What do you think of this list?

[Opiy]

I have been putting together a list of items I am thinking of getting to start up the tank. None of it is definite yet. Do you see anything wrong with what is listed so far? Right now the skimmer is still the biggest uncertainty at the moment. The 3 year warranty on the pump sounds nice.

• AGA 120G Overflow Tank Aprx $410.00 Water World Tropical Fish & Supplies
  <br>
• ReefKeeper Elite NET System V2 $500.00 Premium Aquatics
  <br>
• Lumen Bright Pendent 250W DE x2 $145.99ea Premium Aquatics
  <br>
• Vortech MP40w $420.99 Premium Aquatics
  <br>
• Super Reef Octopus XP-2000 Cone Skimmer $400.00 Premium Aquatics
  <br>
• IceCap 250 watt Electronic Halide Ballast $140.00 Premium Aquatics
  <br>
• EXTREME TYPHOON III 150 GPD RODI $269.95 Airwaterice.com
  <br>
• XM Metal Halide DE 250W x2 $64.50ea Aquariumspecialty.com
  <br>
• Instant Ocean 160g Bucket $47.98 Shipped Dr Foster and Smith

Thanks
Larry

 

[JR's Reef]

The only thing I would do different is I would use RC instead of the reg IO. I would do Radium or Phoenix bulbs over XMs. The XMs are dim looking and the par is not great unless using a mag ballast and still not great par

 

[Opiy]

I was looking into the Reef Crystal but was unsure so I went with what I had used in the past. I would like to try it though so I may change that.

Just curious how you feel about the Reeflux bulb DE? I chose the XM again because it was something I had in the past and I liked the blue of it. I do want to try something new though. I will consider the Radium.

Thanks
Larry

 

[JR's Reef]

Ive never run a Reeflux bulb before so dont know anything about them. My fav bulb is the Radium.

 

[gflat65]

If it were me and I were dropping $500 on a controller, I'd go with the Apex. That doesn't get you many DC4 and DC8's, but the controller has unlimited timers. My ACIII is maxed out now, so I will be upgrading to an Apex at some point.

 

[wpecoul]

You can definitely find a 4 or 5-stage RO/DI for less than that price. Not sure why you want a 150GPD unit with a 120G tank. Also, I thought that the membranes that had the purest output ran at 50 or 75 GPD.

Also, I thought MP40's could be had for a bit less than the price you listed, but I'm not where I can check right now.

I'd price-check at some other vendors, too - it looks like you are focused on one site.

Last, unless you are building it, don't forget the cost of the stand (it sounds like you
plan to hang the pendant.

 

[JR's Reef]

You can definitely find a 4 or 5-stage RO/DI for less than that price. Not sure why you want a 150GPD unit with a 120G tank. Also, I thought that the membranes that had the purest output ran at 50 or 75 GPD.

Also, I thought MP40's could be had for a bit less than the price you listed, but I'm not where I can check right now.

I'd price-check at some other vendors, too - it looks like you are focused on one site.

Last, unless you are building it, don't forget the cost of the stand (it sounds like you
plan to hang the pendant.

Yes 75gpd has the most pure water to reject water. Something like 3 to 1 but dont quote me on that.

Retail on mp40w is $420 but you can get them cheaper by either buying used or getting them in a group buy.'
I got mine in a group buy for $350 each shipped

 

[Opiy]

You can definitely find a 4 or 5-stage RO/DI for less than that price. Not sure why you want a 150GPD unit with a 120G tank. Also, I thought that the membranes that had the purest output ran at 50 or 75 GPD.

Also, I thought MP40's could be had for a bit less than the price you listed, but I'm not where I can check right now.

I'd price-check at some other vendors, too - it looks like you are focused on one site.

Last, unless you are building it, don't forget the cost of the stand (it sounds like you
plan to hang the pendant.

I chose Premium Aquatics for alot of it because they either had the same price or better. I would check around 5 stores or so on prices and if the prices were the same I went with Premium Aquatics because I have used them many times in the past with no problems and fast shipping. If I could find a better deal then I would go with the other store.

The best prices I could find for the Vortech at the time of making the list was the price listed. I checked several stores and all were the same. Maybe I can score a group buy or something.

Now for the RODI unit I didn't know that about the slower filter rate. I had an RODI before but it took so long to fill even a 5g jug that it made top offs more of a chore. I do not remember what its flow rate was though. If 75GPD is the way to go I will do that plus it is cheaper.

As for the last paragraph your assumptions are correct. I will be building the stand and I plan to hang the lights some how. The light hanging idea could change though when the time gets closer for that.

 

[Opiy]

Yes 75gpd has the most pure water to reject water. Something like 3 to 1 but dont quote me on that.

Retail on mp40w is $420 but you can get them cheaper by either buying used or getting them in a group buy.'
I got mine in a group buy for $350 each shipped

Do you remember who put on the group buy? Was it a local thing?

 

[JR's Reef]

Alot of forums have them from time to time. I cant recall what forums I was on but I got them from hi tech aquarium