Can someone review my setup?

[Ezk1el]

Hey everyone, I'm Ezk1el, I'm a 30yo dude living in the Montréal region.

This would be my second setup, I had a nano reef with a shrimp and snails but decided to shut it down and I gave my critters back to the store. I wanted to do something better that would work for a long time without worriyng when I go on vacation for two week.

Please keep in mind that the canadian dollar is RIDICULOUSLY low right now compared to the USD, therefor I would prefer buying from canadian stores if possible at all.

This tank would be for 2 clown fish, gobby+pistol shrimp?, snails, hermit crabs, cleaner shrimp, soft corals and any other fun and safe cleaning critters.

First, is there any recommended stores or hobbyist in the Montréal region you guys know of?

Second, can you please review my build or suggest things I might have forgot or better options that I should consider.

Maintenance stuff: I already have quality reef salt, mixing pump, mixing heater, refractometer and a 3g bucket, thats it.

Tank: Miracles Aquarium Rimless Cube 60g (24x24x24) with external overflow and starphire glass. Overflow would have 2 holes and 2 more holes on the back of the tank for return pump. Any other places where I could buy this custom tank you would recommend? I'm still waiting for the Miracles quote on this.

Sump: Trigger Systems Crystal CUBE 18 inch or Trigger Systems Ruby Cube 20 inch? Should I make my own? Paying 250$USD for a sump kind of sucks.

RO/DI: I don't know which one to get... there are so many it's confusing. I would like to build an automatic top-off system with this RO/DI... I just haven't figured out all the details of that yet.

Test kits: Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, PH... do I need anything else for soft corals? My guess is Calcium and ??

Lightning: Ecotech Marine Radion XR30w Gen3 Pro LED light fixture + Ecotech tank mount for it. This one is very slick but very expensive, any other clean LED system I should consider with soft corals?

Return Pump: Deepwater Aquatics BLDC5 DC Brushless Water Pump.... I have no idea if this is even a good pump... is it powerful enough that I won't need an additionnal properller pump in the tank considering I will have 2 returning jet from the return pump?

Heater: Eheim Jager TruTemp 250 Watt. Any other options considering my system will be around 95 gallon total?

Battery: Ecotech marine vortech battery backup. I'm terrified of power outtage, even tho' we don't have many here.

Thermometer: American Marine Pinpoint Digital Calibration

Reactors: Korallin BioDenitrator Nitrate Filter S-1502 w/eheim 1048 pump. Should I get a carbon reactors? What would be an optimal reactor setup?

Skimmer: Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1 In-Sump Protein Skimmer

With the tank that will probably be around 700-750$ with shipping and taxes, this basic setup would cost me around 3000$ USD

Do you think I could achieve the same quality of build with cheaper components? What would be your commendations?

Thank you very much for your help, what a great forum.

 

[DrewHaus]

As far as test kits go, it's helpful to have CA/Alk/Mg if you're planning on doing any SPS/LPS. If you're doing softies, you can probably get by without it. Considering you're splurging on Radions, i'm guessing you will want to do some LPS and SPS sometime down the road.

I didn't see any mention of water circulators (wavemakers/power heads). Any plans for those?

Also, might I suggest an apex controller? It's a good way to monitor your investment while you're away...

 

[vinnytan]

Check out reefsupplies.ca

I believe they ship from Dorval. Not sure how far that is from you.

 

[Ezk1el]

As far as test kits go, it's helpful to have CA/Alk/Mg if you're planning on doing any SPS/LPS. If you're doing softies, you can probably get by without it. Considering you're splurging on Radions, i'm guessing you will want to do some LPS and SPS sometime down the road.

I didn't see any mention of water circulators (wavemakers/power heads). Any plans for those?

Also, might I suggest an apex controller? It's a good way to monitor your investment while you're away...

Test kit done, I will get them. I only want to do softies, the most easy ones. I want to do the Radions because it look good and provides all the lightning I will ever, ever need.

Yes a circulator pump is something I totally forgot, I will get the ecotech magnetic one for 10x the amount of water in my system? Return pump is 3-4 times an hour right?

Yes a controller is definitively something I will get, one thing I'm not sure about them is that they seem to support iOS and Android for the high end ones but I use Windows Phone and I don't want to change my phone OS ever.

 

[Ezk1el]

Check out reefsupplies.ca

I believe they ship from Dorval. Not sure how far that is from you.

I just discovered Aquanov next to the Longueuil airport, these guys can do custom tank and they sell eveything extremely cheap.... I just went there and I'm a little surprised by the difference in prices.... they do commercial build contracts and commercial maintenance.

I can get the exact same tank as the Miracles one for almost half the price... no need for shipping..... they do starphire glass, corner sanding, external overflow... etc... they even make custom glass sump instead of plexiglass.

http://www.aquanov.com/en/

 

[DrewHaus]

Test kit done, I will get them. I only want to do softies, the most easy ones. I want to do the Radions because it look good and provides all the lightning I will ever, ever need.

Yes a circulator pump is something I totally forgot, I will get the ecotech magnetic one for 10x the amount of water in my system? Return pump is 3-4 times an hour right?

Yes a controller is definitively something I will get, one thing I'm not sure about them is that they seem to support iOS and Android for the high end ones but I use Windows Phone and I don't want to change my phone OS ever.

The ecotech's are top noptch, good choice.

With the Apex, you can access your dashboard (with full control) from your phones web browser (without the iOS/android app).

 

[DrewHaus]

Oh, and in terms of sump turnover, 3-4x is plenty. I would aim for at least 20x in the display. I personally prefer more flow to keep detritus from settling, and find that everything looks healthier.

 

[Sk8r]

You do need an alkalinity test: you want that to read between 7.9 and 8.3 on the DKH scale. Salifert alk is an accurate and easy test to manage.

 

[edinphilly]

Have you checked craigslist and looked to see if there are any local reef clubs or Facebook groups. One way to save money and still get quality stuff is to buy used locally.

 

[Ezk1el]

Oh, and in terms of sump turnover, 3-4x is plenty. I would aim for at least 20x in the display. I personally prefer more flow to keep detritus from settling, and find that everything looks healthier.

How do you position the flow? Two return heads point outward and the display pump shoot across the aquarium in the middle?

 

[vinnytan]

I just discovered Aquanov next to the Longueuil airport, these guys can do custom tank and they sell eveything extremely cheap.... I just went there and I'm a little surprised by the difference in prices.... they do commercial build contracts and commercial maintenance.

I can get the exact same tank as the Miracles one for almost half the price... no need for shipping..... they do starphire glass, corner sanding, external overflow... etc... they even make custom glass sump instead of plexiglass.

http://www.aquanov.com/en/

I can't seem to find the english version of their site. Ill try to visit when i make a trip to Quebec in the future.