Advice on new reef set-up

[Texag0842]

Hey guys first time reefer here in Texas looking for some input.

Here's the list so far but would like everyone's input as nothing has been purchased as of today.

Reef Savvy
Includes
Synergy Shadow Box Sump
Vertex Skimmer
Reef Savvy Cabinet

Lighting-
ATI Hybrid Powermodule -


Zeovit Starter Kit -
Includes
Vertex Rx-Z 1.5 Liter ZEOvit Reactor
ZEOvit Zeolith Zeolite Rocks 1 liter
ZEObak Nutrient Additive 10ml
Zeovit Zeostart 3 250ml
ZEO Spongepower 50ml

Controller-
Apex w/PH probe

Sand/Salt
ESV Salt (NSW)
Sand -Leaning to Tropic Eden mini flakes (2mm)

Vortech Mp10 -

Testing Kits- Any recommendations this is my first reef tank so I need advice in this category. Still having trouble here seems like most people recommend Red Sea for some and then Saliferts for others so I might mix and match unless someone knows a nice kit that includes everything?

 

Also purchased a Greissinger GMH 3430 meter to double check alongside the Apex

Rock -
Should I go dry or live?
Im leaning with Macro if I go dry and Tampa Bay Saltwater if i go live (open to any opinions/recommendations)

And last-
Spectrapure RO/DI system - Any particular one which is recommended?

Think that covers everything on my list but open to suggestions.

[Spiderguardnano]

Damm 1st reefer and you have some great top notch gear. The best way to do it.

 

Why did you go t5 over led?

 

For my new build I might be going with dry rock from macro rock

[Sk8n Reefer]

Sounds like you have a good plan for success- here's my thoughts on some subjects

Test kits- can't go wrong with the Saliferts- depending on livestock requirements- I would recommend having PH, calcium , KH, and Magnesium . You should also have ammonia and Nitrate but could probably get away with a cheaper brand.

I have a Hanna phosphate test unit- easy to use- sometimes the readings can vary

I have always used live rock- I always buy locally so I can hand pick the pieces but you gotta take the good with the bad(hitch hikers)

For refractometer I've used all the various types and I am really liking my Milwaukee digital - it is easy and give me consistent reading time and time again . It is expensive but I feel it is worth it.

The other advice I would like to give is -frequent water changes - especially if your new to the hobby- read up on here - tons of great information. ! It's good to get into a regular routine with them. Good luck! Wishing you success

[Texag0842]

Damm 1st reefer and you have some great top notch gear. The best way to do it.

 

Why did you go t5 over led?

 

For my new build I might be going with dry rock from macro rock

 

 

I prefer the buy once/cry once method and on the positive side it seems to save money in the long run. Plus this is a difficult hobby so I need all the help I can get.

 

Im actually going Hybrid (T5 and LED fixture)

[D Z]

Tex - You seem to have done your research. I see quite the potential for success here. I just have a couple suggestions on things to consider.

 

Zeovit:

If you are planning to stick with the 14 day zeovit cycle, you will need to buy a bottle of Sponge Power in addition to what you listed. Also, I don't think many people are using the zeofood anymore. Not sure if you are familiar with the nano zeovit thread, but there is a lot of information to be had there. In case you have not already read through it, here it the link:

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/344885-korallen-zucht-zeovit-nano-thread/page-10#entry4811132

 

Salt - ESV is good. Just in case you want another salt to consider, a lot of us that are running ULNS/ZeoVit tanks are using the Red Sea blue bucket salt now.

 

Testing supplies - Refractometers are really hit or miss and every one you buy will need to be calibrated. If you have the money, buy the Milwaukee digital as was previously stated. Otherwise, I would just suggest buying the cheapo $25 refractometer off of Amazon along with a trusted calibration fluid. As for testing kits, I started out with the basic kit from Seachem for testing Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite. When the time came, I then invested in Red Sea kits for Calcium, Alkalinity, Ph, and Mag and Hanna for Phosphates.

 

Rock - This is a personal preference. I chose to go the dry rock method. This decision was based mostly on the fact that I enjoy the clean look of a tank started with dry rock. I also weighed in the fact that I would not need to deal with any unwanted pests hitch-hiking in on live rock. This is a tradeoff, though, as you obviously do not get any benefitial hitch-hikers either. As for your sources, they are both very good options. The only other place I would recommend is Reef Cleaners for dry rock. They are at par with Marco Rocks(basically the same stuff) and you will get a discount code to use towards your CUC, so that's a plus if you were considering ordering you CUC through them.

 

As for your RODI question, I am not an expert but pretty much anything Spectrapure that is meant for reef aquarium use is good from what I have read. You cannot go wrong with spectrapure. I personally bought a BRS unit, but will be changing out the filters for spectrapure ones when the time comes.

 

Good luck and have fun!

 

Oh and what are your stocking plans?

[Texag0842]

Tex - You seem to have done your research. I see quite the potential for success here. I just have a couple suggestions on things to consider.

 

Zeovit:

If you are planning to stick with the 14 day zeovit cycle, you will need to buy a bottle of Sponge Power in addition to what you listed. Also, I don't think many people are using the zeofood anymore. Not sure if you are familiar with the nano zeovit thread, but there is a lot of information to be had there. In case you have not already read through it, here it the link:

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/344885-korallen-zucht-zeovit-nano-thread/page-10#entry4811132

Will be sure to pick up Sponge Power - Thank you for the link will read through it now.

 

Using the Zeovite forum/G. Alexander to figure out the dosing/product recommendations and didn't realize I needed that to start.

Salt - ESV is good. Just in case you want another salt to consider, a lot of us that are running ULNS/ZeoVit tanks are using the Red Sea blue bucket salt now.

Always good to have options my second choice was KZ Reefers Best, any experience with it?

Testing supplies - Refractometers are really hit or miss and every one you buy will need to be calibrated. If you have the money, buy the Milwaukee digital as was previously stated. Otherwise, I would just suggest buying the cheapo $25 refractometer off of Amazon along with a trusted calibration fluid. As for testing kits, I started out with the basic kit from Seachem for testing Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite. When the time came, I then invested in Red Sea kits for Calcium, Alkalinity, Ph, and Mag and Hanna for Phosphates.

Do you think the PH probe for my Apex would be accurate enough with a cheapo for backup?

Rock - This is a personal preference. I chose to go the dry rock method. This decision was based mostly on the fact that I enjoy the clean look of a tank started with dry rock. I also weighed in the fact that I would not need to deal with any unwanted pests hitch-hiking in on live rock. This is a tradeoff, though, as you obviously do not get any benefitial hitch-hikers either. As for your sources, they are both very good options. The only other place I would recommend is Reef Cleaners for dry rock. They are at par with Marco Rocks(basically the same stuff) and you will get a discount code to use towards your CUC, so that's a plus if you were considering ordering you CUC through them.

​Thanks for the recommendation to Reef Cleaners. Live rock seems like a gamble so I'm sure Ill go dry unless someone can talk me out of it.

 

As for your RODI question, I am not an expert but pretty much anything Spectrapure that is meant for reef aquarium use is good from what I have read. You cannot go wrong with spectrapure. I personally bought a BRS unit, but will be changing out the filters for spectrapure ones when the time comes.

 

Good luck and have fun!

 

Oh and what are your stocking plans?

So stocking plans become rather difficult - Naturally I have to do a clown/clown pair for my daughter but besides that no fish has made the list. The only other two fish Im looking at - Scott's Fairy Wrasse/ Mandarin crossed my mind but who knows. And here's the toughest part I would really like to keep Garden Eels but I realize how difficult they're to do properly, although the deep sand bed doesn't bother me I don't want to have them/kill them if I can't do it properly- Nothing i like is ever easy. Wish I had room for a Chevron tang.

 

 

Corals I have a few on the list - Raindow BTA, Blue and Red Hornet Zoa's, Orange Passion, Amethyst Simplex, Blue max clam, Scripps green tip stag horn. I think most of those will for sure make it. I don't want to overstock the tank so Im going to be pretty selective and let the corals grow into the tank. Im going with the arch plus island look so the rockscape is on the minimalist side.

[D Z]

Will be sure to pick up Sponge Power - Thank you for the link will read through it now.Using the Zeovite forum/G. Alexander to figure out the dosing/product recommendations and didn't realize I needed that to start.

Here is a link to the "14 day Zeovit Cycle" instructions as well. Should come in handy.

http://www.korallen-zucht.de/en/service/initial-cycle-just-14-days/

 

Always good to have options my second choice was KZ Reefers Best, any experience with it?

No, the only salt I have used has been Red Sea. I have heard good things about the KV though.

Do you think the PH probe for my Apex would be accurate enough with a cheapo for backup?

Most definitely.

So stocking plans become rather difficult - Naturally I have to do a clown/clown pair for my daughter but besides that no fish has made the list. The only other two fish Im looking at - Scott's Fairy Wrasse/ Mandarin crossed my mind but who knows. And here's the toughest part I would really like to keep Garden Eels but I realize how difficult they're to do properly, although the deep sand bed doesn't bother me I don't want to have them/kill them if I can't do it properly- Nothing i like is ever easy. Wish I had room for a Chevron tang.

 

 

Corals I have a few on the list - Raindow BTA, Blue and Red Hornet Zoa's, Orange Passion, Amethyst Simplex, Blue max clam, Scripps green tip stag horn. I think most of those will for sure make it. I don't want to overstock the tank so Im going to be pretty selective and let the corals grow into the tank. Im going with the arch plus island look so the rockscape is on the minimalist side.

Sounds like you have some nice pieces picked out for yourself. I cannot wait to follow along with this build. Check out my 34G Cad build I have going on right now. We have some similar tastes.

[Texag0842]

Added the updated changes.

 

Picked up a Greissinger GMH 3430 meter so will have that alongside the Apex.

 

Also have adjusted the sand bed to 1.5" for Zeovit so the Garden Eels are out.

 

Your 34g Cadlight's looks AMAZING. Love the aquascape……great taste and sounds like we pretty much like a lot of the same corals/fish.

[Apexlaxfrog]

(how I felt when i read your setup)

 

I'll preface by saying: I haven't owned an MP10... but my research has me believing that it would blow a sandstorm in that tank with sub-millimeter sand even on the lowest setting. I'd think about the larger grain sand (2mm). Regardless, your setup ought to be fan-flippin-tastic! I hope you start a build thread.

[Texag0842]

(how I felt when i read your setup)

 

I'll preface by saying: I haven't owned an MP10... but my research has me believing that it would blow a sandstorm in that tank with sub-millimeter sand even on the lowest setting. I'd think about the larger grain sand (2mm). Regardless, your setup ought to be fan-flippin-tastic! I hope you start a build thread.

 

Ill be sure to have a build thread - I guess the next thing I need to invest in is a Camera.

[Texag0842]

Well a couple big changes - first the Elos has been changed to a Reef Savvy 120g with ghost overflows.

 

The wait was killer so Chris at Pico is building me a tank to set up in the mean time - Went ahead and had David at Nano Box start on the light. Figure Ill move this set-up to the office once the Reef Savvy gets here and is installed in the house.

[NanoFever]

(how I felt when i read your setup)

What he said! Cant wait to see this!

[Apexlaxfrog]

The office?! How you plan on getting non-tank work done? haha... still keeping tabs, I wanna say 'I told you so' when it's jaw-droppingly successful

[Texag0842]

The office?! How you plan on getting non-tank work done? haha... still keeping tabs, I wanna say 'I told you so' when it's jaw-droppingly successful

I work on a trading floor, Im busy 3hrs or so out of the actual work day 9-11am and 12:30-1:30 then the office shuts down when the market closes at 2:30

 

So I have from 6:30-9 and then 1:30-2:30 to work on the tank LOL

 

Just hoping I made all the right choices on the tank(s) and light(s) - super nervous about it

[Kajuta]

Hello.

 

I havent been in the hobby for a while, but when I was in it, I used Marco dry rocks pretty much almost exclusivly. They look amazing when fully matured(and they seem to do so rapidly compared to other types)....just seed them with a small cup from someone elses tank. The downside is due to the nature of thier shape(swiss-cheese), you risk buildup inside them so waterflow is something you really need to really plan well. A cleanup crew isnt really going to cut it if your stocked with fish...eventually you will need to pull the rocks out and blast them clean a couple times a year.

 

Or put a jet on them when you do your water changes. You can get away with missing a few sessions, but you really do need to get the buildup suspended and vacumed out or it will buildup over time and then when you do clean...you run higher risk of polluting the system beyond your filtrations ability to cope with.

 

Im not trying to discourage you from Marco rocks, they really are AWESOME! Just know what you have and how to best maintain it.

 

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As for testing kits, you get what you pay for. I used ELOS the most. Ive used many brands but honestly you do get what you pay for...and ELOS was more expensive. Medical grade and supreme quality. The only downside is the instructions are often frustrating to read for a first time user (poorly translated into literal english meaning), but other than that you really cant go wrong with the reliability.

 

What do I mean by poor translation? Ex you may end up with a backwards count instead of a foreward count. But if you look at the instructions carefully you see how they worded it and feel like a derp for not catching it. Its just one of those things lost in translation.

 

Just be sure to read them carefully several times and you will be fine. No,your not going to blow up your tank....you just going to be like WTH! I know my Nitrates arent 90! Oh wait....they are 10.

 

Hope this helps some,

Cheers