New to Knoxville and salt water

[chemfisher]

Hello everyone !! I have just moved to Knoxville with my wife to attended UT for grad school .. I have just started a 29g tank and so far I have sw about 15# lr and 30# Ls . Been running for about a week that way and just last night I have my first measurable ammonia !! About .25

I can't wait to be able to get some fish and cuc going in it .

What do y'all think is the best lfs to get my things from ? I have been to aquarium and the coral store to check things out a few times but haven't chosen my favorite one yet.

Anyways I'm excited to be getting into the hobby and looking forward to getting to know some of you !!

 

[gwhook]

welcome!!!! Looking forward to a few pictures of your set up.

 

[k2parkstar]

Welcome to knoxville and reefing. I look forward to seeing pictures as your tank comes along. My two favorite stores are aquatic marine on Clinton highway, and the coral reef on Kingston pike. If your available, we have our July meeting coming up on the 20th at 2 pm. Non members are welcome to attend as well.

Post up any questions you may have, there is a wealth of knowledge in the club, and there is no stupid questions.

 

[Rob.D]

Welcome, the Coral Reef and Aquatic Marine are the two better stores in town.

 

[chemfisher]

Thanks everyone ! I'll post a couple picks of the tank when I get home tonight ! I actually hadn't heard of aquatic marine yet either so I'm excited to go check that store out.

I do have one problem I ran into this morning ... My light had burnt out so I need I get a new light but I am interested in upgrading my light fixture. As of now I just have one T8 50/50 light.(a cheap way to start) but if any of you have any suggestions for a decent fixture that I could pick up here for not too expensive that'd be great.

 

[Esage]

Welcome to Knoxville!

 

[EvilMel]

You will start a brawl if you ask what's the best lighting. hah hah. I would put some money into the light fixture in the beginning and just go ahead and get one that will satisfy you long term. We've all bought cheap fixtures in the beginning and then had to upgrade out of dissatisfaction for one reason or another. Then you've just wasted your money.

You'll find quality metal halide, LED, and T5 fixtures around that cost a bit in the beginning but that you'll be better off with in the long run. I'm SURE these guys can advise you on the latest and greatest light fixtures. I think a bunch of people are LED-crazy right now in our club. I tend to be the remaining metal halide lover and Justin is still all about his T5s, I believe.

I agree with what they've said about LFS: Aquarium (not many of us go there), Coral Reef, and Aquatic Marine. Each one has its positives and negatives.

My boyfriend and a couple of good friends work at AM so I'm biased towards them but one of my really good friends (another founding club member) owns CR so I'm a bit biased towards them too.

 

[mike007]

Welcome

 

[revhtree]

Hello and welcome to R2R!

We appreciate your membership!

Thanks for joining and please make sure and post often!

 

[revsgirl]

Awesome!! Welcome to R2R!!

 

[Gladfelter]

Welcome. Is jump in our led group buy if I were you. 166 for a fairly nice, reef capable led system.

I hope you can make it to our club meeting. I'll second thoughts on Aquatic Marine and The Coral Reef. And while your at Coral reef you might as well swing into The Aquarium

 

[k2parkstar]

Welcome. Is jump in our led group buy if I were you. 166 for a fairly nice, reef capable led system.

I hope you can make it to our club meeting. I'll second thoughts on Aquatic Marine and The Coral Reef. And while your at Coral reef you might as well swing into The Aquarium

Good call Matt. That LED fixture seems to be a good one, and you can't beat the price. I'd recommend that route as well. As Mel mentioned I do like my T5's but if I were to change it would be LED for sure.

 

[ZIGGY63]

welcome to the hobby and the addiction

 

[chemfisher]

I would defiantly get in on that group but if I had a little spare money at the moment but not now lol.

Anyway here is a pic of the tank tonight. Just checking the ammonia and nitrite levels hoping for detectable nitrites !!

 

[Gladfelter]

I hear that. What did you use to start the cycle?

 

[k2parkstar]

The beginning is always the hardest part, but before you know it, it'll look like this.

 

[k2parkstar]

By the way your off to a good start. 2 biggest pieces of advice I could give you. Buy quality equipment so you don't have to replace it in the future. Go slow, nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

 

[Rob.D]

^^^^ what he said.

 

[ZIGGY63]

yes, never go cheap on equipment their is a reason it's cheap. I have made that mistake before.

 

[chemfisher]

This all sounds like great advice !! Thanks guys

I started the cycle going with just the two smaller pieces of live rock and put some food in there for a couple days.