Getting back to basics

butrflynlambie · 06/10/2012, 07:05 PM

I moved roughly 10 years ago and bid good bye to my long time 30gallon tank. I was running the power compacts for lighting and back then when that was the new lighting option.

Alot has changed and I am looking to get a 75~90gallon size tank. I was always thinking I would buy the oceanic tank with metal halide lighting. I went to my local fish store and found I didn't know the brands hardware anymore. Just a couple of questions to jumpstart my hardware familarity should I decide to purchase.

1. Lighting. I am partial to metal halide, but I was surprised my local fish store did not stock them. Are LEDs really better than bulbs? I like how the lighting sits on top now by the use of the riser rather than a need to hang or sit in a canopy. Are there metal halides that are similar in design?

2. Glass, I was never familar with starphire. How does it compared to tempered glass. Any worries?

3. What happened to oceanic, I knew they were bouht out but thought the line had stayed strong. What reef ready tank brands are now in competition or seen to be equatable?

4. The local store has the read sea max on display. I took a look at it. It is in my price range, BUT... Lighting is flourescent, no calc reactor and I have no brand knowledge of their protien skimmer. Only really thought of them as a supplement supplier. I do like the tank, the clean electric supply and plumbing. I like that the timers are integrated but most likely would replace with an electronic system.

Can anyone speak to the red sea max and pros/cons. Better to build your own or is there value in the pre-configurations and swapping lighting or skimmer for better benefit?

Mmiller40gt · 06/10/2012, 07:14 PM

Don't buy equipment from the LFS. Find your lights and other stuff online. You might get a aquarium from a LFS but that's about it.

The preconfigured tanks are IMO very lacking. They are geared to first timers.

06/10/2012, 07:05 PM	#1
butrflynlambie Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 4	Getting back to basics I moved roughly 10 years ago and bid good bye to my long time 30gallon tank. I was running the power compacts for lighting and back then when that was the new lighting option. Alot has changed and I am looking to get a 75~90gallon size tank. I was always thinking I would buy the oceanic tank with metal halide lighting. I went to my local fish store and found I didn't know the brands hardware anymore. Just a couple of questions to jumpstart my hardware familarity should I decide to purchase. 1. Lighting. I am partial to metal halide, but I was surprised my local fish store did not stock them. Are LEDs really better than bulbs? I like how the lighting sits on top now by the use of the riser rather than a need to hang or sit in a canopy. Are there metal halides that are similar in design? 2. Glass, I was never familar with starphire. How does it compared to tempered glass. Any worries? 3. What happened to oceanic, I knew they were bouht out but thought the line had stayed strong. What reef ready tank brands are now in competition or seen to be equatable? 4. The local store has the read sea max on display. I took a look at it. It is in my price range, BUT... Lighting is flourescent, no calc reactor and I have no brand knowledge of their protien skimmer. Only really thought of them as a supplement supplier. I do like the tank, the clean electric supply and plumbing. I like that the timers are integrated but most likely would replace with an electronic system. Can anyone speak to the red sea max and pros/cons. Better to build your own or is there value in the pre-configurations and swapping lighting or skimmer for better benefit?

06/10/2012, 07:14 PM	#2
Mmiller40gt arrogant reefer Join Date: May 2012 Location: N Texas Posts: 687	Don't buy equipment from the LFS. Find your lights and other stuff online. You might get a aquarium from a LFS but that's about it. The preconfigured tanks are IMO very lacking. They are geared to first timers.