Tank, Led, Skimmer and Reactor. Your Opinions Please!

[UltraAcan]

Im looking at pulling the trigger and getting an Innovative Marine Nuvo 30g Long (36"x11"x13").
Looking for the best equipment for my application and best performance.

Led lighting- 2 radion xr15 or 1 xr30, Hydra 52 , maxspec or ? (Mostly SPS ) (Best par and spread)
Skimmer- Ghost mid-size, MiniMax mid-size, Tunze or anything that fits. (Best Performance and quiet)
Reactor- MiniMax mid-size, CPR Aquatic Tumbler, Aquamaxx that fits. (Best Performance and quiet)

If you own a IM 30g Long is it a good tank or
is there a better option in 30g-50g long with back filtration.

Any and all input would be awesome!

Thanks!

 

[UltraAcan]

Anyone?

 

[M466]

Your better off buying two 40 breeders for display and sump during petco sale instead of dealing with the need to upgrade a few months later. I started with a nuvo 16 and instantly felt the need to upgrade. Best advice is to really look into it cost wise and see what out weighs pros and cons including what works for you space wise. All in one's are easier to take care of but I would prefer more water than convenience

 

[xmas_one]

Look into a Nanobox Quad for a tank with those dimensions.

 

[Jamess]

Literally best advice for saltwater set up is do not skip on the initial costs at all. This is a hobby you're creating for yourself that has the potential form an active reef that should never really die. A lot of people enter this hobby thinking they will fail and are not willing to buy the best equipment even though they can afford. (And when I say best I do not mean most expensive. Though sometimes quality comes with a price tag) Some aquarist may choose the smaller light because it's $100 cheaper. It'd be like for a 24" tank you could get a Kessil 360 for $400 or a 160 for $280. The 160 reduces the potential of reef we may want later on when there's less room available for coral. Now we need more light and we're at $520 now when the initial $400 would of been capable.

Another example would be auto top off. Why would anyone ever ever ever go cheap on this?!? I know that Hydor Smartlevel is pretty appealing at $70 and seams to do everything the tunze does but consider how both systems work. The mere $130 difference for something that will turn on multiple times a day to stabilize salinity for the duration of your hobby is a cost worth expensing. Spending the $70 on something that has a greater likelihood to fail on you puts your entire investment and animals at risk. Again this seems to justify the extra money initially in my cost. (And from a retailer's standpoint there's more of a mark up on cheaper stuff. If a store is trying to sell you a Gyre Generator Maxspect they're only going to make $30 off you. It's a $300 pump!!! If they sold you a 1200 GPH hydor the markup is actually more than $30 but does not achieve any of the same things. They want to help your tank in this case. Many people think a LFS would be trying to rip you off on the most expensive stuff. There's no markup on quality dry goods in our hobby/industry haha)

You could literally buy one coral frag for $120. Why would we ever look to reduce our animals potential life? A year down the road and you have a couple grand in coral in your tank (or maybe a few hundred) I think most people would ask themselves why they didn't spend the extra $120 here and $100 there initially when it would increase, not only the enjoyment, but habitat.

If that means you don't get to start buying live stock because you have to work 4 months to pay for everything you want so your decade and even longer hobby can thrive to more potential then that's what we should do. Because 4 months for something I plan to have in place in my house for years to decades just seems like a small amount of time to ensure longevity of success.

 

[Spinner]

Some good stuff above for sure Equipment, while going with top name brands is a easy way to start " Tank System Constancy's " is what's going to grow your reef and make the hobby fun If you look around for used sales and research for things on line you can save a lot allowing for a larger build
It takes some time and can be fun to hunt for what you need.....
Here's a light that's nice for a good price.....Orphek sales this light fixture for 650.00 72 watt std. Reef, this link will show you the same light just different cord length's for $ 225.00 but they put them on sale every few weeks for as low as $ 180.00.
Good Luck!
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2014...MeanWell-Driver-AC-85-265V-3/32229053874.html

 

[chrono]

I second the "dont skimp and go cheap" comment. I am majorly guilty of this, and in turn my wallet has felt it. I bought amazon cheapy everything and have already replaced my skimmer, powerhead, return pump, and light. Also sound advice on the ATO, i went with a smart ATO. 5 months later and my tank is just now running smoothly.

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[UltraAcan]

M466
I am am still looking. A tank with over flow but has to be a long, short and and not to wide . I really love the look of the IM nuvo 30l.
Money is not the problem but I do want a nice clean tank that uses quality glass. not sure about acrylic.

 

[Jerry Williams]

You would do well to find a local or not so local reef club. You will get the best advise face to face.

 

[UltraAcan]

Literally best advice for saltwater set up is do not skip on the initial costs at all. This is a hobby you're creating for yourself that has the potential form an active reef that should never really die. A lot of people enter this hobby thinking they will fail and are not willing to buy the best equipment even though they can afford. (And when I say best I do not mean most expensive. Though sometimes quality comes with a price tag) Some aquarist may choose the smaller light because it's $100 cheaper. It'd be like for a 24" tank you could get a Kessil 360 for $400 or a 160 for $280. The 160 reduces the potential of reef we may want later on when there's less room available for coral. Now we need more light and we're at $520 now when the initial $400 would of been capable.

Another example would be auto top off. Why would anyone ever ever ever go cheap on this?!? I know that Hydor Smartlevel is pretty appealing at $70 and seams to do everything the tunze does but consider how both systems work. The mere $130 difference for something that will turn on multiple times a day to stabilize salinity for the duration of your hobby is a cost worth expensing. Spending the $70 on something that has a greater likelihood to fail on you puts your entire investment and animals at risk. Again this seems to justify the extra money initially in my cost. (And from a retailer's standpoint there's more of a mark up on cheaper stuff. If a store is trying to sell you a Gyre Generator Maxspect they're only going to make $30 off you. It's a $300 pump!!! If they sold you a 1200 GPH hydor the markup is actually more than $30 but does not achieve any of the same things. They want to help your tank in this case. Many people think a LFS would be trying to rip you off on the most expensive stuff. There's no markup on quality dry goods in our hobby/industry haha)

You could literally buy one coral frag for $120. Why would we ever look to reduce our animals potential life? A year down the road and you have a couple grand in coral in your tank (or maybe a few hundred) I think most people would ask themselves why they didn't spend the extra $120 here and $100 there initially when it would increase, not only the enjoyment, but habitat.

If that means you don't get to start buying live stock because you have to work 4 months to pay for everything you want so your decade and even longer hobby can thrive to more potential then that's what we should do. Because 4 months for something I plan to have in place in my house for years to decades just seems like a small amount of time to ensure longevity of success.

I agree 100%. I want what works now not $600 later and extra equipment laying around. thanks for the great advise...

 

[UltraAcan]

I second the "dont skimp and go cheap" comment. I am majorly guilty of this, and in turn my wallet has felt it. I bought amazon cheapy everything and have already replaced my skimmer, powerhead, return pump, and light. Also sound advice on the ATO, i went with a smart ATO. 5 months later and my tank is just now running smoothly.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

Thats what Im trying to avoid now. Its hard to choose equipment like skimmers and reactors ect. Relying on reviews and star ratings on product is tuff, some people just don't know how to use the product and they give it a bad rating or it was not the right piece of equipment for there application in the first place. Im sure I will some trial and error for sure. Thanks Chrono!

 

[chrono]

Problem is everything i bought had good reviews. But i learned quick that the few negative reviews where spot on.

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