Got some questions

erk419

erk419

New Member
I posted a question last night in the beginners section and had many replies. Now I have narrowed down what I want so I'm coming here. First off I'd like to mention I'm not new to fish keeping but I am new to saltwater. I have 5 freshwater tanks running right now and I now would like to get into saltwater. I figured for space sake I would start of with a nano tank. I was asking questions and looking online last night and the ones I like so far are as followed:
Biocube 29 gallon: I like this one mainly because of the price. From what I have read about it though the lighting isn't the best.
Cadlights 22G Full size refugium w/ 4 x 24w T5H.O. LEDHO (96W): Really don't know much about this one.
SOLANA 34 GAL: 800 is to much for me to spend right now.
Nano cubes: there pretty pricy also
Basically as you can see I'm leaning towards to biocube like I said mainly because of price. Now when I first start off I'm going to start with real hardy coral etc then move up from there. The thing that bothers me though is first off I don't know what lighting I will need to be able to have anything I want because in time thats what I will need. From what I read the lighting that comes with the biocube will not do that. So I will have to upgrade but I don't know what I need. So basically I'm asking would it be better and cheaper for me to buy something that comes with the right lighting from the start and if so what. Or would it be better and cheaper to buy the biocube and upgrade the lighting when that time comes and if so what lighting will I need. Also I'm not sure if the rest of the equipment that comes with the biocube is any good, I've heard the filters need cleaning every few days.
Any suggestion or other idea are more then welcome.
Thanks for your time!
 
patrick8929

patrick8929

Active Member
First off welcome!!!
now it sounds like you have a pretty good idea of what you want to do. i personally like the Red Sea Max but that is also a little pricy. you could always just get an all glass tank and buy the accessories for it instead of a all in one that you will have to end up upgrading things on any ways. the bigger the tank the happier you will be because when it really gets up and running you will want more and more stuff in it. as far as hardy corals... softies are what you are gunna want to look at. zoa, mushroom, rics, an things of that nature. what is your budget looking like right now? that will really decide what set up you end up going with.
 
erk419

erk419

New Member
Its not really a budget issue right now so much as a space issue. I just don't want to spend 800 on a nano tank. If did just get a regular tank what size would you suggest and do you think in the end it would cost about the same as a nano, with the upgrades I would have to do on the nano that I could just get the first time on a regular tank. I'd probaly say that I could do a thirty long would that be a good starter.
 
mboswell1982

mboswell1982

Active Member
if you can find one erk, go with a 33 long, that will give you lots of options, and you can pretty much do whatever u want with it at that point :p
 
patrick8929

patrick8929

Active Member
i agree a 30 or 33 long which ever will give you plenty of options. i dont know how hard it would be to get a light in that length tho. but for softies you will want probably like 5 watts per gallon. i suggest T5 HO lighting. you probably dont need that many watts but if you dont want to upgrade later on i would suggest getting a good set of T5 HO lights and that will keep any thing you want down the road. i would say it would probably be cheaper depending on the way you go but some of those all in one tanks can be pretty pricy.
 
mboswell1982

mboswell1982

Active Member
a 33long is 48x13x12 so it shouldnt be any problem at all getting lights, and the standard T5HO's by current usa will be perfect for lighting for that size tank :p
or, u can go with a 30g breeder, its 36x18x12 wider is always better imo, and again, lighting for it will be no problem at all
 
mboswell1982

mboswell1982

Active Member
36" 6x39W nova extreme pro's by current usa are currently retailing on a certain mountain for 298.94
the 36" 4x39w sundials by current usa are retailing for 240.18 lol
 
erk419

erk419

New Member
Thanks for the replies! I'll have to check tommorrow at my LFS and see if they carry those. They just opened a few days ago. I know they have a 40 long does anyone know the measurments on that and would that work?
 
mboswell1982

mboswell1982

Active Member
a 40g breeder is what im goin with for my first tank erk, and the measurements on it are as follows, 36x18x16 and a 40g long is 48x13x16, u might wanna look into the 40g breeder if u wanna go 40g, lights will be cheaper for one, and its wider, and wider is always better than taller, especially with corals :p and, depending on the price, i know u can get 40g breeders brand new at ***** for 99.99 right now, and they should go on sale in jan, dollar per gallon, makin em 40 bucks :p
 
mboswell1982

mboswell1982

Active Member
40g breeder is the way to start out IMO, its got plenty of room for whatever you wanna do really, its nice an wide, and its not so tall that you gotta have MH lighting
 
erk419

erk419

New Member
Originally Posted by mboswell1982
http:///forum/post/2854779
40g breeder is the way to start out IMO, its got plenty of room for whatever you wanna do really, its nice an wide, and its not so tall that you gotta have MH lighting
What lighting setup would you recommend for that tank? I'd like to get one were I could do what ever I wanted.
 
mboswell1982

mboswell1982

Active Member
hey, i still get help all the time erk, im just as noob as anyone else just starting out in saltwater LOL i dont even have a tank yet, i just research constantly LOL
 
mboswell1982

mboswell1982

Active Member
Originally Posted by mboswell1982
http:///forum/post/2854767
36" 6x39W nova extreme pro's by current usa are currently retailing on a certain mountain for 298.94

go with this light right here, you can grow anything u want in that 40g breeder with these lights right here
 
mboswell1982

mboswell1982

Active Member
no prob man, i dont plan on havin any corals in our 40g breeder, so im just goin with 36" 2x39w Nova Extreme T5HO X2 - (10K Daylight / 460nm Actinic) for like 80 bucks lol
 
fenrir

fenrir

Member
Welcome to the boards! From your avatar it would be safe to say your from Central Ohio? If so great, there are alot of good fish/coral stores here. I am from Delaware Ohio so it's nice to see some more local people. I have the 14gallon version of the biocube and I love it. There are upgrades for our tanks with ligting if you just search the web for it you will come across it. Like the above poster I would have to agree that the Red Sea max tank is awesome if you can afford it. Let me know if want or need any help!
 
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