Upgrade Equipment. In What Order?

[EricBrian]

I am getting ready to upgrade my tank. I am going to a 75 gallon. I have all basic equipment and am wondering what things I should save for and then purchase in what order.

I am thinking:

1. Lighting System
2. Skimmer
3. CA Reaktor
4. Kalk Reaktor

For now, not interested in model. Again, just want to know what general type of equipment.

Thanks for any input.

[BeanAnimal]

Spend your big money on the lights. You can live without the skimmer in the short term. As the tank matures, skimming will become more important. However, you can get away with water changes for now.

The CA and KALK reactors will not be need for a LONG time. You can dose Randy's home made 2 part, Mix your own KALK, buy B-IONIC, or a host of other balanced additives.

You did not mention FLOW. I would spend a good amount of time and money getting the most flow possible in the tank. There are a lot of options from power heads to closed loop pumps and wave makers.

I would suggest OCeans Motions on a closed loop or two with DART pumps. If you don't mind pumps in the tank, then the MaxiJet mods would be greate (or just buy the expensive Tunze units).

So your answers.... LIGHT AND FLOW with SKIMMING down the road and CA and KALK way way down the road.
Bean

[EricBrian]

Thank you!

I've already bought Tunze power heads. And, I got 6 lamp TEK T5 lighting system.

Working on the rest now. For a skimmer, I have a Remora C with a mag3. Do you think I should upgrade that?

Again, thanks.

[BeanAnimal]

Not familair with that skimmer (I am sure others are).

What do you plan on keeping in the tank?

[EricBrian]

SPS and Clams. Fish, too, down the road.

[McCrary]

I have the remora w/ mag 3 and for a 75 you might be able to get away with it if you have do water changes often. SPS like low nutrient levels. Just keep the bioload light and watch how the corals react.

[yoboyjdizz]

Originally posted by EricBrian


1. Lighting System
2. Skimmer
3. CA Reaktor
4. Kalk Reaktor

I would upgrade in order of that you have there.. SPS need good lighting. I would also upgrade your skimmer. Do you have a sump or fuge?

[EricBrian]

Yes, I have a sump.... 30 gallon.

Can you recommend a skimmer? I will search here, too.

[yoboyjdizz]

Good skimmer for the money asm line .. asmg2-g3 would do wonders for your tank.

[yoboyjdizz]

I would also look into adding a fuge that would be a huge benefit for you and your tank!

[EricBrian]

Oh, the sump is actually a sump/fuge in one.

Thanks for the info, all.

[EricBrian]

Originally posted by yoboyjdizz
Good skimmer for the money asm line .. asmg2-g3 would do wonders for your tank.

I just went to their website and they don't have any 2s or 3s available. LOL

[McCrary]

If you have the cash a Deltec or H&S is hard to beat. ASM are knock-offs of the above and save money buy using lesser quality plastic.

[BeanAnimal]

I am not quite sure that "lesser quality" is really the word.

The Deltecs and H&S use cast acrylic bodies. The ASMs use PVC.

The PVC is less prone to cracking or crazing. The PVC is lighter and appears to be cheaper in the manner they are buying it. It therefore helps to reduce the cost of the skimmers.

However take a look at Harvel clear PVC and compare it to Cast Acrylic... the PVC is much more expensive May be due to supply and demand, but then again...

Bean

[sjm817]

Look at the PCI/Reef Octopus skimmers. There are a couple of huge threads about them. Great value.

[CeeGee]

I bought an ASM G3 and added the recirc and gate valve mods. I am not crazy about this skimmer. I would buck up and get a H&S or Deltec if you could afford it. I am hoping santa will find it in his heart to bring me one but I doubt it.

the ASM's use inferior pumps compared to H&S and Deltec and the build quality is abysmal. ASM's have to be used in sump as well.

I am currently running T5's on my tank as well and I am less than thrilled with them as well (I hope yours work out for you) if I could do it again I would go with halides. As soon as money permits that is exactly what I am going to do.

[yoboyjdizz]

Go to our sponsers page they have lots of links of sponsers who carry asm skimmers ... h&s seem like good skimmers as well deltec is very good but very expensive. I don't see being in different material have affect on how a skimmer does its job. Thats just me though if i had the money i go deltec but i don't so i go asm with no worries.

[143gadgets]

Hey Eric! If your ever in the DC area, your welcome to stop by and check out my 75g to get some ideas.

[EricBrian]

Man, it seems impossible to find a site that sells H&S Skimmer, Deltec kalkstirrer and Tunze powerheads. Argh. LOL.

Anybody know of one?

[Jim_S]

From the H&S forum:

Here is a list of Dealers to contact:
Ocean Environments
Dustin
www.oceanenvironments.net
Phone: 239.304.0109
E-Mail: oenvironments@swfla.rr.com
Naples, Florida

KM Associates Int'l
Ed
San Francisco CA 94118
(888) 305-3542
email: ed1022@gmail.com
website: http://home.wwdb.org/kmaintl

Atlantis Aquariums
Marvin
10619 Patterson Ave.
Richmond, VA 23238
(804) 377-0243
www.atlantisva.com


Aquarium Specialty
www.aquariumspecialty.com
Scott Groseclose
South Carolina
(803)309-0234

Frag Farmer
Eric
903 Central Ave #E
Upland, Ca 91786
909-931-7977
www.**********.com

These dealers should be able to ship product along with having a working knowledge of the product.

There is more dealers, I will have them listed in a sperate thread shortly.

______

You can find Deltec products at the Deltec USA website or at Atlantis aquarium above. I'm sure you can find some Tunze's at one of the above listed as well. If not, finsreef.com has them.

You should also look into Euro-Reef. I have had great success with their products.

Jim

[EricBrian]

Originally posted by jimdogg187
You should also look into Euro-Reef. I have had great success with their products.

Thanks Jim.

Which ER products do you use?

[EricM]

I love my ASM skimmer. More $$ does not neccesarily get you anything better. It's like Honda vs. Acura. One is more expensive to buy and maintain, but they both last forever and perform well.

[Volcano1]

I think atlantis carrys all of the above, I'm switching from ASM to H&S. Seems like the reef octo's have a little better pump than the ASM's, build quality may be slightly better. I saw one at a LFS on a liverock tank and it was goin crazy.HTH.

Todd

[DocG]

The Euro-Reef RS series is a great new line of skimmers that is built slightly less well then the CS series but they use the same pumps and the same acrylic as their more expensive CS brothers. They seem to be coming in at close to $200.00 cheaper then the CS series. This is a brand new line and a lot of the on-line retailers in the US don't have them listed yet. Very comparable in price to the ASM and the pumps are far better (in a needle wheel skimmer the pump is what makes the skimmer).

Here is one place that does have them listed. I would go with the RS 135 or the RS 180.

I have had very good results with Euro-Reef and Deltec. Very poor results with ASM.

[Jim_S]

Originally posted by EricBrian
Thanks Jim.

Which ER products do you use?

I use an RC180. It works great. In the past I have used an RS6-2 and RS6-2+ (old model #'s)

The CS and RC series are the premier line of ER skimmers. Very well built.

The RS line is also very well built and sold at a much cheaper price.

I also use an H&S A150. It is a great performer as well.

HTH

On a side note, I see you like macs. That means you are all about quality I've been a mac user since the 80's. Just got a new macbook pro after my powerbook was ripped off. Great computers.

Jim