I need help

[segen77]

I really hope that someone can help me with this. I'm getting so confused with all of the different "advice" from fish stores here in austin, tx. Basically, I've read just about everything I can find on the internet about getting started, and aside from becoming familar with the terminology, I'm as lost as ever.

So basically this is what I'm trying to achive. I want a tank (between 50-75 G) to be a reef setup. I want to have the option for different kinds of corals. Mostly soft, but I wouldn't mind being able to have some clams in there as well and I hear you have to have lighting for those like hard coarls. Honestly, i'm willing to sacrifice this if it's a big price difference in equipment.

First main question. Do I really need to invest $500 in a metal halide system, or will a power compact work jsut as well? If for example the tank is around 48 long by about 18 deep what would I need? Is there a more economical way to make the lighting other thank buying the whole unit? Are their any links you can recomend to find the supplies for building, or buying the unit aready made that you can recommend?

Don't get me wrong, i'm not trying to be cheap here, but I jsut feel that they are basically trying to sell me the latest and greatest weather I need it or not.

So now to the sump and skimmer. What do I really need and where's the best place to find it? I've seen your recomendation to build one, but that would require drilling glass, I believe, and I'm not comfortable with that. If I'm mistaken on this please let me know.

If there's anything else you can recomend please let me know. I'm open to any and all suggestions.

One last thing. If anyone knows of anyplace here in austin, or around dallas, or really anywhere in texas that I can get a great deal on anything including tank, please let me know.

Thanks again for any help you can provide.

[Aquatic Realms]

segen77,

As for the lighting you will need higher level lighting if you want to keep clams or most of your hard corals. This doesn't mean you "need" MH lighting although it is recommended. You can use T5 lighting, VHO lighting or PC lighting, but you would have to have enough of them and overdrive them (except for the VHO's) to obtain enough wattage.

This is where the MH lights come into play so well. Their output is far higher than your fluorescents.

As for a place to get them...it depends on the quality that you want. If you want a cheaper light system in quality you can expect a cheaper price tag. If you want a better quality...expect a higher price tag.

I sell PFO lighting on my site and I use it on all my tanks, including my two personal 140 Gallon Reef Ready Oceanic tanks.

I do not have all their products yet loaded on the site so if there is something specific you are looking for let me know.

To save some money you could always go retrofit. That is basicly the reflector, ballast, lamp mount and lamp. No nice metal case, no fans, just the basics. This allows you to configure the setup to fit under a canopy where a hood might not fit.

Skimmer and Sump:

I would HIGHLY recommend an AquaC skimmer. Also, go with one that is rated larger than your tank. (ie.: if you get a 75 gallon tank get one that is rated for like a 140+ gallon tank) You won't need anything else for filtration except a refugium if you like. Skimming will remove all the "gunk" in the water before it has a chance to become food for unwanted algae.

As for the sump, I would recommend an Oceanic model 1 or 2 (depends on which will fit in your tank stand.). They come with a hole predrilled for your external pump. (External pumps are the way to go because it removes an uncrollable heat source from your water.)

Remember this...if in doubt...ask here first.

Don't make any purchases w/o first getting info on what you are looking to buy. Impuls buys in this hobby can cost you a LOT of money in the long run.

Hope this helped you some.

[TranZ]

First off, WELCOME TO CORAL FORUM!!! Glad you can join us.

I too like to keep clams in my tank but as you have read you need a good lighting. As Aquaticrealms point out, halides are best for keeping clams but they give off significant heat that you might have to think about. If heat is a factor i would look into T5 HO lights. i know that some people keep clams under these lights. just be careful when buying t5's. the T5's comes in different bulbs...there's NO which for 36" is 21w while the HO 36" is 39w. For 75g tank you need 48" 6x54w T5. this plenty of light for clams. T5 are almost the same price as halides right now and hopefully it will go down in price soon as i'm looking for one.

Skimmer; I agree with Aquaticrealms on this. I rather spend my money on a higher quality skimmer high price skimmer than a cheap one which won't do as good.

Sump; You can get a small tank that can fit under your tank....it doesn't have to be drilled. most people get a 20g tank and convert it into a sump/fuge by adding baffles. the purpose of the sump is added water volume, to hide things (heater,skimmer and things that you don't want in your display tank. With mine i made my sump using acrylic glass. i have very little room inside my stand. in there i keep my heater, my skimmer and some carbon bags.

First you have to decide which tank your going to buy coz 55g, 65g and 75g have different dimensions which play a big role on what equipment are needed. But whatever you decide you can count on the people here at the forum to help you with your tank. My other advice is to take time and research all you need before buying. Good luck with your tank. Again welcome.

[segen77]

Thank you for the welcome.

I will be sure to post more on here once I make my final decision on what type of tank.

For now though, can you recommend any specific brands of lighting? Another "dumb" question. I have heard that coarls like the water to be cold, but everyone mentions having a heater. I believe that the recommended water is supposed to be 72-78. Does having a MH light eliminate the need for a heater, or does it make the water so hot that you have to figure out a way to cool it?

Thanks again

[TranZ]

From what i read, the average ocean temp is 80-82 but most people including me keep there temp around 78-80 degrees. Most heaters shut off automatically after achieving the desire temp. If you set your heater at 76 degrees then it will shut off when it reach that. heaters are use to prevent the temp to go lower than the norm.

Does having a MH light eliminate the need for a heater

No. You only run halide about 10 hours a day. once its off (if the room temp is lower than the tank temp) the tank will drop in temp. a swing in temp of more than 2 degrees will cause stress to your inhabitants.

[TranZ]

does it make the water so hot that you have to figure out a way to cool it?

In most cases Yes. Again this is base on what i read in this forum. some people during summer will run there AC, few fans over the surface of the water or have a chiller to cool the water.


Just to let you know that there is no "Dumb Question." Feel free to ask anything you want. I rather help you not make any mistake than correct one. It will save you time and money in the long run.

[Aquatic Realms]

Thank you for the welcome.

I will be sure to post more on here once I make my final decision on what type of tank.

For now though, can you recommend any specific brands of lighting? Another "dumb" question. I have heard that corals like the water to be cold, but everyone mentions having a heater. I believe that the recommended water is supposed to be 72-78. Does having a MH light eliminate the need for a heater, or does it make the water so hot that you have to figure out a way to cool it?

Thanks again

Corals do not like cold water. They come from tropical climates where the water temps are around 76-82 degrees F.

I would run your tank around 78-80*F.

You will need a heater that is appropriately sized for your tank.

As far as the heat produced by metal halides. It depends on how close they are to your tank's water surface and how much air flow you have around them.

Another thing to consider if you are looking to keep hard corals (SPS) or clams you will need to really monitor your Ca (Calcium) levels along with Alkalinity and pH. Reason is they use Ca a lot and need high levels of it to be present. The range of 450-500 is good.

If you are new to the marine hobby or at least to reef keeping I would recommend that you do not go SPS or Clams until you are familiar with the basics of reef keeping.

The reason being is you might bite off more than you can chew. Not trying to talk you out of anything...just don't want to see you get in over your head this early in the game as it will ruin your enjoyment of this wonderful hobby.

I would recommend that you go with LPS or Softies like mushrooms, zoos, leathers, hammer or frogspawns...things of that nature. They are a little easier to care for. Now they still need Ca to survive...but they are not as Ca critical as SPS or Clams.

Hope this helps you some more.