Help with new (used) equipment

Hi folks,

Like the post before this one, this is also my first posting here. I've had
a reasonable amount of luck with freshwater systems in the past and I'm
looking to make the slow jump to a marine setup. Initially, only fish with
the possibility of a reef tank in the future.

I recently found what I thought was a very good deal on a number of used
items locally and decided to jump on it. I believe it's a good foundation
for what I'm looking to do and have a few questions for the experts. I'm
still essentially in the informational portion of the project (doing alot of
reading) and I'm sure fish won't be coming anytime soon. But, as I said, I
found this equipment and decided to jump on it.

For $200, I purchased the following, used:

1. Tank / stand / hood (~120 gallon):
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/tank.JPG

2. Two Ocean Clear filters w/ lot's o' pluming:
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/Filters.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/pluming.JPG

Questions:
a. My experience has been limited to HOT type power filters. I'm unsure
how to setup all the pluming. I'm assuming I'll have a intake tube (or
two?) coming from the tank, running under the stand, to a pump, into the
first filter for mechanical filtration, into the second (filled with
bio-balls) and back out into the tank. Sound reasonable?

b. Do is run JUST bio-balls in the second filter or a filter element with
bio-balls in the center?

c. How is chemical filtration accomplished with this setup?

d. Can somebody recommend a water pump?

3. Sandpoint under gravel heater
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/heater.JPG

Questions:
a. I believe the previous owner was using this setup in a planted tank
(hence the need for the under gravel heater). It would seem to be that
getting a pair of 200 watt submersible heaters would be easier and less
maintenance than this Sandpoint. Would the under gravel heater work well
for a marine setup? Should I stick with it?

4. IceCap 660 Ballast with 48" high-intensity lighting:
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/ballast.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/bulbs.JPG

Questions:
a. Would this setup work well for a marine tank in general (fish)?
b. Without knowing my future reef parameters, could this lighting be
potentially used for a reef setup?

General questions:
a. Could anybody point me to other populated forums on the net for this
type of information?
b. Any mailing lists popular of this type of hobby? Subscription info
anyone?

Many thanks in advance!
Ron (PA, USA)

Interspersed

"Ron Lawrence" wrote in message
ink.net...
| Hi folks,
|
| Like the post before this one, this is also my first posting here.
I've had

Welcome


|
| For $200, I purchased the following, used:
|
| 1. Tank / stand / hood (~120 gallon):
| http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/tank.JPG
|

Not bad. Nice looking stand.



| 2. Two Ocean Clear filters w/ lot's o' pluming:
| http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/Filters.JPG
| http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/pluming.JPG
|

Not familiar with those filters. Hopefully someone else will chime
in.

|
| 3. Sandpoint under gravel heater
| http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/heater.JPG

UG heaters, are in my experience disaster waiting to happen. I've
tried 3 over the last few years. I hate them. Submersible heaters are
easier in every way IMO. I know some people swear by them,
particularily for planted fw tanks, but I just don't see it.


|
|
| 4. IceCap 660 Ballast with 48" high-intensity lighting:
| http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/ballast.JPG
| http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/bulbs.JPG
|

This will be fine for a fish-only tank, but if you go reef, it will
be insufficient.


|
| General questions:
| a. Could anybody point me to other populated forums on the net for
this
| type of information?

www.reefcentral.com No question. Absolutely the best marine aquaria
forum I've seen.

good luck and keep posting.

billy

TopPosting. for review - scroll yourself down this page.

Try keep it simple. You do not really need any mechnical filter any sort
except for a Proteian Skimmer.
So the follow I recommend / suggest to drop it:
Ocen Filter
Ungravel Heater
Bulbs - Reason, it look old. Check it black spot on each end.

Keep:
IceCap 660

General Suggestion:
New Bulb
Sump
Protein Skimmer
Live Sand and Live Rock
Heater
WaterPump
SaltMix

And goto this site and other information -
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com...f/overview.htm
Another site -
www.reefcentral.com


CapFusion,...


"Ron Lawrence" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi folks,

Like the post before this one, this is also my first posting here. I've
had
a reasonable amount of luck with freshwater systems in the past and I'm
looking to make the slow jump to a marine setup. Initially, only fish
with
the possibility of a reef tank in the future.

I recently found what I thought was a very good deal on a number of used
items locally and decided to jump on it. I believe it's a good foundation
for what I'm looking to do and have a few questions for the experts. I'm
still essentially in the informational portion of the project (doing alot
of
reading) and I'm sure fish won't be coming anytime soon. But, as I said,
I
found this equipment and decided to jump on it.

For $200, I purchased the following, used:

1. Tank / stand / hood (~120 gallon):
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/tank.JPG

2. Two Ocean Clear filters w/ lot's o' pluming:
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/Filters.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/pluming.JPG

Questions:
a. My experience has been limited to HOT type power filters. I'm unsure
how to setup all the pluming. I'm assuming I'll have a intake tube (or
two?) coming from the tank, running under the stand, to a pump, into the
first filter for mechanical filtration, into the second (filled with
bio-balls) and back out into the tank. Sound reasonable?

b. Do is run JUST bio-balls in the second filter or a filter element with
bio-balls in the center?

c. How is chemical filtration accomplished with this setup?

d. Can somebody recommend a water pump?

3. Sandpoint under gravel heater
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/heater.JPG

Questions:
a. I believe the previous owner was using this setup in a planted tank
(hence the need for the under gravel heater). It would seem to be that
getting a pair of 200 watt submersible heaters would be easier and less
maintenance than this Sandpoint. Would the under gravel heater work well
for a marine setup? Should I stick with it?

4. IceCap 660 Ballast with 48" high-intensity lighting:
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/ballast.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~law086/Fish/bulbs.JPG

Questions:
a. Would this setup work well for a marine tank in general (fish)?
b. Without knowing my future reef parameters, could this lighting be
potentially used for a reef setup?

General questions:
a. Could anybody point me to other populated forums on the net for this
type of information?
b. Any mailing lists popular of this type of hobby? Subscription info
anyone?

Many thanks in advance!
Ron (PA, USA)