Anyone here have experience with a FInnex M tank? Other ideas for a +/- 30 gal cube?

musicman

musicman

New member
Hey all!

Ok, so I have no money right now, but that doesn't mean I can't start dreaming and planning, right? I am desperate to get back into reefing.

I've been looking for the very best complete setup to get in a mid 20 to mid 30 gallon size. I've decided that a good skimmer will be the most important feature. As for other filtration, I'd like a nice 'fuge to hold some rubble and a good ole' lump o' cheato. I don't want to fool with bio-balls, filter floss, or anything like that.

For lighting I think I wanna go with T5s to keep heat down on such a small tank, and I think MH may be a waste of money for a mixed-reef of that size. Am I right on that point?
I'm not a good DIYer, so that's why I'm looking for somethign that is all-inclusive. I DO planning on adding a top off with a 10+ gallon capacity so I don't have to fool with water every 6 hours. I'm planning on having a rubbermaid in the base of whatever stand I choose for that.

I'm going to do my best to keep this tank simple and refined. I don't want a small tank with too many fish and just a bunch of brown palys all over the place. I want to keep maybe 2 or 3 fish, and a few extraordinary pieces of SPS, a few really nice zoas, and maybe a small clam. (Will the T5s be enough for a clam?) I want to build a delicate looking and open rockwork using the eggcrate/great stuff method everybody seems to be talking about now, too.

For a cleaner crew, I want to try and find something a little more exotic than the normal astreas and blue legs. I've sworn off hermits all together. They caused me trouble in my last tank. I also am iffy on the use of peppermints. For some reason my last batch of them decided they wanted to eat off of my soft corals! I found out too late for a few of my pieces. Any suggestions here?

Thanks for all your time, guys and gals!! I really miss being in this hobby, and I miss being a part of the club! Right now I can't even afford to pay dues so I can show up to meetings, but as soon as I can, I will.

I look forward to your input!
:D
 
I think you've got some great ideas for your tank. Especially the T5s, but I'm partial. :D Oh, and they would be more than enough for clams. Pretty much anything that MH can light, T5s can too.

I'm not sure how much money you're wanting to spend, but I think a controller for your tank would fit in with your ideals. :) A bit expensive, I know, but very, very helpful.

There is always the Red Sea Max 34g tank... quite a popular item of late. ;)

I'm not 100% sure on cleanup crew, but the Golden Astreas at reeftopia are hard to beat. Maybe strombus or nerite snails may be some snails to look into.

Brandon
 
Hey Brandon!

Us Mid-TN TGO folks are meeting up next weekend (the 23rd) at Red Robin at 11:30 for lunch, then going to On Target after that. Do you think you can make it?

Thanks for the affirmation on the T5s. I have no experience with them, but from the month's worth of reading I've done, they seem to be the "hot poop" these days.

Here's the setup I'm looking at http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...duct_Code=FI-MTG-2402&Category_Code=Aquariums

Will 96 watts of T5 be enough, or should I get the tank minus lights and go with something like this? http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/product_info.php?cPath=71_136&products_id=1505
Having 144 watts of light just rings better in my mind, and I also like the nighttime LEDS. The other cool thinkg about this is that it's all on one plug and has a programmable remote, negating the need for a separate timer. This just looks like a really cool light setup.

At this point, it's not about the money. I'm going to decide what I want, then just wait and save until I can get it. (The reverse of deciding on a start date, then buying whatever I can afford then.) That's not to say that money is no object (because it definitely is!) but that I want to do this right the first time. I haven't really thought of a controller yet. I did really well with my 55 without one; I just kept up with it manually. The only thing I really want automated is water topoff. The other reason is that I'm not going to set up a kalk reactor, a doser, or a chiller. We keep our house pretty cool, so I think I'm going to go with 2 small heaters for temp control. I will probably get another PH meter, or may a multi-meter of some sort.

BUT... tell me more about your experience with a controller! I am still impressionable and can be easily talked into something else at this point!

I've looked at the RSM and they do seem like good tanks. However, I like the aesthetic of the M tank so much more. I'm not a big fan of the "nano" closed-top design. Some of my favorite tanks are rimless. The M tank seems to look more like a real tank, while still being a nano in proprtions.

I also have the crazy idea of just going hog-wild and having GlassCages build me a complete setup (tank, stand, in-stand sump, etc) using starphire glass. I spent about 2 hours on their site last night. =) I'm just so paranoid I'll screw something up in transfer of water between the tank and sump, ending up with a wading pool in my house and dead, dry fish in my tank!! I'm a big sissy, I know! Also, if I'm going to have a custom tank built, there's no way I'd blow all that money on a 30+g tank! I'd have to go 120+, and then my wife would kill me.

I don't even have a tank yet and I'm all stressed out!! AAARRRGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
 
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Hey James!

I wish I could, bro... I'll be out on the trail... hiking the Fiery Gizzard next weekend. :) Maybe I'll be able to make it in March...

Yeah, T5s are rock and roll, man. *Brandon throws up his rock fist* :D If you'd like to see some, several of us in the 'Boro have some... we're starting to offer tours... :lol:

That is a really neat little setup. It would be tempting to get one of those for dwarf sea horses... hmmmm...

Anyway, those T5s would definitely be enough. They'd be A LOT better with individual reflectors (I'm assuming based on the size of the light unit it has a single reflector), but no deeper than that tank is, I would think it would be fine. If not, EBay carries the Current fixtures and will hook ya up (as you probably know ;) ).

As far as wattage goes, don't worry about it. T5s put out the same amount of lights (roughly) as VHOs with literally half the wattage. Wattage just doesn't matter as much any more with more efficient lighting technologies coming out. At least its probably not an accurate gauge. Personally I've got 4-39w T5s over my 45 tall (read 25" depth) and I've got SPS coloring up from being under NO at about 12". Plus moonlights are very easy... a 9v adapter, a few resistors, a couple of leds, and some heatshrink and you've got moonlights... :lol: BTW, that light link didn't work... took me to the aquarium again. :)

Definitely ATO is one of the nicest things you can add to your tank. It was absolutely awesome for me to not have to top off my tank twice a day once I got my Aquatronica... so needless to say that would be a number one recommendation.

As far as controllers go, I ABSOLUTELY love my Aquatronica! They have a ton of accessories, tons of probes, and can control as many tanks/probes/etc. as I care to add, I think up to like 255 or so (good ole binary). However, they are EXPENSIVE. I got lucky and Ryan was selling his used at an amazing price. Having said that, there are other great controllers out there, my personal fav being the AquaController series. Specifically the III as it can control multiple tanks, has ethernet built in, is incredibly flexible, other people in MTRC have them and can help, etc. but the AC Jr. is a great controller at a good price for a single tank.

I love controllers because they end up being a central unit to my tank. A virtual control room, even. I can check my pH, salinity (if I had the probe), temp, and whatever other probes I get all in the same place. I can tell it if these two things happen, do this. If this happens, do that. And ATO is a feature thats included (although you'll need a special cable for that on the AC Jr. and the serial port, but they're easy... I just made one for Norman and would be more than happy to build one for you and anyone else in the club, too...). Personally, I'll probably never have a tank without a controller... they automate things and give me control over my tank that really makes them worth their weight in gold to me. They ARE a substantial investment, but they'll work on tanks of any size in your home and you'll never have to upgrade because they're the wrong length or width, they're not putting out the right amount of par, they can't hold my *insert large fish here*, etc. They're with ya until you find something you like better or until they break... but even then almost all of the controller companies seem to have awesome customer service, so thats not a big worry either.

Ok... enough of that. I am with you on the M tank. I like it a lot better, plus its a lot cheaper.

Man... I have a starphire GC tank and thats something else I'll have on all of my tanks... starphire... definitely worth it, man! And I think a 120 sounds about right... :D :lol:

Seriously... setting up a small tank can be just as expensive as a large tank... might as well save up a little extra longer and get a 120 with starphire... :D

Brandon
 
Ohhhhh momma!! I checked out Finnex's site and they have a really cool illustration of the M tank! http://www.finnex.net/catdetail.php?idcategory=16
Check out the animation of the water flow through the filtration system/sump in the back!! It's AWESOME!!

The system comes with the option of 4x24 T5 w/LEDs, a 150w MH with 2 T5 suplements and LEDSs, or a 250w MH with 2 T5 supplements and LEDs. I'm tempted to go for the middle choice. Is that just crazy, 198w for a 30g? Do you think that the 150w MH would generate enough heat to be a problem?

I looked up the Aquatronica stuff and it is definitely cool, but I just don't think I'm going to put $1,200 into electro goodies for a $600 tank. When I can go crazy and have GC build a pool/tank, then I'll pony up. =)
 
Yeah, $1,200 is A LOT. Someone had them on clearance for $500... maybe Premium Aquatics... I can't remember... but don't get me wrong, I didn't pay $1,200 for mine... heh!

That MTank is awesome. And they are ingenious for offering MH and/or T5s with it. Not a bad price, either.

Look up some more information about T5s and, with all due respect, try to get over the watts. ;) I'm tellin' ya... it just doesn't matter. HOWEVER, if you prefer the "look" of MH, there's not too many reasons not to get it... you just have to pay a higher electricity bill and deal with more heat. :p

I do have to say that I think it would look great with a 150w MH and two T5s for actinics. But 4 T5s are going to look great as well and not need bulb replacements as often... :lol: But, again, I'm biased... :D

EDIT: Forgot to mention... make sure you check out the AC Jrs. :) Premium Aquatics has them so you could order them at the same time.
 
Yea, I'm so used to waging the wattage war (that's all anybody was talking about a couple years ago when I got out of the hobby) that it's hard for me to let it go. Is there any kind of conversion chart for light produced per watt (average, of course) between NO, VHO, MH, PC, and T5?

I honestly don't know if I prefer one over the other. I don't think I've ever seen a tank wth T5s yet, so I may be making a trip to your place one evening! I will say, though, that all the tanks I have seen with color that really blows me away have had 14K MHs on top. (Kinda' convenient that that's what the M tank comes with, huh?!)

I've also been reading about people building a screen mesh cover for their tanks to keep in the jumpers. I think that's something else I'll try with this tank.

I was kinda' hoping this thread was going to be a moot point when I saw kevdog's for sale post, but I got there too late. =(
 
I have tried PC,T5, and for awhile now MH. If T5 could do the shimmer that MH does I would go with it. The shimmering light though from my reef just can't be beat in my eyes.

That finnex tank is sexy!!
The Solana is nice looking as well. http://www.current-usa.com/solana.html

For just a top off unit the tunze osmolator can't be beat. A controller down the road you will enjoy. Not needed from the get go though. I myself have a Neptune Jr controller.

For the SPS I would consider 2 of these http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...&Product_Code=HY-P19501&Category_Code=koralia


-Chris
 
Yea, I think I'm going to go with the 150W MH w/T5 supplements. Go big or go home, right? =)

I saw the Solana at the Critter last week and it is definitely cool. At first I liked the idea of a built-in topoff, but after thinking about it more, that seems like wasted space that could be used for tank capacity. Also, cheato is going to be a very important part of my filtration system, and there's no fuge or lighting for it. For those reasons, I decided against it. It's a great tank and concept, it just doesn't line up with what I want to do.

I'll look into the Osmolator. I've heard everybody talking about those koralias, but that was the first I've seen them. Thanks for the link! And they're AFFORDABLE!! Excellent! Are these the death of the Maxi-jet?
 
I LOVE my koralias. Absolutely amazing for the price.

I agree on ATO. I've heard the Osmolators are really good. Jack has one... maybe he'll chime in.

Brandon
 
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