Hello from Mountain View

[Shaolinsun]

That's a nice tank. If you're buying it from @robert4025 at Neptune, you can get a free one year membership here. Just DM your receipt to myself or @Srt4eric

Most likely will be from Neptune. I inquired about it about a month ago and they mentioned it was back ordered with the stand. Waiting for it.

 

[FinalPhaze987]

Revisiting my intro thread again. I think I will be going UNS 90SA, 47g AIO tank, shallow.

I'm making equipment list for myself. Can anyone recommend powerheads, heater, auto top off, lights, and a skimmer. Also looking into the marco live rock as recommended, what would be a good amount to order? 50lb?

thanks!

ATO - I would go with Tunze.solid 5 year warranty, although i do hear good things about red sea...never tried them tho
Heater - helios has worked well for me. The fact that its small is a plus
Skimmer - many choices out there, but id have to agree on the deltec. I dig that overflow option

Lights & powerheads - what type of tank are you building? What corals will you keep? Thats an important factor in recommending the right one.

 

[Shaolinsun]

ATO - I would go with Tunze.solid 5 year warranty, although i do hear good things about red sea...never tried them tho
Heater - helios has worked well for me. The fact that its small is a plus
Skimmer - many choices out there, but id have to agree on the deltec. I dig that overflow option

Lights & powerheads - what type of tank are you building? What corals will you keep? Thats an important factor in recommending the right one.

I think eventually mixed. But since this is my first time. I would say LPS and softies. Posted my rough idea of what I want in the first thread post. I was looking at the stratton x for lights, but I think its too small for the length of this tank. I want as sleek as possible for the lights

 

[Shaolinsun]

Would 50lbs of marco live rock be overkill? I don’t want it too packed, but not empty either lol

 

[FinalPhaze987]

I think eventually mixed. But since this is my first time. I would say LPS and softies. Posted my rough idea of what I want in the first thread post. I was looking at the stratton x for lights, but I think its too small for the length of this tank. I want as sleek as possible for the lights

I'd go with something with wide, gentle flow that could still travel the 3 feet of the tank. Something like the 6075s, on orcas if you wanna get fancy.

The straton x is a solid light, I love mine..on a softy tank it would be turned waaaay down, especially one that shallow. If its with in budget and you want to splurge, its a good light, although the edges would experience some drop off in lighting if ypu only ran 1.

For live rock id go here if i had to do mine over again

Saltwater Live Rock For Sale In Stock and Ready To Ship

Nice selection of saltwater Live Rock available from TankStop. We carry Live Rock from all over the world in all sizes online in stock and ready to ship.

www.tankstop.com

I doubt you'd need 50 lbs. I'd start with 25 and have it seed dead rock. The decorative aussie pieces can make for a cool scape and be more than something to seed with.

 

[Thọ Key]

Become a support member will definitely make your first saltwater tank speed up

 

[Shaolinsun]

Become a support member will definitely make your first saltwater tank speed up

Does that mean more responses? Or how so? Looks like I will if I purchase from Neptune

 

[Thọ Key]

Does that mean more responses? Or how so? Looks like I will if I purchase from Neptune

I think so lol you never know

 

[grizfyrfyter]

Does that mean more responses? Or how so? Looks like I will if I purchase from Neptune

there are resources, like pre seeded filter media and micro-fauna sharing, that you will find readily available to supporting members.

 

[Shaolinsun]

ATO - I would go with Tunze.solid 5 year warranty, although i do hear good things about red sea...never tried them tho
Heater - helios has worked well for me. The fact that its small is a plus
Skimmer - many choices out there, but id have to agree on the deltec. I dig that overflow option

Lights & powerheads - what type of tank are you building? What corals will you keep? Thats an important factor in recommending the right one.

I looked at the deltech it looks nice, not sure if it will fit in the back of this AIO

 

[FinalPhaze987]

I looked at the deltech it looks nice, not sure if it will fit in the back of this AIO

Ahh..AIO..forgive my ignorance.

I dont have much experience with AIOs, less using them for QT, so id be of little help there.

We do have some members with solid AIO builds tho..maybe they'll chime in.

 

[PjFish]

Welcome to the BAR!
Club members have access to par meters, suction cups, fish traps, TM hydrometer, BAR frag swaps which you will come home with mucho corals for your tank, DBTC coral chain, pay it forward (Pif) thread where members are always giving away equipment and tanks, buy sell trade forum thread for corals and equipment. Help in emergencies from equipment to stock tanks/ tubs. BAR field trips behind the scenes tours at local Aquariums. Honestly the most important aspect is all the combined knowledge this reefer club has which their are some serious old timers along with professional folks that make a living in this field. If you've been lurking you should have a clear picture of the benefits.
It's hard not to be impulsive but theres no rush make sure you research for any issues that manufacturing company of the tank has had in the past. Check the larger forum like R2R which have documented cases of major tank failures as well as this forum.
For the size of tank your thinking I do secondly recommend starting out with a sump! It will be much easier adding and hiding eyesore equipment plus everything needs to be small. Hang on skimmers can't compete with regular sump ones plus sumps do give you many many advantages over aio's. Done right their flood proof..
Best of luck whichever path you choose this an amazing hobby enjoy it!!!

 

[PjFish]

If your starting with any dry rock get that asap and start soaking it now essentially curring it in bins seeding bacteria or adding other existing wet live rock to seed. This step will hopefully bypass the ugly stages if curred right plus iliminate and phosphates that have leached into the dry rocks. This can easily be done in lidded bins with zero equipment just saltwater..

 

[grizfyrfyter]

agreed with Pj.

Once you knwo how big a tank you are planning, getting rock wet and seeeded is step one. works nicely if you are still waiting for your tank to be delivered. This will save you weeks of looking at an empty tank while the biological filtration gets set up.