After 6+ years...I am back and looking for advice.

MStiers · 11/23/2011, 07:59 PM

According to the friendly reminder here on Reef Central, You last visited: 05/18/2005 at 01:32 AM.

By June of 2006 I had parted ways with all of my tanks.

At dinner tonight my wife gave in and I am now able to get a tank once again.

I remember how much fun I had with my 29gal Reef and all the frag swaps I visited in Central Ohio.
I was looking at a 40gal this time. I am heading to the local pet shops on Friday hoping for some nice sales.

In the mean time, I would appreciate suggestions on filtration, lighting etc.
I purchased most of my goodies from Big Al's online previously, but alot changes in 5 years so my ears are open.

Thanks in advance for any help.

mjhall85 · 11/23/2011, 09:58 PM

Well welcome back! Petco and Petsmart are suppose to have some half off sales on friday so hopefully you can snag a tank for cheap! I say go with a sump and drill the tank much easier I think and cleaner look to the tank but of course that is just my opinion. Lights there is some awesome LED's out there. I am still fairly new to the "hobby" depending what you all want in your tank of course equipment needed will vary. What do you plan on doing? Another Reef tank or a fowlr?

MStiers · 11/23/2011, 10:11 PM

Thanks for the reply mjhall85!
My wife and I went to Petsmart after dinner this evening and they had some decent sales that run until 11/27, but I wanted to hold out for Friday to see what might go on sale since the guy said most of their sales are not listed in their ad. I did see they had a fluval 205 for half off. That is insane!

Reef tank for me my friend.
My daughters will love it and it will bring me many hours of enjoyment.

mjhall85 · 11/23/2011, 10:22 PM

Fluval is a good pump, You prefer to use mechanical filtration ? (are you open to drilling the tank and using a sump instead)? Well being you want a 40 you could get a protein skimmer but not a huge neccesity in a tank that size. I would check out some LED's or go with a nice 4 Bulb T5 fixture(just depends what kinda budget you are working with). I have one on my 65gallon and my tank is growing great with it and its 24inches deep and the light penetrates great.

tkeracer619 · 11/23/2011, 10:42 PM

Go with the 40 breader tank.

Single 250w 20k halide will cover the tank nice. Depending on what your going to keep of course. Led is has come a long way so look into the ai sol and ecotechs radion. If you can afford a radion it would be a sweet light.

A pair of ecotech vortech mp10wes pumps would be a great way to have incredible flow without taking up much room or heating the tank.

I agree with others who say to drill the tank and run a sump. I would get a small cone skimmer.

Welcome back!

MStiers · 11/23/2011, 10:46 PM

Thanks for the suggestions!
I certainly appreciate the feedback.
How difficult is it to drill the tank for a sump? I have always used cannisters and had great success. Ofcourse I am open to moving on to something that would be more beneficial for my tank. Are sumps comparable in price to cannisters? Maintenance of a sump?

Sk8r · 11/23/2011, 10:54 PM

Things change all the time. I laid out from 1999 to 2004 and the world had turned upside down, new tech, new gear, new possibilities.
Suggest for a fast refresher and what's-new, read the stickies at the top of this forum. With your join date and post count, you should also be able to see the sales forums, so you might be able to pick up good stuff there if you know what you want and what you need.

tkeracer619 · 11/24/2011, 12:34 AM

Drilling a tank is easy. YouTube it for some examples.

Sumps are way easier to maintain and give you plenty of room for equipment.

doctorgori · 11/24/2011, 06:36 AM

same here; I got out in the late 90's...came back and frags frags everywhere...

I got a controller and now can't imagine a tank w/o one...Apex for me, RKL & proliflux for others...my guess is either will work

jdm01 · 01/16/2012, 04:39 PM

I have always used corner drilled tanks. The cost is usually about $100. I am not real handy so it is a good trade off versus busting out the tank bottom. I would go the sump route. More options. I did a lot of lighting research. Mjhall and I went back and forth on that one. I like a proven tech so I went with a 4 bulb T5 on a 65G 24 deep tank. Time will tell if that was a good decision or bad. Depending on lights and cabinet you may not need heaters. Been doing this for 6 years and never bought a heater.

11/23/2011, 07:59 PM	#1
MStiers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 136	After 6+ years...I am back and looking for advice. According to the friendly reminder here on Reef Central, You last visited: 05/18/2005 at 01:32 AM. By June of 2006 I had parted ways with all of my tanks. At dinner tonight my wife gave in and I am now able to get a tank once again. I remember how much fun I had with my 29gal Reef and all the frag swaps I visited in Central Ohio. I was looking at a 40gal this time. I am heading to the local pet shops on Friday hoping for some nice sales. In the mean time, I would appreciate suggestions on filtration, lighting etc. I purchased most of my goodies from Big Al's online previously, but alot changes in 5 years so my ears are open. Thanks in advance for any help.

11/23/2011, 10:42 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Go with the 40 breader tank. Single 250w 20k halide will cover the tank nice. Depending on what your going to keep of course. Led is has come a long way so look into the ai sol and ecotechs radion. If you can afford a radion it would be a sweet light. A pair of ecotech vortech mp10wes pumps would be a great way to have incredible flow without taking up much room or heating the tank. I agree with others who say to drill the tank and run a sump. I would get a small cone skimmer. Welcome back! __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/23/2011, 10:54 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Things change all the time. I laid out from 1999 to 2004 and the world had turned upside down, new tech, new gear, new possibilities. Suggest for a fast refresher and what's-new, read the stickies at the top of this forum. With your join date and post count, you should also be able to see the sales forums, so you might be able to pick up good stuff there if you know what you want and what you need. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/24/2011, 12:34 AM	#8
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Drilling a tank is easy. YouTube it for some examples. Sumps are way easier to maintain and give you plenty of room for equipment. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

01/16/2012, 04:39 PM	#10
jdm01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greenfield Posts: 904	I have always used corner drilled tanks. The cost is usually about $100. I am not real handy so it is a good trade off versus busting out the tank bottom. I would go the sump route. More options. I did a lot of lighting research. Mjhall and I went back and forth on that one. I like a proven tech so I went with a 4 bulb T5 on a 65G 24 deep tank. Time will tell if that was a good decision or bad. Depending on lights and cabinet you may not need heaters. Been doing this for 6 years and never bought a heater. __________________ John Martin Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon BioCube

11/23/2011, 09:58 PM	#2
mjhall85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 535	Well welcome back! Petco and Petsmart are suppose to have some half off sales on friday so hopefully you can snag a tank for cheap! I say go with a sump and drill the tank much easier I think and cleaner look to the tank but of course that is just my opinion. Lights there is some awesome LED's out there. I am still fairly new to the "hobby" depending what you all want in your tank of course equipment needed will vary. What do you plan on doing? Another Reef tank or a fowlr?

11/23/2011, 10:11 PM	#3
MStiers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 136	Thanks for the reply mjhall85! My wife and I went to Petsmart after dinner this evening and they had some decent sales that run until 11/27, but I wanted to hold out for Friday to see what might go on sale since the guy said most of their sales are not listed in their ad. I did see they had a fluval 205 for half off. That is insane! Reef tank for me my friend. My daughters will love it and it will bring me many hours of enjoyment.

11/23/2011, 10:22 PM	#4
mjhall85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 535	Fluval is a good pump, You prefer to use mechanical filtration ? (are you open to drilling the tank and using a sump instead)? Well being you want a 40 you could get a protein skimmer but not a huge neccesity in a tank that size. I would check out some LED's or go with a nice 4 Bulb T5 fixture(just depends what kinda budget you are working with). I have one on my 65gallon and my tank is growing great with it and its 24inches deep and the light penetrates great.

11/23/2011, 10:46 PM	#6
MStiers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 136	Thanks for the suggestions! I certainly appreciate the feedback. How difficult is it to drill the tank for a sump? I have always used cannisters and had great success. Ofcourse I am open to moving on to something that would be more beneficial for my tank. Are sumps comparable in price to cannisters? Maintenance of a sump?

11/24/2011, 06:36 AM	#9
doctorgori Moved On Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Simon Bar-Sinistar Posts: 1,097	same here; I got out in the late 90's...came back and frags frags everywhere... I got a controller and now can't imagine a tank w/o one...Apex for me, RKL & proliflux for others...my guess is either will work

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