| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
cwabel77 
Guest
Joined: May 11 2011
Location: Smithfield, ut
Status: Offline
Points: 8
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: New to the hobbie
Posted: May 11 2011 at 4:36pm |
|
Hello, my name is Carl.
My wife and I have decided to get back into the hobbie of reefing. We had a 46 gal reef tank about 13 years ago. So looking into things it seems alot has changed since then. I hope everyone can help with some suggestions on equipment, and I will need some help with lighting.
I have a 29 gal tank I would like to set up to get things going however we are on the lookout for a 75 gal. That is what we are looking to end up with. We want to end up with some clams and sps corals.
I was really excited to find a club like this and want to join even though I don't have a tank up and running yet. Reading some of the forums I see you are all quiet nice and very much love this hobby. I am looking forward to being a part of this.
so let the suggestions come what kind of lights would you guys recommend for sps coral I assume metal halide but what watts and par. Also I have been looking at t5 bulbs what combinations of light lvls do I need as far as daylight and atinic?
What kind of water flow do I need to look at? How many times should i cycle my tank per hour?
lol, this will get me started I think.
Thanks,
|
 |
jwoo
Presidency
Joined: April 29 2009
Location: Alpine
Status: Offline
Points: 3603
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2011 at 5:28pm |
|
Welcome! I don't have a ton of time to write a big response but just wanted to say welcome to the club. You will find that a TON has changed in 13 years. You can grow SPS with t5's as well as MH. In a 29 gallon you'd only need one 150 W MH. Or you could look into a 4x24w T5 fixture.
In my 29 gallon I use a 150 MH and a Koralia 1 for circulation with the standard pump that came with the biocube for return and a hydor flow attached. It's plenty of flow.
Anyway I'm sure others will chime in. Welcome back to an awesome hobby!
|
|
None at the moment
Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront
|
|
CapnMorgan
Guest
The Capn'
Joined: August 19 2009
Location: Tooele
Status: Offline
Points: 3537
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2011 at 5:33pm |
T5's can actually put out more PAR than a metal halide, and with a tank that size they'll be a better option as it will be easier to manage how much your tank heats up. I would recommend drilling the tank for a sump so you can avoid cluttering the display with equipment. I would use a 4 bulb fixture over your tank. If you're able to drill your tank the return pump should provide only a small part of the water movement, and in that tank you'd be safe with a 200-300gph return pump, and then supplement with some powerheads like a couple koralia evolutions (the smallest size). Let me know if you have any other questions! If you click on the link to my 180 gallon tank in my signature you can see an example of T5 lighting at work.
Welcome to WMAS!
|
Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2011 at 8:56pm |
|
One of my fellow pioneers of the hobby in Utah lives in Smithfield. Look up Tom Miller. He''s an awesome hobbyist that once wrote a regular column in a magazine called Marinefish Monthly.
Also look below in my signature line for a lot of helpful discussion regarding the hobby in recent years.
WElcome.
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
|
Turbostud653
Guest
Joined: March 26 2008
Location: Spanish Fork
Status: Offline
Points: 1388
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2011 at 11:50pm |
|
Welcome to the club. You will find lots of useful info here. On the flow, I would go with about 20 x per hour. So a 30 gallon tank would have 600 gallons of flow per hour. With the lights I would do a T-5 setup. With a t-5 setup you can mix and match any combination of lights. HAve fun and keep your questions comming.
|
|
Here is what a customer said while on hold Oh my gosh! Did you open the door? I told you not to open the door. Dre is in here completely naked and he's got freak'n Macaroni and Cheese in his hands.
|
|
fyrmn14
Guest
Joined: June 23 2008
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 208
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 13 2011 at 3:49am |
|
What everyone else has said has been spot on to what I would recommend and just thought I would go into it a little deeper.
Daylight - 10K bar minimum, 20K usually being the max you can find
Actinic - 420nm or 460nm, your pref
T-5's have many advantages over MH's. More compact, cooler running, etc. Where the MH's might kick in is if you end up going with that 70+ gallon future purchase. MH's will give you more par depth into the tank than a T5. Other than that, say stick with a T5
|
|
This isn't a hobby...its a sport...they should put it in the olympics.
|
|
Adam Blundell
Presidency
Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
Status: Offline
Points: 18526
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 13 2011 at 11:05pm |
|
I was thinking the same thing as Mark. I saw smithfield and thought "I wonder if he knows Tom?"
Nice to have you here!
Adam
|
|
Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
|
|
