latest and greatest

xanthurum · 11/03/2013, 11:22 AM

Ok I moved across the country from NC to AZ and have been without a tank for a few years and out of the loop. I wanna know what are the newest and bestest things going on. Lighting, Skimmers, Pumps, Reactors, anything and everything. Deep sand beds or bare bottoms? lots of rock or minimalistic, I am rusty so help me please. I need to get back into this since I will be picking up where I left with at least a 300 gallon tank. Thoughts on everything are appreciated I will be taking my time and getting things ready so that all the coolest gadgets are used for my newest tank. I have to out do my last 280 so I need this input.

sirreal63 · 11/03/2013, 11:30 AM

The things that worked a few years ago still work today. If the set up you had before was successful, go back with it. There seem to be a lot of "latest" but they have not proven to be the "greatest". Manufacturers always come up with the latest ways to separate aquarists from their money, but the reality is they do not really do much different, or better. One area that has improved, energy usage, aside from that the "old school" ways work the same, and in some ways better, than the new school ways.

ksed · 11/03/2013, 11:34 AM

Well said Jack

moondoggy4 · 11/03/2013, 12:17 PM

Since you are in AZ you may need a chiller, I would recommended two brands Aqua Logic they are in Kearny Mesa San Diego, another is Tradewinds they are in Escondido also in San Diego. this way if you need it serviced at the factory you could drive it there.

xanthurum · 11/03/2013, 01:48 PM

I see that halides are pretty much dead now that LED is booming. What about skimmers for big tanks. Where is the best place to get dry base rock for aquascaping. I need some direction on what to research.

sirreal63 · 11/03/2013, 02:18 PM

Led's fit into that "latest, not the "greatest" category. They are getting better but may be not truly be "tuned in" yet. If your goal is hardcore SPS dominant, stick with MH for a few years.

Base rock is easy, Marco, BRS and a few others still sell tons of it. Be prepared to acid bath or use lanthanum Chloride to remove phosphates though. For a tank that size I would add some TBS rock to it to kickstart some great life to the base rock.

I prefer a shallow sand bed, 1" or so, it is just easier to deal with. For my high flow tank I used a 50/50 mix of fine sand and larger grain sand. The Tropic Eden Reeflakes are my choice, cleanest sand you can get and the grain sizes are awesome.

xanthurum · 11/03/2013, 02:31 PM

There will be a wide variety of corals, I don't want an sps dominant tank but there will be lots of them. Probably a few softies but more lps and an anemone or two.

rtparty · 11/03/2013, 02:38 PM

ATI LED powermodule is the greatest light I've ever used and I've used just about everything.

Tunze or vortech for pumps. I like tunze personally.

Skimmers are skimmers. They can only do so much. ATI, Vertex, reef octopus, skimz, etc all make good skimmers.

Apex or ghl for controller IMO. Reef angel is nice if you want more hands on.

I hate sand. I hate lots of rock. My preference though.

11/03/2013, 11:22 AM	#1
xanthurum Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surprise Arizona Posts: 915	latest and greatest Ok I moved across the country from NC to AZ and have been without a tank for a few years and out of the loop. I wanna know what are the newest and bestest things going on. Lighting, Skimmers, Pumps, Reactors, anything and everything. Deep sand beds or bare bottoms? lots of rock or minimalistic, I am rusty so help me please. I need to get back into this since I will be picking up where I left with at least a 300 gallon tank. Thoughts on everything are appreciated I will be taking my time and getting things ready so that all the coolest gadgets are used for my newest tank. I have to out do my last 280 so I need this input. __________________ Why is this so addictive. Current Tank Info: You want to know just ask

11/03/2013, 11:30 AM	#2
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	The things that worked a few years ago still work today. If the set up you had before was successful, go back with it. There seem to be a lot of "latest" but they have not proven to be the "greatest". Manufacturers always come up with the latest ways to separate aquarists from their money, but the reality is they do not really do much different, or better. One area that has improved, energy usage, aside from that the "old school" ways work the same, and in some ways better, than the new school ways. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

11/03/2013, 01:48 PM	#5
xanthurum Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surprise Arizona Posts: 915	I see that halides are pretty much dead now that LED is booming. What about skimmers for big tanks. Where is the best place to get dry base rock for aquascaping. I need some direction on what to research. __________________ Why is this so addictive. Current Tank Info: You want to know just ask

11/03/2013, 02:18 PM	#6
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Led's fit into that "latest, not the "greatest" category. They are getting better but may be not truly be "tuned in" yet. If your goal is hardcore SPS dominant, stick with MH for a few years. Base rock is easy, Marco, BRS and a few others still sell tons of it. Be prepared to acid bath or use lanthanum Chloride to remove phosphates though. For a tank that size I would add some TBS rock to it to kickstart some great life to the base rock. I prefer a shallow sand bed, 1" or so, it is just easier to deal with. For my high flow tank I used a 50/50 mix of fine sand and larger grain sand. The Tropic Eden Reeflakes are my choice, cleanest sand you can get and the grain sizes are awesome. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

11/03/2013, 02:31 PM	#7
xanthurum Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surprise Arizona Posts: 915	There will be a wide variety of corals, I don't want an sps dominant tank but there will be lots of them. Probably a few softies but more lps and an anemone or two. __________________ Why is this so addictive. Current Tank Info: You want to know just ask

11/03/2013, 11:34 AM	#3
ksed Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,867	Well said Jack

11/03/2013, 12:17 PM	#4
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Since you are in AZ you may need a chiller, I would recommended two brands Aqua Logic they are in Kearny Mesa San Diego, another is Tradewinds they are in Escondido also in San Diego. this way if you need it serviced at the factory you could drive it there.

11/03/2013, 02:38 PM	#8
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	ATI LED powermodule is the greatest light I've ever used and I've used just about everything. Tunze or vortech for pumps. I like tunze personally. Skimmers are skimmers. They can only do so much. ATI, Vertex, reef octopus, skimz, etc all make good skimmers. Apex or ghl for controller IMO. Reef angel is nice if you want more hands on. I hate sand. I hate lots of rock. My preference though. __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+