Hi everyone. I had a few posts on this site a long time ago, so I doubt anyone knows me, but I'm Tony. Anyways, I had the start of a saltwater tank going last year and I even was about to place an order for live rock, then I decided to wait because of money. (only 15) SO, now that Christmas is coming around I have a list of stuff I want from my parents. My christmas allowance is 500. Also, my birthday is on the 22nd so I get another 200 for that. So I made a list of things I want to buy for a saltwater tank. I have the Biocube 29 tank already with a heater.

Filtration/Water movement
-Rio pump 6HF
-Chemi-pure
-Purigen
-Filter-floss
-inTank media basket
-inTank Refugium basket
-Hydor flow deflector
-JBJ ATO system.

Lighting
-Nanocustom 5.6 LED kit

Other
-Salt( not sure what kind, suggestions?)
-Stand
-Net
-algae scraper
-Maser test kit( ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, ph)

I didn't include liverock, or any livestock.

I plan on getting 2 clowns as my first fish, though.
Also, what corals can I keep under the LED lights?

Thanks, sorry for they long post.

anything you want just make sure you read up and let the tank cycle first before adding stuff you need a clean up crew to

Okay, thanks. Is there anything I should add to the list ? Not including food and other things that depend on the livestock?

Evil says that you can keep pretty much anything you want under the 5.6 LED set up. Just make sure your tank is cycled and you keep an eye on your parameters. Live rock will be essential.

That LED set up sounds awesome. You don't need a top off but it is a good investment. If you upgrade the pump, you still might want to get a Koralia 1 for added flow. Those inTank upgrades are a good investment also.

I got a 29 Biocube. So have some suggestions. Get a Maxijet 1200 instead of the Rio.You will need a light for your fuge basket if going to run Chaeto. Ditch the hydor reflector and get a K Nano instead. A maxi Jet 1200 and a Nano will give you great flow. The Hydor will cut down on the flow.I would also get a ATO from www.autotopoff.com instead of the JBJ to say some money.I have all of this and a 20 inch Sunpod and my system ROCKS.

Thanks for bringing up the ATO, I was thinking about not getting it. The tank will be closed so I should be able to easily keep up with the evaporation. If for any reason I decide not to get the LEDs, what other lights would you guys suggest that I could keep anything under? again. sorry for all the questions.

YAH! Except I like my K1 better than my K-nano.

Thanks for the suggestions. I mainly wanted to get as much flow around the tank without getting another powerhead, but flow is important so Im proabably gunna get the maxi jet 1200 and the k nano. Also, do you like your sunpod?

id pass on the led system and get a different light. That will eat right up into your budget when you can have a sweet tank with out the LEDs

I was thinking about that too. The LEDs are about 500. and I could cut that to about 300. any ideas which light?
Also, would I need to get a chiller?

Ditch the top and get a 20 inch 150watt Sunpod with a 14K phoenix bulb. The shimmer is worth it. BUT if you go this route you will definately need a ATO. I have a maxi jet 1200 and use it as my return and it stirs the top surface then I have 2 nanos on the back sides of my glass for more flow. EVERY part of my tank has flow.


Sunpod 20 inch used 200 dollars. No chiller will be needed once you go open top the heat can escape.

I respectfully disagree with Lawnman about the maxi-jet 1200. The Rio 6HF has more gph than the maxi-jet. Plus as an added benefit, it runs cooler! I also love the hydor-flo deflector and mine is working great.

As far as an extra powerhead, I have a Tunze nano-stream 6025 that I modded to put out the same gph as a Tunze 6055! But if I was going to get $200 for my birthday, the Vortec MP10 would be a sure buy for me.

An extra piece of equipment I would consider is a good skimmer.

Okay, so know I need to choose between the two lights. I think I'm going with the sunpod. Therefore, I'm gunna need an ATO for sure. as for the Vortec, it seems like a waste of money, but I'll take a look.

That depends on what type of corals you plan to keep. Flow is as imporatnt an issue as lighting. I keep mostly SPS corals and good flow is something I need to consider. Some Vortech users have said their corals never looked better. This is going on my X-Mas wish list!

I know how important it is, but what would your parents say if you asked for a 200 dollar fish tank pump?

So, since I decided not to go with the LEDs I looked at the sunpod among other lights on various websites.
I can't find the option of a sunpod 150w on marine depot. The only one is the 20inch 250w sunpod. for 280 with free shipping, while on aquacave.com a 20inch 150w sunpod is 290 plus shipping. That doesn't make sense to me, or its a good sale. Would it make sense for me to get the 250w or is that overkill for a 29 biocube?

i believe T5HO might just be more than enough for ya

Yeah look into the 20 inch Nova extreme pro. It will do fine and run much cooler.

Plus The whole Sunpod line has been discontinued. They are no longer making those lights which is why you can't find a new 150 watt model.

So many choices! What would I be able to keep under the Nova pro?

Since the 150w 20inch in discontinued. I can either but a used one or I can get a Nova pro, or the 5.6 LED setup. Would a 250 sunpod be way to much light? I ask because I would really like the simmer effect people say you get with MH, Also, if anyone has any other ideas let me.

i wish i win the lottery LOL

u get the shimmer efect with LEDs to
just DIY some LEDs
good luck i'm setting up SW for xmas to although my bday is in 11 days

check out this kit for your ATO, its a good 30 bucks cheaper than the JBJ ATO setup, and does the same thing, just no fancy controller with blinky lights, and you need to assemble it yourself (very easy). Gets you 30 bucks closer to the Vortec pump if you can convince the folks. Good luck!

I recommend Pet Mountain for your lights. They always have the best prices it seems and free shipping to boot. A 20" NE Pro is $231 and they alwyas have discount codes (sometimes right on their site) that knock off an additional 5-10%.

You can keep just about anything you want under that light. Good luck!

http://www.petmountain.com/show_product/51...utm_term=515676

Go with ocanic salt I've been using it for 6+ yrs and no complaints here

Not that I need to worry about this in the time being, but in the future I would like not to upgrade my lighting. So if you compare the sunpod to the Nova pro, which would be better for SPS and clams.

Sunpod hands down. Halide wins over T5 HO for clams.

did anyone take any note of this

Looks like a decent wish list. I wish Santa still came around my place.

+2 on the salt. You are going to get many responses to pumps,salt,lights. I was just telling you what I would do if I woke up in your shoes. I like Maxi-jet pumps over Rios and hydor reflectors are junk.IMO

Lights:

T5HO will let you keep sps up top, and lps throughout. Plenty of light and many color choices. No shimmer. Lower heat than halides.

Halide will give you the "shimmer effect". Think about when you look at the bottom of a pool and the light makes lines and moves around on the bottom. That is the shimmer. Halides give off the highest heat of the three options.

LED gives the shimmer as well. Lowest heat. Highest initial cost, but the LEDs do NOT require bulb replacements. So savings do occur over a longer period of time. Still probably a bit out of your price range for now though.

Honestly, in your shoes, I would probably stick with a T5 or Halide setup. Possibly try and find a used light fixture from someone on the forums here in the classifieds to save some money. A good T5 setup or a good halide setup will both allow you to keep most the corals you want as you become more confident.

I would get the cheap ATO. It really makes life easier to have an automatic topoff system. Well worth the $30 or so bucks.

Vortech would be an ok upgrade in the future when you have some more cash to spend. For now, choose something cheaper. People had beautiful tanks before the vortech came along.

You'll hear mixed opinions about the hydor flo. You could always start without it and if you feel that your flow is not turbulent enough, than get it.

inTank mods are good quality from what I've heard and they make life easier. I like making life easier...
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Live stuff

A note on liverock. Do some searches on the forums and see what kind of look you really want in your live rock. Do you want lots of random life and macro algea? Or would you rather have rock that has less life? Less life isn't necessarily a bad thing. You know (usually) exactly what you are putting into your tank from the start with no surprises. Plus, a LFS near you probably has some cheap live rock sitting in a bin with water. On the other hand, some people really enjoy the large amount of life that comes with some of company's live rock.

My opinion (and it's just that, an opinion), to save money stick with the cheaper LFS live rock.

Fish:

A pair of clowns is perfect for your tank starting out. Clowns are relatively hardy and they are fun to watch. Plus people will love to look at "Nemo."
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Money saving hints. For stuff like nets and algea scrapers and all sorts of other odds and ends, search your local craigslist. There are always people trying to get rid of aquarium stuff and you can usually strike a deal with them. You are young so if you have to go pick something up please take a parental unit with you.

Whew. That's enough rambling.

If it'd help out any, I have a K-Nano thats around 6 months old give or take, bought it for my NC12 that already had a K-Nano in it, decided 2 was a bit excessive and pulled it out. Cover the shipping and I'll let you have it gratis. LMK.

There you go..... This what Nano-Reef is all about!

i still think LEDs when i started my first tank i thourght that LEDs were heaps expensive but after geting them and comparing them with T5 i hae never looked bake now i only use LEDs nothing else

In most cases definitely LED, but its not fun to spend your entire budget on equipment and not get any livestock to look at . If the budget allows, I'm all LED. I love LED. I think it's going to catch on as the next big thing for smaller tanks. It's already com a long way in popularity in a short time, with good reason.

I think i'm gunna go for the sunpod. Although its gunna be hard to find one since they are discontinued. I figure that instead of getting the LED set up, ill save money and be able to buy rock and livestock.

weel on my first tank i spent all my money(well 1/2 of it on LEDs i haven't had a problem or any thing they run them slves now

Oi.

Well, I'm definitly not getting the LEDS, my parents refuse to do it.
So, my next choice is to get the sunpod. The only thing now is waiting for one to show up. hah.

Put a thread saying you want one in the Hardware classified section. The 24" sunpod will fit on a Biocube 29, but the ends will come off the end a bit. So get the 20". I got the 24" because I'm too impatient. It was 180 shipped. Also, if you take up that K-nano, google how to mod it. You cut off some of the spokes on the front and it gives you more flow.

Theres 3 in the Hardware section right now.

I am asking for a AP12

i would get a 150 sun pod also if you cant find one i might sell mine new phoenix 14 k bulb and new ballast