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CapnMorgan
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 11:16pm |
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Any rock that is too big you can easily break into smaller pieces with a hammer and chisel. I have some Utah rock in my tank that I had to break up so it would fit w/o covering up all my sand.
Edited by CapnMorgan - October 11 2009 at 11:16pm
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Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: October 11 2009 at 11:17pm |
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Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
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RockStarFish
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Posted: October 12 2009 at 6:18am |
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Starting with a drilled tank is IMO the best start yu will get.Now.......What type skimmer?lights?
I have some rock of all sizes.
There are a few reefers in your area that are willing to help out when they can.
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Mike Sanches
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Luckedout
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Posted: October 12 2009 at 4:00pm |
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I just realized that the lights that came with the tank are not really acceptable. So I'm interested in seeing what's out there. I don't want to drop a ton of money on lights, but something to get me into the hobby a bit more before I give my wife a heart attack with $$$.
I also want to see if I can get away without using a skimmer for a while. It will probably involve frequent water changes instead, but since I have a reverse osmosis filter in my office (where the tank is at) then I can get away with that.
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-Ben
90g Mixed reef
www.body-balancechiropractic.com
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Jeremyw
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Posted: October 12 2009 at 4:02pm |
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I didnt have a skimmer for the first 3 years on my tank.... it was fine.... do you have a canopy on your tank?
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Luckedout
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Posted: October 12 2009 at 4:10pm |
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It has a glass canopy on the tank and a plastic cover over the overflow. Other than that, no.
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-Ben
90g Mixed reef
www.body-balancechiropractic.com
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