Converting this week!
- Thread starter Agliata45
- Start date
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Inglorious if you're smart you'll by an LED. LED's are pretty much the best lights at the best value. A 4 ft is like 500 bucks, but it has 5 years of light. If you ge t5s i believe the bulbs last like 6 months and the light alone is about 300 bucks + bulbs are crazy expensive also LED's have a lot more options unless you get a high end t5. Topping off is because your water constantly evaporates the sale doesn't evaporate with it, therefore it makes your salinity raise because theres more salt then water. You top off with fresh water to keep it balanced out. I have a mark on my sump so I know where my water level should always be.
Salt water sounds complicated, but it's really not. I was scared to try it, but I finally decided to give it a go jus tbecause they freshwater fish i like aren't readily available where I am. And really it's just as easy as fresh water if not easier.
Idk about price of a skimmer, it would depend. skimmers are expensive, so if you can find a good working used one that would be probably your best bet.
I appreciate hearing that T5's aren't nearly as worth it for SW as they are for FW. I was seriously planning on buying on as part of my intermediary upgrade(including switching from two cans to a huge sump/fuge). I currently have a mid-level quality FW tank/equipment but was planning on making my upgrades based on what would work for a reef in the future. I thought that a T5HOx4 would be enough light, but with a 30" deep tank I was very unsure. I also am employed in the electronics field and although I can't get parts at a discount I enjoy using my knowledge in other areas(especially since I've read about people using arduino microcontrollers on their lights to gain full control). I'm a ways off from making the big switch since I should be moving soon and don't want to set up a reef until after I'm settled in, but there are quite a few places that I can make upgrades that will benefit both FW and SW in the meantime. I also plan on learning as much as I can to get rid of the learning curve once I dive it.
Ya that's a pretty normal price. T5s are good don't get me wrong, and they will get the job done it's just LED's are better. For FW and SW
Also go with fans instead of power heads you'll save yourself a lot of frustration in the future.
I found a skimmer on craigslist. now for reef questions... i realized how much color corals can give to the tank so I'm 100% interested in them. now, how would you go about buying corals? if they live on the live rock then how do you get them there.. do you plant them?
