Where to start?

[Jon M]

Hey guys. I have been so busy I haven't been able to frequent the site as much as I used to as you might have noticed. When I do get around to the site it's to take care of POTM.

Well I still have my sw tank up and have some CUC critters running around it and all. I've decided now that I've been getting good hours at work and I'm starting to catch up on my finances, that it's time to get some stuff done on the tank. So I'm going to make one purchase for the tank each paycheck. (every two weeks) whether it's minor, 10-20$, or higher like 60-70$, I'm going to make at least one purchase every two weeks to get this tank going.

So here's where i need your help. I have a paycheck coming up in a week and need to make a purchase for the tank. I have bills to catch up on and this purchase likely won't be able to be more than 20$. So help suggest what you think would be the right purchase to start with here.

If you need a quick run down on the tank again it's 40g, 35lb live rock, maybe 6-8 crabs in there. Regular incandescent lights atm, 2 1,300gph powerheads.

So here's a few things I was thinking. Maybe purchase a bag of salt mix? Few buckets and a cheap powerhead for wcs? Maybe a smaller cuc order.

Here's another cool idea. This guy is local to me. http://nmi.craigslist.org/for/3092856675.html Maybe some of those could start to grow in regular incandescent light? I could maybe start to purchase my extra test supplies? Maybe I should invest in some versa glass lids? I dunno. What do you think?

[~RuSh~]

My priority would be to get the basics down first. I'd look at a bucket of salt. The Instant Ocean buckets are good for 200 gallons. That should last you for atleast a year.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=4856


I dont think zoas will do well under incandescent lighting. Everything else on that guys frag list will require atleast T5HO. He sounds like a great resource though. Once you have your setup complete, I'd be calling him. Those prices are very reasonable.

[Jon M]

That's what i was thinking too. Well since i alrdy have 40g of sw in there a 50g bag would hold me over for a while. Then I could possibly snag a couple buckets and a power head to do wcs.

Yeah, that guy post every 1-2 months so that leads me to believe he'll always be available. Does seem like a great source.

[Jon M]

For 50 gallons worth of salt the cheapest deal I see is 15$ and not sure on s/h. Anyone see any cheaper? That will be my purchase this Monday coming up and then 2 weeks from then I can likely afford a larger purchase. Every two weeks and I'll get rolling on this tank in no time I bet.

[~RuSh~]

Technically speaking the 200g mix box for 44.99 would be cheaper. I know it's more money up front, but if you bought 3 more 50 gallon mix bags at 15 bucks, you'd spend almost 60 bucks where this is only 44.99. Saves you money in the long run?

[Jon M]

Sure but that means I'd have to wait on that purchase and find something else lesser price for this check's purchase. Sure I could just skip and wait till next one but that sorta defeats the purpose of "AT LEAST ONE THING every two weeks to get it going!" Know what I mean?

[Jon M]

Maybe some testing equipment I might need? I noticed the master test kit for sw (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+4452&pcatid=4452&r=555) test for the same stuff as the fw kit. Since I alrdy have that I figure that'd be a waste of money just for the different colored charts since i have those saved on my bookmarks via google image. However I was thinking maybe I shouldn't be mixing sw and fw in the test tubes when i test? I rinse them well. Maybe I'm just over paranoid.

But I will need some other test stuff that I can plan ahead for when I get my light and corals yeah? Maybe i can snag some of those essentials for the 20$ marker for this check's purchase.