[thelastmucci]

OK so after much reading over the past few days, countless articles online, and a very convincing visit to my LFS I think I have decided on the basics of my tank when I get the $.

Aquapod 24 gal w/150 watt HQI
maxi powerhead
Aquapod stand for 24 gal

Live Rock/Sand

Fish (basic list still need to look and see what else is out there)
Clownfish
Goby's
writhes (sp?)

Sps
mushrooms
pollyps

Inverts
snails
little red sea star
shrimp (is there only certain ones to get??)
blue legged hermit crab

Now with this list can anyone tell me if this is overkill or you think it's too much for a beginner. As much as I'd like to get some LPS my LFS said that he has trouble with them and he's been doing this for at least 10 years now. Plus I don't want to try to get too much at once. If anyone has any thoughts, ideas (ie I'm insane) or general comments please feel free to ask me and I'll answer to the best of my limited knowledge. I understand the work and sacrafice and of course the money that goes into this hobby and am fully prepared to deal with it all. One last question though...does anyone know about how much this should cost me...I figure around $850 or so is this a good estimate?

Tony

[glampka]

Sounds like a good start. Your lighting will be more than enough. I have the Aquapod 12 & find that the PC lighting is rather intense. The mushrooms I have definitely have too much light & haven't opened much. The MH will be perfect for most corals.
Not sure what return pump they have in there but you might want to swap it out for something more powerful like a MJ 1200.
Might not want to put the Red Sea Star in there. They require a mature tank with algae, micro-organisms & detritus to scavenge.

[anmacara103]

If you are interested in some LPS, look at Frogspawn and Hammer corals, they are LPS, but are easy to keep.

The money sounds about right. I recently put together a 29 gal and it was about in that area to get started and get a few fish/inverts/corals. How much LR you get can really make a difference in cost. How much LR/LS do you plan on getting?

You should get a cleaner shrimp, they are prety cool and will clean parasites off of your fish. I have heard to stay away from camel shrimp.

[thelastmucci]

Thanks for the tips gary and joe. I probably am going to add at least a 10 lbs bag of live sand and as far as LR goes I've read that you should get about 1.5 lbs per gallon. So probably 36 lbs of LR. Unless I'm completely off on that number. I'll probably look into those types of corals when the tank is a little more mature, just in case I completely mess things up. I'm assuming that LPS is more expensive tha SPS so if I start off with say 2 mushrooms and a few polyps then I won't break the bank as it were. I'll look into those cleaner shrimp. I think there is a section on them in the reefopedia.

[Zia]

What is LPS and SPS?

[glampka]

Both are diseases that are very contagious. Seek medical attention immediately if you think you have either of them!!!

LPS is large polyped stoney coral
SPS is short polyped stoney coral

[RyanG]

Originally Posted by glampka

Both are diseases that are very contagious. Seek medical attention immediately if you think you have either of them!!!

LPS is large polyped stoney coral
SPS is short polyped stoney coral

Gary has a bad case of LPS, lol.

[thelastmucci]

Originally Posted by glampka

Both are diseases that are very contagious. Seek medical attention immediately if you think you have either of them!!!

LPS is large polyped stoney coral
SPS is short polyped stoney coral

that is too funny...although if you would have asked me that a week ago then I probably would have said the same thing LOL

[glampka]

Originally Posted by RyanG

Gary has a bad case of LPS, lol.

I got it from hanging around here too much!!!

[anmacara103]

SPS and LPS (at least what I have purchased so far) are not necessarily more expensive. One of my LPS was $35 for a really big frag of Hammer coral, and another was $20 for a frag of Candy Cane coral that had 7 heads on it. The other corals I have are soft or leather corals, and none were over $20. My LFS is really into corals, and that is most of his business, though. I think it depends more on the rarity of coral and the desirability of it. Some Acropora (sp?) are hundreds of dollars for just a few polyps!

[thelastmucci]

would you guys recommend getting a sponge for Dietrus cleanup. and just what should I get for a CUC? Also what do you think of a bubble tip anemone. I've also decided on getting some peppermint shirmp and a skunk cleaner shrimp. Any suggestions on Musrooms or Polyps. or for that matter soft coral. I think I'm going to hold off on the LPS and SpS until the tank is more mature...maybe once everything is going about 6 months. Also what is the average price you guys pay for LR...I've seen it priced as low as 2.15/lbs. Oh yea one last thing...do you guys buy most of your livestock/supplies at LFS or do you mainly shop online...if it is online where to you all go. Thanks for bearing with me.....estimated tank setup date is end of November early December.