Getting In...Gladly :P WTB list.

Whatigot · #1 11-27-2008, 04:00 PM

With a 33 gallon, it will be much easier to keep soft corals...
sps or stony/hard corals need more light and more flow hence more $$$ for equipment.
There are some stunning soft coral peaceful reefs on this board, a great place to start is to look at the tank journals threads and see what some people have done.
Don't be intimidated by how expensive and ornate some of these systems are, you'll get there on your own time eventually if you get caught by the reefing bug.

There are also some stellar fish for peaceful and lower flow/light tanks (look at royal grammas, chalk bass, wrasses and gobies to start) so I think that a soft coral/peaceful tank is ideal for someone unsure of how far they want to pursue saltwater.

For a tank like the one stated, you would need pc or t5 lighting and about 300-1000 gph turnover in your tank (2 koralia 2's would work great or 2 mj 12's might do it)

A half decent skimmer (like prizm or remora) would work great

You'll find everyone has a different opinion on just about everything so the best is to pick your inhabitants and then build your system to make sure they are healthy and happy via the equipment you pick up from there.

I would consider myself a novice in reefs, only been into it for about 3 years and learn everyday about how much i don't know.

Good luck, happy reading.

Fox · #2 11-27-2008, 04:03 PM

Great advice...some of the best I have had yet! I had someone mention to go at least middle of the road on the skimmer but I wasnt sure what was middle of the road...hehe

Thank you!

Whatigot · #3 11-27-2008, 04:34 PM

You will have people consistently tell you you need better this or better that, they might be right but they might be wrong.

If you are keeping soft corals and s few fish, a skimmer like either of the two I mentioned would be perfect IMO.

I had a prizm running on my old 32 for a year and it worked so well even though it's less than 100$.

Remember that some people have more expendable income than others and forget that some are working with lesser means than others.

I love to things on the cheap, so I am biased in that respect.

Myka · #4 11-27-2008, 05:50 PM

For skimmer, IMO Remora is middle of the road, and I wouldn't bother with anything less. I have a Remora now, and I can say I won't ever buy one again, and they kick the Prism's butt. Remora's aren't nearly as good as the better brands out there. A Deltec MCE-300 is only a bit more money, but a much better piece of equipment. However, the Deltec's are tough to find used.

That Kijiji ad for the 500g tank wasn't a high price at all!! Did you notice it came with an AquaLight Pro? That has two MH lights in it as well as actinic and moonlights. Of course, that's a saltwater fixture. You would be able to grow pretty much any corals you would want with that fixture. Coralife is kinda chinsy crap, but it still does the job. That fixture alone is about $500 I think. Of course if you bought that, live rock, a skimmer, a sump, and a pump would run you quite a bit more. If I was in Edmonton I would scoop that tank up in a heartbeat.

Fox · #5 11-27-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

That Kijiji ad for the 500g tank wasn't a high price at all!! Did you notice it came with an AquaLight Pro? That has two MH lights in it as well as actinic and moonlights. Of course, that's a saltwater fixture. You would be able to grow pretty much any corals you would want with that fixture. Coralife is kinda chinsy crap, but it still does the job. That fixture alone is about $500 I think. Of course if you bought that, live rock, a skimmer, a sump, and a pump would run you quite a bit more. If I was in Edmonton I would scoop that tank up in a heartbeat.

I am not going to pretend I know anything about lighting but that certainly seems like a good value but I dont know if its right for what I want to do...It would be good if I was going to make that tank the SW tank but I dont need that kind of lighting for my FW...

Leah · #6 11-27-2008, 06:51 PM

Don't forget that if while a freshwater tank and you used copper at all, you need to
use something to clean it out. Anybody remember what to use? Its been a while.

Fox · #7 11-27-2008, 07:16 PM

Interesting...Is there copper in the filters somewhere? I don't think I have anything else in the tank that would have copper in it other than a submersible filter...I suppose the heater might as well but would be copper be exposed to warrant contaminating the tank walls?

mseepman · #8 11-27-2008, 09:03 PM

That coralife Fixture sells for $600 all by itself at J&L. I bought it for $1000 locally before I knew J&L existed.

If you are going to do the 33 gallon tank...my strong recommendation would be to put T5HO lighting above it. That way, you have the potential for enough light for almost any coral you want and in the long run, it's bulbs last longer and are much cheaper to replace. You'd pay off your investment pretty quickly.

I may get shot on here for saying this but here's a link to an Odyssea fixutre...not the best quality but not terrible either and it's CHEAP for beginners who very likely will change their equipment not too long after they first start.http://www.aquatraders.com/36-156w-h...advance-1.aspx
If I had known that I could buy an Odyssea fixture when I started for 1/4 what I paid for a "not much better" Coralife fixture then I would have more money now for the better equipment I want.

Again, that's just my 2 cents.

Myka · #9 11-27-2008, 10:29 PM

^ Good advice.

Fox · #10 11-28-2008, 01:27 PM

I am having issues with the Aquatraders website...When trying to go to the checkout it says that the certificate is expired and I am just wondering if anyone is having the same problem or if they have dealt with this company recently without issues. Just makes me nervous is all...Is there a place in or around Edmonton that I might be able to pick up that light?