Newish to the hobby

PMReefs · 04/04/2018, 09:36 PM

I tried a small reef tank a couple years ago but was incredibly busy and never got the hang of it. So here I am now with plenty of time to go for it, and my gf thinks it’s a good idea 😁

Just ordered a Reefer 350 deluxe, looks like a good tank to start with. I’d like to make a build thread when it gets here to track progress and have help/opinions when I get stuck!

Can anyone reccomend a return pump that will hook up the the return hose the reefer comes with? And also is there a classified section that I’m missing on these forums? Would be nice to get some deals on things vs buying everything retail.

top shelf · 04/04/2018, 10:09 PM

Welcome to Reef Central!
The buying/selling forums will be visible after 50 meaningful posts and 90 days. However you are able to view your local clubs buying and selling.

As for the pump it depends on how much you want to spend. There are many available with just as many price points and options/controllability.

PMReefs · 04/04/2018, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by top shelf

Welcome to Reef Central!
The buying/selling forums will be visible after 50 meaningful posts and 90 days. However you are able to view your local clubs buying and selling.

As for the pump it depends on how much you want to spend. There are many available with just as many price points and options/controllability.

Wow 90 days and 50 post to buy stuff eh. Guess retail it is haha.

I was thinking the Vectra S1 looks like a good choice, but it doesn’t look like it would connect to the hose. I’ve plumbed anything before so not sure if I want to dive into hard plumbing just yet.

Do you think the reefer 350 is a good setup for a new person to the hobby, or will this be to complex starting out?

top shelf · 04/04/2018, 10:36 PM

I've never owned a reefer so can't comment but a lot of people seem to like it and have good things to say. Also see a lot choose it for there first tank so I think you will be happy. I went a cheaper route and purchased an SCA aquarium, great build quality and very happy so far. Reading and research will be your best friend. Just go slow and don't make any impulse decisions and ask questions if you don't understand something after you read it. Many knowledgeable people on here with years of experience.

As for the vectra it's a good choice IMO and don't see why you would have trouble installing it, again I don't have any experience with redsea reefer, but most plumbing is the same across the board. Personally I did a mix of hard and soft plumbing and it's pretty easy to do. My drain line is all hard plumbed and my return line is a combination of both. I used a small section of soft line coming off my pump to a hard line the rest of the way.

top shelf · 04/04/2018, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMReefs

Wow 90 days and 50 post to buy stuff eh. Guess retail it is haha.

I was thinking the Vectra S1 looks like a good choice, but it doesn’t look like it would connect to the hose. I’ve plumbed anything before so not sure if I want to dive into hard plumbing just yet.

Do you think the reefer 350 is a good setup for a new person to the hobby, or will this be to complex starting out?

Just to give you an idea of what I'm talking about for my drain and return lines.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

ramseynb · 04/05/2018, 02:02 AM

Don’t let plumbing scare you. Watch a YouTube video or two, practice on a few pieces of scrap PVC and you’ll be good to go. Just make sure you plan things out and think things through first. “Measure twice, cut once” works with plumbing as well. However, most PVC is cheap and any mistakes can be corrected.

I have no experience with the Vectra, but I’d think it would be a good pump. I have had many MANY Ecotech products over the years and the only one that hasn’t been outstanding is the reeflink.

04/04/2018, 09:36 PM	#1
PMReefs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 22	Newish to the hobby I tried a small reef tank a couple years ago but was incredibly busy and never got the hang of it. So here I am now with plenty of time to go for it, and my gf thinks it’s a good idea 😁 Just ordered a Reefer 350 deluxe, looks like a good tank to start with. I’d like to make a build thread when it gets here to track progress and have help/opinions when I get stuck! Can anyone reccomend a return pump that will hook up the the return hose the reefer comes with? And also is there a classified section that I’m missing on these forums? Would be nice to get some deals on things vs buying everything retail.

04/04/2018, 10:09 PM	#2
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	Welcome to Reef Central! The buying/selling forums will be visible after 50 meaningful posts and 90 days. However you are able to view your local clubs buying and selling. As for the pump it depends on how much you want to spend. There are many available with just as many price points and options/controllability. __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube

04/04/2018, 10:36 PM	#4
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	I've never owned a reefer so can't comment but a lot of people seem to like it and have good things to say. Also see a lot choose it for there first tank so I think you will be happy. I went a cheaper route and purchased an SCA aquarium, great build quality and very happy so far. Reading and research will be your best friend. Just go slow and don't make any impulse decisions and ask questions if you don't understand something after you read it. Many knowledgeable people on here with years of experience. As for the vectra it's a good choice IMO and don't see why you would have trouble installing it, again I don't have any experience with redsea reefer, but most plumbing is the same across the board. Personally I did a mix of hard and soft plumbing and it's pretty easy to do. My drain line is all hard plumbed and my return line is a combination of both. I used a small section of soft line coming off my pump to a hard line the rest of the way. __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube Last edited by top shelf; 04/04/2018 at 10:42 PM.

04/05/2018, 02:02 AM	#6
ramseynb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 630	Don’t let plumbing scare you. Watch a YouTube video or two, practice on a few pieces of scrap PVC and you’ll be good to go. Just make sure you plan things out and think things through first. “Measure twice, cut once” works with plumbing as well. However, most PVC is cheap and any mistakes can be corrected. I have no experience with the Vectra, but I’d think it would be a good pump. I have had many MANY Ecotech products over the years and the only one that hasn’t been outstanding is the reeflink. __________________ How do you make an octopus laugh? Ten tickles!