UV Light w/ Power Head

[Stolireef]

Doesn't sound like a UV light is worth it, so my next big item is the LED light system. I have no idea what to get argghhh lol

It all comes down to your budget. There are several good high end LED makers (Ecotech, AI, GHL, etc.) but you'll pay a pretty heavy premium for some relatively gimicky features. You can grow corals just as well under an inexpensive Chinese fixture but it won't look as sleek as the higher end fixtures and won't have all of the bells and whistles. Either way, you'll be fine.

I like my Radions because they look really nice over my rimless tank. If they were in a canopy, I'd never make that kind of investment.

 

[gjustinj]

It all comes down to your budget. There are several good high end LED makers (Ecotech, AI, GHL, etc.) but you'll pay a pretty heavy premium for some relatively gimicky features. You can grow corals just as well under an inexpensive Chinese fixture but it won't look as sleek as the higher end fixtures and won't have all of the bells and whistles. Either way, you'll be fine.

I like my Radions because they look really nice over my rimless tank. If they were in a canopy, I'd never make that kind of investment.

I would like to get away with a nice setup like I explained for around 300.00, but that doesn't seem to be possible.

 

[crazycolt42]

I would like to get away with a nice setup like I explained for around 300.00, but that doesn't seem to be possible.

You can get close to that with the Chinese black boxes, but there is give and take with them from what I have read. I am in the same boat as you. Trying to budget my lighting as best as possible. The best bang for your buck and proven success without having to worry about settings, etc. is T5's. When I research lighting on a budget, I keep coming back to T5 HO as a more sure thing. I am looking @ the reefbreeders LED units now and am considering that with maybe two retrofit T5's to ensure better spread and coverage. I have a canopy though and don't have to worry about the look of the T5 retrofit's.

 

[gjustinj]

You can get close to that with the Chinese black boxes, but there is give and take with them from what I have read. I am in the same boat as you. Trying to budget my lighting as best as possible. The best bang for your buck and proven success without having to worry about settings, etc. is T5's. When I research lighting on a budget, I keep coming back to T5 HO as a more sure thing. I am looking @ the reefbreeders LED units now and am considering that with maybe two retrofit T5's to ensure better spread and coverage. I have a canopy though and don't have to worry about the look of the T5 retrofit's.

Can you link me to a chinese black box - I keep looking for one but all I get are black boxes lol. I assume these have 'mounts' too? I did find those USA Orbit Marine LED light sets for about 300 for a pair that would reach, but I am not sure how good they are, or if they are worth it at all.

 

[Stolireef]

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA...UTF8&qid=1492635964&sr=8-3&keywords=mars+aqua

 

[Timfish]

I'm a firm believer in using UV to rid a system of ich but it's far better to set up a proper QT regeim and never let ick get into your system. However, I share the concerns mentioned about your LFS just trying to sell you stuff. The UV mentioned by your LFS is WAY to small to be effective for a 125. If you open the box and read the manual to work for ick it shouldn't be used on anything much larger than about 30 gallons. The marketing hype on the box works for green or maybe cloudy water but not much else.

 

[gjustinj]

I decided to hold off on this one=)

 

[crazycolt42]

See above!

 

[crazycolt42]

Sorry, the link provided by Stolireef is a popular one. Also look into Ocean revive - you can get to their site through the sponsor page. I have heard good things about it as well. If you wanted something with even more options and looks nicer, try reefbreeders - they too can be accessed from the sponsors page. Good luck!

 

[crazycolt42]

As far as the UV sterilizer goes, I think you are smart to hold off. There are things you really need to have to get started, and other things that could wait. That being one of them. There was another good U-tube video by BRS on their 52 weeks of reefing about UV sterilization, that basically states what Timfish said. Check it out! I may get one down the road, you know, when I have nothing else to spend my money on...

 

[gjustinj]

Sorry, the link provided by Stolireef is a popular one. Also look into Ocean revive - you can get to their site through the sponsor page. I have heard good things about it as well. If you wanted something with even more options and looks nicer, try reefbreeders - they too can be accessed from the sponsors page. Good luck!

I purchased a V2 PHOTON 50 from RB