Getting Priorities Straight

[Reefing Newbie]

My tank is nearing one month old now and I am trying to prioritize the larger purchases aside from livestock. The tank is a 125 gallon tank. Some of the things I am looking to purchase are upgrades from things that I have(this tank was purchased as a complete set up and I am looking for better equipment). The plan is SPS, LPS, a LTA, plenty of fish, some shrimps, and a maxima clam. I currently have 4x160 watt VHO bulbs that I want to replace with DIY LEDs, a 1200gph koralia and 2x750gph koralias that I would like to change over to 2 mpw 40 ES(may still use the 750s on the back of the tank to give the back of the rock flow?), and I would like an Apex(which the full package pretty much takes care of my needs with the exception of the breakout box? for salinity monitoring.) Which of these would you go with first? There will probably be long periods in between purchases of each item because of cost. TIA!

 

[tamn3]

I'd go with a lights, doser, controller,and then some of the other add ons later. It takes about a year to collect/buy coral and to have them grow but once they take off you'll want to automate.

 

[Metal Man 1221]

As tamn3 said go with the lights, doser, and controller first. Maybe get the lights after the controller and doser though. What you have for lighting isn't all that bad.

IMO you will want to get equipment for maintaining water quality first. That way if you need to go over budget on anything the worst that can happen is that you have to wait a little longer for the extras.

I would probably go with the controller first. If you plan on going the Apex route, they aren't exactly plug n play. It will take you a couple of weeks to get comfortable with the programming, and to fix any errors in your programming. Do plan for this.

As far as lighting goes, why don't you supplement with leds instead of replacing your entire unit? This may be cheaper and will give you a chance to decide if you really like them.

Others may tell you to get new power heads first, but until you really need the flow they wont be necessary, especially with what you have already.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I don't feel the VHO's are able to light deep enough for a nem or clam, both needing a lot of light. Both will be on the substrate, so the light isn't as intense as it probably needs to be. I have seen local tanks with LEDs and they have some amazing coral growth going on with LPS and SPS. There are also some very nicely colored clams. I feel I am good with equipment with only the LPS. I may or may not have the flow for SPS, but have the lighting they need for the upper rock work. I had a small monti before tearing the tear down and suprisingly it is growing in a different tank on the bottom with PC lights. I may get the controller before the lights so I know how to use it and so I don't blind and bleach everything in the tank with the LEDs.... Would that be a good idea?

 

[Metal Man 1221]

I don't have a lot of experience with LEDs, However I personally wouldn't make a complete switch to them with out experimenting with supplementation or over a smaller less critical tank. But the decision is yours. Other wise it sounds good, You will love the Apex BTW, Sooo much fun to play with programming... That is if you're a computer savvy type :thumbsup:

 

[SushiGirl]

IMO you will want to get equipment for maintaining water quality first. That way if you need to go over budget on anything the worst that can happen is that you have to wait a little longer for the extras.

^^ That.

And remember, you're going to be at least 6 months away from a nem and you can wait that long on the clam too (I'd do a year, personally, for the nem) for tank maturity and stability. Our tank is finally stable parameter-wise and it's a year and 3 months. Plenty of time to upgrade lights when your tank is ready for the nem.

 

[iwishtofish]

^^ That.

And remember, you're going to be at least 6 months away from a nem and you can wait that long on the clam too (I'd do a year, personally, for the nem) for tank maturity and stability. Our tank is finally stable parameter-wise and it's a year and 3 months. Plenty of time to upgrade lights when your tank is ready for the nem.

+2. Which leads me to wonder: What kind of skimmer will you be using?

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Here is what I have for equipment:
Lighting: 2x 160watt Daylight VHOs and 2x 160watt Acintic VHOs
Skimmer: AquaC EV-180, works wonders for me!
Return Pump: Mag12
Circulation: 2x Koralia 750s, 1x Koralia 1200
Sump: Standard 55 gallon
Fuge: 36 gallon section of the sump, DSB and eventually LR, Chaeto, Ulva, and Red Gracilaria
Reactor: Poly-Reactor with 5" of GFO
Heating: 1x 150watt Finnex(dial version) and 1x 200watt Aqueon

My tank is up and runing currently. It has been cycled since the end of December because of the ~50lbs of 2 year old cured LR from before I tore this tank down for a repair. I also have ~25 lbs of dry rock in there. I still have 25-30lbs of rock to add for the fuge. There is also about 180lbs of sand. My first fish won't be in there for two months because I am properly QTing them. My lights will be out for 1 month before I add macros to the fuge, because I have had a red bubble algae problem that won't go away despite removing nutrients. I had the tank up for three months and the skimmer was amazing and also one that my LFS's feel good about as an all around skimmer. It may not be the best, but it does it's job quite well.

The nem is actually going to be at least 8 months out because Todd suggested on waiting for the mandarin and watchman goby to be in the tank and established so you can put the nem in where they don't hang out. I have water quality measures accounted for from what I have researched and read. The tank ran very well before the tear down and I am working out the kinks with the new sump design. I feel that once I get the first additions in the tank and settled that I would be ready for the extras: meaning LEDs(which I have seen on local reefers tanks as well as in some of my LFSs and I like them), Apex, and upgrading to the mpW 40ES.

 

[Sk8r]

Ro/di, refractometer, adequate tests for alk, cal, mg; logbook; autotopoff are among the first. Most of all, you want a stable tank for the nem, good water, good flow but not violent. Annoyed nems are prone to go walkabout, and if they run into trouble can puff up, whizz around the tank several times every half hour, stinging everything in reach and then getting stung, etc. They're beautiful, but cranky. In my limited observation, the presence of clowns tends to settle them...but also know their max size. First thing I ever did in a reef was put two clarkii's and a carpet in a new 100 g barely cycled. The nem, perversely, not only survived---it thrived. Five months later it covered half that tank and was still growing, almost too big to bag to take back to the lfs, after which the clowns bit me every time I put my hands in the tank and never were happy with me again. So do ask about size and flow preference.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I did forget to list that I have a RO/DI unit, which I picked up a few months ago(got tired of running to the lfs for water). I have a Premium Aquatics refractometer, ATO is budgeted for(money set aside trying to get one from a local reefer) and if I don't get a deal on one of them then I will get a new one before I put my fish in(doing it manually now, and getting old), alk, cal, and mg test kits are being ordered tomorrow(Red Sea kit), and I have been using the log book from the sticky. I talked to Todd about flow requirements for the LTA and he said they don't like as much flow as other nems so this one will be in a low flow area. Max size for it is 20" which I have a nice spot that I hope will be its comfy spot. I want the LTA before I get SPS corals or the clam that way I can hopefully avoid them being stung to death.

 

[randomfishguy85]

have you looked into buying used? i was able to find 2-175 watt metal halide system for 70 bucks. i also found 2-250 watt metal halide system for 100 bucks. if your patient and check craigslist, kijiji(i dont know if this one is in america), and here on reef central you can probably find awesome equipment at really good prices.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Yeah that is how I am going to try and get the mp40s. The other stuff has to be new, apex for the warranty, led because of my taste in color.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Sorry if you guys feel post #8 reads out snooty. I didn't mean for it to come out that way, but reading now I think it does seem like it is.

 

[Devaji108]

great question and some really great thoughts too...
my 2 cents for what ever it's worth.
as stated above water quality is key however I don't see how having a apex will give you that automatically you still have to keep an eye on it and work to that end.
if you don't like manually adding water get your ATO and 2 part/dosing going and dialed in.
your flow is ok for now as well as your lighting, that said I would start on your DIY LED they take longer that you might think..well at least in my case anyway. while your building you can save for other goodies. + I am sure you will love the shimmer it's amazing!
so my thoughts..
ATO 2 part/dosing
DIY LED's
apex or mp40 witch ever one you think you need 1st
don't get me wrong I like the idea of a controller...soon i'll have one too

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Thank you for your thoughts and I am trying to get as much input as I can on the subject so I don't find myself in a pickle. The ATO will be first for sure, and Sk8r would know about this, but wouldn't kalk in my top off work in my system? I know it is borderline, but probably safer two part? I love the idea of a controller as well because the Apex is able to alert you if something does go out of whack. Helps monitor the conditions, which for me a refractometer is hard to read(I am nearsighted). The Apex would help getting a more readable version. My heaters are also off about 3-4 degrees so it would be nice to get them on the Apex. How long did your LED build take you? I still have to figure out wiring and drivers so more research is in the future. Can't wait for them though, I rally like the dimmable capability and able to have some moon light for after lights out for a hour or two.