Contimplating The Plunge!

[estein02]

I think that I am spending too much time looking at pictures of all these beautiful reef tanks and now I want one. My initial plan was to do a nice FOWLR tank, but some of these corals are just awesome. I just added my first, a few zoo frags, but I can see myself wanting to get the colors in my tank that some of these corals can add. In reading I see that people have all of these additional filter and reactors and UV sterilizers for their reef tanks and wanted to know what I would need to incorporate into my current system to change it to a full blown reef tank.
Here's what I've got:
65 gallon tank with a CPR CS 90 overflow into a Berlin BS-1 Sump. In the sump I have an AquaC Urchin Pro Protein Skimmer run with a mag drive 3. The return pump is a mag drive 7. In the tank I have 3 powerheads; a Seio M620, MaxiJet 1200 and a MaxiJet 400.
My light is a Current Nove Extreme...it includes two 460nm Actinic and two daylight 10,000K high output T5 lamps as well as three lunar lights.
Do you really need the calcium reactor and kalk drip to have a successful reef tank or are there other, just as effective, methods.
Thanks for the help.

 

[earlybird]

With those lights you're looking at softies. Best to start slow and perform your tests. If you find that your corals use up a lot of calcium then consider kalk. IMO you won't "need" a ca reactor. Simple water changes maybe more frequent will be all that you'll probably need.

 

[estein02]

Thanks Earlybird...might have to consider metal halides then! Last time I tested my calcium it was a little low. I need to do a water change and see if that brings it up some.

 

[gatorwpb]

I have the same tank with a refugium and you dont need the reactors. I used t dose B-Ionic 2-part and now use something similar by Natureef for my calcium and alkalinity. Look into those. Also, without the SPS, your calcium levels are not as important.
Good luck, its an addiction.