Thoughts on an All New

[tonyga]

So it's been 15 years since I had my 250 (not mentioning the 4 or 5 before) l Ioved the hobby but I don't want to get big....yall probably saw these at BRS....Thoughts good or bad. I'm mostly doing a reef/fish...not much in sps unless things got easier over the years...the size/footprint is perfect.

Thanks

Reefer MAX 200 G2+ System (42 Gal)​

Reefer MAX 200 G2+ Aquarium
Marine-Spec Cabinet
Sump & Pre-Glued Plumbing
(1x) ReefLED 90 and Mounting Arm
(1x) Reefer DC Skimmer 300
(1x) ReefWave 25 Gyre Powerhead
(1x) ReefRun 5500 Return Pump
(1x) ReefRun Controller
(1x) ReefMat 250 Automatic Filter Roller
(1x) ReefATO+ Auto Top Off System
(1x) Slide-Out Control Panel 25

 

[siege]

So... I'm still wrapping my head around the 220g I just got. It's going to be a hot minute before I'm ready to move with that thing - heck, I apparently need to get an engineer involved, to be safe.

That said, I agree with the person who sold me my 50g AIO - it's right on the bottom edge of the smallest recommended footprint for newbies and people returning to the hobby. Frankly, it's really just at the bottom end of recommended size for a reef at all. Yes LOTS of people here running successful nanos or picos, buuuuuuut...

So you're looking probably at the same effective water volume I've got, including your sump, and a titch more display area than I have.

And, working on my aquascaping as I am now... I do wish I had a bit more space, and more water volume means increased stability.

I mean, that looks like a sweet setup, I'd have loved to be able to just buy all that at once. But... if you *can* go a little bit bigger, I'd say you should.

 

[tonyga]

Could go bigger but I can't take over a bedroom with bath and an roi in the closet lol. I plain don't have room for bigger. Wish I did

 

[tonyga]

I just want to make sure the product their using is nit junk for lack of a better word

 

[tonyga]

Cycling

I have a 44 gallon total (w/sump) tank. 15 pounds of live rock, 40 pounds of Carib sea substrate.

I'm debating on using tims bacteria and ammonia or what to do. Any help would be appreciated. I'm not sure if substrate and rock is enough to create the bacteria and what should I use for the ammonia and nitrite spikes? Never used fish less cycle. 15 years away

 

[Daniel K]

I've only heard bad things about red sea's app and equipment connecting to it. So bad LFS has recommended against their products. I do like their light spectrum but don't want a known hassle getting it to work.

 

[tonyga]

I've only heard bad things about red sea's app and equipment connecting to it. So bad LFS has recommended against their products. I do like their light spectrum but don't want a known hassle getting it to work.

Actually that was super easy lol.

 

[shanepike]

I have a 44 gallon total (w/sump) tank. 15 pounds of live rock, 40 pounds of Carib sea substrate.

I'm debating on using tims bacteria and ammonia or what to do. Any help would be appreciated. I'm not sure if substrate and rock is enough to create the bacteria and what should I use for the ammonia and nitrite spikes? Never used fish less cycle. 15 years away

If it's truly live rock, you don't need to add bacteria. The bacteria is already there. I cycled my 20g with ~2 pounds of ocean rock, dry sand, and 40 pounds of dry rock. It took 9 days.

Using ammonia is nice because you don't have to guess. Dose to 1 or 2 ppm and then measure it until it goes away. Do a water change to reduce nitrates if needed, and you're ready to go. Ghost-feeding accomplishes essentially the same thing, but the food doesn't break down right away so it creates ammonia over an indeterminate period of time rather than all at once. Still works, it's just not as well-defined as adding pure ammonia.

And I know plenty of people who QT fish for a living who just use Fritz TurboStart and add fish right away without waiting on the cycle. It provides enough bacteria to handle any ammonia until the nitrifying bacteria catch up.

 

[mattgee87]

I would not own a large RS tank... Too many busted seams and flooded houses.

 

[tonyga]

I would not own a large RS tank... Too many busted seams and flooded houses.

Wasn't looking for your opinion on Red Sea tanks. I bought one and like it. Thanks for your nonsense of an input that has zero to do with my question. I appreciate ya

 

[mattgee87]

Wasn't looking for your opinion on Red Sea tanks. I bought one and like it. Thanks for your nonsense of an input that has zero to do with my question. I appreciate ya

Oh sorry sir, I thought the " Thoughts good or bad " in your question meant you wanted opinions on the setup. To me that is a direct questions asking for " Thoughts good or bad " but I guess I was wrong. Carry on sir and good luck in your endeavor and I hope you have good home owners insurance.

 

[Emmasant]

Oh sorry sir, I thought the " Thoughts good or bad " in your question meant you wanted opinions on the setup. To me that is a direct questions asking for " Thoughts good or bad " but I guess I was wrong. Carry on sir and good luck in your endeavor and I hope you have good home owners insurance.

Guess he only wants good thoughts on his set up and nothing bad

 

[billyocean]

I think the newer red sea tanks may be ok. The post make it sound like ypu wanted opinions on the tank and equipment. Anyhoo....true live rock is all you need for bacteria.

 

[tonyga]

I was wondering about the cycle. No one ever commented about the other so I did my research and purchased all I did. I heard very good things about redsea and opinions not so great. One outweighed the other. And yep, great home owners. Thank god it's only 40 gallons lol

 

[mattgee87]

I was wondering about the cycle. No one ever commented about the other so I did my research and purchased all I did. I heard very good things about redsea and opinions not so great. One outweighed the other. And yep, great home owners. Thank god it's only 40 gallons lol

I used to be a huge supporter of Red Sea max but after all the issues they had with tank seams leaking and them refusing to acknowledge the issue, they lost my support. As for your tank yoj have a few things going for you. One is their new G2+ which has a better seal and two its not a big tank. Anyways as far as a cycle goes go get a bottle of INSTANT OCEAN BIO-SPIRA. This stuff is truly a game changer and will drastically cut you cycle time down.

 

[hzheng33]

I used to be a huge supporter of Red Sea max but after all the issues they had with tank seams leaking and them refusing to acknowledge the issue, they lost my support. As for your tank yoj have a few things going for you. One is their new G2+ which has a better seal and two its not a big tank. Anyways as far as a cycle goes go get a bottle of INSTANT OCEAN BIO-SPIRA. This stuff is truly a game changer and will drastically cut you cycle time down.

Biospira is what I used on multiple occasions. It beats any other product out there IME.

 

[siege]

Biospira is what I used on multiple occasions. It beats any other product out there IME.

Hard to find, neither Amazon nor BRS has it. Where do you get it from?

 

[hzheng33]

Hard to find, neither Amazon nor BRS has it. Where do you get it from?

the reason i really recommend the product is 1) it really works when put up against all other competitors and 2) it's widely available at Petco/Petsmart if you need in an urgent situation. BRS even did a comparison video when it comes to cycling and it's ranked near the top when it comes to pricing and availability.

However as i'm googling right now, i'm finding out it's not as widely available as it was few years ago

 

[Atalien2005]

I’ve had very good luck starting tanks with Fritz Turbo Start 900. Never registered ammonia and can put a small bio-load of fish (couple of clowns) right away.

 

[siege]

I’ve had very good luck starting tanks with Fritz Turbo Start 900. Never registered ammonia and can put a small bio-load of fish (couple of clowns) right away.

Fritz is what was recommended to me, and had been on my list, just thought I'd give the Bio-Spira a look, but it wasn't coming up readily.