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twodaend

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Jun 28, 2006
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Alsip, IL
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

Bulbs
2 T-5 HO Daylight SlimPaq 10K
2 T-5 HO Actinic SlimPaq 460nm

PowerHead
Maxi-Jet 1200 (How Many?)
or
Koralia Water Circulation Pump (3 x #2 or 2 x #3)

Salt
Reef Crystals

Live Rock
Fuji Uncured (80lbs)

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

Water Testing
Refractometer

Skimmer
Coralife Super Skimmer (65 Gallon)

RO/DI Unit
Kent Maxxiam (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
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 and T5 Tek Retro Kit 48in -2 x 54w for a total of 6 bulbs or should I get T-5 Tek Light 48in-54watt 6 lamps Black 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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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