new tank set up

gstatus · 11/25/2010, 05:06 AM

i have been thinking about upgrading my 14gallon bio cube since im getting the hang saltwater. i realy want a 40 gallon breeder but i have been looking all over for a stand... could not find one so gave up and decided on this one
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=4449731
i want to put a 10 gallon sump and use a over flow system. not 100% sure about how its gona work it should fit sideways in the stand so im not to worried about that.
as for the lighting im not sure what to use i have only used pc bulbs so idk much about other bulbs other than t5. i hear the metal halides are good so i was thinking about this one
http://www.fishneedit.com/150w-metal...ndant-lig.html
would that be good for this tank alone? i just plan to have mostly soft and lps corals. i see lots of people have 15,000k and 20,000k not sure what one to get i like to see the greens in the corals stick out like green star polys looks so cool. my main concern is just the lighting and then i still need the dawn/dusk effect to -.- any suggestions will help
as for the skimmer im open to any suggestions.

not sure what else i should get

thanks for the help ahead of time i just wana make sure i have everything planned before going out and spending all this money.

iwishtofish · 11/25/2010, 06:14 AM

Have you purchased the tank/stand yet? I think a 40b would be a more versatile choice - perhaps you could build a stand (or have someone help you, if its not your thing).

A 40b would provide more lateral room for your fish to swim, and you could bump up your sump size to 20g long. I know from experience that it is hard to fit much equipment in a 10g sump. Also, you'd have more overall water volume, which is better for water stability.

Regardless of which tank you choose, if you only plan to keep soft and LPS corals, T5 HO lights would do you just fine. They'd also likely use less electricity, and keep your tank cooler. If you were to purchase a high-quality T5 fixture, you could keep just about any coral in a 40 breeder (shallow enough).

As for an overflow, if whatever tank you select doesn't come reef-ready, you could drill it (provided the glass isn't tempered) and install an overflow. Several vendors make good ones. Gl*a*s*s*holes.com is one of them (the *s are just there so Reef Central won't think I'm saying a dirty word).

Best of luck!

gstatus · 11/25/2010, 06:24 AM

yea i thought a 40 gallon would be much better only problem is im a bad handy man and dont know any one to make a stand :/ i did see some one selling one on craigs list but it wouldnt hide the sump and didnt look like it would hold the weight XD

iwishtofish · 11/25/2010, 07:06 AM

Yeah, I understand. I am not too handy, but I persevered and finally built an OK stand. I'm glad I did, because now I can do pretty much whatever I want with it. Nobody with experience to help you? There is a great thread (by RocketEngineer, I think) on here that has some great designs and discussion. Maybe if you keep looking, you'll find a pre-built stand.

The metal halide pendant you linked to is very inexpensive. There is some debate here (as with everything), but it seems to me that you really do get what you pay for with lighting. If you chose T5s, you could perhaps choose a fixture with dual switches so you could get your dusk-to-dawn effect...

I like your plan to plan ahead. Helps prevent a LOT of serious problems that can be hard to correct!

hiittman · 11/25/2010, 08:19 AM

here you go,this should help
http://op5.triadinet.com/elmers/nlca...earchby|bydesc

othercents · 11/25/2010, 08:52 AM

I just ordered from fishneedit for my 20L since they were inexpensive and from the reviews their products were high quality. They are a small company, so I expect them to provide really good service instead of cheap imported products at cut rate prices.

Once I have a few years with the 20L I am going to upgrade to either a 40B or 50B. I will use LED lighting with that tank since it will be inexpensive to build it myself and last forever. No cutting involved, so if you can glue straight, solder, and know what + and - mean, then you might not blow anything up.

gstatus · 11/25/2010, 04:49 PM

ive seen alot of posts that say need it fish products are good except the bulbs.. that its better to just replace the bulb... i dont mind that lol

the link that hiitman put. is that websight legit? i never heard of it

gstatus · 11/25/2010, 05:04 PM

the 27 gallon cubetank/stand is on sale at pm for 200$
and 40b tank is like 130 itself at most petstores probably lookin at 300 ish for a custome built stand... so 230$ more i get 13 gallons more biger sump more room for fish alwasy a +... then i can probably just get that t5 fixture with 4x 36 watts.... that should be enough since its very shallow 16 inch i think. 27 cube tank is gona be on sale tell sunday... so i have tell then to decide.
im probably gona call a bunch of lfs to see if i can order a custom stand hopefull its under 300

11/25/2010, 05:06 AM	#1
gstatus Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 113	new tank set up i have been thinking about upgrading my 14gallon bio cube since im getting the hang saltwater. i realy want a 40 gallon breeder but i have been looking all over for a stand... could not find one so gave up and decided on this one http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=4449731 i want to put a 10 gallon sump and use a over flow system. not 100% sure about how its gona work it should fit sideways in the stand so im not to worried about that. as for the lighting im not sure what to use i have only used pc bulbs so idk much about other bulbs other than t5. i hear the metal halides are good so i was thinking about this one http://www.fishneedit.com/150w-metal...ndant-lig.html would that be good for this tank alone? i just plan to have mostly soft and lps corals. i see lots of people have 15,000k and 20,000k not sure what one to get i like to see the greens in the corals stick out like green star polys looks so cool. my main concern is just the lighting and then i still need the dawn/dusk effect to -.- any suggestions will help as for the skimmer im open to any suggestions. not sure what else i should get thanks for the help ahead of time i just wana make sure i have everything planned before going out and spending all this money.

11/25/2010, 08:52 AM	#6
othercents Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 277	I just ordered from fishneedit for my 20L since they were inexpensive and from the reviews their products were high quality. They are a small company, so I expect them to provide really good service instead of cheap imported products at cut rate prices. Once I have a few years with the 20L I am going to upgrade to either a 40B or 50B. I will use LED lighting with that tank since it will be inexpensive to build it myself and last forever. No cutting involved, so if you can glue straight, solder, and know what + and - mean, then you might not blow anything up. __________________ The road to enlightenment is different for each individual Current Tank Info: 10G MANTIS Tank

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11/25/2010, 06:14 AM	#2
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Have you purchased the tank/stand yet? I think a 40b would be a more versatile choice - perhaps you could build a stand (or have someone help you, if its not your thing). A 40b would provide more lateral room for your fish to swim, and you could bump up your sump size to 20g long. I know from experience that it is hard to fit much equipment in a 10g sump. Also, you'd have more overall water volume, which is better for water stability. Regardless of which tank you choose, if you only plan to keep soft and LPS corals, T5 HO lights would do you just fine. They'd also likely use less electricity, and keep your tank cooler. If you were to purchase a high-quality T5 fixture, you could keep just about any coral in a 40 breeder (shallow enough). As for an overflow, if whatever tank you select doesn't come reef-ready, you could drill it (provided the glass isn't tempered) and install an overflow. Several vendors make good ones. Glassholes.com is one of them (the *s are just there so Reef Central won't think I'm saying a dirty word). Best of luck!

11/25/2010, 06:24 AM	#3
gstatus Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 113	yea i thought a 40 gallon would be much better only problem is im a bad handy man and dont know any one to make a stand :/ i did see some one selling one on craigs list but it wouldnt hide the sump and didnt look like it would hold the weight XD

11/25/2010, 07:06 AM	#4
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Yeah, I understand. I am not too handy, but I persevered and finally built an OK stand. I'm glad I did, because now I can do pretty much whatever I want with it. Nobody with experience to help you? There is a great thread (by RocketEngineer, I think) on here that has some great designs and discussion. Maybe if you keep looking, you'll find a pre-built stand. The metal halide pendant you linked to is very inexpensive. There is some debate here (as with everything), but it seems to me that you really do get what you pay for with lighting. If you chose T5s, you could perhaps choose a fixture with dual switches so you could get your dusk-to-dawn effect... I like your plan to plan ahead. Helps prevent a LOT of serious problems that can be hard to correct!

11/25/2010, 08:19 AM	#5
hiittman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 13	here you go,this should help http://op5.triadinet.com/elmers/nlca...earchby\|bydesc

11/25/2010, 04:49 PM	#7
gstatus Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 113	ive seen alot of posts that say need it fish products are good except the bulbs.. that its better to just replace the bulb... i dont mind that lol the link that hiitman put. is that websight legit? i never heard of it

11/25/2010, 05:04 PM	#8
gstatus Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 113	the 27 gallon cubetank/stand is on sale at pm for 200$ and 40b tank is like 130 itself at most petstores probably lookin at 300 ish for a custome built stand... so 230$ more i get 13 gallons more biger sump more room for fish alwasy a +... then i can probably just get that t5 fixture with 4x 36 watts.... that should be enough since its very shallow 16 inch i think. 27 cube tank is gona be on sale tell sunday... so i have tell then to decide. im probably gona call a bunch of lfs to see if i can order a custom stand hopefull its under 300