New to forum and saltwater reef tanks

[lostcreekreefer]

Hi Thaumas...we were wondering where you'd gone!...I PM'd you about rock that I have and some other rock I may be able to get for you locally from a tank recently taken down. I can deliver this week. KD

[Thaumas]

Wanted to give another update....I'm frustrated ;( So i got my tank setup, guess about 3 weeks ago now. After letting the water clear up I finally opened up my light that I bought over 2 months ago and low and behold it had PROBLEMS.....I sent it back and was told they had 2 more in stock and would send 1 back out once mine was received. Well last week they got mine back and day later they inform me a stocking error had occurred and they hadn't had 2 in stock afterall. So.......now I'm back looking at new lighting systems. I've read back through lighting forums here and would still like to get a "all-in-one" light. I'm wondering now if any of you have strong opinions on brands at this point? I had liked the looks and features of my Coralife, but am concerned to get again. Although it is still the most reasonable when comparing others with the same built-in features. The other brands I'm looking at are Marineland, Aquaticlife, Aqua Medic, Hamilton, Sunlight. Many of these don't include the lunar lights though. Oh, I've also looked at the led systems, but having hard time figuring them out lol.

Your thoughts are appreciated,
Keith

[charlie]

do you have any living critters in your tank now?

[Thaumas]

None Charlie, I've been holding off waiting for lighting. Have live rock ready to go in, but didn't want to even put it in till i get the lights worked out. I know i could put a few fish in, but really wanted to get the rock in and somewhat situated before the fish.

[charlie]

you can put the rock in now, it doesn't need the light really. Please do not put any fish in yet, I don't care what anybody says. Wait it out on the light you want, or you will be replacing it within a year.

[DevonM]

Dan at ReefMissoula has quite a bit of LR on hand for around $5/lb I think. When I set my tank up I purchased a bunch of uncured live rock from Dr's. Forster & Smith and cured it in 40 gal. garbage cans. I guess if I had it to do all over again would look for somewhere local "ish" and try to get cured rock for a good price. But, if you have a bunch of saltwater on hand and don't mind doing the water changes and scrubbing, go for it.

[Thaumas]

Wanted to give an update, I received my light today and everything works WOOHOO! Oh, I ended up going with same light but went with the 250w this time. I really want to try the sps corals Will posts pics after I get LR in.

Hope y'all have good weekend!