Equipping new reef tank

snapper13 · Oct 13, 2012

Setting up 35gallon reef tank. Local area with limited supplies. Which better and why? Reef octopus 1000sss or Italian skimmer eshops sp? 120. Any good choices in the 20 inches long range for t5 lighting? If have to go to led which type? Would like to try a soft/hard coral combo. Thanks for any help

revsgirl · Oct 13, 2012

:bump2:

ritter6788 · Oct 13, 2012

Welcome to the forums!

I don't have any experience with the skimmers you named but I have a Reef Octopus in sump skimmer that works great and they have great customer service. If you're looking for leds there are many sponsors here that sell nice led units and would be glad to answer any questions you have. I have Evloution leds on my tank from Reefkoi that I really like.

EnV · Oct 16, 2012

snapper13 said:
Setting up 35gallon reef tank. Local area with limited supplies. Which better and why? Reef octopus 1000sss or Italian skimmer eshops sp? 120. Any good choices in the 20 inches long range for t5 lighting? If have to go to led which type? Would like to try a soft/hard coral combo. Thanks for any help

For a 35G tank, the RO1000SSS is overkill. RO does offer a nice HOB skimmer that is rated up to 50-80G which would be perfect. You can also even go with a single AI SOL LED unit, usual coverage for those is up to 24" per unit so that would be near perfect. Also is you're going SPS you'll want a nice powerhead for the nondirectional flow which a MP10 could take care of nicely.

Norcalreefer · Oct 20, 2012

I love orphek leds. great color.

Aqua fire/medic · Oct 20, 2012

Only 20" t5 fixture I would use is the Nova extreme pro, but unfortunately has poor bulb selection. You could try a couple par 30/38 bulbs with goosenecks.... If not, you could get 1 AI sol and it wouldn't burn a hole in your wallet. GL and welcome

Poseidon · Oct 20, 2012

I have seen and used the Eshopps hang on skimmers before, they work fairly well, but can be a bit noisy. As for the lights, 20" doesn't give you hardly any options in bulbs, I'd go LED. Check out the sponsors here, I've seen a nice LED fixture for $199 that could cover that width easily.