What Do You Think?

[mnreefgeek]

I've been doing my homework for the last few months preparing to set up my first reef. I think I know what I want to use, but I thought that I'd throw my equiptment list out there to get hacked at by people that know the equiptment. Local stores around here are O.K. for advise, though they tend to steer towards to higher end stuff,or they tell me they use the cheap stuff in their own tanks since it's so readily available to them should they need to replace it. Any comments would be appreciated.

Tank: 46 gal. bow front
Skimmer: CPR BAK PAK 2R
PWR Head:Maxi-Jet 900 + Maxi-Jet 400
or
Rio 600 x 2
Wave Maker: RedSea Wave Master Pro
Heater: Pro Heat 150 wt x 2
Lights: Formosa PL JG2-29 4x36wt 10000k
7100k blue
Filtration: 50 lb. live rock
50 lb. Fiji live sand

I'll leave this up for about ! week then it's time to start shopping. Thanks again for your time/comments.

 

[Gatortailale1]

I only have a few comments:

1) Red Sea Wavemaster pro - it's a nice toy but not necessary. For a newbie I would take the $109 -$129 price for it and buy a bigger tank. [Everyone always wants a bigger tank down the road. Buy biggest you can afford.]

2) 50lbs of live sand. - Is this actual sand from the ocean? I wouldn't waste my money on 50lbs. A few lbs should seed sand. True livesand needs to be shipped wet and is expensive.

3) If you buy the wavemaster, don't buy the rio's. They grind evey time they start and stop.

4) Lights - what do you plan to keep in the tank? Everyone has their opinions, but there isn't that big a price difference b/w PC and MH. for a small bowfront, I think one MH pendant would light it fine with VHO or PC supplementation. (provided there isn't a center brace in way - don't know what 46 braces are like)

Purchasing stuff. Pros and cons of buying at LFS. If you buy hardware from the shop you will get your livestock from, generally you will get better service in the future. Plus if your store is reputable, you are supporting them to keep good products stocked.

Con, you can find a lot of things like skimmers, lights and wavemaster pro ect on Mail order web places at a better price.

I would take your list and write down LFS price and search web (sponsor page on reefs.org) and see what price sponsors charge for same product + shipping and see if you save any money.

Just my $.000000000000002

 

[Dan81]

As for skimmers, If you want to save some dough and get the same performance go with the Red Sea Prizim skimmer. You can get one of various web sites for about 75.00

 

[Anonymous]

I have a 46 Bow Front.

I agree with Gator. Get the biggest tank you can afford and fit in your house. YOU WILL OUTGROW THE TANK QUICKLY (This is very addicting)

I single MH will not work, the tank has a 2 inch center brace.

I am using an Ecosystem40 for filtration and the corals are doing nicely.

I have 110Watt PC light on the tank using CSL Smartlamps. I wanted to get MH's but they are too expensive for this tank. I will be upgrading to the 72 Bow or Larger If my condominium floor will support the weight and then I will definetly get MH's/

Good Luck.
_________________
Malaysian Forum

 

[thardin]

A few comments from a fellow Newbie & Reef Maniac:

Go as big as you can afford. You will get hooked, and you will want to go bigger. Bigger is more stable and better for newcommers to the hobby. I started with a 135 with a 20 gallon sump. I now have 200 gallon sump/refugium in the basement. When pricing, be sure to add costs of additional pumps to get flow and additional lighting requirements. Personal opinion, but the bowfronts I have seen tend to distort what you are viewing.

I would buy fully cured live rock from as many sources you can find. Nothing like diversity when buying live rock! I suggest buying the cured live rock from a few LFS in the area. If you have cured rock shipped, it will inevetably go through some cycle again. I suggest going to a few different LFS with your list of equipment and getting price quotes. Research the components online to compare pricing. I personally think it's worth the 10% additional cost to buy from a reputable LFS and develop a relationship. Strike a deal up-front. Let them know you are going to buy X pounds of cured live rock and tell them you want to hand pick it. Have them give you a price per pound with your quote.

I think you are pretty light on your live rock & sand, although I agree you do not need to buy all live sand. Put 3/4 volume of basic aragonite sand down and then find real live sand to spread over the top. You should see a "bloom" of little critters in about 2 weeks.

Good luck and Happy reefing