new tank - need YOUR help!!!

bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2524672
that sucks! are you on spring break? we are. yeah im soo excited about my 75 but i want to get it all 100% set up before i even start thinking about the livestock! having the best equipment is my #1 priority, because once i have that nailed down, i can get whatever i want, stress free!

hahahaha, stress free she says....oh i wish it were so.
but it sure doesnt hurt to get good quality equipment, got plans on that already?
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
well, as far as equipment goes, i know i want metal halides. i know i could probably do T5s cheaper, but while i have the money I might as well just get what im going to end up wanting anyways. im not sure exactly which MHs i want, but i want to get some with a bluer tint. also, i want to get the hanging kind.
i am planning on selling my current lighting & skimmer & prefilter, maybe even the tank and stand, to get a good skimmer for the 75.
my dad is really "handy", like, hes good at everything, so hell be able to help me with most of it and probably pimp it out a bit.
... not sure what else i really need. my mom wants to get a canister filter, but im not so into that. i dont really need one do it? i thought people didnt like them because they produce nitrates? or something like that. idk.
lol, and by stress free i mean as far as lighting needs & general space requirements.
 
matt b

matt b

Active Member
Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2524690
well, as far as equipment goes, i know i want metal halides. i know i could probably do T5s cheaper, but while i have the money I might as well just get what im going to end up wanting anyways. im not sure exactly which MHs i want, but i want to get some with a bluer tint. also, i want to get the hanging kind.
i am planning on selling my current lighting & skimmer & prefilter, maybe even the tank and stand, to get a good skimmer for the 75.
my dad is really "handy" like, hes good at everything, so hell be able to help me with most of it and probably pimp it out a bit.
... not sure what else i really need. my mom wants to get a canister filter, but im not so into that. i dont really need one do it? i thought people didnt like them because they produce nitrates? or something like that. idk.
lol, and by stress free i mean as far as lighting needs & general space requirements.
A canister CAN work, But IMO its not worth it. Your going to need to change the pads every week for it to help more then hurt
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
tell her if she wants a canister to get a type of chamber reactor like twolittlefishies carbon reactor or via aqua reactor...something like that you can still run carbon or other medias just fine and not worry as much about the floss type filters,etc (minus the black poly filter)
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
hmm, that would be good. i run carbon a lot in my hob on my 29 & really like how clear it makes the water, about how much do those run?
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
anywhere from 35-50 depending on which you get...via aqua has one with a pump that runs 35...but it's a pretty small chamber...3" i think...most are 4-5"
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
ok, cool. ill look into it. if i end up not getting one, is there a way i can still run carbon in the sump?
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
of course, you could always just get a filter bag and toss it in at the input area as well...just wouldnt have the sponges in there to hold anything back that got loose which you could rig up if you wanted.
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
sweet. ok, thanks for all the help!
today i tried to put a basic list of things i will have to pay for to get this tank running, but it kind of sucks that i dont really know what i need. like lighting. i want MHs, but i dont know what kind? i want to go as cheap as possible without running the risk of burning down the house. i know i want the ones with the bluer tint, and it is most conventient if i can hang them. what i need to figure out is:
-what the heck do i need???

AKA
-is it cheaper to get them from an aquarium manufacturer or someplace like lowes (or the eee site)? does everybody get them from lowes? i dont think ive ever seen aquarium-specific MHs for sale.
-do i want 10k, 14k, 20k... or something else?
-^ & watts?
-how many bulbs do i want?
-do i need PC actinics?
-ill need fans, if i get the lights from lowes, well have to rig the fans in ourselves, right? (thats really not too big of a deal)
oh, and im sure theres a thousand other things i need to know, and im still just trying to figure out what im looking at spending!
paid for-
AGA tank
overflow & plumbing stuff
stand
already have-
20L
10gals
still need-
GFI (im not even sure if thats right... the current thing
)
acrylic (my dad can cut it so i wont have to pay for that)
aquarium silicone (right?)
lighting & fans
skimmer (after i sell the remora, which might stay for a while)
return pump (something else i have to idea what to get)
not sure if im forgetting anything...
and this isnt even counting dead sand, base rock, salt, macroalgae, carbon, and LIVESTOCK!!!! (but all that can wait!) after i get this tank all together i am going to tear down & sell my 29 & stand, probably keep the light though, for my QT.
sorry if this whole thing is a little long winded but i usually underprepare and this tank is going to be here in a few weeks and i want to have everything figured out. so thank you sooo much to everyone who is putting up with all my (obvious, im sure) questions & helping me out.
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
sweet. ok, thanks for all the help!
-what the heck do i need???

AKA
-is it cheaper to get them from an aquarium manufacturer or someplace like lowes (or the eee site)? does everybody get them from lowes? i dont think ive ever seen aquarium-specific MHs for sale.
Not going to find pendant metal halides at lowes.
-do i want 10k, 14k, 20k... or something else?
I'd go with 14k's myself, but thats a prefereance thing.
-^ & watts?
2, 250's would be sweet, but you could do 2, 175's too.
-do i need PC actinics?
PC's or even better T5 actinics, 4-4' super actincs woulld look really sweet, but 2 would do fine.
-ill need fans, if i get the lights from lowes, well have to rig the fans in ourselves, right? (thats really not too big of a deal)
Going to need fans for sure. If you end up with a canopy or strip fivture that mounts on the tank, your likely going to need a chiller.
already have-
20L
Use the 20 for the sump/fuge. Unless you wanna get really tricked with it, forget the 10.
still need-
GFI (im not even sure if thats right... the current thing
)
Correct, get the plug in type
acrylic (my dad can cut it so i wont have to pay for that)
Use glass for baffles unless the 20 is acrylic.
aquarium silicone (right?)
Can use Ge's silicone 1 also with no [problems. It's cheaper and is practically the same thing. But it wont hold very well to acrylic.
lighting & fans
skimmer (after i sell the remora, which might stay for a while)
when you get ready look at the octopuss line. Prepare your sump along the planned skimmer.
return pump (something else i have to idea what to get)
Mag 7 would be a good bet, something along the lines of 700 gph.
not sure if im forgetting anything...
Your phosban reactor(s) (i'd do 2), your heaters(two 300 watters would be good), timers, Moonlights?,Additional flow?
BTW... how do you plan on maintaining this in NYC's sewers????
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
i'd recommend 2 x 250w MH system...and T5s if you want....cheapest system probably you could look at current USA...good quality fixture and great customer service if any troubles. i've never bought anything from lowes?? i've used 2 175w over my 75 and i didn't like it that much as far as brightness went...and 14k bulbs will get you some nice blue tint in your bulbs....or if you get a fixture with T5s or PCs you could do 10k with actinic bulbs
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
-do i want 10k, 14k, 20k... or something else?
I'd go with 14k's myself, but thats a prefereance thing.
-^ & watts?
2, 250's would be sweet, but you could do 2, 175's too.
-do i need PC actinics?
PC's or even better T5 actinics, 4-4' super actincs woulld look really sweet, but 2 would do fine.
alright. i have no idea how this is working, so ill have to talk to my dad about it. i think im only gonna go with the 2 actinics, but well see. probably do PCs unless i can find some not too crazy expensive t5s
-ill need fans, if i get the lights from lowes, well have to rig the fans in ourselves, right? (thats really not too big of a deal)
Going to need fans for sure. If you end up with a canopy or strip fivture that mounts on the tank, your likely going to need a chiller.
yeah, thats why i want to hang them. thats ok right? i REALLY dont want to have to buy a chiller...

already have-
20L
Use the 20 for the sump/fuge. Unless you wanna get really tricked with it, forget the 10.
sounds easiest.
not sure if im forgetting anything...
Your phosban reactor(s) (i'd do 2), your heaters(two 300 watters would be good), timers, Moonlights?,Additional flow?
ill look into the phosban reactors, not sure what they are but im learning. im going to get another stealth heater, i dont know how many watts the one i have is so ill have to figure that out.
BTW... how do you plan on maintaining this in NYC's sewers????

i get help from frodo.
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bronco300
http:///forum/post/2526284
i'd recommend 2 x 250w MH system...and T5s if you want....cheapest system probably you could look at current USA...good quality fixture and great customer service if any troubles. i've never bought anything from lowes?? i've used 2 175w over my 75 and i didn't like it that much as far as brightness went...and 14k bulbs will get you some nice blue tint in your bulbs....or if you get a fixture with T5s or PCs you could do 10k with actinic bulbs
about how much do you think im looking at spending if i get the 14k MH bulbs & fixture and actinics (PCs, most likely.) like just a rough estimate. i have no idea how much MHs cost. $500? or more?
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
Originally Posted by MaTT B
http:///forum/post/2526325
I want your sun coral if you sell your 29

if i ever get rid of my tanks you can definately have it, but believe me that thing is my baby. im not lettin go for a loooong time. :]
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2526347
about how much do you think im looking at spending if i get the 14k MH bulbs & fixture and actinics (PCs, most likely.) like just a rough estimate. i have no idea how much MHs cost. $500? or more?
unless you want to go retro it'll probably be more..there is a outer orbit 2x250 plus 4x54 runs around $830...or there is a sunpod 2x250 with just that and moonlights for 610...current systems will always come with their bulbs. PMed
 
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