[530tank]

ok so im new to this. Im a 22 year old from sacramento cal. I am obsessed with fish and have been for along time. I started a 30 gallon and was successful in the beginning stages. I did it all for the long horned cow fish. It was a priud moment when i got him homw after months of cultivating. It was sad the next day when i realized he had been eaten by the hermit crab. I asked specifically about this crab i even took him into the shop where i got my cowfish. I was very upset and gave up for a while. After only weeks the itch came back. So i decided to do it right. I hunted down an Oak 200 gallon tank and stabd set up. It cames with what looks like a complex filter system. So i got busy with school and sports and my other hobbies, basically my car. Its been sitting for over a year. I bought the coral sand and some rocj chunks but i have no idea how to set up this filter that came with it or even if its complete. I came on here becuase i was to take my interest to the level it should be at and i want to build the tank ive always wanted. I want to know everything i need to but ive been on here about 10 minutes and i am so over whelmed. I want to have my tank now but i dont know much aboiut anything lol. I need to start by figuring out my filter system. Ill take pics asap but i dont have my camera handy so ill try explaining it. The main part is a 30 gallon plastic box. It is divided into two compartments and one says water level. It has a bunch of bio balls. It has two lids that together look to make a empty square. Maybe a filter rests here? the bottom part of the lid has whole and the top part has two "ports" of some kind. It came with one submersible pump and some other thing i dont even know what it is. I had my friend whp knows more than me look at it and he said i would have to build pcp pips to fit the "ports" And he didnt know what the other thing was either but it looks like a idfferent type of pump. Does anyone have any idea lol? Or will i have to wait till i get pics? Ive searched for the brand name on it and i cant find anything. All it says on the side is Del Rey. Is that a common brand? Ok im tired of typing lol

[jimw369]

Whats your budget?

[530tank]

well im going to take it slow but money doesnt really matter. Ill probably save up fro things you know? By the way i just jumped on google. This is my filter. Well this is what it looks like but all i have from this picture is the main box.
DelRey Wet/Dry Model 75

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by 530tank

well im going to take it slow but money doesnt really matter. Ill probably save up fro things you know? By the way i just jumped on google. This is my filter. Well this is what it looks like but all i have from this picture is the main box.
DelRey Wet/Dry Model 75

Hmmm...no budget?....Really? Can I help with your tank?

What kind of tank are you thinking of building?

[530tank]

lol well until i logged on here i thought the term "reef tank" was specific enough. My favorite fish are long horned cow fish but i hear more often than not that they aren't necesarily un compatible, but they arent recomended for reef tanks. So i dont know. Im going to do a small hexagon tank for just those in order to leave open my reef tank. I really like octopusses but that puts a huge limit on what i can have. I guess my min things are anenomes and clown fish up next. I need to find an example of each kind.

[jimw369]

Octopussessess are hard to keep locked down in a tank as they are referred to as "escape artists". They are commonly kept in species specific tanks and seldom live more than a year.

Beginner Saltwater FAQ

[530tank]

yea ive given up that idea. I just want a nice coral set up with clowns and anenomes. So i need to figure out my filtration first. What type of set up is it called for clowns?

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by 530tank

yea ive given up that idea. I just want a nice coral set up with clowns and anenomes. So i need to figure out my filtration first. What type of set up is it called for clowns?

This would be a good place to start. Enjoy the ride

Beginner Saltwater FAQ

[nanoreef11]

Welcome to RB
Take your time and research everything before you start everything up. When you think you are done researching you are probably wrong and need to research more. I always get those "what ifs" and believe me it takes a couple of days to a week to find answers but its worth the wait. Hope your new tank does well.

[reef4gsp]

sacto, aye? I'm from folsom. I find when it comes to my hobbies (tanks and cars) I spend more time researching on the internet than physicaly working on them. I have two green spotted puffers in my tank which i bought in fresh water. It's hard to find a clean up crew that can thrive with puffers. I'm not sure about the cow fish but mine will eat 30 ghost shrimp in a night! I've also noticed that my fish seem to eat specific individuals rather than specific species. Only one firefish has ever survived in my tank. Every other one I put in it disappeared. They ate one feather duster while the other 2 are fine. Good luck

[nanoreef11]

sounds like the cow fish likes to pick on certain individuals