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JonPhillips
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and I am broke. But does it effect the health of the tank is my question?
Bell and whistles?
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and I am broke. But does it effect the health of the tank is my question?
yea that 60 cube or 72 bow with 30g fuge sounding pretty good right now eh?
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JonPhillips
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DUDE! you read my stinking mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like Butta on hot bread my friend. like where'd all my bread go, it's in the wata!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no. On off is fine. but
thisll do a cube. w bells n whistles.
https://sbreeflights.com/14-16-elite
and no. fish like it dark when they sleep.
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JonPhillips
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Oh I am LED all the way, seems like a no brainer with the energy conservation, less heat, and longer lasting bulbs, not to mention beautiful color. Like I even have tank...
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JonPhillips
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heck yeah, son. I am cube all the way...I think. That is slick unit!
...so a little advice.
just because they advertise 50,000 hours doesnt mean itll last that. please... do not skimp on lights.
sbreeflights have got some leds built like a tank for a slightly higher premium and (i believe) a 2 year warranty
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JonPhillips
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probably going to buy used. I was thinking DIY but I am sure that's way too complicated for me.
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Water quality is number one in this hobby, so plan to do regular water changes, at least until you have the skills to recognize something is off just by subtle observable changes in livestock..
Skip the eBay rodi, pick up this one for 159.99
Includes a set of replacement filters, and handheld TDS meter. Spectrapure is a good quality brand, if I was buying today this is what I would get
http://spectrapure.com/RO-RODI/RODI...ement-Filter Kit-TDS Meters-Chlorine-Test-Kit
A tank that size you will be sick of toting buckets in no time. I have a 120g with a 4og sump, I use a 20g brute on casters that has a float valve (shuts off rodi unit, so no overflow) on it, and a maxi jet 1200 pump. Fill with rodi, Plug in pump add salt to 1.026. I also use the maxi jet to pump water out of the sump to a sink, then use it to pump water out of the brute to the sump. This takes about 15 minutes, if I'm not doing a deep clean in the sump. I also have a float valve on my top off container under the sump, it has a quick disconnect fitting so I just hook it up to the rodi unit to fill it up.
Skip the eBay rodi, pick up this one for 159.99
Includes a set of replacement filters, and handheld TDS meter. Spectrapure is a good quality brand, if I was buying today this is what I would get
http://spectrapure.com/RO-RODI/RODI...ement-Filter Kit-TDS Meters-Chlorine-Test-Kit
A tank that size you will be sick of toting buckets in no time. I have a 120g with a 4og sump, I use a 20g brute on casters that has a float valve (shuts off rodi unit, so no overflow) on it, and a maxi jet 1200 pump. Fill with rodi, Plug in pump add salt to 1.026. I also use the maxi jet to pump water out of the sump to a sink, then use it to pump water out of the brute to the sump. This takes about 15 minutes, if I'm not doing a deep clean in the sump. I also have a float valve on my top off container under the sump, it has a quick disconnect fitting so I just hook it up to the rodi unit to fill it up.
zoomonster
Valuable Member
Sump, skimmer, RODI, return pump, power heads, heater, ATO and lights pretty much covers the must haves. A lot of people run w/o ATO but its a key to stability and its a pain w/o it. I think my 200 evaps 2-3g a day and I'm not lugging buckets. People will argue about the skimmer but IMO its THE most critical piece (along with lights) that can't be done w/o on probably 98% of reef tanks AND should not be skimped on. I've never been a big water changer either and they usually do just fine when you take into account water replaced from evap and from skimming. An occasional major cleaning and water change usually suffice. I've had tanks that did quite well like that but I'm turning a little more to more frequent water changes as I stock and feed heavier. I'll never be one of the 10-20% a week changers but I may do more as I implement an auto water change. Probably the only thing I have not automated yet and the biggest PIA. There's always going to be some manual work involved but automation is key to being able to enjoy your tank more and not have it be a constant task.
From there in terms of automation for the sake of stability and ease of use.
1) Controller for everything.
2) Calcium reactor, kalk mixer or doser for two part.
3) You can always use bags in sump for some things like carbon but eventually your probably going to need/want some sort of media reactor for things like carbon, GFO, bio pellets, zeovit etc. etc.
4) Optional and arguable but I have always used ozone and find it invaluable for water quality and skimmer effectiveness. With it controlled and reacting to orp it provides some level of security as a safety net when say something dies off and pollutes the tank. Plus to some degree it provides some of the benefits of a UV sterilizer.
I can say with certainty no matter what you buy and how good it is stuff will eventually break. But biting the bullet now for the best price/performance that meets the needs of your tank will save you more grief and expense in the long run.
From there in terms of automation for the sake of stability and ease of use.
1) Controller for everything.
2) Calcium reactor, kalk mixer or doser for two part.
3) You can always use bags in sump for some things like carbon but eventually your probably going to need/want some sort of media reactor for things like carbon, GFO, bio pellets, zeovit etc. etc.
4) Optional and arguable but I have always used ozone and find it invaluable for water quality and skimmer effectiveness. With it controlled and reacting to orp it provides some level of security as a safety net when say something dies off and pollutes the tank. Plus to some degree it provides some of the benefits of a UV sterilizer.
I can say with certainty no matter what you buy and how good it is stuff will eventually break. But biting the bullet now for the best price/performance that meets the needs of your tank will save you more grief and expense in the long run.
might wanna check the acro grow off between people with skimmers and people without.
skimmerless systems are stomping skimmer systems.
hate to say it. But they are not "critical" as blue in the face as you want to make it out.
The acro growoff was to disprove that notion.
im not saying they are worthless, but they dont work miracles.
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JonPhillips
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JonPhillips
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Someone please tell me why an RODI is needed? Could I not fill up a brute can with water and let it "distill" for a week?
omykiss001
Active Member
I change about 20 gallons every month to every other month, mostly when I feel like it and have time. That was why I Set my tank up this way so water changes where not critical to keeping nutrients in check I want the system to be able to balance this.
omykiss001
Active Member
I forgot to add I did water changes frequently when the tank was new. Once I saw both my phosphate and nitrate go from detectable to not detectable I was able to back off the water changes. Don't know if you could take that strategy from day 1. It's something I worked up to.
