Best products from r/ReefTank

We found 166 comments on r/ReefTank discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 616 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

1. Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light, 24 to 36-Inch

    Features:
  • BRIGHTER, MORE COLORS- Your aquarium is full of spectacular colors, why not bring them all to life. Introducing the new Orbit Marine LED. Now packed with even more ultra-bright LEDs in a far wider color spectrum, it will make your corals and fish look even more spectacular. And it’s now in the LOOP, providing both light and pump control, taking your aquarium experience to a whole new level.
  • SUPER COLOR- Producing eye-popping color rendition and brilliant shimmer effects, the Orbit Marine produces a limitless number of color spectrums. A higher ratio of actinic blue spectrum LEDs balanced with full spectrum creates the perfect color combination for fish, inverts, live rock and corals to fluoresce and look amazing. Wide angle dispersion lenses evenly spread light over your entire tank while ensuring superior color blending.
  • MULTIPLE MODES- With modes that dim periodically to create cloud cover effects, storm modes that will blow you away complete with lightning strikes and innovative evening modes that include lunar and dusk – it’s sure to add excitement and intrigue to any aquarium.
  • EASY INSTALLATION- Extendable brakets allows this LED light to fit most aquairum fish tanks 18-24 inches wide.
  • REALISTIC EFFECTS- From start-up to sundown, the Orbit Marine gradually mimics the effect of a slow sunrise, bright daylight, dimming sunset and moonlight. Built-in lighting programs create a 24-hour natural biorhythmic lighting cycle, while on-demand dynamic weather effects gently roll clouds across your reef.
Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light, 24 to 36-Inch
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17. Aquamana 156W COB LED Full Spectrum Aquarium Lighting Panel with Two 78W COB Modules for Coral, Reef & Fish (Full Spectrum)

    Features:
  • Customizable Modern Illumination: Aquamana’s Dimmable 156W COB LED Full Spectrum Aquarium Lights with two COB LED Modules (78W each COB) provide the ideal environment for your aquatic habitat. Each of our light fixtures are easy to use and install. Our Dimmable 156W COB LED panel offers 2 dimmable switches allowing you 3 unique settings. Suitable for freshwater fish and plants as well as saltwater fish and coral systems.
  • Chip on Board Technology: This new technology depicts bare LED chips placed directly on the PCB, then wired bonded, to produce its lighting effects. By placing 26 powerful 3 watt LEDs inside one COB module, this setup will significantly increase the lighting area compared to your typical LED setup.
  • Green Product: Aquamana’s LED Light System is powered by energy-saving LEDs designed to provide a longer life in addition to being energy efficient and environment-friendly. Unlike traditional incandescent light bulbs that operate at around 20% energy efficiency, LED lighting boosts an estimated 80-90% of its energy converted to light.
  • Natural Light Replica: Aquamana’s Dimmable 156W COB LED panel are designed to imitate a natural sunrise or sunset glow underwater. The lighting creates shimmer and shade in your aquarium to add visual capacity and increase its realistic feel.
  • Sturdy and Versatile: Aquamana’s LED System dependability makes it ideal for various aquatic ecosystems and marine organisms. Our Lighting System operates on a simple “plug-and-play” system, requiring no other accessories. The LED panel can be hung above the tank directly with no scorching at all. The hanging kit is securely designed to keep aquatic plants and animals safe and content in their marine habitat.
Aquamana 156W COB LED Full Spectrum Aquarium Lighting Panel with Two 78W COB Modules for Coral, Reef & Fish (Full Spectrum)
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Top comments mentioning products on r/ReefTank:

u/fastjetjockey · 5 pointsr/ReefTank

Hey mate. Congrats on jumping into the hobby. Firstly, have you measured ammonia recently? You want to be certain that your tank has cycled properly before adding livestock, even though you have added some fish already.

Clownfish are a great start and get along with most other fish. Some are more aggressive and territorial than others. Any kind of tang is a bad idea in your tank, as it's just too small. But there are a huge range of other awesome fish you can keep with the same striking appeal! Fish like dwarf angels, numerous wrasses and schooling anthias are good striking fish to take the place of a tang.

I would chuck in some clean up crew now for sure, and provided you have indeed cycled, do a a water change to bring those nitrates down. Don't go crazy off the bat with the CuC however. If not enough food is present for them, some can die from starvation and worsen your water quality from the start, which is no good. I know some websites in the States sell CuC packages with 100 or so snails in them for 40G breeders. Crazy! Pretty soon, it's more than likely you will start to experience a diatom bloom and various types of algae blooms as your system reaches some kind of biological equilibrium. If there's one thing I've learned in my limited time in this hobby, it's that you're maintaining a true ecosystem. It's all about balance and slow changes. If you tip the scales too much, too quickly, it will all fall on its head.

 

There's no great rush to stock your tank (nothing good happens fast in this hobby), as you've still go plenty to learn. So after adding your CuC, you should be researching a stocking list using forums and websites like reef central and liveaquaria to find suitable fish that will get along. Don't forget that there are several great books on everything about this hobby that, IMHO, are worthwhile having on your shelf. Maybe start with a book like this one to figure out who's who in the zoo. I purchased that book and it's been pretty helpful. Things that you should know before buying a fish, for example are: Do they jump? Do they eat coral (aka are they reef safe)? Do they eat prepared foods? Are they gonna eat my shrimp? Is my tank big enough? Catching fish can be pretty difficult, so you want to make sure you don't have to once they are in. ;)

 

Next. Corals. I bought this book to really get my head around what was out there. You'll buy a few corals first off, like leathers, GSP, maybe a hammer or torch or frogspawn. Maybe an acan because you're starting to like LPS. This book (and other online resources) can make it easier to understand what tank conditions these different corals require. Things like lighting, feeding, territory and flow.
With regards to your flow, ideally you will want uneven and random flow throughout your tank without any dead spots. Dead spots are where detritus will accumulate and break down, causing your water quality to deteriorate. The more flow the better! The things that prevent us from having a whirlpool are fish (they'd get tired), sand (don't want it blowing around) and coral (some types dislike too much flow). So find a happy middle ground. For example, in my tank I have one MP10 and a pretty powerful return. This generates a consistent flow pattern throughout the tank that is strong enough to not let detritus accumulate, but varied enough to have places in my tank for corals that love flow (right next to powerhead/return) or prefer it to be more gentle (other end of tank to MP10 is my hammers, duncans and torches).

 

But enough from me. One series of videos that really helped me can be watched by starting here - BRS 52 Weeks of Reefing Build. It's a great series produced by a reef shop called Bulk Reef Supply in the US. If you are from the US, I am very jealous, as they don't ship to Australia. The vids can come off sometimes as being a bit advertise-y, pushing the products they sell. But on the whole they are very well produced and contain a great deal of useful information for you to take away and research. They hit on everything you really need to know in this series.

 

Best of luck to ya mate. This hobby is a great thing to be a part of.

 

Edited for grammar and linkfail.

u/thumbnail_looks_like · 1 pointr/ReefTank

It's a bit unclear what your experience level is. You mention "upping my game" but then say it's a "starter" tank.

I have a 2.5 gallon Fluval Spec III which has been running for about a year so I can give you some insights.

A refractometer is an excellent tool to invest in and will help you make accurate measurements.

Any salt mix that advertises as being "reef" formulated is probably fine, I seriously doubt there are big differences between brands.

Aim to do a 30-50% water change every week. Even if you slack off you will still generally end up doing it every 2 weeks which is a good pace. Water changes are essential to replenish trace elements and remove wastes.

For smaller tanks, Cobalt Neo-Therm Heaters are a good choice and have a slim profile. 50 watts is plenty for a 5.5 gallon tank (I have a 25 watt).

Get a two glass thermometers, one for the "display" of the tank and one for the rear chamber. Check them daily.

Get a suite of SALTWATER SPECIFIC test kits that cover pH, Nitrates, Nitrites, Ammonia, Calcium, and Carbonate Hardness (alkalinity). Test strips are nice to have for spot checks but are not to be relied upon. The only parameters I actually check regularly are pH, Calcium, and Alkalinity. Once the tank is stable, other parameters are unlikely to fluctuate much between water changes.

Invest in a good light! Seriously, it's one of the most important pieces of equipment so don't skimp out. You could get away with something like this if your corals aren't picky (I did for months with this light and it actually grew SPS alright) or a dodgy Chinese LED fixture from eBay, but I recommend something like the AI Prime HD (which I just upgraded to). It has built-in wifi control so you can set things like color temperature, auto timing, and weather patterns.

For a small tank, an auto top off (ATO) is essential. I have a Smart ATO Micro and I love it, works perfectly. Without an ATO your water will evaporate, your salinity will fluctuate, you can't risk leaving it alone for more than a day, and if you neglect it your pumps might even run dry and destroy themselves. Trust me, this is $124 well spent.

Upgrade your return pump from stock. I put an AquaTop SWP360 in the back of my Spec III and it works really well, good flow and just the right size. In a 5.5 gallon tank you might get away without an additional powerhead for flow, but I'd recommend a small (small) powerhead for good measure. (Pro tip: repurpose the stock return pump for that!)

What else...

Get GFCI power strips so that you don't electrocute yourself.

If you're getting a Fluval Spec III or V, consider investing in this excellent media basket.

Well that's some good advice to start from... let me know if you have questions.

http://imgur.com/NmBvujH.jpg

u/teddyzaper · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

you can buy cured live rock, or you can also just place the rock directly into your tank if its the right stuff.

I took a look at your build list, not sure if you've changed it yet but i'd change pretty much everything in it.

Those powerheads will not push enough water. They are cheap chinese pumps that lie about their power. Pick up the hydor koralia powerheads if you want cheap.

Heaters you NEVER want to cheap out on, they are prone to getting stuck in the on position which will cook your entire tank. Look into the Jager line from eheim, very trustworthy.

That return pump is good, but you're going to need more power. The 2300 model is your best bet there. I don't think the 1200 model will even have enough head height to reach back into the tank.

Thats a good starter test kit, as you get into corals you'll want to pick up other ones.

For LEDs if you want cheap go for Mars Aqua LED lights. The ones in your build wont grow anything but the very basic corals. With Mars Aqua (or any other of the chinese LEDs) you can grow basically anything.

That refractometer is super cheap. If you get it i'd recommend testing it against your LFS every so often to make sure its still reading correctly.

Great skimmer choice, i run the octopus.

To start, great salt. As you get into more demanding corals you may want to upgrade to something with more nutrients.

I'd get an auto top off to start. Without it you either need to add water daily, or your tank may suffer. You also want to ONLY use RO/DI water as other water will hurt your livestock.

Don't get that RO system. Looks like a terrible system. Go with Bulk Reef Supply for a cheap RO/DI. You need an RO/DI unless you are planning on buying the water from your LFS.

The seneye is a waste of money. I'd start the tank without a controller, then if you feel like you want one grab the Reefkeeper (I use this) or the apex system (expensive, but has all the cool gadgets and easy to use).

Hope this helps, feel free to message me any time with questions! I love helping out.

u/herper · 3 pointsr/ReefTank

one of the best setups I've ever seen had roughly 5-6 500+gallon tanks.. beautifully colored and amazing corals. The guy sells them and grows them for research.

I asked him what lighting he was using.. expecting him to say some god awefully expensive lights.

He told me to buy this granted, the auction is done, but search the same thing... its very affordable and very powerful.

I did not have room to hang it from above, so I opted to get THIS instead. It works pretty awesome. everything is growing nicely, but if I were to do it again, maybe a more powerful one.


also, having bought about 5 different circulation pumps for my 20g. some loud, some suck, some are huge.. don't waste your time, just go for this I found it to be the best.. super quiet and magnetic

u/sox_beer_fish · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Are you comfortable with DIY type projects? Also, what do the 5g tanks you have look like? I built my wife a 2.5g pico, so I can definitely send some links your way but I want to make sure I'm not sending you useless information. For starters, though, this is the light that hers uses (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007ZK80YG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). The light is extremely blue, but that is the spectrum that the corals use. I don't think it would be enough light for the more demanding species out there, but it would definitely work with the corals in the picture that you posted. Make sure to get the super blue and daylight version if you go with this - there is a 12" version as well but I don't know the dimensions of your tank. Also, there is no on/off switch, but so long as you keep the light on a timer, this should not become an issue.

As far as your stocking question, hers has a bunch of mushroom corals and zoanthids, as well as a blasto, with a sexy shrimp, pom pom crab, and electric blue hermit crab. You are at the extreme lower end of being able to house a single fish, depending upon your water change regime. I am planning on putting together a 5g for myself in the near future that will house a yasha goby and pistol shrimp combo, which is pushing it but still feasible, for example.

Let me know some more details about what you have in mind as far as setup and I can definitely send some links your way. Since this is your first tank, you definitely will make mistakes, but I wouldn't be completely terrified of putting together a small tank. In fact, I often find it more rewarding to look at hers than my larger one, and so long as you truly take your time, keep livestock demands low, and maintain water quality/salinity, you should be able to pull it off.

u/alysak6075 · 5 pointsr/ReefTank

If you kept the water that came with the tank: do 20% water changes each day for 5 days, that way the fish will slowly acclimate to clean water, otherwise it might be stressed.

If you already are using clean water cause you threw out the old water:

  1. make absolutely enough water to fill up the entire tank.

  2. move the fish to a bucket

  3. drain the tank, throw out or thoroughly rinse the substrate (you want to get all the crap out of it); proceed to cleaning the tank and rocks as you see fit, RO/DI or dechlorinated water only, there can absolutely not be any chlorine in the water (you are going to spend several hours scrubbing that algae off of the tank)

    This should clean up the tank in a major way.

    Im amazed the fish survived that.

    Also please post what other equipment came with the tank.

    Dont get discouraged! you are a very nice person for wanting to make a better environment for a helpless animal! :)

    best of luck!!!

    forgot to mention add an airstone and a heater to the bucket with the fish!

    Edit: (This is just a bonus not necessary) after you finish you may want to kickstart the bio filtration, so the fish doesnt get burned by its own ammonia, something like this will help immensely: https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Ocean-BIO-Spira-Treatment-Aquariums/dp/B003ODDS5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526508607&sr=8-1&keywords=BIO-SPIRA
u/sleepingdeep · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

maybe? i don't personally know any reefers that use finnex LEDs, but i know finnex is a good brand. Below are a couple lights id recommend.

GalaxyHydro

AI Prime and it's on sale!

Kessil A80

nanobox more expensive

Asta 20 (never used it, but amazon has good reviews)

Current LED will grow softies and lowlight LPS

OVERALL

skipping out on lighting is not wise. everything in the hobby revolves around lights and water quality. i have an AI prime and love it. did it cost more, yes, but its totally worth it. That being said, i had the galaxyhydro for several years when i was starting out. it'll grow everything, but you'll need to figure out how to mount it/hang it. good luck!

u/somuchpizza · 3 pointsr/ReefTank

When I first started my hobby, I picked up a copy of Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies. I found it to be MUCH more useful than The New Marine Aquarium. (If you're just getting into the hobby). I've always enjoyed The Pocket Expert Guide to Marine Fishes and the Marine Invertebrates as well. With the pocket experts, I find their information to be different from other sources that I use to research a fish before I make a decision to buy or not. A book that I can't seem to finish but always find myself skimming through is the Plankton Culture Manual. It can be a difficult read at times (for me anyways) but it's very helpful when you want to culture something.

I'm really looking for a book to help identify hitchhikers, but I can't seem to find one. Hopefully this thread turns a leaf. I've picked up the Reef Creature Identification books in hopes they would be what I was looking for, but they weren't.

The Nano-Reef Handbook Was a fun read as well. Gives you many ideas for the nano aquarium.

Last but not least, Algae: A problem Solver Guide has really helped when it came to figuring out how to battle algae or which algae would be awesome to have in a tank for decorative purposes.

u/Ralierwe · 1 pointr/ReefTank

These are looking good: 1, 2, 3. For the last one, search for the name will show a lot of details.

Hardy is not a definition to a coral, but of suitability of it for your unique tank, IMHO. I, for example, can keep sps and LPS, but can't keep "beginner" softies (discosoma mushrooms, zoas, xenia and green star polyps), even on old "dirty" tank, they are alive, very slowly growing, but that's it.

Easy to take care: feeding once a week with full water change after that, this is a minimum. Practically, in the tank under 3 gal.

Sps do well with adequate light (12-24W PAR38 LED of the reef spectrum this or this, first looks better, more blue). You will have to figure out the height of the lights above water, starting from 14" and slowly decreasing it.

Easy to frag, of they are branching, not encrusting. For encrusting you will have to remove it and break the rock with chisel, while for branching snipping off branches is enough.

Dosing with pipette 2-part Ca-Alk supplements, sucas as ESV B-ionic, is helpful tor maintaining Ca-Alk levels.

When choosing sps, see photos of full grown corals, birdsnest grows too spaciously for a pico, and encrusting corals will encrust available to them rock.

LPS need more feeding, but do not require Ca dosing, only alk if it drops too low. Everything else is the same.

You could put blood shrimp there, it will need an arch (cave) to hide in and feeding. Remove excess of the food.

u/DarkSkyForever · 1 pointr/ReefTank

The total water in the system is 57G after losing some to the sump setup. I've been working on this for a few years, slowly building and acquiring equipment I needed or wanted. I just recently moved and decided to set it up as I had most of what I needed to run it. I also mocked up a lot of the build in SketchUp before building, you can view that here. https://i.imgur.com/pMjM6aP.png
 
I'm planning to make this a strictly SPS tank, so I went with a bare bottom on this build. My current tank is a 10G nano LPS tank with mainly zoas and mushrooms. My SO said if I can keep this one looking nice like my other one, we can get a 300 in the next house... so I'm going all out on the life support. :)
 
 
Equipment

  • 45G Rimless Aquarium from GlassCages.com, 1" and 1 1/2" overflows

  • Reef Octopus Classic 1000HB Hang on Back Skimmer - I wanted to save some room in my sump so I went with a HOB model of skimmer. I was planning to run my skimmer 24/7 so I wasn't worried with a HOB variant having tank water sit in it while it was not in use.
  • BRS Mini Reactor, running ROX carbon and GFO mixture
  • Rio Plus 1400, 420 GPH Return Pump (went with a smaller return for slower refugium contact time, and quieter operation
  • Maxspect Gyre XF130 Wavemaker. I currently have this at 30% and it is suspending detritus very well, not allowing it to settle anywhere. I had it dialed to 60% but my six line wrasse was having a bit of trouble swimming around...
  • Two VIPARSPECTRA 165W LED - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UMXAR5S, I went withcheaper Chinese lighting for now. These units have a built in timer so you can program when blues/whites turn on and off, but intensity is set at the same rate all of the time. I was thinking about buying a more expensive and customizable lighting solution, but didn't want to outlay a lot of cash for something that might could potentially work just as well as these two.
  • Tunze Osmolator 3155 ATO. I don't have this wired in yet (see the DIY section) so I've been dumping RO/DI in manually every morning. The tank is evaporating about 1/2 a gallon every day.
  • RO/DI Unit - I'm using Bulk Reef Supply's 6 stage water saver unit. My water going in is about 9-12TDS @ 35PSI. I had to buy a booster pump to get this up to about 60PSI as I was going through DI resin pretty quickly. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-6-stage-universal-water-saver-plus-ro-di-system-150gpd.html
  • Heater - Two Eheim 150w heaters. Two for redundancy, one was keeping my tank at 79F quite easily.
     
     

    DIY

  • Tank stand is layered 1"x 3" pine. The wood was painted black and wet sanded to attempt to give it a piano finish (and I was going to place doors on the front and sides), this turned out pretty complicated so instead I'm going to wrap the tank in 1/8" black acrylic and secure it with velcro or magnets.
  • Light stand is t slotted aluminum. I secured it to the back of the tank and let it overhang the tank by about 9". It is 14" off of the surface of the water, allowing the lights to sit about 5" from the surface.
  • 20G Long Custom Sump - 2 baffles, 8" for drain(s) and HOB skimmer, 14" refugium, 8" return / auto top off chamber. I simply cut some plexiglass and placed in the tank. The refugium has eggcrate preventing the chaeto from spilling into the return chamber and fouling up my two pumps.
  • ATO RO/DI Reservoir - I purchased some black plexiglass and I'm going to build a simple 16"x16"x8" black container with two holes drilled in the top - one with a lid so I can fill RO, the other smaller for the ATO cable and hose. I'm trying to find a 3/4" rubber grommet for that hole so I can keep dust out. I have yet to start this project, but its next on my list.

     
    Current Livestock

  • Six Line Wrasse - he came over from my 10G nano SPS tank as he was getting a bit big for that tank.
  • Two Clown fish, orange and black AKA "Candy" and "Corn".
  • Five Trochus Snails

     
    Still to Come

  • Reef Controller. Right now, I have a mess of cords sitting to the right of the stand, as you can see. I want to get a reef controller, I've left myself a lot of room in the stand so I can wire it in, but I'm not yet sure on which one to buy. I'm trying to decide between the Neptune Apex Jr with PH module, or a Vertex Cerebra. The cerebra is not yet out, so that is partially why I still haven't made up my mind.

     

    So that's about it. I'm not sure what else I want to stock fish-wise in this tank, I would like to have a few more to help me keep the SPS fed, I'm thinking about a few Chromies and maybe a flame angel as the last fish. Open to suggestions.
u/vigg-o-rama · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

you know, i kinda assumed it had 2 cords, but looking at the pics again, i think you are right! Wow, i feel really bad giving some advice to buy something that I obviously know nothing about...

​

check out the Mars Aqua. this is the one that most people will say they have used if they have a cheap chinese knock off light. it is a bit more expensive at 110.. but its still half the price of what you were looking at.

​

this is a knock off of the mars aqua that does have both cords

this is another knock off, that also has both cords..

​

both of these knock offs are in the $80 range.. so you gotta decide if its worth it to cheap out that much, or go with the 110 mars aqua version.. again, these are all pretty much cheap chinese stuff, that you should get a year or two of good service out of. after that, if you are still in the hobby you will likely have upgraded or changed lights..

​

My light is about 10" above the tank. I have mine suspended... i would guess you could make something like a stand for it.. the light itself is rather small, like 10"X16" and only like 2" thick..

u/ink-bird · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Hi, FishAreExpensive, greetings from Inkbird. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for supporting.

Please kindly contact us with your order ID#, we will try our best to help you.

Also, we recently release a new version for aquarium,here is the link for your reference. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KC24CKD

​

Thank you and wish you a good day.

​

Inkbird

u/naturelad93630 · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

This might end up being an unpopular opinion, but if you're doing a LPS tank the Orbit Marine LED series by Current USA is a good option. I switched over to it from a basic Aqueon LED (which was useless), and my corals are doing great now. They're fairly cheap, and come with full customization as far as color spectrum and time controls.

To be fair, this is just my first saltwater tank, but I'd say a noticeable boost in coral growth less than a month after switching lights says something about the new light system.

Here's a link to the light I got on Amazon, they come in a bunch of different sizes: https://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Marine-Aquarium-36-Inch/dp/B00GFTNG3S

u/PM_ME_UR_FTS · 3 pointsr/ReefTank

First, no you don't need a par meter. That's a waste of money. Most local reef clubs should have one for rent, or maybe an LFS will let you rent one if you're curious about it. But it isn't necessary.

Here's how I approximate the strength of lighting when it comes to LED. First, look at the infamous "chinese leds" aka "black boxes" (https://www.amazon.com/MarsAqua-Dimmable-Aquarium-Freshwater-Saltwater/dp/B017GWDF7E). These are proven to grow even high light demand corals. If you do your research, you'll find each LED is 3 watts. Now if each LED is 3 watt, thats a 155 watt fixture. This is alot of light and you will bleach many corals if you turn it up 100%.

Let's look at another example. The hydra 26 HD. This one also grows corals well. it's 90 watts at full power and can also grow SPS. You would need multiple fixtures to get proper coverage, but it will be enough.

The Hydra's little brother, the AI Prime, is 35 watts if I recall correctly. This one can grow medium to low light corals really well, but in my experience, wasn't enough to keep SPS brown.

Then look at your fixture. If im not mistaken, it's 15 watts? But i guess that would depend on the length. Take that total wattage, and divide by number of led diodes. You're gonna get something like .5 watts or 1 watt per diode. Compare that to the 3 watt per diode of the chinese led that can grow sps, and you'll see what I mean.

So rule of thumb, anything less than 1 watt per diode isn't worth getting. 1 watt per diode (I think orbit marine falls in this category) is the minimum. 3 watts per diode and you can grow anything you want.

That's just a basic rule of thumb. It doesn't factor in spectrum, coverage, penetration, or lighting schedule which is also important. More diodes, better coverage. Stronger diodes, better penetration.

u/That1one_guy · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Besides it not being available, if you really want anemones and want to go cheap you should do black box. Not the best colors but they at least keep the anemones and corals healthy.

VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control 165W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum for Coral Reef Grow Fish Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UMXAR5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_y.rVAbYCZ7A9Y

This is the one I had for a while and it was able to grow corals but the visual look to the eye wasn’t the best. Too much blue. But again, best for the price.

Just don’t go adding anemones until your tank is well established, usually about 6 months. They are animals too and it’s not fair to make them suffer because you couldn’t wait.

Also, have you considered maybe T5? 2 2bulb T5Ho fixtures are nice and have been proven to work.

u/defectiveweeble · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

"Reef capable"

Don't believe their lies :)

For my money, it's really hard to beat the setups from BuildMyLED. I like the 12k and 14k XB series. My only gripe with the BML setups is that you'd need to have a separate bar if you want to run just blues or moonlights.

http://www.buildmyled.com/xb-series-very-high-output/

If you don't want to spend that kind of cash yet (you will, eventually, if you want to have great coral growth) then I can highly recommend this fixture:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HVMC1WA/

It's going up in price almost weekly as the reviews keep coming in. I bought it for $140 as an experiment. Just heed the advice of the reviewers - take out the reflectors. They make the light look like crap.

RE: The sump - Just remember that "flow" > "current" almost always. So make sure that you keep a circulation pump in the mix to break up that current that will be coming out of the return.

u/TattooedHead · 1 pointr/ReefTank

So I'm thinking a complete start over would probably be the best, there's just so much algae, and crud in the tank that I think I'd never get it all. O_o. So here's what I'm thinking, does it seem like a good plan of action?

I haven't done anything to the water that was in the tank, and since freaking the fish out would be bad, I was thinking that I could get a 5 gallon bucket andpull out enough of the old water to put my clownfish in, then add an air stone and a heater.

Then I'd head over to the fish store and buy 100 gallons of water (they have the gear to make saltwater, I don't) and pull everything out of the tank. As suggested in another post, I figure I'll dip the reef rock in muriatic acid bleach to clean them, and then put them in some saltwater with no light for a month or so. I will also buy a couple of new pieces of live rock to help seed the clean dry rock.

Then I'd scrub the tank clean, using a scrub brush, and some clean (not tap) water, clean up the filter (and change the filter inserts), scrub the skimmer and heater and current makers, then add the new water, some substrate, and the stuff that you linked to.

Then after the month, pull my reef rocks out of the dark bucket, and reintroduce them to the aquarium. I figure by then my ecosystem would be pretty prime to reintroduce the rock.

Does this seem like a good plan? Any things you'd change about it? I really wanna get this right. My clownfish needs his home cleaned up. Plus I really want a beautiful reef tank.

EDIT Decided against using acid to kill the rocks, but will use bleach. I've read that a 10:1 ratio is good for a few days, will probably soak in bleach water for 3 days, then pull rock out, refresh the bleach water, then soak again for 3 days, then let bake in the heat of the sun for a week to dry it out, then put it in salt water with Bio-Spira to get it back to living rock.

u/cfc1016 · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Even 1ppm TDS in your RODI water can contribute to dinoflagellate outbreak like that. THIS is the TDS meter I use, and have used for YEARS. It's simple to use. Doesn't require calibration. Batteries last for frikkin ever. Always test your RODI water.

Ever wonder why people who have bulkreefsupply RODI systems never complain about their water? The BRS units use DOW Filmtec membranes. It's the best RO membrane out there. Pair that up with a fresh change of resin in your DI chamber; backflush your system properlt; test your clean water to make sure it's at 0ppm TDS.

I would also strongly recommend only using food grade buckets for your clean water. This, or atleast another container that is thoroughly clean, and has never been used to hold anything BUT clean RODI water.

Cover all your bases on your water production, and I'll bet that after a water change or two, your dino outbreaks will fade.

u/nothingbutt · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

I used 3/4" conduit. I bought a 6 foot pre-cut section at Home Depot for about $2.50 USD. I didn't want to buy a pipe bender for just two bends so I bent it in the store. Then I washed it to get any oil residue off (thread on reefcentral.com mentioned sometimes there is residue) and spray painted it black. Next time, I'd probably sand it lightly with 200 grit paper and maybe use a better spray paint than the 99 cent Home Depot special as it does scuff easy (I took the hangers that came with the light and put them over the top of the conduit -- if I had drilled it and put in hooks, that would have avoided the scuffing). But it worked great and the scuffing isn't noticeable. It might look good painted white too although scuffs would be more obvious.

With that size tank, you probably need a longer pipe so you might need to have them cut it in the store (if they will) or cut it yourself. I rent but if I owned, I'd look into the ceiling mounts. The lights aren't that heavy.

This is the guide I used: Do It Yourself – An Inexpensive (Light) Hanger Kit

Lots more discussion on ReefCentral.com.

I think these lights are the best bang for the buck. I am the kind of person that can spend eons trying to decide on X versus Y versus Z. So I looked at what my options were and decided there were too many choices, I didn't want to go the DIY LED route just yet, and I didn't want to spend too much. Seemed hard to go wrong with these.

There is also the COB style that is supposed to work well too and are low cost too: AQUAMANA 156W COB LED Full Spectrum Aquarium Light Panel with Two 78W COB Modules for Coral, Reef & Fish (Full Spectrum). Seems like people are happy with those too.

u/93Jaffe · 1 pointr/ReefTank

I ran this tank for about a year and a half. Super great beginner tank. I would recommend this protein skimmer (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N0C74Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Message me if you are interested in a used one. I also retrofitted this LED system into my hood (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UMXAR5S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). It wasn't the easiest to make it work but after a little bit of cutting back the hood it worked great.

u/TonightsWhiteKnight · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

The sand is This stuff I love this sand. It is fine but it seems to be a haven for little bugs, copepods and other live. The snails love it as well!

u/Look_over_yonder · 1 pointr/ReefTank

I have Current USA Orbit Marine LEDs. My LFS has had them on a tank with multiple RBTAs in it for about 5 months now, so I think they put out pretty good light.
I think they look really slick and have a shimmer in the water that looks decently natural (at least on my Biocube 14).
And they're pretty cheap in terms of LED fixtures.
Heres a link to the 24" to 36" fixture on amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Marine-Aquarium-36-Inch/dp/B00GFTNG3S

u/mehdood · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Yeah I do have it pointed to the top, but it seems a bit underpowered. What would you recommend? I was looking at this Also a local guy gave me a bottle of start smart saltwater aquarium instant cycler... Do you recommend that or should I just wait it out.

u/Jewbaccah · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

I also have a 40B (seahorse tank) and have a pretty cheap lighht on there (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GFTNG3S/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I know these kessils and others are super expensive compared to that (2x ~$300 right?) So I just want to know if you think that is a worthy upgrade? That's probably more than all the other equipment combined.

u/GimePizzaOrGimeDeath · 1 pointr/ReefTank

If you want to keep it simple, you could run a fluval Evo 13.5 gallon.

https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-10531A1-SEA-Aquarium-13-5/dp/B01M2WI6PT

It includes a light that will grow most soft corals and a few easy lps. Comes with a return pump and some filter media.

That would be about $160

You should easily be able to find about 15 lbs of base rock or cured live rock for a decent price. $50

If you want substrate, Caribsea fiji pink will work. A 20lb bag is dirt cheap on Amazon. 20


Here's a Reef 2 Reef thread with people showing off their Evo 13.5s to give you an idea of what they look like. There are also some fancier ones that I've seen on instragram that will blow your mind.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/show-your-fluval-evo-13-5.292874/

Heater. 20

https://www.amazon.com/CaribSea-Arag-Alive-20-Pound-Fiji-Pink/dp/B00025YVGC


That puts you at around $230. Clowns are about $20 at your lfs, so let's say $40

$290 total. You can do it for cheaper or much much more if you choose. I used to own this tank and I loved it. You can modify it quite a bit if you want. I added a protein skimmer, media basket, media filter, and a new light to mine.

u/relder310 · 6 pointsr/ReefTank

https://www.amazon.com/HIPARGERO-LED-Aquarium-Light-Saltwater/dp/B0727V8C5Q/ref=sr_1_1_sspa/146-1421938-5452528?ie=UTF8&qid=1526747637&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=hipargero+led&psc=1

I use this on a 16 bow front with wonderful success. Soft corals and lps. However it is not programmable in any way. For the money it’s amazing, but the best light on the market for smaller tanks is the AI Prime HD. Can’t beat it for quality, watt strength and programmability. Under 300 is no problem.

u/Creep2gg · 5 pointsr/ReefTank

https://www.amazon.com/HIPARGERO-LED-Aquarium-Light-Saltwater/dp/B0727V8C5Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?keywords=coral+light+led&qid=1558878533&s=gateway&sr=8-9

Best quality light for the money you will be able to find with good reviews. Just do some research online before you buy coral it will go along ways, we all make mistakes but it’s if we correct them that matters. Look into 52 weeks of reefing on YouTube and good luck sir

u/Gazellebeater · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Ocean Revive

I've had really good luck with mine so far. i have a 29g aga and it has a timer for blues and whites and I have a mixed reef tank and it takes good care of everything on low settings.

u/themetalchurch · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Here's the light, seems like it's programmable. Another thing I'm trying to make sense of is using the sump . I know I need a return pump and from what I've gathered it should be about 200 gph. Don't fully understand the filter sock part. Also the middle chamber should have the skimmer and macroalgae?

There's a supposedly pretty good shop near me for saltwater. I'll probably go check it out this weekend as well. Go that route for water until
I have some extra for the RO/DI system.

u/MrMegaGamerz · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Alright thanks for the suggestions, I'll definitely keep checking and make changes accordingly. I'm using a pair of these https://www.amazon.com/LED-Aquarium-Light-Hipargero-Saltwater/dp/B0727V8C5Q
The reviews seemed good and it was affordable. I turn them on in the mornings and then off at evening before bed.

u/Hunt-fish-eat · 3 pointsr/ReefTank

I'd highly recommend you read this book before you commit to doing/buying anything. It is by no means inclusive but will give you a feel for how the whole system should or will work.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1890087521

Once you've read that, I'd recommend reading the following article from Reef Keeping ezine. This will save you time and money on junk or unnecessary supplements.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

Edit: spelling.

u/Armadus2 · 6 pointsr/ReefTank

Welcome to a hobby that's as addictive as crack and sometimes more expensive.

  1. That's not a skimmer, that's a filter. Skimmers work by producing tiny bubbles of air which trap organic matter in the water tension of the bubble and carry it away. People refer to those as HOB filters (Hang On Back). What you might want to look into is a HOB protein skimmer like this one: http://www.marineandreef.com/CPR_Bak_Pak_2_Bio_Cyclone_Bak_Pak_Skimmer_Reef_p/RCPR02072.htm?gclid=CP_2y73u-7gCFSU6QgodZmcADg

  2. If you decide to go with a filter and not a skimmer, I'd look into ones that do surface skimming like this one:http://www.amazon.com/AquaTop-Hang-On-Filter-Surface-Skimmer/dp/B005DCCT04/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1376446396&sr=1-5&keywords=hob+skimmer
    The reason you want "surface skimming" is because proteins tend to build up into a film on the surface of the water. This film reduces oxygen exchange and can be harmful to small fish.

  3. That powerhead is WAY to large for a 10g. The rule of thumb for saltwater tanks is 20 times more flow than volume. So for a 10g tank, I'd get a 240GPH power head. I'm a huge fan of the Korali Nano: http://www.amazon.com/Hydor-Koralia-Nano-Aquarium-Circulation/dp/B0036S4YZ0/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1376446665&sr=1-1&keywords=koralia+nano

  4. The more filtration the better. I don't think I've ever seen any setup that has "too much" filtration. I know that technically it is possible, I just have never seen one. Live rock and Cheato are both types of biological filtration, while floss is physical. The worst thing that can happen if you have too much filtration is you'll have to do water changes less frequently.

    Good luck and let us know what you come up with.

    EDIT: removed bad advice.
u/iRan_soFar · 1 pointr/ReefTank

I have this RO unit and it works pretty well for a smaller tank. For $60 it will pay for it self pretty quickly making salt and top off water.

Aquatic Life RO Buddie Four Stage Reverse Osmosis System with Color Changing Mixed Bed Deionization Cartridge https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00204CQF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1NieBbFKAY6VJ

u/WDKegge · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

I also check out this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007ZK816S/ref=pd_aw_sbs_2?pi=SS115&simLd=1

I had the freshwater version on my mini planted tank and it worked great and looked amazing.

u/joe847802 · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

Depends on your size tank. I'm going with oceanrevives on my new tank build. A 40 breeder. https://www.amazon.com/OceanRevive®-Arctic-T247-Spectrum-Dimmable-Aquarium/dp/B00YOYD3K2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=oceanrevive&qid=1551396613&s=gateway&sr=8-1

An aquamaxx prism I hear is ok as well. If your in the 10-20 gal range, go with an aquaknight. One of the best lights for the price and can grow anything and looks nice as well.

Oh, I also made this thread a few days ago for situations like this. Tho we did have a few people still suggesting the high priced lights. They had good intentions but that thread was not for those lights.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ReefTank/comments/aueo7u/good_strong_budget_light_for_a_40_breeder/

u/SeeCoryRun · 1 pointr/ReefTank

I'm super happy with having two Viparspectra lights over each 55. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UMXAR5S/ref=sxts_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499706550&sr=1 . Plus here is my setup after installing the lights http://m.imgur.com/GcOKRRG

u/DoABarrelRoll94 · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Thank you so for the advice/suggestions. I'm just confused by all the stats. I don't know if I have to look at watts, PAR, PUR, Kelvin, Lumens.. etc.

However, I did manage to find this nano LED light on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Hipargero-Touch-Control-Aquarium-Saltwater/dp/B0727V8C5Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1505764896&sr=8-2&keywords=reef+tank+light+18+inch

What do you think of this one?

Edit: Also, how do you know what stats for light are good for the dimensions of your tank? Or should you fit the stats more to what coral you want to grow? E.g. color temp, wattage, lumens

u/MassSnapz · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

For a 5 gallon reef all you would need is some live rock from your fowlr, a small 50 watt heater, a small circulation pump like a hydor 240 and a light like this would grow pretty much any coral in a 5 gallon.

u/Purple3rkle · 3 pointsr/ReefTank

Thank you, my entire setup is below, I do 10-20% water changes weekly depending on water quality and nothing else

15 gallon ~15x15x15 aquarium

Penguin Biowheel HOB filter ( most here will say never use HOB but I've never had an issue in the 2.5 years I've had it)

Hydor Koralia Nano 240 powerhead

The light is a 12" wavepoint 16 watt LED, half super blue half daylight

http://www.amazon.com/Wave-point-12-Inch-16-Watt-DaylightMicro-Output/dp/B007ZK816S/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=023TVC4Y08SYZT2GA6XC

u/zann3x · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

It'll be worth your while to get an RODI unit in the long run. You can get a simple 4 stage RODI on Amazon for like $60 as well, so you wouldn't be spending that much.

Edit: here's the Amazon listing for it https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00204CQF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fMtCDbWX9QMVW

u/puffinsmuggler · 1 pointr/ReefTank

hey man I just started a 30g as well, this was the light suggested to me by a few of my friends whom also use them on some of their tanks

http://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Marine-Aquarium-36-Inch/dp/B00GFTNG3S/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=12QJKMHR7NSTAAK6GDFB

I just got mine in today, it looks like it will do the job will let you know when I start adding coral and such to my tank

u/Josm315 · 1 pointr/ReefTank

On my 1.5g pico I use a combination of the Wave-point 8W model and this 2W from HOSSEN. The smaller lamp is used as a spotlight for 4 hours on my sps. I have seen 1/3" of growth on my birdsnest and a few new polyps on zoa if it's any indication of how bad/good I'm doing with these lights.

Honestly, I would have forked out the money for a par30 bulb had I not been a dumb penny-pincher when I started.

u/icedearth15324 · 1 pointr/ReefTank

I have a few books, but I primarily use them as extra reading as opposed to using them as full fledged knowledge.

these are good to have as reference guides: http://www.amazon.com/PocketExpert-Guide-Marine-Fishes-Essential-/dp/1890087386/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420253578&sr=8-1&keywords=guide+to+marine+fish

as well as the invertebrate one.

u/rwreef · 1 pointr/ReefTank

If you are looking to get a light that will allow you to grow anything you want in that tank, check out this light. I have one and love it.

HIPARGERO LED Aquarium Light – Aquarium LED Lights 30W Saltwater Lighting with Touch Control and 3W Cree Chips for Coral Reef Fish Nano Tank (New) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0727V8C5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ER8RCb88QQQWM

u/Basilorama · 1 pointr/ReefTank

I had all of my current corals in a 5g fluval spec and I used a Wave-point 12-Inch 16-Watt Super Blue and DaylightMicro Sun LED High Output Clamp Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZK816S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ftlOybHXRMNXM on it. Paired with an actinic marine land strip it looked decent though the colors faded over time...

Which led me to believe I wasn't getting enough blue spectrum. Is the wavepoint and actinic strip combo enough for the 12? Or could I stand to get more light in there?

If I need more light would this suffice going on top of the glass on the edge? VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control 165W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum for Coral Reef Grow Fish Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UMXAR5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lElOyb5RS6Z9J

u/ThisAccountIsFishy · 1 pointr/ReefTank

BRS has good videos on RODI units and ROBuddie has their own video in setting it up properly.

here’s a link to amazon It looks like its $59.99 right now so it’s a good price.

u/bladav1 · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Under $200 I’d say although I live in the UK so I don’t know exact kit prices in the US. If your not bothered by coral then you can light it with anything. You could look at getting kit second hand or look at an all in one system like this:

Fluval Nano

u/swordstool · 4 pointsr/ReefTank

Urine aside.... what was ammonia at initially after adding the.... urine...? Was it higher than 3 ppm? 11 days isn't overly long. I used powdered ammonium to start a cycle recently and ended up with 8 ppm! Took almost 4 weeks drop to 0 ppm, and about 2 weeks before seeing any movement. What did add for beneficial bacteria? Something like this?

u/FayreGentry · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

Yeah maybe! I have a small 10 gallon tank right now, with the hipargero lights and this fan that I will be installing today: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036S4YZ0?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image.

I also have a GSP in there that is flourishing. I'm still figuring out the lighting settings and everything but I moved the coral to the farthest edge that I could. Maybe the water pump will help with algae settling on the coral.

u/TDD40 · 3 pointsr/ReefTank

What are your goals? Assuming some corals since you're on reeftank.

I'd recommend this light for a budget light and when you can get a second one to help with spread.

https://www.amazon.com/HIPARGERO-LED-Aquarium-Light-Saltwater/dp/B0727V8C5Q/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524555372&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=hipargeo

u/Jgschultz15 · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B017GWDF7E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1/144-0438777-2979746?ie=UTF8&qid=1525984045&sr=8-1&keywords=mars+aqua&dpPl=1&dpID=510-YtX88TL&ref=plSrch

Looking at mine right now, they have 4 rings on the back, you could probably mount it onto a rail, but you’d have to diy a good deal if you didn’t want to hang it

u/Cinaed · 3 pointsr/ReefTank

Agreed, take your time and do it right. Don't try to rush the setup.

Before I started my tank everyone I knew told me I had to read this book cover to cover. Well worth it. Most people consider it to be the reef keepers bible.

u/Hurdle81 · 1 pointr/ReefTank

I had great results using and piece of shrimp and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ODDS5E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 to cycle my tank when I started it back up.

u/McJaeger · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Seconding this. I have a 6" version of this on my fluval spec, works and looks great.

Edit: Here is the one I bought

u/Emotionally_dead · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

Running a single ABI 12 watt Tuna Blue par bulb over a 10 gallon frag tank with great results so far. Can't beat $25 a bulb for my experience as yet.

u/BooZaLooZa · 3 pointsr/ReefTank

the tank measures 24" tall, would this by chance be decent enough? or what would you recommend with out breaking the bank?

u/pitterpatterpants · 1 pointr/ReefTank

akish24 is right. Corals need very stable conditions and things change fast in a small volume of water. You might like to start here: https://www.amazon.com/New-Marine-Aquarium-Michael-Paletta/dp/1890087521

u/AntiqueBeatz · 1 pointr/ReefTank

+1 for wavepoint, also try these, they're super cheap so even if you need more than one you'll be saving money http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CXTZN2Q/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

u/CaptJekk · 1 pointr/ReefTank

I have this bulb over my 5.5 zoa garden. My zoas are happy and its affordable. Though the bulb is bigger than it looks. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CXTZN2Q/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

u/iJoltik · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

Hydor koralia nano 240gph. In the 10g I had it in it was a little strong, but in the 29g it's a perfect. I don't think it would have a problem in your tank though

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0036S4YZ0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503166568&sr=8-1&keywords=hydor+koralia+nano

u/liddolamb · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

For under $70, this new LED is generating a lot of buzz: https://www.amazon.com/Macegrow-Aquarium-Light-Aqua-Lighting-Saltwater/dp/B079JTB5Q5/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1526748479&sr=8-3&keywords=reef+led

If you can squeeze $120 out of your budget, a black box LED is dimmable and can grow about any coral you throw at it alongside moving up with you if you decide to upgrade to a bigger tank. For a 15g is would be kind of a waste/overkill but since it is dimmable, you can always play with it on this and future tanks. An example here: https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-Timer-165W-Aquarium-Dimmable/dp/B00UMXAR5S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1526748479&sr=8-4&keywords=reef+led

u/95fishfish · 1 pointr/ReefTank

So for my tank, do you guys think the 24 inch would be enough? Or would the current orbit marine LEDs be better? This one http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GFTNG3S/ref=pd_aw_sbs_1?pi=SS115&simLd=1

u/enavin · 3 pointsr/ReefTank

I am going to recommend you start doing some extra research before you take on this.

Bulk Reef Supply has a series of videos that are full of information on the hobby. I'd recommend watching as many of them ( if not all of them ) that you can. Also a book I was recommended that I've currently been reading through "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist"

The more you know going into this hobby, the better off you will be in the long run. You're attempting to create and maintain an ecosystem in your house / apartment / where ever this tank is located.

Starting new and diving right into trying to deal with a problematic tank might not be the best of ideas. As I don't currently have a tank setup yet take this opinion with a grain of salt, but I just can't see taking on a headache right out the gate.

u/Pow500 · 1 pointr/ReefTank

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007ZK816S/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1418946229&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

This is the light I use on a marineland contour 5 aquarium. Everything is open and happy including softies and lps, some of the reviews try sps but I'm not a fan so I don't have a first hand account. My main gripe is no on off switch (its on a timer anyways). It's a blueish light for sure and you don't have a nighttime setting is also a bummer. But for the price I'm happy!

u/bradyloach · 3 pointsr/ReefTank

VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control 165W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum for Coral Reef Grow Fish Tank https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00UMXAR5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SY2PCb160WSN7



Two of these would be good then?

u/SneakerFreak89 · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Ok ordering some chemi pure , I found a cheaper light on amazon here

u/Tucster · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Would something like this be fine? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GFTNG3S/ref=psdc_2975458011_t3_B00UMXAR5S
or is it only for display lighting?

u/BeanNCheeze · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Protein Skimmer ~ $65

Lighting ~$62

​

I have experience with the protein skimmer. It work's great and like I mentioned earlier, you'd need to get two of the lighting fixtures to really cover the length of the tank and keep SPS. One will do for soft coral and some LPS.

​

You can skimp on lighting but for the most part you'd only be able to keep softy corals and it won't look as great when compared to the higher end lighting.

At the end of the day you want your corals to be able to get the PAR they need.

u/Funky-Shark · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Wave-point 12-Inch 16-Watt Super Blue and DaylightMicro Sun LED High Output Clamp Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZK816S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.gSXDbDV2YG6G

No filtration besides the foam that came with the tank and rarely a little carbon bag.

u/x_VorTeeX · 1 pointr/ReefTank

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fluval-Marine-Aquaium-Reef-Lights/dp/B01M2WI6PT

is this the fluval you where talking about? when i got this right i need a skimmer and a heater and it should be ready to go

u/talldarkw0n · 1 pointr/ReefTank

It will last indefinitely in a sealed bucket, but you don't want to agitate or heat it. The only danger is that alkalinity will precipitate out over time...you might want to test before you use it and adjust back to your desired range.

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Just FYI, you can get cheap RODI systems for $60 and make it yourself too.

u/Turbobaker4 · 1 pointr/ReefTank

I'd look for a used AIO setup like a BioCube 29 or 32. There might be some black friday deals on new setups. This Fluval setup is cheap for a small tank, but don't expect to do much with it until you upgrade everything.

u/Eddib · 1 pointr/ReefTank

How do you rinse live sand? Won't rinsing it basically kill it?

I have about 60 lbs of this and I just ordered 80 more pounds: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00025YVGC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I buy pre-mixed saltwater from my LFS, but I will make sure the temp is right before adding the fish.

u/cusepoptart · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

Hydor Koralia Nano 240 Aquarium... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036S4YZ0?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share what I got for my nano, magnet on the back to stick and very minimal, you could even get the higher gph one.

u/Nashonic · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Is this the light you are talking about? This is actually what i was going to replace my current light with.

https://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Marine-Aquarium-60-Inch/dp/B00GFTNG3S?th=1

u/fp4 · 1 pointr/ReefTank

2x 165W Black Box LEDs will cover a 75G.

e.g. https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-Timer-165W-Aquarium-Dimmable/dp/B00UMXAR5S

Lots of different vendors and such on eBay. e.g. MarsHydro, Evergrow, Reefbreeders.

u/pitt1436 · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

For under 260, you can get two of the VIPARSPECTRA 165W led’s. I know many people w them and they will grow just about anything.

VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control 165W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum for Coral Reef Grow Fish Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UMXAR5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_CAkOAbNFCS25S

u/atltobna · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

Two of these

MarsAqua Dimmable 165W LED Aquarium Light Lighting Full Spectrum For Fish Freshwater and Saltwater Coral Tank Blue and White LPS/SPS https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017GWDF7E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_gex9AbNEZAEWH

u/lolmatt · 1 pointr/ReefTank

+1 to this. I'd do two on such a long tank. Here's another link with more reviews: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727V8C5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_XdcSBbV5CX20X

u/thescartographer · 1 pointr/ReefTank

I doubt it would really be enough as far as spectrum but if you can find reviews that say it works then go for it. You can pick up a light that absolutely works here.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727V8C5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_p3dSDb4ZCRBXM

u/kilmx · 2 pointsr/ReefTank

No flow on the zoas, or atleast 0 to none lol.
29g
2 ocellaris clowns and 1 banggai. 2 nassarius snails (need more CuC)

Light is : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UMXAR5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9CLWBbGF6F2CT

u/LuminousLynx · 1 pointr/ReefTank

Apologies for my light-light ignorance, I've been browsing the web and found a few candidates. Would one of these be more suitable?
uno

dos