85g Startup tank

[chilake08]

I'm new to reef keeping, but i'm extremely excited. I have been doing lots of research and I came up with a list of equipment for my first tank, but I wanted to get opinions from people who have already been in the hobby for a while.

Acrylic 85g 36x18x30 tank
DIY acrylic sump
Euroreef RS100 skimmer
Aqua Medic Reef Doser
ReefKeeper Elite controler
Reeflo Snapper 2400 return pump
2 Tunze Nanostream 6045 powerheads
Seaswirl return head
Kent Marine Hi-S Maxxima RO/DI
2 ViaAqua VA15TO heaters
2 Sunlight Supply Reef Optix 3 with 250Watt 10k Ushio double ended MH bulbs
2 Icecap 250 ballasts for the MH
IceCap 36" VHO Kit for 2 bulbs (1 actinic Blue and 1 actinic white)
IceCap 660 ballast for 2 VHO bulbs

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[Capt_Cully]

That looks like quite a nice list. ONLY thing I could possibly remark on, not even a critique, is to consider T5 lighting instead of VHOs. They last longer and use less energy and have better PAR output.

But, most people will say, VHO's just have a nicer color.

So take that for what it's worth. Looks like you're off to a great start!

[caorca]

An auto top off for your evaporation loss would be something to consider.

[crvz]

sounds like a good start, I'd consider bumping up the skimmer a bit, maybe to the RS135? Not sure what ER is making these days. I like the T5 suggestions (but I'm biased, as I've been using them for years now), and consider hopping to the 6055s if you can afford it. I think those are the controllable Tunzes. Of course, all my suggestions cost more money, so they're probably bad ideas. ;)

[chilake08]

any money saving suggestions. I really don't want to short myself on anything, but if i'm going overboard on anything, or if there is an cheaper alternative with equivalent quality i'd love to know.

[frank2926]

Your return pump is way to big, especially if your going to use tunzes.
You want 5x times display size turnover. so about 400-500 gph. thru the sump. With head loss you are looking at a 8-900 gph pump.

Since you are going with 2 - metal halides I would not worry about par and go with vho because they do have a nicer color. Then again with two 250 MH you really dont need anything else unless it is just for Color.

[phenom5]

I agree about bumping up the skimmer.

T5 vs VHO is 6 one way, one half dozen the other IMO, because with that setup, your just looking to enchance the color, the majority of the PAR is going to come from your MH. Not sure about the energy usage of each...

As far as ways to save some money...

There are a couple of eBay stores that have good quality RO/DI units that are considerably cheaper then the Kent unit you've listed. If you do a search you'll find plenty of info on good units vs. units to stay away from on eBay.

You could also replace the Tunzes with modded MJ 1200's. Not sure on what kind of flow your looking to get through the display.

[chilake08]

i've started wandering around on ebay and i'm noticing that a lot of the stuff i listed above is appearing off and on used, but for a significantly cheaper price. I have over 4k in equipment listed above (if all brand new), and that doesn't even start with the DYI stuff, live rock, and substrate.

While ebay can be a great tool, it can also rob you of money quickly if you buy the wrong stuff.

I've seen from my list:
skimmer
doser
MH fixtures
ballasts
tanks
and other smaller things

For a new aquarium, where do you draw the line and say product X is ok if its used, but product Y really should be (or must be) new out of the box?

[Capt_Cully]

Personally, I like a new tank, versus used. That's only because of cosmetics and depends on the deal. I would easily consider (and do use) used skimmers, powerheads, return pumps. This is brand dependent. Someone taught me a long time ago, cheaper in the long run to buy the more expensive quality item. It'll last longer. When you buy the cheap stuff, it breaks, and you buy another one etc.....

Stick with reputable brands from reputable sellers. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR DEALS!!!!

As for lighting, again, if it's a decent fixture, just get new bulbs. I've saved HUNDREDS of dollars by doing this. And now, alot of people a switching to T5 fixtures from MH's because of rising energy costs, and the fact that alot of people are having success growing SPS corals under T5's. SOOOOO you'll see alot of MH fixtures being sold dirt cheap on the used forums, craigs list, ebay etc...

If you're patient, you can build a VERY nice tank for %25 of the 4K you listed.

I had a thread a while back....I built a 70gallon Oceanic Tech tank for under a grand. Tank, Stand, Canopy, sump, refugiums x2, powerheads, New T5 lighting, return pump, Tunze skimmer, LR, plumbing, etc etc.. New it would have cost me 4x that.

[limitdown]

Go for glass.
I ran a 50g acrylic before and now I have a 200g glass. Will never go back to acrylic.

And bump up the skimmer, you'll be glad you spent the extra $100-200

[phenom5]

Two other places to find good deals...

Used Equipment & Drygoods (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=2)

Local Club Forums (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=80)

[chilake08]

so you guys have been really really helpful, and after continually looking around the total price of the tank is really coming down fast. As usual, despite my research, i am flip-flopping on pieces of equipment constantly.

Here are my current two issues:

1) Glass vs Acrylic...... forever a battle. I don't mind putting out the extra $$ for an acrylic, but i keep seeing people after people opt for the glass, even though acrylic seems to be the "tank of the future"

2) Powerheads. Originally I was thinking Tunze 6045 controlled by the RKE. I would essentially be able to turn them on and off. But I also have a seaswirl in the mix to add water movement. I guess my real questions are: Should i really be turning these non-variable powerheads on and off with the RKE? Do I need to consider variable speed powerheads such as the 6055 with a Tunze controller?

[Fish_wiz2]

so you guys have been really really helpful, and after continually looking around the total price of the tank is really coming down fast. As usual, despite my research, i am flip-flopping on pieces of equipment constantly.

Here are my current two issues:

1) Glass vs Acrylic...... forever a battle. I don't mind putting out the extra $$ for an acrylic, but i keep seeing people after people opt for the glass, even though acrylic seems to be the "tank of the future"

This is gonna be just an all out war for you, personally, starpire glass all day, clearer than regular glass and way easier to maintain than acrylic.

2) Powerheads. Originally I was thinking Tunze 6045 controlled by the RKE. I would essentially be able to turn them on and off. But I also have a seaswirl in the mix to add water movement. I guess my real questions are: Should i really be turning these non-variable powerheads on and off with the RKE? Do I need to consider variable speed powerheads such as the 6055 with a Tunze controller?

Don't use 6045's like that, i literally almost destroyed one. Go controllable if you can, you'll love it.

Hope that helps, Wiz ;)

[kelrn98]

Can't wait to see your tank. I wish I had your knowledge and available money when I started my 110g. I have been slowly replacing and upgrading from the bare minimal. I am envious. Good luck.

[Playa-1]

Unless you have special circumstances the return pump appears to be too much. How did you come to the conclusion to go with a return pump of that size?