Getting back into the Hobby - what are the new "must haves"?

[RG21]

Hey everybody!

After several years in the Army, moving, deploying, etc, I have finally turned a new page, got a civilian career going and am able to stay put for the first time in what seems like forever. I've basically been deployed or on training orders since April of 2014. Well, I just bought a house, have a great job, and I don't see myself moving for the foreseeable future. You know what that means: time to set up my first tank in a long time!

As with any "hobby" (for lack of better terms, i see this more as a lifestyle lol), the innovation is just crazy. When I last had a tank, the latest innovations were items such as the mp40s, Reef Keeper Elite, and the beginning of viable LEDs. We've come a long way it appears! What are some of the items i should be on the lookout for? Below is the equipment I have already purchased or have on hand for a 65gal SPS tank

Brand New Equipment
-65gal drilled tank with internal overflows
-Eshopps 3rd Gen R-100 sump/refugium
-Mag 7 return pump
-BM Nac 7 Protein Skimmer
-(2) MP40 powerheads
-(2) Hamilton Tech 250w MH Ballasts
-(2) Hamilton Tech Bali Sun SE Mogul Pendants w/moonlights
-3 compartment dosing res
-ATO res
-Phosban Reactor
-Carbon Reactor


Items I have on Hand
-Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Elite controller
-1/4hp Current USA Chiller
-LED Array for refugium
-BM-T01 dose pump


I really want to take this tank to a top-of-the-line system, fully automated (with the exception of water changes, i like doing that manually). So i was thinking of the following upgrades to this system before i even set it up:

-New Neptune APEX system with everything to replace the RKE
-Optical ATO sensors to get away from float switches

What other innovative things may I be missing out on? I'm set on the MH fixture I have, I will likely get the sweet kessil LEDs for another build (i know they're "in" right now, and i think they're awesome). I definitely like the connectivity of the Apex controller and the interface. That is a must-have for me, and I can save the RKE for a 2nd build as well. As for dosing, I think i will stick to 2-part for this build for the sake of space. Maybe one day i will use a kalk or calcium reactor when i have a bigger footprint and more stand space. I will definitely be using the chiller to keep temps constant.

Any Ideas? Thanks in advance everyone, it is wonderful to be back on the forum and in the hobby.

 

[Jboone82590]

Thank you for youre survice.
It looks lime you got it all covered tho.
Neptune is comjng out with stuff every year lol.
They are getting ready to have a tester for ALK CA and MG all in one.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[RG21]

Thank you for youre survice.
It looks lime you got it all covered tho.
Neptune is comjng out with stuff every year lol.
They are getting ready to have a tester for ALK CA and MG all in one.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

I saw that! pretty stoked about that, will definitely have that on order when it comes out if it has solid reviews.

Glad i have it fairly covered though! So much new stuff coming out i was amazed when i visited MD/BRS. i really like the new ATOs.

 

[Jboone82590]

I saw that! pretty stoked about that, will definitely have that on order when it comes out if it has solid reviews.

Glad i have it fairly covered though! So much new stuff coming out i was amazed when i visited MD/BRS. i really like the new ATOs.

There is a lot of stuff for sure.
I have an apex on both of my systems and i wont do it without one again.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[maddmaxx]

thats a ton of light geeesh...SPS gonna love you lol...

if i may, if your going to want it top of the line. and your set on using an APEX control system. i would strongly suggest adding a reefbrite actinic LED strip to pair with those halides. it will bring out such nice colors while getting growth from your halides. thats top of the line, and with the controller you can control the LED intensity and have a complete 24hr sun/lunar cycle.... my 2 cents sir. give it some thought...

 

[RG21]

thats a ton of light geeesh...SPS gonna love you lol...

if i may, if your going to want it top of the line. and your set on using an APEX control system. i would strongly suggest adding a reefbrite actinic LED strip to pair with those halides. it will bring out such nice colors while getting growth from your halides. thats top of the line, and with the controller you can control the LED intensity and have a complete 24hr sun/lunar cycle.... my 2 cents sir. give it some thought...

Yeah hopefully the light isnt too much. I figured i would use the 2x250w because its a deep tank (basically a tall 40B) so i wanted to make sure i showed the bottom of the tank some love.

And i think that's a great idea. That would be super easy to do with my canopy as well. I will add that to the list, thank you for the input!

 

[Arthur1]

No it will not be too much light for an SPS dominated aquarium :beer:

 

[maddmaxx]

honestly 150w HQI or a 175w would have worked just as well. even tho the tank is per say tall. two halides side by side would penetrate just fine.. but more the merrier for SPS lol..

 

[Reefpuck]

I think you got pretty much everything covered. I wouldn't worry about getting anything else until your tank is up and running. Then you can decide what you need down the road.

 

[RG21]

I think you got pretty much everything covered. I wouldn't worry about getting anything else until your tank is up and running. Then you can decide what you need down the road.

Sweet. Thanks everyone for the input. Will make sure to post a build thread once i get started (hopefully over the weekend)!

 

[VoltzNSalt]

fully automated (with the exception of water changes, i like doing that manually).

When you tire of doing this manually (and you will), I have a Genesis Renew that I love. I change 4 gals/day on my 210 with the push of a button - set it and forget it. Sliced bread has nothing on the renew...

 

[tonyreef]

RO/DI system 4 or 5 stage is where you need to start!

 

[RG21]

When you tire of doing this manually (and you will), I have a Genesis Renew that I love. I change 4 gals/day on my 210 with the push of a button - set it and forget it. Sliced bread has nothing on the renew...

Hmm. definitely food for thought. I only do weekly w/c at about 20%. when you say fully automated, how "fully automated" are we talking? Do you have a res full of saltwater that is pumped in after the water has drained from your tank? Is the water routed to a drain? and lastly, do you mix the saltwater first or is that automated too? thanks in advance!

RO/DI system 4 or 5 stage is where you need to start!

I already have that covered. I grew tired of lugging buckets to/from the LFS after about 2 or 3 trips and bought a 5 stage RO/DI. that, in my opinion, should be one of the first purchases for somebody getting into this hobby. makes everything a million times easier!

 

[jda]

That is a pretty good list. I would suggest real live rock and not dry/dead - save yourself the trouble of algae and issue for 12-24 months. Good choice on the MH - put a fan into your plans unless you plan on keeping the tank open-top.

I would not automate too much... the less that you are in control, the less that you are in control. The really smart use their controller to observe and alert and not so much to automate - there have been more failures and crashes with controllers than without them.

 

[RG21]

That is a pretty good list. I would suggest real live rock and not dry/dead - save yourself the trouble of algae and issue for 12-24 months. Good choice on the MH - put a fan into your plans unless you plan on keeping the tank open-top.

I would not automate too much... the less that you are in control, the less that you are in control. The really smart use their controller to observe and alert and not so much to automate - there have been more failures and crashes with controllers than without them.

When i say "fully-automated" i mean more or less that i dont have to manually measure salinity, temp, pH, calcium, mag, PAR, etc. i want to be able to look at my controller and immediately see that all my parameters are in check, etc. I like being able to monitor that stuff so easily and make any adjustments manually if needed. I am not huge on automated water changes, but definitely want automated top-off etc. I like it hands on, but less labor intensive when it comes to making sure my parameters are good. I also like the thought of being able to monitor it remotely because i work 70-80hrs a week.

As for the fan, I'm not sure how necessary that would be, but i would like your thoughts on why?

I have a chiller so temp will be spot on. The only thing i think a fan would do is improve oxygen exchange, but even then i think it would be turbulent enough in the sump to have enough. The canopy has an open back so it should be alright. With that said, do you still think i'd need one? Just curious, thank you for the suggestion!


I am going to do a very thorough build thread once i have everything together. I've always enjoyed reading those and have always wanted to do one, just never had the money to put together something worth posting until recently, so this build is going to be pretty sweet.

 

[jda]

Sorry that I missed the chiller. No need for a fan then. Sorry.

I don't know that all of that stuff has monitors, but even if you use them, they will drift over time and need new probes. You are on the right track by manually making adjustments and checking with real test kits before you trust a controller too much.

I just check salinity every few weeks, alk every few days and look at a glass thermometer every week, or so. I do not have a controller.

 

[RG21]

Sorry that I missed the chiller. No need for a fan then. Sorry.

I don't know that all of that stuff has monitors, but even if you use them, they will drift over time and need new probes. You are on the right track by manually making adjustments and checking with real test kits before you trust a controller too much.

I just check salinity every few weeks, alk every few days and look at a glass thermometer every week, or so. I do not have a controller.

I honestly think i do it because my favorite part of this hobby is the equipment, plumbing setup etc. I swear, just when i finish and can just enjoy the tank, i am already building a new one and before i know it i have 7 tanks. Im a gearhead at heart and in finance by trade, so diving into the numbers/technicals, and tinkering with my hands are pretty much my life in a nutshell lol.

I definitely plan to keep those probes honest though. I just like having everything just right if that makes sense. kinda weird i know...