About to start my very first reef aquarium - Any advice?

[zimmertr]

I plan on buying this light fixture. http://www.ebay.com/itm/MH-ADV-24-M...451?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b71539f3

How do the bulbs look for it? They seem kind of weak, and I've read that it's possible to grow soft corals with 10,000k and 14,000k T5HO bulbs. What do you guys think about this? I'm going to assume I'm wrong right now because the overall cost would be cheap, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Also, which bulbs should I switch to to get the most color out of the coral in question and my live rock? I really love the purple/blue looking tanks.


Also, I updated my stocking list to this:

1 or 2x Ocellaris Clownfishs
2x Firefishs
2x Emerald Crabs
4x Mexican Turbo Snails
3x Spotted Cardinalfish
1x Striped Blenny

What do you think?

 

[kissman]

Do some research on the fixture I think at one time the Odyssea's were catching fire. I will say that light is one of your most important pieces of equipment. Buy a good one! You get what you pay for. I am looking into LED's because there is no bulb replacements every 9-12 months at $20 each and the MH in that fixture will need to be replaced every 6 months I think it is

 

[zimmertr]

One more question I have is would it be safe to rest the Metal Halide light I'm considering getting directly on top of the open water of the tank? Or do I have to suspend it above or someone rig up a stand for it to sit on?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MH-ADV-24-M...451?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b71539f3

The tank is 24x24x24 and the light is 25x13.75x3. It comes with standing brackets, but they are just four legs and I don't see how I could get it to "stand" above the glass on 4 points Without being treacherously wobbly! This would mean there would be about 3.5" of open water on either side of it and it would be about 1" above the water with the edges of the light sitting on the glass. This wouldn't be too hot or anything, would it? I know MH is extremely hot and I wouldn't want any disasters to happen!

 

[zimmertr]

One more question I have is would it be safe to rest the Metal Halide light I'm considering getting directly on top of the open water of the tank? Or do I have to suspend it above or someone rig up a stand for it to sit on?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MH-ADV-24-M...451?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b71539f3

The tank is 24x24x24 and the light is 25x13.75x3. It comes with standing brackets, but they are just four legs and I don't see how I could get it to "stand" above the glass on 4 points Without being treacherously wobbly! This would mean there would be about 3.5" of open water on either side of it and it would be about 1" above the water with the edges of the light sitting on the glass. This wouldn't be too hot or anything, would it? I know MH is extremely hot and I wouldn't want any disasters to happen!

 

[ireef2012]

If your looking at LED's and want a great deal... Check out AJM Reef LED's... I have been running those with 90 optics and I have seen amazing growth in my corals... They are not expensive and make the corals pop with the blues on... I love them for the price... The only downside is the dimmable knobs, you have to manually dim them and you can't combine them with a controller, but the way I see it is.... I don't need fancy gimmicks like thunderstorm... Could never do that with T5 or MH....

 

[zimmertr]

I'm 99% sure I'm sticking with the light fixture I mentioned prior to your comment. Anyone have any advice on the questions that I asked?

 

[heathlindner25]

I would not set that fixture right on top of the tank, use the legs it comes with they should be fully adjustable.

 

[zimmertr]

I have another question! I have an old cascade 100 power filter. Would it be beneficial to remove the old medium and fill it with bioballs and set it up on my saltwater tank? I know I'd have to clean them every week to avoid harmful ammonia and nitrite outbursts, but would it add any extra filtration?

 

[ireef2012]

I don't think the bio- balls will help more than hurt your tank. The Live rock and Live sand should be all the filtration you should need for your nitro fixation cycle.