Help me with my Purchase, please!

[Kawaii]

We are getting rid of our Eclipse hood on our 29g reef tank and replacing it with the following:

CPR Bak-Pak 2R+ Reef Ready Protein Skimmer
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CR1113


CPR Bak-Pak 2 Pre-skimmer
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CR1123



Coralife 30 Inch Aqualight W/ 2-65W Straight Pin Base And 2-3/4W Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED Lamps
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ES53403



Is this everything we need and are these good purchases? I want to make sure everything is right before I spend $300 on all of this! Thanks everyone!

 

[scrmbld33]

i know 2 people with the light, youll be happy with it, i have read good things abouyt the skimmer but not first hand HTH

 

[Brandon's Reef]

looks very good to me.

 

[Kawaii]

One more question!


Will it get too hot if I sit the lighting fixture directly on the top?

 

[bheron]

its definitely possible. be prepared for it, you may have to use a small fan on the surface of the water to blow the warm air away.

 

[elwaine]

For a hang on skimmer, I'd take a serious look at the Remora C with a Maxijet 1200: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ACRM
It laso has a pre-skimmer option - although I doubt that you'd need it in a 29 gal tank.

The light is nice - had one and was pleased with it; however, what do you want to grow in your tank? You should decide that before choosing a light. Don't make the same mistake I did.

If you want to grow softies and LPS coral, the light you are looking at is a very good choice. But if you eventually want to try your hand at SPS corals and/or clams, you really should consider buying a Metal Halide or MH/PC combo light. E.g., http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_metal_halide_coralife_aqualight_pro.asp?CartId=

I know it's easy to spend someone else's money, but I'm really trying to save you money (in the long run).

PC lights (with a fan) will not heat up your tank very much if you set them on the "feet" that come with the light you are looking at. If you do go the route of MH lights, you may have to spend even more $$ on a chiller. Depending on the ambient temp in the room that houses your aquarium - esp. during the summer months - MH lighting can really heat up the water unless you can suspend the lights from the ceiling and keep them 18" or so above the water.

 

[davocean]

I agree w/elwaine, look at the remora.
I had a backpack and didn't like it. VERY NOISY.
Skim was more like light green tea, not good.
My friend had one that was no where near as noisy and thought it
was OK, but not great.
I switched from my max jet pump to the same pump as his (rio)
but still was noisy.
I even added the airstone mod, still just so so.
I've read a lot of possitive comments on the remora.

 

[gibbswagon]

good luck

 

[Kawaii]

If you want to grow softies and LPS coral, the light you are looking at is a very good choice.

That is all we intend on keeping, and if we do want to keep more delicate corals, we have a 55g in our bedroom that we plan on setting up in the future.

PC lights (with a fan) will not heat up your tank very much if you set them on the "feet" that come with the light you are looking at.

Will it get too hot without the feet? The tank about two feet from my computer and I sit lower than it so I am pretty sure that if the lights are not resting directly on the tank that I will be blinded by them.


Also, I noticed that it says under the Remora "Note: Maxi-Jet 1200 does not come with suction cups.", so do we need to just buy them somewhere separately??

 

[elwaine]

Kawaii

The easy answer first: no suction cups required. You'll understand when you see it. And by all means get the MaxiJet and not the Rio. In my experience, the R in "Rio" stands for "racket." I originally purchased the Rio with my Remora and it was so noisy I wound up buying the MaxiJet 1200... been very pleased since. I have the Remora C for 2 years now.

I understand the problem you will face with glare from the light, but I do not know the answer to your question. I've only used that light fixture on the legs provided. I suppose you can try to put it directly on the top of your 29 and see what happens. But you can also buy material and make a black "skirt" around the base ot the light along the front and along the one side that throws glare your way- as long as you don't cover the fan.

Have fun!

 

[Fred_J]

I also agree with elwaine. No other comment needed.
Fred