Recommended brands

[swiftwing7]

The world of skimmers and power heads are confusing because i know none of the brands. I do not recognize any of the names yet so i have a list and would like input on a good brand for that item. any help will be appreciated. this is for a 125 gallon tank by the way. starting with fowlr and moving into reef over a period of time

protein skimmer
heater
hydrometeor
testkit
thermometer
overflowbox/ siphon
lights (would homedepot have the correct type?)
salt mix etc
anything else that i am not likely to know

thanks very much

 

[fishfreek]

protein skimmer
heater
hydrometeor
testkit
thermometer
overflowbox/ siphon
lights (would homedepot have the correct type?)
salt mix

Heater - EboJager
Hydromoter - Not to many acutal brands out there. Any of them will be less accurate than a refratomoter but will be close enough for the person starting out
TestKit - Seachem (I like them)
Thermometer - get two and compair the results. THe kind the float in the water are best as they are in direct contact with the water. The stick on glass kind can give false redings when the glass is thick like on large tanks. Put it in the sump if you run one.
Overflow box - Any U tube design
Lights - Greatly depends on what you want to do. Homedepot will not have premade lights unless your talking a fish only tank. You could possibly scavenge for the correct ballast from there for higher output lights but the bulbs will need to be found online.
Salt Mix - I use InstantOcean still but many prefer ReefCrystals or Oceanic.
Powerhead - MaxiJet
Pump - Mag or Little Giant

 

[divemasterjim]

for a protein skimmer this is what I use
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4409&Ne=40000&R=7008&N=2004+22782
for a heaterthis is what i use
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...catid=3878&Ne=40000&R=6723&Nao=9&N=2004+22787
for a thermometer I like digital
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3841&Ne=40000&R=12253&N=2004+112986
hydrometer to start off
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4952&Ne=40000&R=23904&N=2004+113202
salt mix I use marine mix
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...tid=4874&Ne=40000&R=14884&Nao=9&N=2004+113009
Lights depends on what you want to keep and how much you want to spend as for everything else a agree with fish freek
and for the products I recomended, they are just what I use and am happy with

 

[evenings]

protein skimmer - We're very hapy with our AquaC Remora, for your size tank, I suggest getting the Remora Pro

heater- Marineland, I Heard the Ebo-Jagers are good, I think they're made by the same reputable company (Eheim)

hydrometeor- If u have money to spare, get a refractometer

testkit - Fastest, that's what we use

thermometer- I rely on the built in thermometer my chiller has, more accurate than the stick on

lights (would homedepot have the correct type?)- thought of doinghome depot too, possibly for a custommade hood that might hold several lamps. but right now we have an Orbit Power compact

salt mix etc- we've used instant ocean and and oceanic
anything else that i am not likely to know- get a ton of Fiji live rocks and a dsb from the start as adding in the future can be a problem with aquascaping and ammonia spikes.

 

[swiftwing7]

thanks very much. i love this site, makes it so much easier for a beginer to do things the right way.
swift

i can't seemt o find any overflows online they are all teh cpr ones. can you make your own using tubing? Or is there a place to buy one online that is a u tube