Planning: AP24 w/ PC setup questions

[jiriki76]

Hello all. I have been lurking on the forums here for several weeks now. I have been a fresh water fish person but with Nano's around and the costs with it, I am definitely interested. The forums have been incredibly helpful.

 

Here is what I am planning. Nothing has been purchased yet but I like to plan things out more so I know what I am getting into:

 

Purchasing (this is a package deal I am getting from another reefer):

 

-AP24 w/ PC

-MaxiJet 1200 Powerhead

-Stealth Heater 150W

-Fission Nano Skimmer

-Special grade reef sand (drsmithfosters) 40LB

-Test kits

-AP24 stand

 

--All brand new

 

Questions:

1. How hard would it be to add MH to this if I decide to upgrade later? I like the looks of AIO but I feel like upgrade paths are limited.

 

2. If I use the special grade reef sand and live rock, will the sand become livesand over time? Should I buy a few pounds of livesand to get it going?

 

3. With PC lights, I know I can't do SPS and Clams. What can I do? Zoas, Polyps, LPS? Anything else?

 

4. I am thinking of using a JBJ ATO. What other ones or DIY's ones are out there?

 

5. Fission Nano Skimmer good or bad buy?

 

6. Will I have heat problems with the stock PC lights? Winter time, I keep my house around 67 degrees. Summer.. 74 to 75.

 

7. Do I need to buy anything else?

 

8. Can I buy LR and dried (dead) LR and make the dead LR become LR? How long would it take?

 

 

Thanks in advance!

[SaltWaterNewb]

Hello all. I have been lurking on the forums here for several weeks now. I have been a fresh water fish person but with Nano's around and the costs with it, I am definitely interested. The forums have been incredibly helpful.

 

Here is what I am planning. Nothing has been purchased yet but I like to plan things out more so I know what I am getting into:

 

Purchasing (this is a package deal I am getting from another reefer):

 

-AP24 w/ PC

-MaxiJet 1200 Powerhead

-Stealth Heater 150W

-Fission Nano Skimmer

-Special grade reef sand (drsmithfosters) 40LB

-Test kits

-AP24 stand

 

--All brand new

 

Questions:

1. How hard would it be to add MH to this if I decide to upgrade later? I like the looks of AIO but I feel like upgrade paths are limited.

 

2. If I use the special grade reef sand and live rock, will the sand become livesand over time? Should I buy a few pounds of livesand to get it going? Yes, it will. You don't need to but it could help speed things up.

 

3. With PC lights, I know I can't do SPS and Clams. What can I do? Zoas, Polyps, LPS? Anything else?

 

4. I am thinking of using a JBJ ATO. What other ones or DIY's ones are out there?

 

5. Fission Nano Skimmer good or bad buy?

 

6. Will I have heat problems with the stock PC lights? Winter time, I keep my house around 67 degrees. Summer.. 74 to 75. Not likely. PC's do not get as hot as MH. They do get warm though but the ambient temp. of your house should be plenty to keep the heat levels in check. You will most likely need a heater to keep the temps in the tank up.

 

7. Do I need to buy anything else?

 

8. Can I buy LR and dried (dead) LR and make the dead LR become LR? How long would it take? Yes, it won't take long for the dead rock to become live but it will take several months for it to become very live. The bacteria will only take a short time to take up residence. That is the most important thing. This is actually a smart and cost effective thing to do.

 

 

Thanks in advance!

[jiriki76]

8. Can I buy LR and dried (dead) LR and make the dead LR become LR? How long would it take? Yes, it won't take long for the dead rock to become live but it will take several months for it to become very live. The bacteria will only take a short time to take up residence. That is the most important thing. This is actually a smart and cost effective thing to do.

 

There is another local guy who is selling dried up Fiji LR. I am thinking using that in addition to LR. Half and Half sound okay? Or could I get away with even less?

[Rocket]

Questions:

1. How hard would it be to add MH to this if I decide to upgrade later? I like the looks of AIO but I feel like upgrade paths are limited.

 

Not hard at all. Mind you it is going to require running topless. Inter grating a MH light that close to the surface is going to cause heat problems and in a closed top, that is a big problem.

[jiriki76]

Questions:

1. How hard would it be to add MH to this if I decide to upgrade later? I like the looks of AIO but I feel like upgrade paths are limited.

 

Not hard at all. Mind you it is going to require running topless. Inter grating a MH light that close to the surface is going to cause heat problems and in a closed top, that is a big problem.

 

So I would have to ditch the current top and use something like a Viper clamp on. Any other solutions?

[CypressSlayer]

So I would have to ditch the current top and use something like a Viper clamp on. Any other solutions?

Where do you live? I know a place in SoCal where you can get a AP24 MH for about $310. Thats what I would do. I have a AP24 with PC and i'll still trying to find time to make a hood to fix my Mh setup in.

 

Get the AP24 MH its better in the long run. I wish I would have done that.

[jiriki76]

Where do you live? I know a place in SoCal where you can get a AP24 MH for about $310. Thats what I would do. I have a AP24 with PC and i'll still trying to find time to make a hood to fix my Mh setup in.

 

Get the AP24 MH its better in the long run. I wish I would have done that.

 

 

Nice Tank. I live in Columbus, Ohio. The package above is less than $275. It's a bit hard to pass up but the MH is extremely tempting. What are you planning on doing to convert over to MH for your AP24?

[CypressSlayer]

Nice Tank. I live in Columbus, Ohio. The package above is less than $275. It's a bit hard to pass up but the MH is extremely tempting. What are you planning on doing to convert over to MH for your AP24?

I'm going to make a hood to go around the tank and pull out the pc lights from the AP24 hood and use them with a DIY 70w MH setup. MH in the middle with a SunPaq Dual Actinic on each side.

[SaltWaterNewb]

There is another local guy who is selling dried up Fiji LR. I am thinking using that in addition to LR. Half and Half sound okay? Or could I get away with even less?

 

Yeah, you can do less. Just keep in mind that the less LR you use the longer your dead rock will take to become live. In fact, I have about 75 pounds of dead rock that I am using in my upcoming 29 gallon tank (not all 75 pounds). I am going to going to seed it with 5 pounds of live sand and a piece of LR that is well covered in coralline algae.

[jiriki76]

Yeah, you can do less. Just keep in mind that the less LR you use the longer your dead rock will take to become live. In fact, I have about 75 pounds of dead rock that I am using in my upcoming 29 gallon tank (not all 75 pounds). I am going to going to seed it with 5 pounds of live sand and a piece of LR that is well covered in coralline algae.

 

Looks like I am leaning more towards using MH. My GF's parents just gave us their old 29G (30inches long) fish tank. I am looking buying a used Sunpod. Any reason I can't use a 20" Sunpod? It looks like the only differences are how far apart the moonlights are placed. The center bulb is still the same MH regardless of length until you get to 48" and you get two MH bulbs. I'm thinking 150W. (BTW, anyone have a used MH fixture they want to sell? PM me)

 

Also, should I use chaeto during the cycling period or wait till after cycle?

 

Thanks guys.. I'm feeling more and more ready to do this as I keep reading all the posts. The beginner's posts seem to be the most posted area.

[SaltWaterNewb]

I would wait to add the chaeto until the cycle is complete. The only reason is you don't want anything that absorbs or removes ammonia, nitrite, or nitrates from the water just so you don't take a chance on hindering the cycle process. I don't think it would but why chance it.

 

As far as the light questions, I have no idea. I don't know anything about MH lighting.