150G build/SW conversion

[kerry]

Well the 150G is just waiting for the 75 pounds of dry base rock to come from http://www.LiveRockRanch.com, $162.50 to my door.
The stand is not done yet as far as the doors go but, its good enough to get the tank going. The bottom of the tank is 39" tall so you look right in to the middle of the tank.
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/2012-04-09_19-26-40_673.jpg
And a side note, my newest Trumpet Coral in the 40G.
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/2012-04-10_05-20-43_893.jpg
Now I got to get a scrubber built for this!!!

[joelespinoza]

I do not know how liverockranch is, but both www.marcorocks.com ($109 shipped for 50lbs) and www.reefcleaners.org ($105 shipped for 50lbs) have GREAT dry rock. You will have to let us know how yours comes out.

I am eventually going to get another 50-100lbs of rock for my setup from some place online. I go to a marine biology university and there is not a single decent saltwater place anywhere within hours of here. The cheapest "live" rock around here is around $10/lb and its total garbage. It looks like someone got quarry chunks and tossed them in saltwater the day before. Even worse is the "premium live" rock they sell here, its covered in some purple epoxy shit that actually clogs all the pores, drastically decreasing surface area, just so it looks like it has coraline algae on it. I think I could make a killing just selling decent seed rock here.

[Ace25]

I would like to see how the rock looks as well when you get it, so please take some pictures of the rocks before you put them in your tank if you could. I have never heard of the place you ordered from either but like to see what everyone offers. I always hear marcorocks.com is the best for dry rock and tbsaltwater.com is the best for live rock (as long as your willing to take the risk of getting some bad hitchhikers).

[joelespinoza]

I remember reading terrible things about liverockranch, both his customer service and his live rock quality. I have not read much about his dry rock though.

If you want a good deal on dry rock, check out some reviews for http://reefrocks.net/, I have never ordered anything from them, but after reading some reviews I plan to try them the next time I buy rock. $85 for 50 lbs shipped.

[kerry]

I will get some pics. The guy I called to ask about the free shipping deal was very nice and even told me to put notes in the comment section for my tank size and if I wanted some special size rock or rocks and they do their best to match wants on any order they get.
I didnt get all the rock I needed, as to say I didnt want to put all my eggs in one basket just yet.

[kerry]

Here is some pics of the first inhabitants of the 150G build, three common damsel fish. We have the dry rock in the tanks and some live rock as well. There is about 93 pounds of rock so far.
We have also got the algae scrubber built as well so we hope this will intercept the cycle nutrient spike like it did on my 40G build.
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/2012-04-22_15-55-08_330.jpg
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/2012-04-22_15-55-01_947.jpg
Here you go ACE!! I forgot to post on this site!!
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/Dry%20rock/2012-04-17_13-06-57_726.jpg
Sprayed off with the hose.
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/Dry%20rock/2012-04-17_13-41-29_30.jpg
In the tank.
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/Dry%20rock/2012-04-18_05-18-14_316-1.jpg

[joelespinoza]

That stuff doesnt look terrible but if you need any more try giving marcosrocks a try, it is WAY better looking than the pictures you showed there.


I THINK reefcleaners.org and reefrocks.net has the same rocks, but not 100% sure.

[kerry]

I guess its not to bad, it was only $2.00 delivered and I was looking for cheap base rock. The rock with the Damsel fish pic is stuff from my LFS that they got in and cured for me. Its got green and purple/pink corolline growing pretty well on it.

[joelespinoza]

well you paid $108.33 per 50lbs shipped.
Marcosrocks.com - $109 for 50 lbs shipped (great quality I got 50lbs from them and its amazing)
Reefcleaners.org - $105 for 50 lbs shipped (looks like marcosrocks from their pics, their customer service is amazing, and great reviews on rock)
reefrocks.net - $85 for 50 lbs shipped (Great reviews, although couldnt find that many)

Like I said before I want to try reefrocks, although I have bought several other things from reefcleaners, cleanup crew, test kits, macro algae, and they have EXCELLENT customer service, and great products.

[kerry]

I dropped a few question/emails from the site based question thing to some places with similar prices and liverockranch.com was the only one to respond. I dont remember the name of the places right off. I wanted to be sure it was limestone and not some other rock. I am sure there are better and worse deals for sure. I really liked the fact that live rock ranch emailed and called. Is this the best rock I have seen? Nope. Is it the worst rock I have seen? Nope. The whole transaction was pretty painless. I emailed, he emailed and called. I ordered, he called to confirm my order. He shipped, then emailed tracking, I received. First and only to respond so he got my business and I got exactly what he described. Would I buy again from them? Not real sure I would as this rock was just average and I would hunt for better next time as I am always looking to improve and step up each build.

I will keep these other places saved for future purchases. Thank you for the info Sir!!

[kerry]

Well, they are still alive and swimming. No sign of a cycle yet. The scrubber is still not showing any algae yet either. Its been cycling a week now.
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/2012-04-25_05-49-32_631.jpg

[joelespinoza]

Awesome, its always so exciting to get a new project like that underway.

[kerry]

It sure is!! I have wanted this tank SW since i bought it about 15 years ago. Its been FW for about 12 years.

[kerry]

Here are a few cell phone pics, nothing high quality though.
The glow in the upper back left is the algae scrubber LED's.
Dont mind the pump.
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/2012-05-05_15-59-25_112.jpg
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/2012-05-05_15-59-50_657.jpg
Perc's
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/2012-05-05_16-00-28_103.jpg
Colt Coral
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/2012-05-05_16-00-53_371.jpg
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/kerryconklin/2012-05-05_16-04-48_298.jpg

[kerry]

I would like to share a link of the LED driver I have been using for my LED DIY Display fixtures I have been making. Before these I had been using the 16 dollar non dim-able from rapidled. This is the new place I have found: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Waterproof-LED-Driver-Power-Supply-30w-54w-10-18-x3w-IP-66-/170799549825?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c4724d81 .
I was getting them from topledlights but he has been out forever and I need two of them to finish my 150G fixture. I have not put my meter on these to get the specs but they are brighter at 14 LEDs then the rapidled unit and these will handle 4 more as well. The specs on the drives show the rapidled to be more powerful but to the eye this is not the case at all, the one in the link is noticeably brighter. Both are china units, the rapidled one is meanwell. I have had great service out of both and would not say one is any better but if someone builds display fixtures this info might be handy.