Trying to get back into the game...

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YUP5588

New Member
First off; big shout to all who post in this forum. I've been reading through a majority of the posts the past few days and I have to say that all of you rock. You all seem very knowledgable and more than willing to give honest and educated opinions and ideas in your posts. Props to you.

You all have definitely fed the bite that I got a few weeks back to get me back into the salt water game.

About seven or so years back I was big into reef tanks and kept a 32ish and 55ish tank and aided my father's co-worker in setting up and maintaining a 120G reef tank.

Due to some relocating half way across the country I had to shut down my two tanks and part with my setups ... but now I'm hoping to get back into the game; on a smaller scale.

My current apartment situation limits the setup that I can run, plus this sight has inspired the challenge and fun of small scale; so I'm going to start up a nano for my bedroom.

I'm not near the expert as some on this site but I do have the basics still in my blood and I have brushed up a little with some reading this past week or so. The thing is that I'm a little bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my hobbies so I like to plan them out to the finest of details if I can ... which is where I'm hoping the numerous experts of this forum can give me aid.

Since I've been out of the game for time most of my questions are coming down to equipment setups now. For the start of my research I've been crushing pretty hard on the nanocubes ... simplistic yet challenging for some DIY projects. I do have a strong background in electronics and modding of various things so I have no fear of any DIY projects.

I don't want to go to small so I've been looking at three setups...

12G Aquapod (w/ some form of lightling mod to HQI MH w/ 150W)...
http://nanotuners.nanocustoms.com/nanot ... cts_id=134

24G Aquapod w/ 150W HQI Fixture...
http://nanotuners.nanocustoms.com/nanot ... cts_id=208

32G Finnex M-Tank (which would get modded lighting to HQI MH)...
http://nanotuners.nanocustoms.com/nanot ... cts_id=153

So, any ideas or comments on which route to go? Think 150W HQI MH will do for the tanks depth??

I'm favoring the 24G Aquapod because it has the light setup that I was planning on running and is a nice base size for me to get back in the game with. But on the other hand the 32G Finnex seems to have some great extras with it and the stock lighting should be basic enough to start out with.

Choices .. choices .. choices ..

My plans for the tank are some LPS, haven't considered any SPS, and was thinking of trying a clam. The tank is also to be the basis for a much larger tank when I and if I change apartments; a 120G minimum tank then.

I also plan immediate fan upgrades to PC full BB fans. Whom ever made the post about the PC BB fans rocking in reef setups, MORE POWER TO YOU!!!! PC BB fans never die and you can't find a better cost to cooling ratio IMO.

Guess the post is getting long enough ... any thoughts or opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
Dickie52

Dickie52

New Member
First let me say......"Welcome Aboard"

The choice will pretty much be, what you like the looks of, what you will want to keep and how much you want to spend.

Don't be in a rush to get into the prebuilt set-ups, unless you find one that will do everything you want it to do. They are tough to make changes to. If you like to tinker and plan, there is nothing like starting from scratch...... :lol:

From your past experience, you sound like you would be a good candidate to plan and build your own, dream system.....
 
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reefman23

New Member
Welcome and i agree with dickie on this one. just a warning of course, and take it for what it is worth, but "pre-fab" kits ARE more tricky to modify than a start-from-scratch system that you configure.

despite this, the 24 gallon pod that you linked to is MY favorite of the three. Keep in mind, though, that price includes a 70 watt MH...not the 150 watter, so that will cost you more.
 
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YUP5588

New Member
Yeah, I think the 'Pod' is out. The 24G Pod with 150W HQI is Pre-selling at $399.95US, which to me seems like a fair price ... if I lived in the US.

I think it's turning out that I'm becoming too picky to go pre-fab; especially since I'll have to pay shipping, duties, and taxes to bring in that Pod beast from the States.

Since my last post I was looking into a few more things and the space that I plan to use for the setup ... pre-fabbed Pods just won't do.

Which brings me to a new question then; what should I run for a filtration system in a 24G or 32G rectangle tank?? I don't think my planned space is going to allow for an elaborate sump system. I'm thinking maybe a skimmer ... hang of the back something???

Will 150W HQI MH system produce in a 24G or 32G setup or should I start looking at 250W or larger??

One last question before I post. Think it would still be worth while to buy pre-made salt water or just mix my own for a tank of these sizes?? Pre-mix is turning out to be slightly unavailable in Vancouver right now too.

Thanks for the help guys.
 
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sadielynn

New Member
As for the skimmer you may not need one if you keep up on the water changes every week , some may say that you should . As for the water I just mix mine here we pay 5 plus bucks per gallon here in Pa . I cant offer much help on the lights but if you can afford the 250 or higher I say go for it you will have more options on what you can add in the coral dept later down the line . Lighting is one thing that I say spend what you can afford , or you will be upgrading later down the road and wind up spending more than what you would have if you bought the bigger one in the first place JMO :mrgreen:
 
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reefman23

New Member
aqua c remora skimmers are the preffered HOB skimmer. I have the bakpak 2r skimmer...it works well but i think i would get the remora if i was to do it again. there are also HOB refugiums that have built in skimmers too. that may be an option for you. they are known as the CPR AquaFuge PS/PRO Refugiums http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_mis ... ?ast=&key= They are a bit pricey but I have heard good things about them. there is someone on nano-reef.com selling 150 watt metal halide retro kits for $180 shipped. This includes the electronic ballast, socket, bulb, all prewired and ready to go. I bought the 70 watt retro and it is very nice. here is a link http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.p ... 70369&st=0
 
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YUP5588

New Member
Reefman23,

I've been checking out that link you posted to the CPR AquaFuge PS Refugium and I do think it could be a deffinate way to go; I like the skimmer integration.

I'm not too familiar with refugium setups though and the pictures are difficult to make out how the refugium is structured.

I assume I'd stock it some LS/LR for natural / bio filtration and that the water would pump in and be pushed through the LS/LR and then into the skimmer and out to the tank?? Sort of like a mini-sump ... or am I way off here??

Would I also be able to setup carbons and other filter materials in the flow path of the refugium?? I can fit my tank heater in here too right?? Should I plan on lighting for the refugium and if so, what kind of wattage??

I found this link while researching refugiums.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/refugium.htm

... still not sure if I'm way off on all this.
 
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reefman23

New Member
YUP5588 said:
I assume I'd stock it some LS/LR for natural / bio filtration and that the water would pump in and be pushed through the LS/LR and then into the skimmer and out to the tank?? Sort of like a mini-sump ... or am I way off here??

Would I also be able to setup carbons and other filter materials in the flow path of the refugium?? I can fit my tank heater in here too right?? Should I plan on lighting for the refugium and if so, what kind of wattage??

I found this link while researching refugiums.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/refugium.htm

... still not sure if I'm way off on all this.
Click to expand...
yes, LR/LS, some cheato macroalgae. The water enters the skimmer first, then the fuge, then the return. You should be able to fit a heater in there...as for the carbon, it should be okay as long as you dont restrict the flow with it. as far as lighting, check these out http://www.cpraquatic.com/products/aqua ... hting.html these are the fixtures that are designed for these fuges. spectrum is important...usually 5,100k to 6,500k is ideal for macros.
 
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YUP5588

New Member
I've also been reading this book by Tullock; Natural Reef Aquariums. It's been a great book; talks a lot about emphasis on LR/LS and not depending or dropping so much coin on technology. He's had great success with his various tank sizes.

I'm pretty much done trying to figure out and plan my tank out. Hopefully my next post here will have the specs of my setup and then I'll start working on bringing my parts.

I'm hoping that my not-so-LFS can do delivery because I don't really want to carry a bunch of equipment on a 30min SkyTrain ride back downtown.

I'm still stuck on what tank size I should get and the final lighting that will be needed. I'm thinking at least a 20L (30X12X12) or a 25G (24X12X20); unless my LFS has something else that catches my eye.

The fixture I have picked out for any tank I go with can accept a 175W, 250W, or 400W HQI MH ... I'm thinking the 250W for the 20L or 400W for the 25G ... overkill??

I'm planning on a Indo-Pacific theme for the tank, with most likely no more than three or four fish. I'm thinking two clowns for sure and an anemone ... I would like a trigger as well, but I don't think it'll work too good in a reef setup.
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
The trigger is not reef safe as you have already thought about. A single MH is good to light 2 square feet of tank so a 30 inch tank like the 20 long will have low light areas on each end of the tank with a single MH. IMO a 150 DE MH will be plenty of light for either the 20 or the 25, DE bulbs produce higher PAR than SE bulbs. You'll also want to consider that the higher the wattage the more electricity it uses to burn the bulb which can add up quickly when everything is combined from your new tank.
Another very good book IMO is Bob Fenners "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" if you are looking for more good reading.
 
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reefman23

New Member
on a 20L, you wouldnt want to above the 150 watter. for a tank that is taller, 250 is plenty... there isnt a need for the 40 watter...those are designed for very tall tanks. On my future 20L, i will have 1 70 watt hqi with 2 40 watt pc's, just fyi.
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
With a pair of the 70 watters you could spread them out to get full coverage on your tank without adding alot of extra light but you would have 2 bulbs to replace when time instead of one.
 
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YUP5588

New Member
With the fixtures I have planned for the setup running a pair of 70W won't be an option. The only option I have for running a pair of HQI's is; pair of 150W

My choices for a single setup are 150, 175, 250, or 400 ... but the 400W is scratched from the list already because it's just way too much for what I need.

I figure with the bulb center in the fixture and center over the tank, running 250W HQI shouldn't leave too much of a dead spot on the far corners of the 25G (24X12X20). What do you guys think?? The only problem is that the fixture/reflector planned for the tank is only 13.25" long compared to the tank length of 24".

If I went with the pair of 150W the fixture/reflector length would be 20.50" long compared to the tank length of 24". My retrofit job would then need a ballast able to run dual 150W HQI's ... any suggestions on those??

This 25G is starting to become the tank that I'm leaning towards. I gave LFS a shout to see if they have one or could track on down for me, so they're working on locating one and the price for it.

Any opinions??

... choices, choices, choices ...
 
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