$1000 upgrade.

[Pfisherman]

I'm on the phone, so I'm gonna keep tho short. My wife is allowing me $1000 to upgrade my 40 breeder at income tax return time. The first thing im getting is new lighting, I've got access to a used six bulb tek light for $200, which is quite a deal. I'm really interested in led though, shimmer and power savings makes sense to me. So, what would you guys do? My thoughts are at this the tek light, two kessil 160's or a 27" maxspect razor.

My setup is as follows:
40 breeder 700gph overflow
29g sump
S200 snow cone skimmer
Mangrove and chaeto in fuge with 20lbs of lr
60lbs of rock in display
Caribsea sugar grade sand (about 3")
4 bulb junk light.

Thanks, how should I spend my cash?

 

[FX CharityCorals Verified Sponsor]

I would highly recommend doing the tek light with ATI Bulbs. 4 blue plus and 2 coral plus. Then buy yourself a Reefbrite XHO Blue LED Strip for supplement. Then grab a jebao pump for some more circulation in the tank. Then spend the rest on some sweet coral

 

[Pumbooris]

I would do exactly what FX said to do but instead of getting the coral get a apex controller

 

[indyjaco]

Upgrade. :bigsmile:

Otherwise
- RB Photon 24 $320
- RKL to control temp and dosing pumps $120
- 2 dosing pumps $160
- dosing supplies $30
- Coral $ 370

 

[lionfish5740]

Depends on the coral that you keep... or want to keep.

 

[DFW]

I would do t5s with royal blue LED mix. That is what I do.

 

[tjgr34]

I favor LEDs. It's hard for me to justify the extra energy use and bulb replacement that comes with any other light source.

 

[saltyphish]

Agree! Skip the Kessils, buy the led strip, looks like you need some flow Jaebo probably still in your budget, get some coral. Skip the Apex until next year when you can afford the extras with it! I hate buying bare bone unit and then having to wait a while to buy the different modules that go with them, but up to you!

I would highly recommend doing the tek light with ATI Bulbs. 4 blue plus and 2 coral plus. Then buy yourself a Reefbrite XHO Blue LED Strip for supplement. Then grab a jebao pump for some more circulation in the tank. Then spend the rest on some sweet coral

 

[Pfisherman]

I have koralia 850gph (one) and 1150gph (one)

 

[Pfisherman]

Well, I'm not a complete noob. I've just not been active much on reef to reef, this is my second go at keeping a reef, its been running since October. I'm only at two fish now, a coral beauty and an ocelaris clown. My corals are really basic, a decent colony of frogspawn a decent colony of candy cane coral, white toadstool, pink colt, Kenya tree, couple simple palys and zoas and a rbta.

If I could get my coral beauty out I'd like to get some acans, nicer zoas and palys. Idk... What's everyone want? A little bit of everything, right? Lets see if I can upload some pics...

 

[Pfisherman]

Alright then...

 

[Pfisherman]

Couple more... These are all a week or so ok and the green algae is starting to lighten up.

 

[fishroomlady]

that's a really nice looking tank! It's really clean given that it's still relatively new - this isn't your first rodeo lol

 

[luke33]

Your tank seems fine with flow and skimmer, so if you want new lights I'd go that route. I'd do led's personally, some nice ones here from our sponsors. I like thee evergrow's myself as they are programmable, nice spread and color. They also have plenty of intensity for anything. But I wouldn't go spend it just to spend it as your setup seems to be doing well.

 

[pirate2876]

Use that money to get a new wife. Then do whatever you want.

 

[MrDJeep123]

If you want shimmer, Kessil hands down beats the other LEDs. I have the 150 and will be upgrading to either 2 160s or a 360. Either way, I'm going to use the spectral controller. They are GREAT lights and have no problems growing things.
Someone suggested to get an apex, you don't have to get an apex, but look into getting a controller.

 

[Rob&Gab]

just a heads up a used 6bulb tek light. is deff not 200$. should be allot less. just a heads up.

1000$ IS DEFF A TIGHT BUDGET. TO DO A UPGRADE WITH 100% NICE STUFF.

but keep a lok out in the market place on here and your local reef forum. you can find some pretty good deals. TEK lights are pretty good. But if you can find a ATI 6Bulb would be much better.

cant wait too see this build. deff gonna be awesome to follow. as for a skimmer, i would go reef octopus. keep an eye out for a used good one. people tend to sell off there stuff for cheap sometimes when they need to let itgo quickly. but with that you have the bargen hunters witch are lurking and are VERY QUICK LOL.

as for a new tank . will you be upgrading your tank as well. ? i think you said you are but i too am on a phone lol .

as for a reactor if your going get one get a two little fishes reactor to run your carbon or phosban or what ever you are gonna run. cheap .

 

[Rob&Gab]

Use that money to get a new wife. Then do whatever you want.

LOL IM DYING. haha awesome. >.< hahahhaha.

 

[MrDJeep123]

1000$ IS DEFF A TIGHT BUDGET. TO DO A UPGRADE WITH 100% NICE STUFF.

but with that you have the bargen hunters witch are lurking and are VERY QUICK LOL.

Cost vs. Benefit.

And you say the second part like it's a bad thing! :tongue:

 

[Rob&Gab]

Cost vs. Benefit.

And you say the second part like it's a bad thing! :tongue:

lol the 2nd thing is deff not a problem / but you guys are too fast of snipers for me when you see a good deal its gone by the time i see it