land_lubber Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 Hey guys, I'm thinking of changing my freshwater setup into a marine one and just had a few questions like is it more expensive for power per month? and also is there anyone in Hamilton that would be able to help me? thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KP Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 Come over to the dark side I'm currently setting up my tank, literally. Half filled with water, you are welcome to come have a look and share what little knowledge I have. Don't know how much my power bill will be, but my guestimate is ~$30 (with 500W lighting) PM me if you want a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 No, your power bill doesn't go up just because you have saltwater in the tank. Now if you have heaps of pumps, skimmer, metal halides it does. Try telling us what equipment you're planning and we can tell you, "Yes, you're using something additional so it will cost more." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land_lubber Posted July 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2006 KP- That'd be good maybe I can steal opppps I mean borrow some of your ideas IRA - Right now I have a AR980 which you might know has a build in filter and 3 lights also I have a heater of course plus a Fluval 304 that I run would I need anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 10, 2006 Report Share Posted July 10, 2006 you would need a skimmer and maybe a light (bulb) upgrade. your power would not go up much with these additions. Also depends what you want to keep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land_lubber Posted July 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2006 Well I want to keep soft corals and some fish, not many fish only about say 4 or 5 the tank that I have now is an AR980 215 litre. so with the protein skimmer what would you recommend for a 215 litre? I haven't got a sump or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 My tank is around 200 litres with no sump also. Got around a dozen fish, softies, LPS, and SPS corals, and an anemone. So you have plenty of options but doing it like this a quality skimmer is a MUST, or the tank will get mucky and turn green. My particular skimmer is a Deltec HOB ( Hang On Back ), but any good skimmer will do, this is contraversial but, in my opinion only, a needlewheel skimmer is the best way to go. Even with limited lighting, there are some beautiful soft corals you can keep. I have a small tank in the garage with no light at all other than what comes in the window, and mushrooms growing happily in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land_lubber Posted July 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Wasp - I have an AR980 so I don't think I can hang anything on the back because it has a build in filter on the top as well as 3 lights in a hood unit so I think I will need a sump to put the protein skimmer in am I right? also I think I will get a Deltech I have heard so much about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Some people modify the hood so a skimmer can hang on, but a sump is best. Part of the fun of this hobby is there is so much stuff to learn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skuzza Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 My old fish only which was 1200 x 600 x 600 upped the power bill by $40.00 a month extra. When i up sized to 1400 x 600 x 600 and started to keep coral it went to $80.00 a month.Then i went to what i have now and it is $240.00 a month + house = $360.00. When i run cheaper pumps and other gear to keep the cost down of set up the power was more due to the fact that the cheap ones didnt have the running costs in mind just the price for the buyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land_lubber Posted July 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Don't forget buying all the new toys and setting it up :lol: I think I will go for a sump but I have no idea how many litres I need and where to buy one or get it made? also is there a standard layout for sumps? cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 If you keep the 980, and dont want a sump, a hang on back skimmer is the way to go. You will need a surface skimmer, either hooked up to the protien skimmer, or i have found hooking it up to a power head works as well. You will however have to cut the filter, which wont really be needed, and get a nice power head . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land_lubber Posted July 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Yeah I was thinking of either using the filter as well as my fluval 304 or getting a sump and still using my fluval 304 what do you guys think? either way I'm going to have to make mods to the standard tank filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 I think alot of people take the whole lid part (filter, lights etc.) off the top of their tanks and just put a hang on skimmer on and a seperate metal halide light. Im suprised this hasnt been mentioned yet, must be some reason??? Rogan ???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Check out my tank, 620T, might give you an idea of what you can do. I have no filters, just a skimmer, rock and powerhead. Have a read through the threads, there is alot of good info on seting up beachys tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 LOL, just what beachy has done with his halide and skimmer etc, thats what i would do.... Rogan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 , you would have to drill your tank to run an overflow for a sump, or maybe get one of these I have had very little probs so far with my tank, with no sump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KP Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 I would call myself a risk taker (full siphon :lol: :lol: :lol: just kidding) but I wouldn't trust one of those (hang on overflows) for the life of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 I would call myself a risk taker (full siphon :lol: :lol: :lol: just kidding) but I wouldn't trust one of those for the life of me. Yea a proper overflow would be much safer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 a full syphon is in a proper overflow. thats why its safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 a full syphon is in a proper overflow except that it sux :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 except that it sux :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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