VERY Newbie needs advice

[sanlynn]

Hi all, my husband and I are about to purchase a 150 gallon (6' x 18" x 29") reef ready tank and set-up. We intend to have soft corals and some fish. Our local fish store is recommending the following, and based on some of the postings here, I have some reservations.

Berlin Red Sea XL venturi skimmer (I think for the $$ he's charging for skimmer + motor - $549 - we should get Aqua C or Euroreef, but the LFS swears by Red Sea)
Little Giant motor
25 watt UV
"ML" (Marine Land?) wet/dry
300 watt heater
2 overflow kits
power compact lighting system
150 lb. live rock
100 lb. live sand

We've been trying to do our homework, but I think we're missing some important points. For instance:
Should there be "powerheads" included in this kit - or is that something that comes with the skimmer/motor?
Is 300 watts adequate for this size tank?

Something else missing that we've overlooked?

Thanks so much for any advice you can throw our way.
Sandy

 

[keethrax]

You don't need the UV unit.
You don't need the wet/dry, if that's what the overwlows lead too (I imagine it is), you'll need a sump of some sort, but I'm sure you can get by for less than the cost of the wet/dry. An old/used aquarium works great.

Some method of adding more current to the tank certainly couldn't hurt. Powerheads area fairly inexpensive way to do this.

 

[candide]

"300 watt heater "

Consider splitting this into two smaller heaters. I have a 125g with 2 200w heaters (or maybe they are 25). You can get good heaters online for <20$. Powerheads are also much cheaper online.

Also check the prices of live rock/sand online. Even with shipping, it is WAAAAAAY cheaper for me to get it online than locally, just have it shipped to the airport and pick it up.

Check out some of the sponsor links at this site. I personally got a good bit of stuff, including heaters, power heads, and live rock from premium aquatics.

Corals and fish I get at the LFS, I like to see that stuff before I buy. Tanks and stands and stuff seem to be a LFS purchase as well. But some of the other items, like powerheads I've noticed are 2-3x as expensive.

 

[mutley29]

You can't go wrong really with a Euroreef or an Aqua C skimmer, i would get one of those over a Berlin Red Sea XL venturi skimmer, the real name of the game i found with this Hobby/Obsession is research,research and more research and buy right the first time, it's a bit simpler with skimmers there are only a few people really rave about

You will need a sump to put the skimmer, heaters and ancilliary equip in, check all the DIY plans here for converting small tanks by adding baffles.

Ditch the UV unit, Maxijets are good powerheads

By your live rock online, it's cheaper, then cure it in the tank, also cycles the tank.

Regular water changes

HTH

And good luck with the project

 

[SnowManSnow]

Keep in mind that if your shooting for 150lbs of LR (live rock) each time you purchase a coral its connected to somthin (hmmm.. prolly live rock). IOW don't get tooo crowded in there by the time everything is added.

 

[ChrisRD]

:welcome:

Looks like you've received some good advice already. One thing I'll add - at this stage the most important thing you can buy (if you already haven't) before anything else is a couple of good books (check my sig).

BTW, I'd highly recommend a Euro-Reef over the other brands mentioned. Look into the ES series for more economical prices. Also, check out the blems at http://www.h2otropicals.com/

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

I would set up a refugium with macros/marine plants right from the start. All the other stuff is optional.

 

[sanlynn]

Hi,
Thanks for your replies -
Now, the LFS is suggesting instead of the Berlin skimmer, he will provide us with an ETS Fractionator with an "upgraded" pump.
I can't find too much information on this as a brand - just generic stuff.

BTW, he still swears by the Berlin - and runs his store with them. Is the problem with their quality, ease of use, quietness or something other?

Anyone know?

Also, the lights he suggests are:
2 10,000 daylight
2 actinate
3 moonlight
How does this sound?

I believe there is a built-in fan as well.
Sandy

 

[ChrisRD]

I would set up a refugium with macros/marine plants right from the start. All the other stuff is optional.

I think we need to be careful about making blanket statements when it comes to this hobby as there are many ways to achieve success. There are countless beautiful tanks out there that do not employ any type of algae export. Different strokes for different folks as the saying goes...

For a newcomer, I would NOT consider a protein skimmer optional. IMO most folks will have a much greater chance for success on the first tank using a skimmer.

JMO of course...

 

[ChrisRD]

Hi,
Thanks for your replies -
Now, the LFS is suggesting instead of the Berlin skimmer, he will provide us with an ETS Fractionator with an "upgraded" pump.
I can't find too much information on this as a brand - just generic stuff.

Some people swear by ETSS but I think you're going to find most people on this board will recommend a Euro-Reef because they are quiet, very efficient, very easy to setup/use and very low maintenance. For the kind of prices he's quoting you, you could have pretty much anything you want, so I'd go with an ER.

Also, the lights he suggests are:
2 10,000 daylight
2 actinate
3 moonlight
How does this sound?

What wattage lamps? If you're talking 4 PC lamps over a 6' tank I'm assuming the 3' lamps which are 96 watts each. IMO, that's minimal lighting for a tank that deep. Personally, I'm not a big fan of power compacts, especially on a large, deep tank like yours.

 

[tazdevil]

BTW, he still swears by the Berlin - and runs his store with them. Is the problem with their quality, ease of use, quietness or something other?

I swear against the Berlin. I had one on my 75, that unless I adjusted it every day (or even several times a day) it wouldn't reliably produce skimmate. I then bought an aquac-ev120. For the first 3 weeks, as it was breaking in, no skimmate. Then, it broke in and produced copius amounts of foam for 5 days until it settled down, now produces relatively dry foam reliably without any adjustment. Only had to clean a snail out of the injection port a few times, other than that, has been very reliable performer. Cost is cheaper than the berlin quote. For your tank, you'd probably want the EV240

http://www.proteinskimmer.com/products/EV240.htm

Check around online suppliers, prices can vary some.

 

[mattstewart]

I don't know what other peoples experiences are, but when I bought live rock online, I didn't have a good experience. I find that 2x-3x the price is worth hand selecting pieces that look nice. I know its alot of money, but I thought it was worth it. The pieces I picked out look way nicer that the stuff from the internet.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you locked into that particular tank? It is fairly narrow and quite tall, at 6' x 18" x 29". I would find a standard 180 (6'x24x24) somewhat easier to work in and illuminate.

 

[Anonymous]

By the way, I think your tank is 160 gallons, not 150, FWIW.

 

[holry7778]

I agree with Chris

Books, Books Books..It is a great way to pick ome good knowledge

Also I myself am starting my first tank, a much smaller 55. I went to several of my LFS and found the cheapest 20gal $25 and had a autoglass repair place put in a divider for $15 and that is going to be my sump...cheap and easy

can't agree more abotu splitting up the heaters..one fails you still have another one working as back up

I can't help you about the skimmer I did a DIY countercurrent skimmer out of PVC and a little clear acrylic.

Lastly the live rock bit. ordering it online seems questionable, I have have FFW for years and I wouldn't order even Live plans from any onlive source bc I wanted to see what I was getting so I didn't get "gipped." I would say the same thing about LR it is living so best to see it before you buy it.


Welcome too the fun.

 

[fireblade]

Also, much easier to aquascape when you hand pick. You can come up with an idea of what you want your tank to look like and select the pieces that you need to build your vision.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[Anonymous]

Lots of good advice here. There is no absolute right way to do things in this hobby...many things work quite well. And some things don't work very well at all. One thing to remember is that the advice given here is by people who don't have an agenda...they aren't trying to sell you anything. They only want you to succeed.

I've never tried a Berlin skimmer...but I've heard (anecdotally) many (not so great) things about it. I can, however, tell you what has worked for me personally. (Of course what works for me doesn't necessarily work for someone else .) The setup I have is a 180 gallon reef ready with a 55 gallon tank as my sump. In my sump I have an AquaC EV-240 skimmer, and a WonPro 350W titanium heater. I have a small refugium in the middle of my sump, then 2 Mag12 drives (throttled down somewhat) shooting water back through my overflows into the tank. This has worked very well for me, but as I said above, it's light years from the only way to have a successful tank.

One thing I would be wary of is purchasing LR from a LFS. You can purchase good quality LR online for about $6/lb. I have seen what amounts to base rock being sold in the LFS for $10/lb and higher. Something perhaps to consider.

Good luck, welcome to this great hobby, and please keep us informed on your progress!