Good News!

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Things are starting to come together. If you all could, please let me know if these are good prices, or what.

I found 2 LFS tonight! One of which has RO water for FREE!!! all you have to do is bring your own buckets! Limit of 20gal per day! Then they also have premixed sw for .75 / gal. Not a bad deal either I don't think... or is it?

They also had TONS of coral breeding tanks, and LOTS of fish as well. I briefly looked at their lighting, the guy there kinda pushed me to getting MH pendants up front. I couldn't read him to see if he was going for a sales pitch or being honest. He backed it up by saying "not all require them to live, but almost all do Thrive better under them.

They had live rock at $7.00 / pound.

The other store has my 75g AllGlass aquarium (reef ready) for $219.00. Here is a descripiton of the overflow direct from all glass:

http://www.all-glass.com/products/aquariums/index.html

I didn't get to look at anything else in there b/c it was closing time when I got there. I'm going back tomorrow.

Any and all comments will be appreaciated :)

[jojo22]

That's great!!! The only thing I would watch is the water. Sometimes when LFS's offer free water they don't keep up with the maint. on the unit like they should. Also when I first started SW I bought pre-mixed water but you really need to watch the SG, one day it would be1.018 the next it would be 1.026.

[andrewr]

7 bucks for rock is a bit high, is there a price break after like 50 pounds? premium aquatics have rock for 3.49 a pound plus shipping and it is good rock. the price for the tank is pretty good. mh pendents are not required and it is speculative for him to say that all things thrive under them

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Gotya! Thanks for the tips. So, how can I tell if their water is well maintained?

Also, I have more good news! I found a store in TN that I'll be passing through laster this month that has a custom aquarium (same dimensions) for 185.00. I just wonder if the overflow is a cheaper kind? Or, does it matter as long as the drain hole is it the bottom of the tank?

[lReef lKeeper]

i would say that about pretty much all corals WOULD thrive under them ... if they were acclimated properly. they are not a must have ... but if you can afford them, go ahead and get them. you will wish you did later on down the road. TRUST ME !! after a couple of years with Power compacts, then VHO's, i finally upgraded to halides ... and I LOVE THEM !! and i can keep ANY coral that i want.

i agree with Jojo on the water issue. you could just get 20 gal. per day until you have enough to fill your tank, then add the salt youself.

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I'm in chat right now btw, if any1 wants to jump in.

Cool, yeah, that would be my plan I think (for the water).

I've got a decent budget now that my house sold, but I really don't know how much I'm going to spend yet. I've got a spreadsheet going for all that I'm going to need. Just to get a rough idea of how much I'm going to be spending. So, lighting, as important as I've learned it is, I may have to go with PC's or VHO's to start. Unless I can find a great deal on some Halides.

[lReef lKeeper]

keep your eye out on e-bay and reef central and here. i got mine from Shad ("whoyah" on here) i only paid $290 for a set of 2 250w halides (retro kit) then bought my 3rd (cuz i have a 6' tank) for $100 at a LFS (but that is not a normal price on them).

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bobby, check my lighting thread i just started plz sir.. It may be a steal, it may be trash. I'd like a better opinion before i even considered buying ANYTHING! heh.