I did some number crunching and reduced my list and got lower quality stuff but still not horrible. Heres the new list. Tell me what you think.
Ocean Masters Test Kit 54.98
20lbs Fiji Pink substrate 32.65
Coralife 2x96 PC Light strip 269.95 (there is a 1x96PC that im looking at too)
Mounting legs 8.45
HK1 33.95
HK2 42.95
IO Hydrometer 12.35
50lbs IO salt 16.44
100watt Ebo Jagger heater 27.95
Total with taxes $596.93 (This is a lot less than the cost with everything i wanted before but i wouldnt mind reducing it some more)

22lbs Dead rock with shipping and taxes approx 103.89

The entire setup being approx $700.89

The changes i made are:
No skimmer
Refractometer changed to an Instant Ocean Hydrometer
Lights downgraded from 4x39T5 to 2x96PC
No algae scraper (I will just need to use a credit card or something)
No foods added (Wont have any livestock in the tank for quite some time and even so it would probably be corals first so i would just buy food when i get them anyway)
Salt went from 160gal mix to 50gal

By doing all that my costs went down about $400 which is a HUGE difference to me and is much more acceptable than $1000+ when i have so many other renos to do around the house.

WOOO an advancement!!! I bought my lightfixture. I had to get something cheap but good. I could no longer go with the nova extreme I originally wanted because of cost and the lesser nova extreme 2x39 was not HO and after reading many reviews, very cheaply made (broken bulbs, etc) AND when compared to the hagen glo was basically crapola.

So, I purchased the Hagen Glo 2x39 HO T5 36" model.
I would like to get geismann bulbs to put into it but what combo would be best for my future corals. I want their colours to really shine and i want them to be super healthy too.

I know under 2x39 T5 HO i can keep softies
My list includes: rics, zoas, cloves, shrooms, xenia, and possibly devils hand leather with green polyps.

I know i can keep some lps
My list includes:
hammer, frogspawn.


My second question (1st was about bulb combo) is what other Lps can I keep should I want any? Some people say brain, plate coral, acan, and blasto. Some also say you can keep sps under those lights (I dont think so) but suggestions were pink birdsnest, and monti.
I would like to get the list straightened out so I know what my limits are.
Thanks in advance.:)

I read a few threads about bulb combos but with a 2 bulb fixture its difficult because all the combos were for 4+ bulb fixtures.

Here are my bulb options
Im looking at the Giesmann bulbs and my choices from JLAquatics.com are:
Powerchrome - Midday (6000K)
" - Aquablue+ (15000K)
" - Actinic+ (2200K)
" - Pure Actinic (421nm)

I want a blue look where the corals really pop. But I want them to grow. I dont really like the pinky look.

HELP!!!!

So I ended up finding where to get ATI bulbs *THANK YOU PROGRESSIVE REEF*
Im going to get the Blue+ and the Aquablue special. But holy poop the shipping cost is killing me. The total cost for the 2 bulbs will be $103 From the store to my house. WOW almost as much as my fixture lol

Bought the bulbs. check totals on first post. :)

Hi all,
I know this project is going very slowly. I was waiting until I got back from Newfoundland to get started. Well I had to come back early for a family emergency. My dad was very sick in the hospital with Lung cancer. It was a surprise to us all. I spend 25 hours with him before he passed away. Im still not over it as it just happened July 6. But I realize more than ever that life is short and you never know when you will go so I just spent the money and bought everything I need for my salty tank today. The stand still needs to be built and who knows when that will be done now. My grandfather has now also become very ill so who knows. Its been an awful month and I need a little happiness in my life about now. Im hoping the start of this tank will help.

Orders from JLA came in today. Waiting on bulk reef supply (prob next week) and I still have to build the stand then the magic will happen.

Sorry for your loss.

What arrived from J&L?

Sorry to hear of your father's passing. I used to spend hours every night with my face pressed into my glass it's a great time and it will surely bring a smile to your face (and a suntan).

Thanks snaz and lastlight. Its still pretty hard and Im having a pretty rough time getting over it. I try to hide it from my family and be strong for them but when i get home and im on my own i just break down.
The tank is already bringing me happiness. Just getting my stuff from JLA made me so happy. It felt like christmas opening up those two packages.
I recieved:
Caribsea Fiji Pink Substrate
Instant Ocean salt mix
Ebo Jagger heater
HK1 and HK2
Kent Proscraper
Coral Frenzy food
New Life Spectrum Food
Reef Plus and Reef Trace additives
Refractometer
Tunze 9002 Protein Skimmer
Coral Master Test Kits

And then Hopefully next week My rock will be comming in.