Need help deciding please...$1,500

[Tangwich]

So I turn to all of you because you have given me great info and advice in the recent past with regards to equipment. Here's my current dilemma. I just set up my new 225 gallon sps/lps mixed reef tank and will have 20 fish including 3 tangs. On my build thread it was suggested that I would eventually need a bigger sump and bigger skimmer. I currently have a Coralife Super Skimmer and sump is approx 15 gallons, and from what I've been told, won't do the job. I have $1,500 (income tax return) free to burn on either equipment or corals/fish. I also don't have a calcium reactor.

What would you do with those $1,500? Fish and corals or new equipment? What would be the best bang for your buck protein skimmer and calcium reactor? Thanks again for all your generous help and input.

 

[Waxxiemann]

This should about cover it
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=34_136&products_id=2340


But seriously though, I would look at getting a better (way better) skimmer and a Calcium reactor before you put any more fish and coral in.

 

[Doe]

If i had your system and $1500 i would be buying a Reeflo Orca 200 and a Geo 618 calcium reactor

but thats just me

 

[CJBDFRAZ]

If I had $1500 to spend in your situation I would spend $1000 on equipment and $500 on livestock. Anything would be an upgrade from a superskimmer. You can find a decent skimmer for around $500. Before you get a calcium reactor I would make sure you have adequate flow and lighting.

 

[Rwinfrey]

I would contact Spazz he is testing his mini volcanos out I think he would work with you he is a good guy and won't stear you wrong.wish I had 1500 to blow but mama bear would kill me

 

[kgross]

I would get the skimmer and sump first. Ca reactor, what type of corals are you planning on keeping in the tank. If your not going with lots of SPS you can get by without the Ca reactor without any problems. Also depending on what you want to keep (SPS), you could get a good closed loop pump (reeflo Dart).

Kim

 

[dvanacker]

Please don't get more livestock when you seriously need equipment upgrades. SUMP, SKIMMER and CA REATOR.

For skimmer I vote reeflo 200 as well. Also like someone mentioned if you don't plan on getting a lot of stonies you could do with out the ca reactor. Maybe by a kalk reactor just to get you started and if you feel the need down the road, get a Calcium reactor.

 

[mcliffy2]

Don't you guys mean Reeflo 250? The 200 would probably do the job, but since the 250 is still under budget ($1250 w/ free shipping from Reef Specialty), I'd say go for it. 2 of the recent tanks of the month both used the reeflo 250, so you know it works.

I just went through the same debate for my 238g. Finally settled on the Reeflo 250. The BK Supermarin is a great skimmer, but the only advantage I see is that it doesnt draw the power the Reeflo does. Other than that the Reeflo pulls way more air, and bottom line performance, I think it will outskim the BK Supermarin, for less $$.

 

[mcliffy2]

Oh yea, and for a CA reactor, I would just dose two part for now, and get the CA Reactor down the road. Manually dosing isnt that bad at first, and while I am planning to purchase a CA Reactor, I feel like manually dosing made me more "in touch" with my water parameters, if that makes sense. (Kind of like how they made us learn the dewey decimal system in the library, even tho you could look everything up electronically)

Just go here, its a very inexpensive Calcium/Alk/Mag solution that is easy, and most importantly works. www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Macimage]

I'd purchase a much larger sump and a better skimmer first. You can find good used ones either in your local paper or here in the RC sales section:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=2

You'll still have some $$ left over for livestock and/or a calcium reactor if you purchase good quality used equipment.

Joyce

 

[ahullsb]

If I were you I would buy a much better skimmer like they suggested. But, I personally wouldn't blow 1500 on one either. I would be looking for a used skimmer, or used Ca reactor. I would expect that I could find both for under 1000 dollars.

 

[JRaquatics]

Like many mentioned above, I would search for the largest used tank that will fit under your stand and use it as a sump. I also would suggest the Reeflo line. These are resonably priced skimmers, well built (like tanks) and pull tons of air.

 

[Mouse]

Equipment hands down.

 

[HellboundX]

If I had an extra $1500 I would spend it all at the local strip club. j/k Definately upgrade that skimmer, I had the same one and thought it was decient until I got an ASM...The rest of the money, use on equipment. That way you will be ready to add whatever corals and fish you want without worrying

 

[JCTewks]

get a 125g tank at a dollar/gallon sale, spend $20 on partitions/baffles and you've got your sump. Spend $450 on an MSX250. Now you've got $600 left for a calcium reactor...and any money that's left after the reactor can go toward fish.

 

[kenettson1]

I would buy a reputable used skimmer and sump on the for sale forums. I have had very good luck getting things here for years.

 

[Tangwich]

Thank you guys for all the great advice. I will be using the $1,500 to buy a skimmer and sump. For now, I will just continue manuel dosing and wait to see if I find a good deal on a calcium reactor. The plans for my tank is sps/lps, softies and zoo mix. I love the natural look of diversity in a reef tank. Don't want to spend all the money on a BK so I think I will go with the Reeflo 200 as most mentioned. Thanks again to everyone who contributed their two cents.

 

[Lucky-rc]

I agree.... I would upgrade the equipment with it.
As far as the sump goes I have a "highflow" sump built by Inovative Plastics it's only 45gal (for my 310) and I'm pushing over 2,000 gph through it. All my sump does is filter the water and give me a place for the other equip. to dump their returns in. Skimmer, po4 reactor, and u/v.
If that is all yours is going to do it will be fine. Some people like huge sumps so they can put all sorts of stuff in them. I don't. Other than live rock, there is nothing in mine. I am running a HammerHead pump and filter socks to stop micr-bubbles. Works great.

Get a good skimmer and some fish... IMO this would be the best of both sides...

NOTE: so I don't get beat up, I like the serious flow through the sump because the detrius in the tank gets sucked to the overflow very quick. No floating around looking for a place to settle.

Lucky

 

[Tangwich]

How do you guys feel about ASM or EuroReef skimmers? In comparison to the Reeflo 200?

 

[McCrary]

I don't think ASM would be a good skimmer choice for the tank, but ER is a very good product. But you would be better off going with the ORCA reeflo skimmer for what you are going to wind up spending on the ER. Get a 75 gallon sump (this is going to be a lot easier to fit under the stand than a 125) so you have room to keep your calcium reactor and CO2 bottle. But I would wait on the calcium reactor until you have the tank settled in and you have your livestock in place. This will give you a better sense of your calcium demands and what you are looking for in a reactor. I am willing to bet that you are going to burn that $1500 on the skimmer and sump pretty easily. But the ORCA reeflo is a good skimmer that should allow you to maintain low nutrients despite any heavy feeding that is done to the tank. Also wait until you have the skimmer and new sump in place before you start adding lots of coral.