Trying to put an equipment list together and I need help.

[mapleredta]

Little background: Bought Rostato's 90g rr tank who bought it from Dawgdude. I want this to be a SPS dominant tank!

alt="" /> (picture of the tank as it was in Rostato's beautiful home.)

RO/DI- Unsure
Skimmer- Octopus 150 dnwb or nwb. (undecided)
Powerheads- Coralvue 201 1500gph x2 until I can buy two vortechs
Test kits- Salifert
Lights- This is my BIGGEST "not sure" so far. I can't decide if I want to T5's or MH's. I know the pros and cons of MH as well as with T5's. I see tanks with both and I am torn. I really need some guidance on this one ARC.
Salt- Unsure which brand. More then likely it'll be RC.
LR- Debating if I want to make my own or purchase true LR.
Sand- Wanting to go Black but ill have $150+ in it alone.

Ca reactor and controller will come down the line when money isn't so tight.

Please help give me some guidance on this.

 

[elfloyd]

Here's what I did as I built my 90:

RO/DI - PureWaterClub.com $100.00
Rock - 100 pounds dry rock ($2.00 / lb -

 

[snowmansnow]

here are some opnions that I have on some of the above topics.

RODI - check out http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com">www.buckeyefieldsupply.com</a> they have awesome CS and their units are very good. Ive had one for 5 years with NO ISSUES. They tend to cost less because of the lack of a brand name.

Lighting - PERSONALLY I like the benifits of T5. THAT being said; there are BIG differences in t5 units. If it is an SPS tank you WILL want one with individual reflectors and active cooling. Look at either the Aquactinics Constellation or the ATI Powermodule. The ATI is the top of the line IMO, but will cost a pretty $$.

Salt - I recently swore off of RC. There are a lot of people getting brown goo in their mixing buckets recently with it. I went with Seachem Reef Salt and feel much better about it.

LR - Purchase it locally from an ARC sponsor :)

CA Reactor - You may have to do what I'm doing now. That is dose 2 part when needed and run a kalk stirrer to maintain CA lvls.

Again, these are just some opinions. Hope they are helpful

Good luck.

B

 

[mapleredta]

SnowManSnow;393353 wrote: here are some opnions that I have on some of the above topics.

RODI - check out http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com">www.buckeyefieldsupply.com</a> they have awesome CS and their units are very good. Ive had one for 5 years with NO ISSUES. They tend to cost less because of the lack of a brand name.

Lighting - PERSONALLY I like the benifits of T5. THAT being said; there are BIG differences in t5 units. If it is an SPS tank you WILL want one with individual reflectors and active cooling. Look at either the Aquactinics Constellation or the ATI Powermodule. The ATI is the top of the line IMO, but will cost a pretty $$.

Salt - I recently swore off of RC. There are a lot of people getting brown goo in their mixing buckets recently with it. I went with Seachem Reef Salt and feel much better about it.

LR - Purchase it locally from an ARC sponsor :)

CA Reactor - You may have to do what I'm doing now. That is dose 2 part when needed and run a kalk stirrer to maintain CA lvls.

Again, these are just some opinions. Hope they are helpful

Good luck.

B[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I believe im going to have to do a two part for a while unless I do a DYI.

 

[snowmansnow]

if you run a kalk reactor in line with an ATO ( i use an osmolator by tunze ) it really isn't hard to keep CA and ALK in check.

 

[hackman72]

you can always diy your lighting after doing some research and add t5 and MH in the same fixture.

good advice on the rock too. Buy about 25% to 50% LR and the rest base rock will save you a fortune. Plus, if you need to add more there is no cure time.

 

[mapleredta]

Awsome! Thank you guys for the advice so far. Keep it coming.

 

[hackman72]

btw, elfloyd mentioned marco dried rocks. base rock is basically the same rhing except bleached out. you can get it for $2 a lbs. also and you'll be supporting the lfs and save the cost of shipping. check the sponsor page. most of them carry it and you can hand select the pieces you want.

 

[mapleredta]

Hackman72;393359 wrote: btw, elfloyd mentioned marco dried rocks. base rock is basically the same rhing except bleached out. you can get it for $2 a lbs. also and you'll be supporting the lfs and save the cost of shipping. check the sponsor page. most of them carry it and you can hand select the pieces you want.

Nice. I hate living so far away. I need to put back a few hundred dollars and make one big trip.

 

[hackman72]

mapleredta;393379 wrote: Nice. I hate living so far away. I need to put back a few hundred dollars and make one big trip.

call the store you intend to buy from before you make the trip though. Some carry smaller quantities than others. Most any of them can get it though.

 

[snowmansnow]

the only issue of going with a cpmbo fixture is that u negate what i would consider the positives of t5 lighting.

a combo is just a mh fixture that uses t5 for actinic most of the time.

 

[snowmansnow]

BUT if you do want a combo unit Current USA makes a nice one.. can't remember the model name.

If you want to go T5 I would recommend ATI powermodule as the top of the line. I'm actually going to sell my constellation unit soon and upgrade to the ATI when finances allow.

GL getting started! new tanks are a blast!

 

[snowmansnow]

i cant find the model of current fixture i had.... but here is the T5 I'm looking at now.

here is the one I want to buy
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ATI/Powermodule_Fixtures/48_inch__10x54W_Powermodule_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_ATI">http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/ATI/Powermodule_Fixtures/48_inch__10x54W_Powermodule_T5_High-Output_Fixture_by_ATI</a>

here is what I am running now with good growth and luck all around
[IMG]http://www.saltycritter.com/lighting/aquactinics/constellation-t5.htm">http://www.saltycritter.com/lighting/aquactinics/constellation-t5.htm</a>

B