Hi Everyone!
I've been in the hobby for about 10 years, but I've only kept freshwater and Fish Only saltwater in the past. after bouncing around both coasts for a few years we have now settled down outside of Atlanta, and purchased a home a few months ago. Now that we're going to stay in one place for a while I decided the time was right to take the plunge on the reef tank I've always been wanting to do. I've got my equipment list finalized, and I'm looking to get some feedback on the items I've chosen, if you'd change anything and why. The Tank will be a 90 Gallon (Aquaeon center overflow type) I've already purchased a custom stand & hood from a LFS (with side door and mounting board for controller) but haven't picked up the tank yet, planning on picking that up next week. I've also got the Sump, an Eshoppes ADV-200 (the previous generation with the large chamber in front, not the current one) I stumbled across it on Amazon for $84 bucks shipped and it was just too good of a deal to pass up, so i grabbed it. I've also got an Apex classic I picked up 1 year old on Ebay for close to half price. I'm working on a budget of $200/week for ALL hobbies (I'm unfortunately into some expensive one's, I've put off buying any more guns for the next couple of months until i get this up and running, but still spend some money on ammo and range time every now and then... also thinking of getting a boat next summer... but I've been saving since mid summer, so I've got a small pile of cash ready to go) anyway, here's the list of equipment I've settled on, my goal is to have water & rock in tank in the next 4 weeks and be stocking by late November. so I'll need to stay around the price points below for each item, or subtract from one place to add somewhere else) without further ado, here's the list:
I appreciate any and all feedback!
P.S. Corals will be pretty much LPS and Zoas. no SPS. as far as fish goes it'll almost be a wrasse only tank except for a few others.
I've been in the hobby for about 10 years, but I've only kept freshwater and Fish Only saltwater in the past. after bouncing around both coasts for a few years we have now settled down outside of Atlanta, and purchased a home a few months ago. Now that we're going to stay in one place for a while I decided the time was right to take the plunge on the reef tank I've always been wanting to do. I've got my equipment list finalized, and I'm looking to get some feedback on the items I've chosen, if you'd change anything and why. The Tank will be a 90 Gallon (Aquaeon center overflow type) I've already purchased a custom stand & hood from a LFS (with side door and mounting board for controller) but haven't picked up the tank yet, planning on picking that up next week. I've also got the Sump, an Eshoppes ADV-200 (the previous generation with the large chamber in front, not the current one) I stumbled across it on Amazon for $84 bucks shipped and it was just too good of a deal to pass up, so i grabbed it. I've also got an Apex classic I picked up 1 year old on Ebay for close to half price. I'm working on a budget of $200/week for ALL hobbies (I'm unfortunately into some expensive one's, I've put off buying any more guns for the next couple of months until i get this up and running, but still spend some money on ammo and range time every now and then... also thinking of getting a boat next summer... but I've been saving since mid summer, so I've got a small pile of cash ready to go) anyway, here's the list of equipment I've settled on, my goal is to have water & rock in tank in the next 4 weeks and be stocking by late November. so I'll need to stay around the price points below for each item, or subtract from one place to add somewhere else) without further ado, here's the list:
- Powerheads: Apex WAV Kit $500
- Skimmer: Bubble Magus NAC5.5 - $180 or Reef Octopus 2000 HOB for $240 (See this thread for my dilemma on sump layout and skimmer location: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/sump-fuge-layout-help.325960/#post-4049266 )
- Return Pump: Reef Octopus Various 2 - $195 or Jabao 4000 DC pump - $80 - really curious to get the feedback if the Reef octopus is worth the extra cost, i know its Apex ready, but cant i control the Jabao through one of the 0-10 DC ports on the apex?
- Lights: was going to settle for Mars Aqua before signing up here for $200, but after reading around a bit and seeing how much more SB Lights offer for $80 bucks extra, I'm planning on going with the SB's, unless there's something better i should be looking at that's under $400. I'd prefer to get the single 32" bar because if the included moonlights & 3rd channel, but my hood height is only 12" so I'm going to have dark edges, aren't I? can I mount 2 16"s side by side using the mounting legs? i don't think these have a hood install option, do they? should i just get the Apex LSM and not worry about the moonlights on the SB's?
- Heater: haven't even begun looking into them, can anyone recommend an a good one of appropriate size under $100 bucks?
- Feeder: Apex AFS
- Apex ATK is in the plans down the line as well, but probably after I've been up and running for a few months. DOS might be in my distant future too, depending on what kind of success or failure i find without it...
I appreciate any and all feedback!
P.S. Corals will be pretty much LPS and Zoas. no SPS. as far as fish goes it'll almost be a wrasse only tank except for a few others.