lighting and skimmer help!

[eric b24]

setting up a new 120g tank and was looking 4 input on selecting a skimmer and lights. i am looking at a euro-reef rs 135 and was wondering if that was a good skimmer or if someone had a thought on another brand for about the same price range. also was looking at doing dual 250w hqi, but not sure what brands to look into. i have heard of hamilton,pfo.icecap,sunlight supply.and hellolights but don't know what is good or bad. any input would be helpful.thanks.

 

[bored4long]

Hi, Eric. Welcome to the MARS forum and Reef Central!

If you are thinking of an RS135, there is one listed on Craigslist right now for a very good price.

Tell us a little bit more about what you want to do with your 120 and we can give you better direction.

And if you don't have plans, try to get to the MARS meeting this Friday at 7pm at Round Table Pizza in Orangevale.

 

[eric b24]

i am leaning toward mainly a sps dominated tank with a few softies and maybe a clam or 2 and a few reef safe fish. i would def. like too grow and frag sps and i am wondering if i should go with 2 seperate ballast or 1 dual ballast and what brand.

 

[eric b24]

:thumbsup:

 

[kdblove_99]

Skimmers i would check out the DAS EX 2 and the Octopus MSX 200.

Lighting i really like the PFO ballast. Only other Ballast i have used is a hamilton. which are nice also. But prefer PFO. Less heat IME

 

[fishsoldseprtly]

eric, if your thinking sps and want to spend money once and keep a quality sps reef tank, I would prefer Sunlight Supply HQI Duals, I would also recommend to do your research on a QUALITY skimmer. The skimmer is pretty important and if you want to keep up, I say save more money and go atleast ATB Small.

 

[eric b24]

thanks 4 the fast reply, sorry but not sure what ATB small is.

 

[kevin95695]

ATB is a quality skimmer. Seems like a lot of skimmers are spendy, knock-offs of spendy, or flat cheapos. I went with a DIY at first, and my next project will run a EuroReef and the frag tank will run a waaay old used spendy model.

Get the best light combo you can afford.

Besides hanging around here, do go to the meeting. The people you'll meet will be a great resource and eventually I'm sure you'll call them friends.

Oh, and welcome to the freak show!

 

[bored4long]

Eric, another way to help get an idea of what works is to search RC (yeah, I know, the search feature is a joke) for others that have setups like you want. See what they are using. If you go through the old Tank of the Month articles and scour the SPS forum, you will find lots of examples of what setups are successful (but usually really spendy, too).

 

[thebest3]

what kind of light you looking for might have what you need???...pm

 

[eric b24]

thanks for all the input. i am having a custom stand and canopy built so i def. need a retro lighting kit but was wondering what you liked about the sunlight supply more than pfo or icecap? also what brand and k rating bulb is best for optimum sps growth? any thoughts on atb vs. euro-reef vs. my reef creations skimmers.

 

[kdblove_99]

6500K is best for growth but is very yellow 10K is next best can also be a little yellow but if you have atinics it should not be an issue out of those Skimmers i would for take a ATB. H&S and Bubblekings are nice also

 

[no1fishman]

for lighting, if doing T5HO retrofits, go with the IceCap reflectors, but stay with the Sylvania ballasts, they're less expensive and are made specifically for T5HO lamps. if doing a MH/T5 combo, i like the lumenarc reflectors if you can fit them in your canopy.

if you like ER, i would look at sizing up a little bit and get the RS180 instead of the RS135. Besides all the ones already listed, look at the ATi Bubblemaster 200 too.