Equip. Purch.

[APPerkins]

These are my next purchases I will be making for the tank I'm building. Let me know if you think it will work for my tank (56 gal). I'm trying to do it on a budget too, so I'm not going to spend a ton (in the future I don't mind upgrading).

Lighting: http://www.marinedepot.com/Marinela...uariums-Marineland-AS32990-FILTFILDFX-vi.html

Protein Skimmer: (I made a DIY out of pvc, but not sure how effective it will be so I might purchase this)
http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_Bak_..._Protein_Skimmers-CPR-CR1111-FIPSHOVS-vi.html

Carbon Reactor:
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...luidized_Bed-AquaMaxx-UJ5311-FIFRISFB-vi.html

 

[drew2007]

These are my next purchases I will be making for the tank I'm building. Let me know if you think it will work for my tank (56 gal). I'm trying to do it on a budget too, so I'm not going to spend a ton (in the future I don't mind upgrading).

Lighting: http://www.marinedepot.com/Marinela...uariums-Marineland-AS32990-FILTFILDFX-vi.html

Protein Skimmer: (I made a DIY out of pvc, but not sure how effective it will be so I might purchase this)
http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_Bak_..._Protein_Skimmers-CPR-CR1111-FIPSHOVS-vi.html

Carbon Reactor:
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx...luidized_Bed-AquaMaxx-UJ5311-FIFRISFB-vi.html

Lighting: useless if your plans are to have coral. Fish only is fine.

Skimmer: IMO these cpr bakpaks are dated and are mediocre at best.

Carbon reactor: IMO i would use the money ur spending on this and put it toward a quality skimmer like a reef octopus.

What are your filtration plans? Sump? Fuge?

 

[APPerkins]

For the lighting, can you give me a good light for coral that doesn't cost like $800.00 lol? As for the skimmer, I wouldn't mind spending more on it. Right now, my overflow goes into a 20 gallon diy sump/refug. Basically, the water from the tank flows into the first stage, passes through a sponge filter, into a refug. and then overflows into the pump area. I'm going to plumb in another 20 gallon tank and use it strictly as a refug. in the first refug, I'm going to use live sand and chaeto. in the 2nd refug, I'm going to use live sand and live rock. I'm thinking about setting up a 3rd overflow to house all the reactors/skimmers, etc. I think what I'll probably purchase in the next couple days is a lighting system, calcium reactor, live sand, live rock, and chaeto. Then in the next couple weeks, I'll get a skimmer going.

 

[drew2007]

Ok so your plans are to house corals. So heres what i would suggest. First get yourself a decent t5ho fixture. Aquaticlife makes decent fixtures for affordable prices. It wont really break the bank and itll be good to house softies and some lps. You can find a good one in the $400-$600 range. Second get a quality in sump skimmer. Look into reef octopus. IMO they make excellent quality skimmers for good prices. Id recommend getting one rated about double your total system. So look into the 150 gallon range. Third i would hold off on the calcium reactor until your ready to stock coral. You may not need one for a lil ways down the line. Best thing you can do is go slow, save and buy good quality equipment. It will be worth the wait. Trust me. I saved for nearly 6 months before i started buying equipment. The worst thing you can do in this hobby is skimp on equipment.

 

[tootsiedaisy]

Check out the for sale forum and look for a metal halide set up do it right the first time you should be able to pick one up for $150.00 and then you can add anything you want to your reef

 

[APPerkins]

Do you guys think a 36" (I am pretty sure that is my tank width) AquaticLife T5 HO 4-Lamp Light w/ 3 Lunar Light would work?

 

[drew2007]

Do you guys think a 36" (I am pretty sure that is my tank width) AquaticLife T5 HO 4-Lamp Light w/ 3 Lunar Light would work?

If you can afford the difference in price go for the 6 bulb :thumbsup: