Getting back in... Which tank setup to go with?

[sf_ramsden]

Hey all,

I have been in and out of this hobby too many times it seems (mainly due to never being in the same place for longer than a year). I am now in Buffalo, NY area and plan to be for a while... my girlfriend is in med school here.

My main issue is, I am looking at trying to get back into it with a complete new setup. Nothing too large, would like to keep it between 20 - 40 gallons. I am thinking of the following tanks and would like to know what everyone thinks (especially those who have had these tanks before):

39G Professional Series Cadlights w/ their new 24" LED fixture ~ $1,000

22G w/ Refugium Cadlights ~ $500

34G Solana (But would like to find an LED Fixture for this) ~ $500 + Lighting

Any other suggestions?

A few important things to keep in mind:

* I'm looking to get into everything from zoos/palys to SPS (Chalices definitely included in between there!)

* I'm on the second floor of an apartment, so weight of the setup has to be taken into consideration

* I would really prefer an LED setup if/where possible

* I would like the setup to have a refugium, which is why I really like the Cadlights. Only downside to them for me is the bow front on them.

* I'm looking for a beautiful setup, my last ones have been to basic (Power Compact lighting, no protein skimmer, no refugium, etc)

Please chime in and help me out!

Thanks!

Scott

 

[Eternal]

The 39 gallon one listed 1st sure does look nice.

 

[akabryanhall]

Hey Scott,
I would save your money and piece a system together yourself. I like the 45G cube for you on the second floor, about as big as you want to go. You could probably put a system together with Led's for about $700. Take that extra 300 and spend it on something nice for yourself!! Like corals and fish!!

 

[sf_ramsden]

I have never been that good at setting up my own system, which is why I have been looking into the "All in one" systems. Any links or help that can be provided to a good build guide would be awesome! I wouldn't mind doing my own setup, as long as I know what the heck I am doing. Since I have never had a "real" system like that, I wouldn't even know where to begin. Anyone know of a good book or maybe even a thread on here that could help me out?

I've heard of people building their own LED systems, etc... But it seems like I would need to be an electrician to be able to do some of the things (something I definitely am not, haha).

 

[jcJokr]

I have a 14 bio which is super easy to maintain compared to my 90 AGA tank. I only have two recommendations: One, remember you get what you pay for, especially in this hobby. So don't go cheap you will only spend more in the long run (I know this is basic but sometimes we forget). Two, definitly go LED no matter what you do, I changed over my 90 to LED and AMAZING! I wish they were cheaper but I figured between bulb replacement and the power I'm saving they will pay for themselves in a year and NO Heat. Good luck and welcome back!

P.S. I agree with piecing it out, then you get what you want.

 

[sf_ramsden]

I definitely expect to go LED with my next setup. This is one thing I am very sure about. I understand the initial cost will/could be somewhat shocking, but for energy savings and no changing bulbs every 6-12 months I will be so much better off!

 

[sprinklerdudes]

after buying out a couple of setups and they always seem to be on the second floor and two flits of stairs, go figure, I would look into eitther a 14 or 29 jbj nano cube, and not get to carried away with sps, just my opion, if you ever luck up and get a house or get on the ground level, a much larger tank for the sps would be nice. but having moved a fifty five and a seventy five down a flite of stairs I cant imagine toting five gallon buckets of salt water etc for water changes, etc, with a twenty nine gallon you could pack all the livestock water and rock in five to six five gallon buckets, and tote the tank pretty easily when you get ready to move agian, go with a 45 - 75 gallon andd your girlfriend my have to put her med school to use on you back and pulled groin, just my opion, but those things are heavy going up the stairs they seem twice as heavy coming down.

 

[dougers31]

I'm not a huge fan of all in one setups but I know marineland makes a nice 45 rr cube. Otherwise I would go with a 40br, drill it, and buy an led fixture from reefkoi.

 

[BlazinNano]

I agree with bryan. Piece it together. Get a cube. They are awesome.

 

[sf_ramsden]

I love cubes, and always have. So I think that decision has been made. Now it's a question of how to piece together? Does anyone have a build thread together, start to finish for something like this? I have never set a system up from scratch, so don't know where to begin.

 

[sprinklerdudes]

been looking at the pages about the cadlights tank from above those thing look pretty sweet, I just have never seen one in person , or know anyone who has one, the look pretty deadgum cool , and a bit overprced, but like they say you get what you pay for,

 

[gar732]

Cubes are awesome. I've thought about swapping my 75gal for a cube a few times. For the LEDs, I would go with a reef koi unit or if you want some thing you can control but doesn't cost a fortune, pick up a kit from reefled. The kit was pretty easy to put together and I'm no electrician.

 

[Seasonedreefer]

Go with a Solana with a reef koi ufo fixture!!!!

 

[sf_ramsden]

I am not sure the UFO would be enough power for what I hope to keep. But, I do like the 120 watt fixture... Nice to have LED options.

 

[Seasonedreefer]

Yea... you may need a little more if you plan on sticking mainly sps in there But dont let the 60w of LED POWER fool you. It doesnt sound like alot but for a tank that size and depending how far you have it off the tank it would look sweet!

 

[re-fin-away]

For a cube I think LED's would be the way to go hands down. I am with everyone else that said pieceing it together is the way to go. There are plenty of people on this site that would help you out with picking the proper equipment for you.

 

[Viva'sReef]

Personally and I am thinking of going this route myself soon....

An ELOS is the way to go if your looking for complete system...here is the link to the System MINI, they also have a System MIDI which is a little bigger
Aquarium Specialty

And for lighting (I would not get the ELOS light)
LED Aquarium Lighting | Evolution LED Lights

 

[sf_ramsden]

I have read good things on the ELOS, but wouldn't buy one unless I got lucky and found one for sale a little used. There was one that went here a few months ago that I would have jumped on in a second.

Without going the build my own route I would still think the best way for me to go is the 39 gal Cadlights setup. It has everything I want: Can get an LED with it, sump w/ refugium, "cube-like" (except for the darn bow front), etc.

I am searching around the forums here now for some build threads of 30-40 gal cubes and will see if I can find a setup I like...

 

[fab1971]

I would personally go with a 50-60 gallon square rimmless tank with led's. They look absolutely amazing. if I could afford it, I would definitely go that route.

 

[sf_ramsden]

I fear that if I were to do that (a 50 - 60 gallon) it may be too heavy for the second floor I'm on... If it were my house I would have no problem with it, but a 50-60 gallo tank + sump would be quite heavy...