Getting back involved...been 12 years. Input?

[RussC]

When I left the hobby, T5s were coming on board. Nobody even knew what an LED was. Lost my aquarium during Hurricane Katrina and haven't had one since then. Wow, have things changed! I'd love some guidance on what to begin looking at in order to put together for new system. I want a 90 gallon tank with sump, LED system,the works. If I learned anything the last time I had a marine tank is that, whatever you get, you want more. I would just like to hear about what others like and are using with success. I see prebuilt sump kits that you can place your skimmers inside. That's nice. I'm not trying to recreate the wheel. But I believe you get what you pay for in this hobby. What about your lights? OMG, I spent almost an hour talking just lights with the local store. How incredible. LEDs are the way to go and I would love to hear what you use and why. I will raise corals. Love it. Love the fish. I'll have some hard corals but I suspect I'll be raising predominantly soft. So many cool corals and beautiful fish. Looking forward to putting it all together. This site did me right back in the day. Glad to see its still going strong.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

When I left the hobby, T5s were coming on board. Nobody even knew what an LED was. Lost my aquarium during Hurricane Katrina and haven't had one since then. Wow, have things changed! I'd love some guidance on what to begin looking at in order to put together for new system. I want a 90 gallon tank with sump, LED system,the works. If I learned anything the last time I had a marine tank is that, whatever you get, you want more. I would just like to hear about what others like and are using with success. I see prebuilt sump kits that you can place your skimmers inside. That's nice. I'm not trying to recreate the wheel. But I believe you get what you pay for in this hobby. What about your lights? OMG, I spent almost an hour talking just lights with the local store. How incredible. LEDs are the way to go and I would love to hear what you use and why. I will raise corals. Love it. Love the fish. I'll have some hard corals but I suspect I'll be raising predominantly soft. So many cool corals and beautiful fish. Looking forward to putting it all together. This site did me right back in the day. Glad to see its still going strong.

I use to AI primes over my 36" tank but think it would cover 48" -. Love the app and control. It was between them and Kessils 160s. I get decent shimmer and the better control is awesome

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

[Valentini89]

When I left the hobby, T5s were coming on board. Nobody even knew what an LED was. Lost my aquarium during Hurricane Katrina and haven't had one since then. Wow, have things changed! I'd love some guidance on what to begin looking at in order to put together for new system. I want a 90 gallon tank with sump, LED system,the works. If I learned anything the last time I had a marine tank is that, whatever you get, you want more. I would just like to hear about what others like and are using with success. I see prebuilt sump kits that you can place your skimmers inside. That's nice. I'm not trying to recreate the wheel. But I believe you get what you pay for in this hobby. What about your lights? OMG, I spent almost an hour talking just lights with the local store. How incredible. LEDs are the way to go and I would love to hear what you use and why. I will raise corals. Love it. Love the fish. I'll have some hard corals but I suspect I'll be raising predominantly soft. So many cool corals and beautiful fish. Looking forward to putting it all together. This site did me right back in the day. Glad to see its still going strong.

First off, I don't run a sump on my 29 gallon but I sure will be on the 150g I'm planning. Sumps are definitely the way to go, and the bigger, the better. As far as lights, you are right, LEDs are the way to go. I use an LED system but it is really only good for the fish and few soft corals I keep. Chinise black boxes on eBay or Amazon for your inexpensive LEDs and for something that you can keep SPS I would suggest reefbreeders photon V2. That's what I'll be going with. You can always spend more but for about $500 you can keep anything. Go all out, as much as you can. I'm planning to put everything I want into my new build. A guy at one of my LFS said it like this, "if you spend 3,000 on a system and decide you want bigger or different, then you sell that system for $1000 and spend $5000 on the new system and you are $7000 into it". Makes sense to me. Also, please, research research research.. I know you have done this before, but like you said things have changed.

 

[RussC]

That's what I'm looking for. Thanks. That kind of input gets me started. I need to be pointed in a direction. Right now, any direction. So much new and exciting gear out there. I look forward to learning as much as I can.

 

[RussC]

Am I missing something? What about these systems my LFS was talking about that are $1000 plus? They control everything from lights to pumps, etc.?

 

[Valentini89]

Am I missing something? What about these systems my LFS was talking about that are $1000 plus? They control everything from lights to pumps, etc.?

Apex systems, etc, yeah you can invest in one of those. They are expensive though and you still have to purchase the pumps, lights, etc separately. Alot of ppl use Apex though and I'm sure someone here would be happy to help you with info.

 

[mako61]

I just came back to reefing after 15ish year break also. Equipment has changed a lot, but reef keeping is still pretty much the same. Patience, nothing good happens fast. I got a list of things I wanted and priced each item to get an idea of the budget. I tired to not get in a hurry but thats hard.

A few thing I like a lot that are "new" tech.

I really like :
Led lighting - great control, low heat / energy, lasts a long time
Refractometer - super easy and fast to measure salinity
Test kits in general are just better now

Not required but make life easier:
Auto Top Off systems -
Auto Doser - I used ESV back then and handed dosed each day
Apex - its just fun to have app that lets you control the tank
Hanna ALK Checker - fast and easy
Small RODI system
Online forums

I still spend too much time messing with my tank. But that stuff really helps a lot.

 

[RussC]

Mako, good to connect with another person kind of in my same boat. I'm the same way. I generated these threads in hopes of getting ideas on what people suggest so I, too, can begin compiling a wishlist. So many cool tech stuff these days!

Last tank I had a top off system built out of drip system I modified from a IV system from a hospital! LOL it worked. But, man, was it bulky. I've seen a few now, that offer floats, five gallon containers, etc, all built in small packages to fit under your tank with the sump. That's awesome! What have you seen that you liked for auto topoff systems?

Tell me about the auto doser? You mean for chemicals, etc? Now that's sweet.

And a "small" RODI system. What is small? I think that was one of my last investments before I lost my tank. And I couldn't have been happier I bought that. It changed everything. I will definitely go back with one of those.

 

[Sk8r]

My system: no controller
Hydor autotopoff
Iwaki main pump
Eheim topoff pump
kalk
Radion lighting (led)
Eshopps skimmer
Gyre powerhead
I use kalk for the corals, so once I've set that up in the topoff water, I don't have to dose until the magnesium level falls: its a chemical balance; and the mg falls very, very slowly: you can go without dosing as long as your topoff water holds out. Weekly tests are good if you run kalk.

 

[RussC]

They've come so far on the topoff systems! I've been watching videos and reading about all that. I always found that tedious. But these new systems really help. How do you mix kalk with the topoff system, Sk8r?