[chromis]

My birthday is coming up on the 14th and I was wondering what I should get. Since my rock isnt coming in until the 18th at the least I will have to wait before getting anything live. This is for my new 55 gallon tank with only sand and water in it right now. My thoughts are below:

2 X 250 watt halides-----right now only have 2 X 55 watt PCs. am interested in a similar setup to what thezookeeper has right now. Need more info on ballast though.

Detrivore kit- IPSF after tank is cycled I would like to add one but would be impossible if I got the lights.

Maybe just save it for livestock?

Any other suggestions welcome
Thanks
Andrew

[blue]

IMO I would go for the lights . JMO

Blue

[Ltspd]

Its better to give than receive.....

So I will email you my address and you can give me the money instead

[chromis]

Sure thing Paul, just send up that starphire of yours
Would my DSB have problems for a while if I didn't get the 9 for 99? Whats the deal with these Mecury Vapor Ballasts? Are they the same as EYE?

Andrew

[golfish]

How about a Refractometer or PH meter

[scubadude]

If your asking which you should get first Chromis then I would go with the Detrivore kit first and then get the lights....Good choice (Zookeeper model) on lights but if you are feeling rambuctious and ready to take on a great project then Do the lights! Joanne (zookeeper) has a great light setup and im sure she saved a few $$ but I do know that she has a spent a little time into it. I just say the detrivore kit because they will help control algae blooms that your new lights will no doubtedly fire up. HTH

[organicreefer]

get the blights since they they cost the most


oops def dont get the blights

[Nanook01]

Get it all!!!!!!!!!

[chromis]

thanx for your opinions. I still have no idea which to get first. Its gonna be a while before i can save up for one after buying the other. I think joanne sort of hinted that the mercury vapor ballasts put out alot of heat? I think the 9 for 99 deal leaves me with more money for fish and beginning corals then the MHs. Hmm I dunno

Andrew

[Neal359]

i just got rid of my 55gal the B E S T thing you can do for you tank is get it drilled just do it trust me thos overflow boxes are the bigest pains ever. i would never ever ever get a nother tank thats not drilled. this is the perfect time just starting out nothing living

[tubs]

Andrew,

My birthday is on the 18th so you can get me the lights for my prop tank... ;>

Well anyhow it depends. Are you going to get uncured LR? What comes in the detrivore kit BTW. I ask because if you get uncured rock and place it in the tank you'll get a huge ammonia and nitrite spike that most likely kill anything in the detrivore kit. Who knows maybe you have tons of peanut worms or boring sponges that will continue to rot for ages.

The lights are an essential piece and you'll have to get it anyway.

If you have any reef friends in the area maybe they can give you a scoop of their sand and let you borrow a piece of liverock and wallah - you've got yourself a free detrivore and seeding kit. If you have more than one source the merrier. You can also sway your LFS to trade or even get a scoop of sand from one of their tanks (be sure it is not from a FO tank as it may contain copper). If the LFS has any smarts they'd give it to you for free understanding that a tank cycle getting through faster is better for you and them.

This way may not have all the same critters from a kit such as IPSF but at least you're not risking some the money invested. I would personally be more comfortable spending on a detrivore kit after the tank is cycled because ammonia is pretty darn hard on any animal. In fact if you're short on money I'd skip it all together and continue to "swap" sand with other reefers.

[tubs]

Andrew,

I know you know all this but would like to mention for the benefit of others. I forgot to mention joining a local reef club if you have one in the area. I think clubs can be great especially for someone looking to start a new tank. You'll not find friendlier folks since they know where you're coming from. It would be easy to get sand/LR and even aquacultured frags from members. If you were in this area I'd be more than glad to spare you all that including some frags. A club is not even necessary if you can find a couple of other reefers in the area.

Heck lots of my frags are from the local club here (Seabay) and from various hobbyist in the area. I'm just saying that things can be done a little cheaper by linking up with other reefers. Anyhow it is great to be able to support aquacultured frags as well.

[thezookeeper]

WOW! People are talking about MY lights! This is truely a proud moment. But for your info, Scuba is right. I saved money, but you MUST have knowledge of wiring in order to do it this way. No doubt. It is BASIC wiring, but wiring none the less. I cannot say whether or not the EYE PFO ballasts will have the same intense whiteness to them. I have not seen them. I do know I have seen these same Iwasaki's on regular MH ballasts and they have looked considerably more yellow in hue. The PFO EYE ballasts are plug and play basically from what I have seen. The ballasts themselves will give off a lot of heat regardless what type of MH you use in my experience. As long as you do not mount them in a location where they will get wet or add that heat to your tank, you'll be in good shape! And my MV ballasts are mounted in an actual junction box with ALL of the holes punched out on the sides for good ventilation. I absolutely love my lighting. It really did not take a long time to hook them up, I just have taken my good old time setting it up. I was nervous doing it this way until I actually saw the lights on for the first time. And THOSE pics are the ones I've shared with you all. I was so happy it's unreal. I would say if you can do it, the lighting is a great thing to do. But do it once and do it the way you want to do it. I love the intensity I get with these lights. And I've yet to capture the shimmer on camera, but I can tell you that there is nothing else like it in person! Happy birthday and good luck with whatever option you choose! If you need any more info on this setup, just drop me an email!


Joanne

[Elmo18]

I too love your lighting setup Joanne.

I have 2X250 Iwasakis on Advance ballasts and they look a little bit more yellow than your setup. I'm not sure if it's MV ballasts or not.

I got them from marinedepot.com

I'm going along with several people on this post and suggest to get lighting since you will eventually need it.

Regards,
Ilham

[thezookeeper]

Hi Elmo! Email me the Advance ballast number and I'll let you know if they're the same or not. I doubt it. I mean, I didn't see those ballasts on the marinedepot site. And these are BARE ballasts, probably nothing like marinedepot would sell. You can see them on my webpage. There's one for each light.


Joanne

[Reinhold]

Joanne: where can we see the light set-up you have? I don't see a web page link anywhere.

[thezookeeper]

Sorry Reinhold, I JUST updated that on my profile. Anyway:

http://zookeepersreef.homestead.com/Opening.html


Joanne