New 55g Reef Aquarium

[Pysiek]

Guys which kit I should get to test the water during cycle? API Saltwater Master Test Kit or API Reef Master test kit? The tank will be a reef tank in the near future

API Saltwater Master Test Kit
API Reef Master Test Kit

 

[Spyderturbo007]

I would go with the Saltwater Master kit and use that during your cycle. You'll find that the pH, Nitrite and Ammonia tests in the kit work just fine. The Nitrate is terrible. I would recommend something a little higher quality when you get to the point of testing Calcium, Magnesium, Alkalinity, Phosphates, etc.

Here is what I use:

pH = Digital Probe
Ammonia, Nitrite = API
Nitrate = Red Sea Pro
Calcium = Red Sea Pro
Magnesium = Red Sea Pro
Alkalinity = Hanna Checker
Phosphate = Hanna Checker

I can't say anything bad about the test kits I listed above. They are all easy to do and work well I've checked the Phosphate, Magnesium and Phosphate in my lab on our ICP and they are accurate.

 

[Pysiek]

Thanks for the info. I need something now that is why I will purchase the kit at local store.

 

[Pysiek]

Guys I have received a mag-drive supreme 5 pump and this thing is loud! I ended switching back to my old Rio+ Aqua 1700 pump.

 

[Pysiek]

I know there is a lot of articles about LED vs T5 lighting but I would like to hear your opinion on that. I will purchase lighting soon and can't decide if to go with LED or T5. So far I'm more to T5 because of the price.

 

[Spyderturbo007]

I don't really know anything about LEDs other than they include a ton of functionality that you don't get with T5s. The problem is they are terribly expensive compared to T5s. That's why I steered clear of them for now. Perhaps an upgrade in the future, but when I bought everything else, I really didn't want to spend another $2,000 for LEDs.

 

[Pysiek]

I don't really know anything about LEDs other than they include a ton of functionality that you don't get with T5s. The problem is they are terribly expensive compared to T5s. That's why I steered clear of them for now. Perhaps an upgrade in the future, but when I bought everything else, I really didn't want to spend another $2,000 for LEDs.

I was thinking to purchase DIY LED kit from rapidled.com .

 

[Pysiek]

And here are some more pictures :

 

[Zeus30]

As far aslighting goes, I went with the ebay 120W LED pendants and they work great and have good growt.! You will need 2 of them to get full lighting from one end to the other. They cost anywhere around 130-160 shipped. T5's are nice but you have to change the bulbs every year and that can get pricey after a couple of years depending on how many bulbs go in the fixture. Just my .02 since you asked for opinions.

 

[Olival]

Hy Pysiek,
I'm newby on the whole thing but I've been reading a lot...and in that LED vs T5 discussion, what I understood so far is that LEDs offers less heat, last long, consume less energy and are more expensive at the purchase but in the long run would break even or could even be cheaper. Apart from those concrete facts, people are saying that the Coral's colors stands out better than with other lights but I couldn't find really an agreement/evidences on that.
I'm going with LEDs myself but if I can find some used T5 fixture real cheap, at least for the beginning I will get them! Once cycled and ready to get live stock I will invest on the LEDs...(unless I get a super deal in the middle of the road) I'm thinking about the new AI Vega!

 

[Pysiek]

As far aslighting goes, I went with the ebay 120W LED pendants and they work great and have good growt.! You will need 2 of them to get full lighting from one end to the other. They cost anywhere around 130-160 shipped. T5's are nice but you have to change the bulbs every year and that can get pricey after a couple of years depending on how many bulbs go in the fixture. Just my .02 since you asked for opinions.

I have seen those on eBay. I have 55G tank so I think it should be fine with one LED pendant.
Also I was thinking about rapidled.com kit.
What color did you get? White and blue?

 

[Pysiek]

Hy Pysiek,
I'm newby on the whole thing but I've been reading a lot...and in that LED vs T5 discussion, what I understood so far is that LEDs offers less heat, last long, consume less energy and are more expensive at the purchase but in the long run would break even or could even be cheaper. Apart from those concrete facts, people are saying that the Coral's colors stands out better than with other lights but I couldn't find really an agreement/evidences on that.
I'm going with LEDs myself but if I can find some used T5 fixture real cheap, at least for the beginning I will get them! Once cycled and ready to get live stock I will invest on the LEDs...(unless I get a super deal in the middle of the road) I'm thinking about the new AI Vega!

I would like to go with LEDs too but like you said T5 are cheaper on the beginning.

 

[Zeus30]

I have seen those on eBay. I have 55G tank so I think it should be fine with one LED pendant.
Also I was thinking about rapidled.com kit.
What color did you get? White and blue?

You won't get away with just one. Trust me when I say this because I had one on a 55 gallon and the ends were dark so I purchased another one, especially if you're going to add corals. The ones I purchased were 1:1 with blues and whites.

I had T5's and when I went to LED's, with just the blues on, man the colors pop and they have a glow to them. All those coral sites you see with the colors popping is because of them running LED pendants with just the blues on.

 

[Pysiek]

Is it that one you talking about? LED Pendant
Also is it gonna hurt if I have too many LEDs?

 

[Zeus30]

Yup, that's the one. Also, it's dimmable so you'll be safe and will also depend on how high you put them.

 

[Pysiek]

I will have to figure out something because I have a cathedral ceiling. I'm doing stuff out of aluminum , maybe I will be able to design aluminum stand that I will be able to hang on the LED pendants on. Also I can powder coat it

 

[Pysiek]

I did some more research and probably I will go with these: Cree LED Pendant. This guys selling cree LEDs and so far he is the only one that I can find with the brand. Other people are selling BridgeLux

 

[WillM]

Just an observation, the clamp you are using to secure your ATO level gauges will rust big time if you continue to use it. Then when you go to remove it later some rust may fall into your sump. Might want to find another way to secure it Anything that is around salt water should be really corrosion resistant (metal and wood) or you'll wind up with problems.

I like the direction you are going on your tank. Looks good.

My 2 cents is go for the cheap LEDs. Two would be better than one on a 48" tank. I have two cheap Bridgelux lights and am growing SPS so they definitely are powerful enough on my 75G tank. The only thing I would do is have the vendor customize them to get some lower nanometer LEDs in your array. The standard is 455nm and 10K white and I found I needed to add back an old PC actinic to really get some of the fluorescence and pop that I had under my T5s. Next LED I buy will have some 420nm and maybe a UV or two.

Good luck!

 

[Pysiek]

Just an observation, the clamp you are using to secure your ATO level gauges will rust big time if you continue to use it. Then when you go to remove it later some rust may fall into your sump. Might want to find another way to secure it Anything that is around salt water should be really corrosion resistant (metal and wood) or you'll wind up with problems.

I like the direction you are going on your tank. Looks good.

My 2 cents is go for the cheap LEDs. Two would be better than one on a 48" tank. I have two cheap Bridgelux lights and am growing SPS so they definitely are powerful enough on my 75G tank. The only thing I would do is have the vendor customize them to get some lower nanometer LEDs in your array. The standard is 455nm and 10K white and I found I needed to add back an old PC actinic to really get some of the fluorescence and pop that I had under my T5s. Next LED I buy will have some 420nm and maybe a UV or two.

Good luck!

The steel clamp it's just temporary until I find some plastic clamps. I do not want to bend the plastic bracket because later if I change water level the bracket will be unusable.

 

[WillM]

The steel clamp it's just temporary until I find some plastic clamps. I do not want to bend the plastic bracket because later if I change water level the bracket will be unusable.

Gotcha, I kind of figured you had plans for it considering the level of craftsmanship shown in the sump construction. Just double checking.