I would like to know what equipment people feel is the most important to have when keeping corals, and in what order they are thought to be needed... for example good lighting may be first for someone and a good skimmer may be first for others, then maybe reactors and so on. Please chime in with your opinions. I am trying to figure what to buy next , funds permitting. THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. CHUCK P.
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Opinions please !! What piece would be good next ?
- Thread starter chuck116
- Start date
reefsandrotts
NJRC Member
what do you have so far?
depends on what kind of corals....but lighting is a must unless you plan on going solar. You could have a bubbleking skimmer and that won't do you any good if you just have NO lights. Look into lights such as VHO, PC, MH, T5 or a combo thereof. Again depends on what type of corals.
I think the most important advice is that no matter what path you take - go slow. A lot of threads here are littered with people who started fast with all these fish and corals and then suddenly you don't hear from them - or find out that $200 in fish are dead.
I think the most important advice is that no matter what path you take - go slow. A lot of threads here are littered with people who started fast with all these fish and corals and then suddenly you don't hear from them - or find out that $200 in fish are dead.
Ok maybe I used the wrong words. my tank is 3 years old its a 180rr I have 200 lbs of live rock. I have 3 x 250 watt mh lights and 2 x 96 watt actinics. I have a pan world 200 pump with a manifold for flow to the tank. i have 4 x 1 inch returns for flow to the 40 gallon sump which is soon to be a 100 gallon rubbermaid. I have 4 koralia 4s for flow inside the tank when and where i need it. I have a 2 little fishes phosban reactor with phos guard in it. I have started slow with 6 fish and some frags from the meetings and a sale at RED SAND 
. I was just wondering about additional reactors and or equiptment to try to get an idea of what may be next in line. sorry for the crappy wording, im not very good at this stuff. thanks again. Chuck and Anna Maria
. I was just wondering about additional reactors and or equiptment to try to get an idea of what may be next in line. sorry for the crappy wording, im not very good at this stuff. thanks again. Chuck and Anna Maria
reefsandrotts
NJRC Member
I'd go all out on a skimmer,the new cones from what I've seen and read are insane.
Then depending on what corals I'd look into calcium/kalk reactors.
Then depending on what corals I'd look into calcium/kalk reactors.
If you don't have any kind of controller, I'd look into that before the calcium reactor. Most people get really tired of tuning their reactors, and a controller can take a lot of the work out of that. At the very least, a pH controller, or go bigger and get a more robust controller that can monitor and control various functions.
Here's my list in order of importance:
1. Tank as big as I can afford.
2. Lights VHO w/led spots for shimmer or 250W MH w/VHO actinics.
3. Used Skimmer rated for atleast 2x my tank volume.
4. Auto top off w/fresh water reservior
5. Quality external pump with Oceanmotions return
6. Ph monitor & Salinity Monitor
I personally don't bother with the reactors. A bag of carbon in the sump and Kalk dosed directly into the top off reservior have worked fine for me for years.
1. Tank as big as I can afford.
2. Lights VHO w/led spots for shimmer or 250W MH w/VHO actinics.
3. Used Skimmer rated for atleast 2x my tank volume.
4. Auto top off w/fresh water reservior
5. Quality external pump with Oceanmotions return
6. Ph monitor & Salinity Monitor
I personally don't bother with the reactors. A bag of carbon in the sump and Kalk dosed directly into the top off reservior have worked fine for me for years.
So the question is, what do you need to accomplish?
You have all the basics and if the tank is doing well and you have all the time you need to keep up with it, then you are good.
Do you spend too much time topping off? Then I would look into and auto topoff solution.
Are you dosing calcium every day to maintain your levels, than maybe a calcium or kalk reactor.
I you don't have any specific needs but you would like to simplify your control setup and monitor temp and ph a little closer, then look into an Aquacontoller. As pointed out above, an Aquacontroller can be used to regulate calcium reactors and as part of a topoff solution as well.
Whatever you buy, if you decide to buy anything, have a goal in mind before you buy.
You have all the basics and if the tank is doing well and you have all the time you need to keep up with it, then you are good.
Do you spend too much time topping off? Then I would look into and auto topoff solution.
Are you dosing calcium every day to maintain your levels, than maybe a calcium or kalk reactor.
I you don't have any specific needs but you would like to simplify your control setup and monitor temp and ph a little closer, then look into an Aquacontoller. As pointed out above, an Aquacontroller can be used to regulate calcium reactors and as part of a topoff solution as well.
Whatever you buy, if you decide to buy anything, have a goal in mind before you buy.
Thanks BLANGE3 I got the idea of the controller from you and magic . I just want to make sure im on the right track equipment wise. i think the controller sounds like the best solution. as far as calcium dosing i dont do that, i dont dose anything. I am thinking know that that may be a problem. I currently test for kh/alk, mg, ph, phosphate, and nitrate. what else should i check for and what should i be dosing. thanks all for your help.
The most important tests IMO are Ca, Alk, Mg, salinity and Ph. If you stick to a regular schedule of water changes the other trace elements should not deplete significantly. I would only start dosing things when you notice that these levels (Ca, Alk, Mg) drop significantly between water changes.
Yes Ca is good start. Auto top off is so much easier if you do that you will be super happy.
I got the Reef Fanatic controller from Prem Aquatics last group buy and it has made my life much easier.
Next I want to get a controller also either the AQ Jr or the new Lite version Neptune I think it is.
So I am sort of in the same stage as you. Eventually I would like to get a doser for two part but that is last on my list.
I got the Reef Fanatic controller from Prem Aquatics last group buy and it has made my life much easier.
Next I want to get a controller also either the AQ Jr or the new Lite version Neptune I think it is.
So I am sort of in the same stage as you. Eventually I would like to get a doser for two part but that is last on my list.
malulu
NJRC Member
Chuck,
like the old saying: If It's Not Broken, Don't Fix It...
when running in low budget mode - you would check with test kits and see which is lacking, then improve that... and not just buy everything that you might needed...
- do you see any problem right now?
- if not, what is the top priority items that can reduce your maintaining works (ie. auto-top-off, auto-water-change, controller-to-monitor-the-system-for-you...etc.)
like the old saying: If It's Not Broken, Don't Fix It...
when running in low budget mode - you would check with test kits and see which is lacking, then improve that... and not just buy everything that you might needed...
- do you see any problem right now?
- if not, what is the top priority items that can reduce your maintaining works (ie. auto-top-off, auto-water-change, controller-to-monitor-the-system-for-you...etc.)
malulu
NJRC Member
chuck116 said:
i think this is a bit low... you can check this link to see how others reefer's setup...etc.
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=17567.0