Coming back after a 4yr break.. need help

[rook06]

Hello all My name is Austin I am starting a 65 gal r/r reef tank. I have for lighting 2 175 watt m/h w/ 13k Aqualine Buske (German), Mogul Base. I will also be running 2 actinics. I will have a reef design acrylic sump w/ a mag 7 and a etss reef devil protien skimmer. I would like to make this as automated as possible please give me some idea's about what else i should go with.. calc. reactors and such. remeber it is only a 3ft tank and room is limited . I appreicate all idea's.

[SpokaneReef]

With space limited I would only look at using an auto top off and timers on the lights. The tank is small enough that the dosing could be done every few days or even once a week.

[rook06]

so probly couldn't do the korallin calc. reactor?

[SpokaneReef]

I dont see that you need it with a small tank like that and the fact it is so new. Maybe in a year or so. If you add it and your corals don't use it as fast as you pump it in you will get high Alk and this could cause problems.

I just could not justify the cost, over the use, over the risk, over the need at this point if I was in your position.

Just to give you an example I set my 300 gallon system in August (almost 4 months) and I still have no real NEED for my CA reactor. I have it on but it is so low I wonder why I even run it. If I turn it up anymore my Alk will go up because the corals are not using it fast enough. I still have to dose the Calcium almost everyday to keep it at the same level. I just don't have to dose as much. Either way I am dosing weather it one spoon full or two.

For a small tank I would rather keep it simple and go low tech for now. You will save a lot of time and money in the long run.

[rook06]

I see your point. Although i didn't say that i will be breaking down my friends tank and using his water and liverock. The only thing that will be new is the araga live substrate.

[SpokaneReef]

well does the tank come with high calcium demanding corals?

If it was me I would get everything set up and see how much dosing you do. CA Reactors are nice but I have yet to see one work to keep calcium at the level desired. My ca reactor is built for a 1000 gallon system and it does not keep up, if anything is will load up the Alk more than the calcium.

My tank is still young so I hope in a year or two it changes.

[rook06]

yeah I am only getting mushrooms and a few pylops. I went ahead and got me a pentair 25w uv and bought all my supplements. zooplex, chromaplex, coralvite ,tech I, tech cb part a and b, i got them from SEAQUESTMARINE.COM. they are really nice people and the deals where pretty nice.