My Shopping List

[twodaend]

I have a 75 gallon AGA tank that is currently being used as a FW community tank that I'm ready to convert to a SW reef tank. I have the tank, an AGA pine stand and an AGA pine canopy. I think I have everything on my shopping list, but I need some help making sure everything is ok.

Light
2 complete T5 Tek Retro Kits 48in -2 x 54w (https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=355&osCsid=d1ad91901801a280c883a42bc30db264)

Bulbs
2 T-5 HO Daylight SlimPaq 10K (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13826&N=2004+113907)
2 T-5 HO Actinic SlimPaq 460nm (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13825&N=2004+113907)

PowerHead
Maxi-Jet 1200 (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4609&N=2004+113040) (How Many?)
or
Koralia Water Circulation Pump (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15955&N=2004+113040) (3 x #2 or 2 x #3)

Salt
Reef Crystals (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4856&N=2004+113009)

Live Rock
Fuji Uncured (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=L-FIJI-UNCURED&Category_Code=Liverock) (80lbs)

Base Rock
40lbs but unsure where to get it from. LFS around here are not great.

Water Testing
Refractometer (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9957&N=2004+113761)

Skimmer
Coralife Super Skimmer (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13924&N=2004+113771) (65 Gallon)

RO/DI Unit
Kent Maxxiam (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4459&N=2004+113775) (24gpd)

Other things I need help deciding on are lunar lights and a timer for setting up a day/night schedule. I also plan on getting 2 large rubber trash cans, gloves and new sand. I also have 2 AC110's from my current FW tank that I'm hoping to use to help increase waterflow, a master test kit, and a 300w heater.

Any info and/or links would help. Thanks

[Grins]

Go with the Koralias. I'm getting ready to upgrade to them from the MJs in my 55. I was possibly going with 2 #3s but I'm leaning towards 2 #4s because of SPS.

The Reef Crystals is great, although if you won't have reef stuff at first you can get away with their lesser expensive Instant Ocean at first.

You might want to consider http://marcorocks.com/ for your base rock.

I'd bump your skimmer to something meant for a bigger tank. The 65 is really a maxium amount, so with a 75g I don't think you'll be happy in the long run.

For the RO/DI I'd suggest going with either: http://airwaterice.com/product/1TYPHOONIII or http://thefilterguys.biz I've only heard fantastic things about both.

On the extras, I'd get a heater and powerhead for each of the mixing tanks, aragonite sand (don't get the live because your rocks will help seed it). In addition to the master test kit get a Copper, Phosphate and Calcium Kit. I'd also use 2 150 watt heaters versus one 300w. Don't forget a QT tank and big question...what are you planning on stocking once you're cycled?

[twodaend]

As for fish I plan on at leat 2 clowns. I'm still looking into others. As for corals, I know I want some of the easier to moderate corals. The difficult to keep coarls, I don't plan on keep anytime soon.

[Grins]

I said that too, a few short months later here I am with my first SPS.

[twodaend]

I was thinking that too. Eventually I might, especially as I learn more and see more I like. What do you think of my lights? Will that be enough for what I want to keep now, and later if I need to I can budget for upgrades. I tried following the watts per gallon rule, but I'm not sure how that works for T-5 vs. MH vs. CF.

[Grins]

The watts per gallon is a guideline more than a rule and difficult to apply to something like T5s. If your T5s have individual reflectors you should be good to go. I chose MHs because I got a good deal and was lured in by the shimmer.

[Almondsaz]

I agree with Grins on the skimmer. I have a Coralife 65 and it's a great little beginner skimmer, but it isn't enough for a 75. I recently upgraded to a 70 and bought a skimmer rated at 135 and probably should have gone larger, but didn't have the room in my sump.

Lighting is the biggest headache, you want MH and then you see the cost. T5's are great and are known for not putting out heat to your tank. I have had the CFs and like them...but they put out a little bit of heat, but never threw my system out of control (I did put one of the little fans angled across the water surface under the lights).

I just got a Koralia 2 because I already have a Seio M620. I like them both, the Koralia has a great look and it really versatile for directing the flow. I just get a little anxious about the opening in the front...because a fish could get in there. The Seio uses a disk instead of a propellar...bit safer.

[twodaend]

Ok, I think I'll go with the larger 125 gallon coarlife skimmer. Also for the light, I think I'll go with 6x54 rather than 4x54. I have decided that I really want to keep a clam so I'll increase my light to do so. Will this work.

I'm not sure, put I plan on getting either 2 complete T5 Tek Retro Kits 48in -2 x 54w (https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=55_89&products_id=355&osCsid=67510dcc0c708e4fe198719f0fd5e785) and T5 Tek Retro Kit 48in -2 x 54w (https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=55_89&products_id=352&osCsid=67510dcc0c708e4fe198719f0fd5e785) for a total of 6 bulbs or should I get T-5 Tek Light 48in-54watt 6 lamps Black (https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=55_82&products_id=378&osCsid=67510dcc0c708e4fe198719f0fd5e785) which is the ready to go all in one unit.

The reason I ask is because I have the AGA pine canopy and it has 3 planks running across the top. With the retro kit I'm assuming I will be attaching at least 2 lights to each plank. However, with the all in one, I will just lay it down on my glass cover similar to how my standard strip light is now.

Also, any suggestion on bulbs and configuration, I was thinking 4 10K and 2 actinic's. I would have the actinic's come on first, then 1 hour later have the front 10K's come on, 1 hour after that the back 10K's come on. The would go off in reverse order. However, this would only work with the retro kit as the all in one solution only has 2 on/off switches and 2 plugs, so each controls 3 bulbs rather than 2.

Front
10K
10K
Middle
Actinic
Actinic
Back
10K
10K

[Grins]

Personally I'd ditch the glass covers unless you're keeping an escape pro. Even for wrasses I'd ditch it and use a net or grid.

I'd go with 2 actinics and 4 daylights. I'd put the actinics on the outside personally. On my schedule I'm doing 2 hours with actinics and then the MHs and then 2 hours actinics and then nighttime.

[twodaend]

So you are suggesting I go with

Front
Actinic
10K
Middle
10K
10K
Back
10K
Actinic

If so, how will I control my lights. Would I have the front on, 1 hours later the back, the 1 hours later the middle and the they go off in revers order. I was thinking that I should have the actinics and daylights separate.

[fsn77]

For bulb arrangement, I would not put 1 of only 2 actinic bulbs in the back. To maximize the visual color appearance of your corals, you want the actinic bulbs near the middle / front of the tank, where the actinic light will be closer to your viewing point.

There's a much wider variety of T5 HO bulbs (54w) than just 10,000K and actinic. I'd seriously recommend reading the T5 Q&A thread on RC -- lots of bulb combination listings there. Here's the link to the most recent portion of it, as it is a very long thread and has been split many times (links are provided at the beginning / end to get to the other parts):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1169341

If you go with retrofit kits, be aware that some individual T5 reflectors are slightly wider than others. That said, you may not be able to be fit 6 T5s in a canopy for a 75g (depending on the canopy's design), especially if you decide to use IceCap SLRs, which are in the upper range for width.

[Grins]

By the way, FSN has more experience than I do so I'd heed his advice on this over what I gave.

[twodaend]

Ok, I've been doing a lot of reading and visiting some the the highly recommended LFS in the ChicagoLand area. Some where a bit of a drive, but well worth it.

How is my updated list?

***UPDATED***

Light
48" 4x54W Tek 2 T5 High-Output Retrofit Kit w/ Bulbs (http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Sunlight_Supply/Tek_2_Retrofit_Kits/48_inch__4x54W_Tek_2_T5_High-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_ReefGeek)

Bulbs Not sure about day/night schedule
2 54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent (http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Bulbs/54W_Blue_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI)
54W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent (http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Bulbs/54W_10000K_AquaSun_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_UV_Lightin g)
54W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent (http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Bulbs/54W_Super_Actinic_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_UV_Lighting )
Front
Blue Plus
Super Actinic
Middle
AquaSun
Blue Plus
Back (Future Plan)
??
??

PowerHead 2 for tank, 1 for mixing container
3 Hydor KORALIA 3 (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=HY-P19301&Category_Code=koralia)

Salt
Reef Crystals - 160 gallon Salt Mix Bucket (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SALT-RC-160&Category_Code=Salt)

Live Rock
Fuji Uncured (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=L-FIJI-UNCURED&Category_Code=Liverock) (75lbs)

Base Rock
Fiji Base Rock (http://www.marcorocks.com/proddetail.asp?prod=50%23pp) (50lbs)

Water Testing
Refractometer (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=REFRACT-PA&Category_Code=Hydrometer)

Skimmer
Aquamedic TurboFloter Multi (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=TURBO-HOT&Category_Code=Aquamedic)

RO/DI Unit
OCEAN REEF + 1 FIVE STAGE 75 GPD RO/DI (http://www.thefilterguys.biz/ro_di_systems.htm)

MISC
Lunar Lights
Timer for day/nigh schedule
2 large rubber trash cans
Gloves
Sand
Overflow Box 700GPH - Lifereef.com
Pump - Not Sure Mag Drive 7 is a bit expensive
Etc.

Have Available from current FW tank
2 AC110's - Probably won't be needed
Master Test Kit
300w heater

Once I get everything going and working right, I plan on building a sump, probably out of a 20 or 29 gallon tank (depends on what will fit under my AGA Pine Stand). My tank is not drilled thus the reason for the overflow box. I'll then move my skimmer to the sump since it is a multi unit.

[Grins]

Sounds like you'll have a really blue tank. I'd also trade the 300w heater for 2 150s. Safter to have a backup.

[twodaend]

Yea, I was not sure about the color, so I asked ReefGeek and that is what he recommended. From looking at others tank, I like one with the purple tint the best. However, I've not see any of these bulb combos for my self.

How about the other equipment? I'm not trying to get the most expensive stuff, but I know now that cheap won't work either. I'm trying to find a happy middle that will work good as well.

[Grins]

Actually looks like a good start to me. I'm not familiar with the skimmer and you'll of course want to decide on a pump but you've obviously been doing your homework.

[twodaend]

I'm still trying to decided which Hydro powerheads I should get. I can't decide if I should get the 3's or 4's and how many. I'm thinking I should just put 1 on each side of the tank pointing at each other slightly off center. Or should I add a third one and have it on the back glass to create a T effect with the powerheads.

From keeping FW fish, I've noticed that my dead spots are usually the back corners. So I'm wondering:

1)Which powerhead should I get, 3's or 4's?
2)How many of the chosen powerhead should I get?
3)What should be the placement of the powerhead to maximize flow?

I'll be getting a MJ400 to do the mixing, I think that should be enough, correct me if I'm wrong?

[Grins]

I'd get 2 #4s for the 75g, but 2 #3s would still work
Either place them on the ends so they are pointed at one another, or on the back wall si they are pointed at the front glass

The MJ400 is pretty weak, I use a 1200 to mix.