Finally ready to order...

ncox38

ncox38

New member
I think i have finally put together all the pieces and im going to place all my orders, I think i have covered my bases but let me know if i am forgetting something essential. Keep in mind i am starting from scratch with saltwater, all i have is a couple hydrometers and a few powerheads. so here i the list:

Drs. F&S

2- Rena Cal Top Light Excel Heater (300 watt)
1- Ultra-Ground Titanium Probe
2- HoldFast Epoxy Stick
1- Pro-Scraper Long (3" Blade/24" Handle)
1- SeaCure Copper Treatment (2 fl. oz)
1- Maracyn Plus
2- Kent Sea Salt (200 gallon mix)
1- Micro•Vert (16 oz)
3- Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand (40 lbs.)
1- Formalin (16 oz.)
1- 18 watt Turbo-Twist UV Sterilizer
2- Coralife Digital Thermometer
2- Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights (48" - 216 watts)
1-- Coralife Power Center (dual)
1- Pure-Flo II Float Valve
1- Magnesium Test Lab
1- Calcium Test Kit
1- KH/Carbonate Test Kit
1- Copper Test
3- Hydor Koralia Pump 3 (on backorder)

thefilterguys.biz

either
Ocean Wave + 5 Stage or
Ocean Reef +1 5 Stage
(I going to call the guys tomorrow and ask their opinion)

thereefstop.com

Mag-Drive 12
Octopus DNW-200 (recirc mod)
whatever pump the guy recommends to drive the sklmmer.

twopartsolution.com

6 gal. mix

For those who have read my other threads about which lighting to choose, I have decided against MH for now. I would need 3 fixtures and since there isn't really a price difference b/n 150/175/250 I would have done 250's. If T5's arent enough when I feel comfortable trying SPS i can upgrade then. For now I will just stagger the 2 -4' nova's.

Thanks for any input,

Nick
 
Dump the copper - you'll never be able to have corals if you have copper in your tank.

Dump the sand and salt and buy it local - the shipping is going to kill you.

Dump the scraper and get the one you attach to a mag cleaner. (premiumaquatics.com)

Get 2 mag cleaners (1 for the coraline scraper, 1 for regular algae)

Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate tests.

Either dump the Coralife Timer or buy some fire extinguishers (buy the 18.00 digitals at Lowes)

Rethink the lights - I went through PC and t-5's before getting the MH (and wasted all that money). Get 2 MH pendents and put them both just off center. When you can/need to, get another pendent and space them out.

Buy the best and cry once.

(oh, and tell me where the !*(%%$ backwards button is for text in ACAD 2007)
 
Last edited:
Those nova's won't grow sps, just drop the few extra bucks for a tek fixture. that way you won't have to go to halides
 
What do you use in you QT tank instead of copper?
Shipping isnt based on weight w/ DFS.
I have the test kits for my freshwater tank.
What kind of timer(s) would you recommend? I have the coralife on my other tank and i dont have any problems.

Thanks for the input!
 
The only waste of money there I see

2- Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights (48" - 216 watts) No individual reflectors and isn't much brighter than a PC fixture. it is only 4' long too.
 
I just looked up TEK fixtures price is OK but they are only 48" what do I do for the 24" of tank (12" each side)?
 
Re: Finally ready to order...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9194231#post9194231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ncox38
I think i have finally put together all the pieces and im going to place all my orders, I think i have covered my bases but let me know if i am forgetting something essential. Keep in mind i am starting from scratch with saltwater, all i have is a couple hydrometers and a few powerheads. so here i the list:

Drs. F&S

2- Rena Cal Top Light Excel Heater (300 watt)
1- Ultra-Ground Titanium Probe
2- HoldFast Epoxy Stick

Buy aquamend at HD.

1- Pro-Scraper Long (3" Blade/24" Handle)

I like these myself. I also bought a short one

1- SeaCure Copper Treatment (2 fl. oz)
1- Maracyn Plus
I'd skip these, never needed them

2- Kent Sea Salt (200 gallon mix)
Personally I'd just go with a LFS special at 35 for a bucket of IO, but salt IS a personal choice so take that for what it's worth

1- Micro•Vert (16 oz)
Not sure what it is since I've never used it

3- Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand (40 lbs.)
I agree with the others, just get it local

1- Formalin (16 oz.)
Never used it

1- 18 watt Turbo-Twist UV Sterilizer
A choice but I like the ozone, you can get an enaly for 45-50 shipped off ebay but the UV is still a fine choice

2- Coralife Digital Thermometer
2- Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights (48" - 216 watts)
I have to agree with some of the others, just go MH and get it over with

1-- Coralife Power Center (dual)
Intermatic digital or even the analog type from Lowes

1- Pure-Flo II Float Valve
1- Magnesium Test Lab
1- Calcium Test Kit
1- KH/Carbonate Test Kit
Perfect and all you HAVE to have. Maybe something else later but these are the key tests needed

1- Copper Test
I'd skip this too

3- Hydor Koralia Pump 3 (on backorder)
Let us know how you like them.

thefilterguys.biz

either
Ocean Wave + 5 Stage or
Ocean Reef +1 5 Stage
(I going to call the guys tomorrow and ask their opinion)
This sounds great. There was a thread that someone had a spectrapure max something that is the cadillac of ro/di setups, dig and see if you can find it

thereefstop.com

Mag-Drive 12
Octopus DNW-200 (recirc mod)
whatever pump the guy recommends to drive the sklmmer.

Sounds great

twopartsolution.com

6 gal. mix

Sounds good, you can order the mag online and get prestone driveway heat local "possibly" cheaper but that is a fine choice.

For those who have read my other threads about which lighting to choose, I have decided against MH for now. I would need 3 fixtures and since there isn't really a price difference b/n 150/175/250 I would have done 250's. If T5's arent enough when I feel comfortable trying SPS i can upgrade then. For now I will just stagger the 2 -4' nova's.

Thanks for any input,

Nick
Click to expand...

I added inside the post above. Remember opinions are like an anatomy part, everyone has one and they all stink.
 
#1- I'd highly recommend a controller. Even the AC Jr. would be fine but with as much as you're investing, it's worth it. Especially running 2-300w heaters. Look around regarding the biggest problems.

#2- I’d highly recommend contacting Markk96 from the reef stop as he will help you and he isn’t there to sell you the biggest most expensive thing. He’s VERY helpful

The below is just simply my opinion
2- Rena Cal Top Light Excel Heater (300 watt) Never Used Them
1- Ultra-Ground Titanium Probe- Never Used Them
2- HoldFast Epoxy Stick- Depends what it's for
1- Pro-Scraper Long (3" Blade/24" Handle)- Great
1- SeaCure Copper Treatment (2 fl. oz)- Don't Need
1- Maracyn Plus- Don't Need
2- Kent Sea Salt (200 gallon mix)- Buy from a LFS- Usually a "oversized item" charge
1- Micro•Vert (16 oz)- Use DT's (could be wrong on this)
3- Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand (40 lbs.)- Buy from a LFS- Usually a "oversized item" charge
1- Formalin (16 oz.)- Never Used Them
1- 18 watt Turbo-Twist UV Sterilizer- Ask others about them. I've never heard anything all that exciting
2- Coralife Digital Thermometer- Could deduct $13 from buying a AC Jr.
2- Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights (48" - 216 watts)- I disagree with this since I've been through several sets of lights in less than a year. I agree with everyone else here.
1-- Coralife Power Center (dual)- Gave mine away. Settings don't work well with numerous settings- AC Jr.
1- Pure-Flo II Float Valve- Great
1- Magnesium Test Lab- Go Salifert
1- Calcium Test Kit- Go Salifert
1- KH/Carbonate Test Kit- Go Salifert
1- Copper Test- Don't Need
3- Hydor Koralia Pump 3 (on backorder)- Depending on what you end up keeping, might want more flow
 
Last edited:
I also would recommend an aquacontroller. The jr if not getting the full aquacontroller 3. I'm not sure about the value of going for the ac3pro. But add the dc8, ph and orp probes and you can go with the ozone. The full version is a pretty penny though.
 
I appreciate it, and thats exactly why Im asking. Mistakes are the reason im going this big in the first place. as soon as my freshwater tank was up and established i wanted bigger. not doing that again.
 
You will find some who can make pc's work for them, some who grow SPS easily under T5's and then the rest of us who have to work a little harder and need the tried and true equipment. Do consider a calcium reactor and ph controller...dosing is for those with a lot of time on their hands...right Roy? :D

A 125 is a good tank but I may be biased a little. My next one will be over 200 gallons if I live that long.
 
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