Purchasing new equipment - will this work?

[zmazza]

So I finally talked my wife into buying some equipment for my 29 gallon FOWLR future reef tank. I'm looking at petsolutions.com and came across a few things I would like to have, but I wanted to see what everyone thought before I made the order.

One is an 80.00 refractometer. It's one of the ones that comes with a calibration screwdriver. Are they difficult to calibrate?

The other is a light fixture... it's got 1 65watt true actintic and 1 65watt 10,000k bulb and 2 lunar lights. I remember that it's only 2.5" tall, so it's pretty low profile. It's a power compact fixture I believe. I couldn't find it on their website, only in the catalog, but I'll try and get the name for you.

Would this light be enough to keep some corals if I wanted to go that direction?

And last but not least, a protein skimmer. I'm looking at the Coralife Needle Wheel Skimmer for up to 65 gallons.

Let me know what you guys think of this equipment!

Remember, it's a 29 gallon.

Thanks.

 

[BLockamon]

130W of PC lighting would be enough to keep all soft or LPS corals. Some of the lower light SPS (NOT Acropora) could be kept high in the rock work. Some people will disagree, but I also believe that you could have a clam as long as it was on the highest rock.

The Coralife Super Skimmers are a good low-price brand. Several people on RC have them and like them.

 

[zmazza]

Awesome! That sounds good. What should I do as far as the cover goes? That the light is going on?

 

[smleee]

LPS should also be placed at least halfway up the tank.

eee

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

don't spend $80 on refrac....when you can get one for about half pricehttp://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=REFRACT-PA&Category_Code=
-JMO

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...n=PROD&Product_Code=REFRACT-PA&Category_Code=

 

[zmazza]

That's not a bad price. Is that a good company to deal with? Have you used that refractometer? Is it a good one?

 

[BLockamon]

My preference would be an open top unless you want to keep fish with a habit of jumping. If that's the case, a starfire glass lid from Oceanic is an option. Another option is to use a coarse eggcrate from Lowes as a lid. Be advised, however, that either the glass lid or the eggcrate will cut down on light a little.

 

[zmazza]

Do you not have to worry about the light melting the cover?

 

[fishnut321]

not with pc's, as far as lighting goes, i would recommend a Current 2x65 pc hood with moon light, its a little cheaper but the craftmanship i believe is much better, also it has seperate plugs for both bulbs, the fan and lunar light so you can create a very interesting lighting cycle.