Almost Ready!

JRM88 · 05/06/2007, 06:52 PM

Ok, just wanting to make sure I have thought of everything and want to get some advice

I have bought a 40gal tank (36" x 18" x 16") with stand+ canopy

Very happy with it. Now for the equipment I have 2 powerheads which each are 1200L every hr and one of those wavemaker things that you attach to the powerhead. I also have a 150watt heater and a thermometer.
I have test kits for pH, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite. What other test kits should I get?
I am wanting to get the BH100 Octopus Reef Skimmer. Is this a good one for my tank?
Lastly, I want lights that will allow me to keep coral. I have a canopy, so does this mean I cannot have metal halides as it will get too hot? I really do want them but I need to keep the canopy on it.
These are the other lights I have been looking at - will they be ok for most corals?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/T5-AQUARIUM-O...QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks!

Agu · 05/06/2007, 07:42 PM

When you say you have a canpoy that's pretty vague. It could be anything from a light fixture to a cutom built top for your tank. Depending on what you define as a canopy you may or may not be able to have MH lighting.

JRM88 · 05/06/2007, 07:55 PM

Um.. it is a wooden hood sort of thing.. it isnt very high either, about 5 inches I guess.

drummereef · 05/06/2007, 08:39 PM

Honestly I'd keep the canopy off. That lighting you are looking at seems to be tank mounted. It should be enough for softies, polyps, shrooms, even a few lps. I would get some Salifert alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium test kits. You will need these when you start introducing corals. The Octupus is ok, kind of like a BakPak skimmer. I've had good luck with my Remora HOB skimmer for my 40g. Also, read the following articles.

The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

JRM88 · 05/06/2007, 09:07 PM

Any ideas if the Remora skimmers are available in Australia? I'll get the test kits before I put corals in (which wont be for a while anyway).
With the Metal Halide lighting, how do I um.. put it above the tank? DO I use legs to mount it or do I attach it to the roof or something? (I'm a female and have no idea on most of this equipment

)
The lighting is tank mounted, but the canopy sort of fits over the glass so the legs for the lights can still be mounted. Thanks for the advice too

NeveSSL · 05/06/2007, 09:26 PM

I would suggest a different fixture.

The biggest thing about T5 lighting is that for it to do its best and do what its intended for, each bulb has to have its own reflector. I'm sure it will work very well for most things without, but you'll be loosing quite a bit if I understand correctly without the reflectors.

Brandon

JRM88 · 05/06/2007, 09:49 PM

Does anyone have any suggestions for cheap'ish T5 light fixtures in Aus? I would like to be able to get very good lights as I know I will probably want to keep corals that do require a good amount of light.

05/06/2007, 06:52 PM	#1
JRM88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia. Posts: 60	Almost Ready! Ok, just wanting to make sure I have thought of everything and want to get some advice I have bought a 40gal tank (36" x 18" x 16") with stand+ canopy Very happy with it. Now for the equipment I have 2 powerheads which each are 1200L every hr and one of those wavemaker things that you attach to the powerhead. I also have a 150watt heater and a thermometer. I have test kits for pH, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite. What other test kits should I get? I am wanting to get the BH100 Octopus Reef Skimmer. Is this a good one for my tank? Lastly, I want lights that will allow me to keep coral. I have a canopy, so does this mean I cannot have metal halides as it will get too hot? I really do want them but I need to keep the canopy on it. These are the other lights I have been looking at - will they be ok for most corals? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/T5-AQUARIUM-O...QQcmdZViewItem Thanks!

05/06/2007, 07:42 PM	#2
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	When you say you have a canpoy that's pretty vague. It could be anything from a light fixture to a cutom built top for your tank. Depending on what you define as a canopy you may or may not be able to have MH lighting. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

05/06/2007, 08:39 PM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Honestly I'd keep the canopy off. That lighting you are looking at seems to be tank mounted. It should be enough for softies, polyps, shrooms, even a few lps. I would get some Salifert alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium test kits. You will need these when you start introducing corals. The Octupus is ok, kind of like a BakPak skimmer. I've had good luck with my Remora HOB skimmer for my 40g. Also, read the following articles. The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/06/2007, 09:07 PM	#5
JRM88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia. Posts: 60	Any ideas if the Remora skimmers are available in Australia? I'll get the test kits before I put corals in (which wont be for a while anyway). With the Metal Halide lighting, how do I um.. put it above the tank? DO I use legs to mount it or do I attach it to the roof or something? (I'm a female and have no idea on most of this equipment) The lighting is tank mounted, but the canopy sort of fits over the glass so the legs for the lights can still be mounted. Thanks for the advice too

05/06/2007, 09:26 PM	#6
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	I would suggest a different fixture. The biggest thing about T5 lighting is that for it to do its best and do what its intended for, each bulb has to have its own reflector. I'm sure it will work very well for most things without, but you'll be loosing quite a bit if I understand correctly without the reflectors. Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

05/06/2007, 07:55 PM	#3
JRM88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia. Posts: 60	Um.. it is a wooden hood sort of thing.. it isnt very high either, about 5 inches I guess.

05/06/2007, 09:49 PM	#7
JRM88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia. Posts: 60	Does anyone have any suggestions for cheap'ish T5 light fixtures in Aus? I would like to be able to get very good lights as I know I will probably want to keep corals that do require a good amount of light.