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Marine Aquarium Society of Ventura County

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    Hi All

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    Robinson44


    Posts : 6
    Join date : 2013-07-25
    Age : 41
    Location : Thousand Oaks. CA

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    Post by Robinson44 Thu Jul 25, 2013 6:41 pm

    Hi Everyone!

    I've had the aquarium bug since I was a kid. I worked in an aquarium store in Sacramento in the early 90s. I got paid in store credit to help support my 5 tanks the largest a rounded corner acrylic 100g with a built-in wet-dry, setup as saltwater fish-only. I wish I'd never sold it, but we were moving overseas and it didn't fit in the container.

    I've had a few tanks since, the most recent a 29g biocube that was running well for 2 years before it sprang a leak.




    That was three years ago and I'm looking to get back into the hobby. My wife and I bought a house in Thousand Oaks last year and I've got my eye on a couple of spots to fit a tank. There is an 11' wall that would fit a 6' or 8' tank (180-360 gallons) nicely. Or a corner that would fit a 100g corner bowfront. I like the idea of plumping the sump outside to reduce noise and mess.

    Also I'd like to plan it for simplicity - maybe a powerful sump pump with lots of return nozzles rather than tons of powerheads in the tank. Maybe I could avoid having a chiller - the room it's in doesn't' get above 74° ... if I stick with LED lights... Maybe 2-3 LED panels over the 'coral heads' with open water around. I like the look of no canopy if the light panels are attractive.

    Probably the best thing is not to rush it. I'd like to learn what is working for you all rather than reinvent the wheel with extra cost and headaches myself.

    I do real-estate photography in addition to my normal job. I also like to backpack and do nature / landscape photography. Aquarium photography has gotten a lot easier over the years because of high ISO sensors and the brighter tank lights. My SLR takes clean shots at ISO2000 which wasn't possible only a few years ago (those pictures were taken on an old camera at ISO400). I'd like to photograph some of your tanks to help out with your POTM competition and put some things in your gallery. It would be a great way for me to meet some of you and learn about your setups and for you to get some free photography and share your tank with the club / world. So please email me or text/call 6O7 6648 (local area code).

    -Kelsey
    shrum1340
    shrum1340


    Posts : 282
    Join date : 2012-02-01
    Location : Ventura

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    Post by shrum1340 Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:07 pm

    Welcome to the site Kelsey. I'm sure there are plenty of people on this site that can steer you in the right direction. Slow is the key!!
    Crusty Old Shellback
    Crusty Old Shellback
    Charter Member


    Posts : 684
    Join date : 2011-07-27
    Location : Oxnard

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    Post by Crusty Old Shellback Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:00 pm

    Hi Kelsey. Welcome back to the madness. I've had tanks off and on since the 70's. Hope to see you at a meeting soon. My vote would be for a 8' tank. Smile But that's just me. I'm looking to move up from my 7' long 400G tank to something around 8-10' long and 4' wide.

    Lot's of different ways to do lights besides MM. t5's or LED's seem to work good and reduce the electric bills. I'm trying to do Solar tubes of natural sun light with PAR 38 LED's for supplementation. Be careful with using just one pump. For starters, they are power hogs. And then if you lose one circuit, you loose your circulation. Been there, done that, lots 10 big beautiful fish, about 7 grand worth. I run my sump and skimmer on one circuit and I have 10 korilla evolution 1400's on a different circuit for circulation. When I went to the 1400's, I got rid of a Reeflo Hammerhead and barracuda I had on closed loops. Dropped from about 800 Watts to 60 Watts of power which is a lot on the electric bill.

    avatar
    Robinson44


    Posts : 6
    Join date : 2013-07-25
    Age : 41
    Location : Thousand Oaks. CA

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    Post by Robinson44 Mon Jul 29, 2013 5:54 pm

    Hey Shellback!

    Yea it is kind of a madness in an all-engrossing kind of way. I spend way to much time thinking and reading about tanks and setups and I don't even have anything running yet!

    Thanks for the advice. Seems like there is a big price jump from 6' to 8' though. It looks like I can get a new 72"x24"x25" for $500 anyone have experience with 'Aqwuarium Masters' tanks?
    One thing I was thinking for energy efficiency is that if I plump the sump outside I can have it just-below-level with the tank which would reduce the head on the sump pump. The downside is that in winter there will be a lot of heat loss having a sump outside so maybe inside is best.

    Talking with my wife I think the best thing to do is to patch the leak in my biocube and grow some mushrooms, zoanthids etc to seed a tank down the road. She finishes her residency next summer and then there will be some extra funds for the 'dream tank'.
    Cheers!

    Kelsey

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