Going big for Christmas

[carlosngloria]

Well I was in the works of buying the tank from Daywn but the wifey says I cant buy a used tank that size. Hes got it going for a great price and who ever picks it up is lucky.

Now since I cant buy that tank I am going to go 210gal AGA.

She wants me to make a list for her, thats where I need some help. The budget will be $3,000. If found the tank for $750, so that leaves me with $2200 for every thing else. So I am going to go big on the skimmer I think about $600. Need some advice on one. The lighting system about $800. Return pump $150. Sump $100. What else should I need? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[carlosngloria]

Has any one tried a MRC protein skimmer?
Or the ASM G-4

 

[tperk9784]

Why can't you buy a used tank that size?

 

[carlosngloria]

I dunno the wifey says no. Ive been trying to get her to say yes but she keeps saying no.

 

[LouPhoenix]

Time for a divorce...
Just kidding, my wife thankfully restrains me before I waste away my "not-so-plentiful-after-all-the-bills" paycheck.

 

[Ding2daDong]

Just a heads up. Reefs Edge has a 210g AGA with stand and canopy brand new for $1000. I think that price can be worked down if you show up with $800 cash or something like that.



-Matthew

 

[ReefWreak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10639308#post10639308 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carlosngloria
Has any one tried a MRC protein skimmer?
Or the ASM G-4

I've seen the MRC skimmers in action and they're beasts. They're Beckett skimmers, so there are plusses and minuses to that type of system.

The G4 is eh, as I have never been impressed by an ASM skimmer before. Even though they're just ER clones (more or less), I've never seen one skim like an ER. For $600 you could get a nice ER Recirc skimmer from the for sale boards. For new in that price range... the MRC MR3 with the easy clean neck as well as second injector and a new pump would definitely be doable, as well as a sick skimmer. You've got a lot of places to go in that range. Nothing too high end (H&K, ATI, BM, Deltec, etc) but believe me, you'll get your money's worth in most skimmers that range, just go for as high a name brand as you can afford. BTW the brands I just mentioned are all needlewheel skimmers, so that's kind of a biased list, but it's there to give you an idea) I would actually expect the MRC MR3 to outskim a ER RS-250, which would be appropriatly sized for your tank. But to each their own, and I'm sure that others will chime in as well.

Also consider $600+ for just your in-tank flow with 2 tunze 6100s or something along those lines.

 

[carlosngloria]

Thanks for the input. I will check out all of those.

 

[nyvp]

i second for the tunze in the used section you can get 2 - 6100's plus a controller for $600. I bought a lot of items in the used section and saved $$$. start buying and slowly getting everything between now and christmas. take your time and you will save 30-40%

 

[gasman059]

Carlosngloria- if I was u I would try to get some more mula from the boss! lol

If u setup your aquarium once well done u will save money in the long run.
Either that or downscale to lets say a 110 AGA. and get to of the line equipment. This is soooo true in this hobby.

Do it once do it well and then enjoy.

As far as setting up a 200 this would be my priorities:

Filtartion-sump/fuge(sr.john does have a nice combo for sale)-euroreef-deltec-etss-or any other proven high end skimming technology)

circulattion(tunze x 4 or vortech) ( yes u can do with 4 korallias but they will need help in the long run)

Quality filtration(any rock will do as long as the filtration and circulation are both adequate)

circulation

 

[carlosngloria]

Thanks, I will up the mula because I want a big tank. I want to have some nice tangs and a large angel. Also a Blue spotted grouper. I have about $2000 a month left over after all the bills are paid.

I will call reef edge on Wednesday and find out about that tank stand and canopy for $1000. That is a good deal because at Big Als the tank is $750

Now heres is another question. While my tank is in cycle mode for the 1st month do I need my skimmer to be present then or can I pick it up after? If it is not needed during the cycle then I will be able to dish out $1600 for a better skimmer. That would be my best bet.

For the lighting system, I am planning on doing fowlr tank but might think about adding some corals. I was looking at the 150mh t5 combo from outer orbit.

 

[tperk9784]

Skimmers are not needed during cycling all they will do is pull out material before it can enter the nitrogen cycle. A tank this large might take more than 4 weeks to completely cycle as well. the water will tell you when it is done.

If you only plan on keeping limited softies the 150 watt lights would probably be fine, but don't ever plan on keeping SPS with those lights.

IMO with a fowlr tank you don't really need to run the lights unless your around to enjoy the tank.

 

[gasman059]

U don't need $1600 for a skimmer!

But u do need a good skimmer for your plans.
One of my previous tanks was a 300 FOWLR and ran an ETSS 8 w/o skipping a beat.
there's plenty of great new technology. Look around and research.

 

[Husky_1]

If you get the canopy, you may find that a retro kit to fit your needs may be cheaper than outer orbit setup...

 

[carlosngloria]

OK thanks for that tip. Ill look into the canopy deal.

 

[carlosngloria]

I stopped in at a LFS and I was told to go with a wet/dry and a nataulius skimmer. Every thing came out to just under $2000 with out the stand or canopy. So that would leave me with $1000 to pick those up or make one.

 

[tperk9784]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10648046#post10648046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carlosngloria
I was told to go with a wet/dry

That right there should tell you not to listen to the LFS. especially if you think corals are possibly in your future.

 

[ahoyhoy239]

i wouldnt spend that money ona wet/dry a LFS tried to sell you, especially for such a large tank. you could easily make your own out of another tank and some glass and silicone. you can make it the way you want and with a refugium which will not leave you with the nitrate problem the wet/dry will. you will save alot of money and will most likely have a much greater volume of water in the sump as well as reserve capacity when the main pump is off and the tank drains.

 

[carlosngloria]

For this size tank should I get the ReefKeeper2?

 

[jessp]

you are gonna spend like $800 plus or minus a couple hundred dollars on rock alone in a tank that large. keep that in mind when planning your budget