adequate equipment?

[rburn99]

I just bought a 90 gallon setup from a LFS. After more reading I'm wondering about a couple items I bought.

They sold me a Coralife Lunar Aqualight for $300. They said it was top of the line and what I need for a reef. But after reading other posts it seems like it might be inadequate. It has four 65watt bulbs (2 Actinic 03 blue and 2 10000k daylight) So that is only 260 watts total and I've been reading about people saying they are using 2 170 watt this combined with 2 170 watt that.

They also sold me an acrylic sump (with bioballs) rated to up to a 125 gallon tank. But now I read that bioballs are harmful to a reef system? That they actually reduce the efectiveness of the live rock and substrate to convert nitrates into nitrogen? You take the bioballs out and you basically have a fancy looking box that holds water. If this is true then wouldn't I have been better off with a ten or twenty gallon aquarium for a few dollars instead of this sump for almost $200?

They also sold me 80 lbs of CaribSea Florida Crushed Coral for the substrate. I asked them about sand and they said I could use sand if I wanted but it would look ugly and the crushed coral works just as well.

Can I get some feedback on this? It's hard to know who you can trust when you are a noob. Is this a store that cares about my success or my wallet?

Thanks,
Robb

 

[Anonymous]

:welcome:

I just bought a 90 gallon setup from a LFS. After more reading I'm wondering about a couple items I bought.

Sweet!

They sold me a Coralife Lunar Aqualight for $300. They said it was top of the line and what I need for a reef. But after reading other posts it seems like it might be inadequate. It has four 65watt bulbs (2 Actinic 03 blue and 2 10000k daylight) So that is only 260 watts total and I've been reading about people saying they are using 2 170 watt this combined with 2 170 watt that.

It depends on what you want to keep. For softies and the like, you are find. For SPS and clams and anemones you prolly want MH.

The watts per gallon thing is really misleading and most people don't use it anymore.

They also sold me an acrylic sump (with bioballs) rated to up to a 125 gallon tank. But now I read that bioballs are harmful to a reef system? That they actually reduce the efectiveness of the live rock and substrate to convert nitrates into nitrogen? You take the bioballs out and you basically have a fancy looking box that holds water. If this is true then wouldn't I have been better off with a ten or twenty gallon aquarium for a few dollars instead of this sump for almost $200?

You do want the biggest sump that will fit under your tank, but other than that, yeah, a regular tank may have been better.
Can you return the sump?

They also sold me 80 lbs of CaribSea Florida Crushed Coral for the substrate. I asked them about sand and they said I could use sand if I wanted but it would look ugly and the crushed coral works just as well.

This is a subject of much debate. I believe the cc has more nooks and crannies to collect stuff to rot, and I don't like how it looks. I am in favor of 1-2 inch sandbeds just for looks.

Can I get some feedback on this? It's hard to know who you can trust when you are a noob. Is this a store that cares about my success or my wallet?

Hard to tell. They may think they sold you the best stuff - but as you are learning, lots of LFS don't know what they are talking about.

Before you do anything, I would pick up a good book or two - I suggest The Reef Aquarium vols 1 and 2, and read em. Also good reads are all around RDO. Start here - http://www.reefs.org/library/newbieguide.htm

And let us know if you have any more questions!

:mrgreen:

 

[rburn99]

Thanks for the info. There's a lot to learn in this hobby. I've been reading every chance I get for days now. I definitely will have more questions. Matter of fact I've just posted some. :lol: