Ok, so after a couple weeks of mulling over what size tank to start, I have landed on a 57 gallon Oceanic Illuminata at my first reef tank.
Oceanic Systems » Oceanic Illuminata | Products
It is ordered, and due into my LFS some time in the next week or two.
That's basically as far as I have got so far.
For lighting, I am heavily leaning towards an Ecotech Radeon fixture, assuming 1 unit would be enough to light my tank appropriately. PAR readings on this fixture appear to be better than a 250W MH pendant, but I am worried about coverage/spread. I could use some advice and opinions on that. I know there are cheaper options out there, but I am pretty amazed with the functionality of this fixture, especially considering I can get it to work in concert with the Vortechs. The fixture would be suspended on wires from the ceiling over the tank, as I will run it open top.
I am also looking at the MP10w ES Vortech powerheads - probably 2 of them would get the job done in this tank.
The tank will come drilled with an overflow - I will need to figure out what I am going to do for a sump.
Any comments, advice, etc are welcome. I am brand new to the reef game, so I basically have no idea what I am doing.
Oceanic Systems » Oceanic Illuminata | Products
It is ordered, and due into my LFS some time in the next week or two.
That's basically as far as I have got so far.
For lighting, I am heavily leaning towards an Ecotech Radeon fixture, assuming 1 unit would be enough to light my tank appropriately. PAR readings on this fixture appear to be better than a 250W MH pendant, but I am worried about coverage/spread. I could use some advice and opinions on that. I know there are cheaper options out there, but I am pretty amazed with the functionality of this fixture, especially considering I can get it to work in concert with the Vortechs. The fixture would be suspended on wires from the ceiling over the tank, as I will run it open top.
I am also looking at the MP10w ES Vortech powerheads - probably 2 of them would get the job done in this tank.
The tank will come drilled with an overflow - I will need to figure out what I am going to do for a sump.
Any comments, advice, etc are welcome. I am brand new to the reef game, so I basically have no idea what I am doing.