Help on some hardware decisions

[serratus]

Hi everyone,

I'm fairly new to these threads so please point out if I'm breaking any forum rules.

I've been doing research on tons of websites as to where to buy the cheapest supplies for a reef tank (canopy/lights, filter, powerheads, salt and sand, and live rock etc...). I realized that instead of wasting many hours on finding the cheapest place for every item, then calculating shipping, etc,... I could just ask you guys for help.

Is there a one stop store (physical store or online store) where you can get pretty much anything for very close to the best price? (For my hobby of photography, there is such a thing, so I'm hoping there's something like this for aquatics too).

Specifically, right now, i'm looking to buy these items right now:

36" 4x39W T5 HO light setup:
Current Nova seems to be the established brand here am I right? I also found on Ebay a brand called Odyssea that is way way cheaper. Are they any good?

Canister Filter:
Debating between Filstar XP2 or Fluval 305. Fluval is more expensive it seems but the 305 line seems to be newer than the XP line. Is there any newer technology that makes them better than the XP? I also just heard of a new comer JEBO 828/838. They are super cheap but I can find any retailers that will ship to Edmonton for cheap. Have you heard of a good place to get JEBO's?

This is for a 50gal tank and not looking to grow any SPS or LPS.

[brizzo]

Hi serratus,

First of all, Welcome to CanReef!

In time with reef keeping you will learn that cheapest isn't always the best. You really, really do get what you pay for with reef equipment.

There is marine aquarium stores in your area, but I'll let someone else chime in on that

But, sometimes the best price you can get on good equipment is to buy used!

Check out my2rotties' post for a 6x39W T5 light

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=48559

[PoonTang]

I dont know about stores in your area but you dont need a canister filter. They are nitrate traps and you get all the filtering you need from your live rock and skimmer. Dont buy those lights from ebay, apparently there not CSA approved and can cause fires and your insurance wont cover it. Dont buy Jebo anything. Honestly, most of the stuff you need you can get from JL Aquatics or used from people here.

[mark]

Checked the Buy and Sell forum here? If nothing there, OA and JL can be reasonable even with shipping.

[Tom R]

Martym has these lights for sale.


http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=48400

[serratus]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone!

"OA and JL can be reasonable even with shipping"
JL I assume is J&L Aquatics, but what is OA?

The two links that you've given me are both for TEK lights. How do TEK lights compare to Current Nova lights? Do TEK bulbs produce more light at the same power?, or are they quieter? Can you use TEK bulbs in NOVA fixtures?

[Joe52]

If This is a reef or marine set up of any kind dont do the cannister filter for biological use rock and sand bed and a good skimmer

[serratus]

Thanks for all of your contributions everyone. I'm learning a lot. The most significant thing to learn is that the trend now seems to be stepping away from canister filters. That's interesting considering the stores I've been too (including aquarium specialty stores) all say to use cannister filters.

There are a few immediate implications to not using canister filters that I am unsure of (eg. without mechanical filtration, what's going to take away the dust and carpet fibers that inevitably lands in the tank?), but I'll start a thread about all of this in a few days when I've read through more of the guides that Canreef refers to.

[digital-audiophile]

If not using a sump, were you planning on using a hang on skimmer? If you are worried about water polishing you could add a phosban reactor to run carbon in a forced manner.

Do you have any pictures of the spot you were planning on using the cannister? Could you have a small "ish" sump built to fit the space?