JBJ 28 NanoCube or Red Sea Max 130D or Buy items indivually???? Help?

[ktipp]

Hello to all. I'm hoping you guys learning and expertise can help a starter SW enthusiast. Im ready to take the plunge and purchase whatever it is that I need for long term success.

I have been doing alot of reading on Nano, Red Sea and custom setups and need your feedback on why you decided to do the all-in-one vs purchase tank, equipment separate?

Will the nano do everything needed for a Reef tank with fish without having to spend more for Mods?

Thanks in advance.

KT

[Big_Pun]

what are your plans on what you want to keep as in coral, fish, do you want to do sps,lps and softies, or do you plan on starting with easy coral but later down the road jump into sps. that being said depending on what you want to keep will determine the lighting you will need, i know jbj has versions with LED's and i believe HQI, red sea has 2 t5's (may be able to do some sps). another thing with this hobby is if you get the "bug" you will want to go bigger, honestly bigger systems are easier to maintain, also your choice of fish and coral with a bigger system is vast, unlike the cubes which limits type of fish. just make sure you plan ahead on what you want to do.

[ktipp]

I'd like to start off slow and simple with the scalability in my setup to move to a SPS. SPS is only possible with T5 lilghting? so a 29G nano wouldn't work without mods.

What is the actual fish to tank ratio? I heard 1inch fish to 3 gallons, and I've heard 1 inch fish to 10 gallons?

Sounds like you are recommending I purchase 48G+ tank, sump, UV and equipment separate and not go with the red sea max or nano?

Thanks

[Big_Pun]

yea but you dont need all that much equipmet, ive tried to keep my setup simple so i dont get burned out. must haves i would say are good lighting, good filtration(fuge), good skimmer helps(doesnt have to a super expensive one), ide also invest in a ro/di unit, good water flow (powerheads), and couple lil things heaters, maybe fans, after that its just time, this hobby is slow to start but worth the time when yor tank is flourishing. no t5's are not needed for sps, yes they can be used say a min of 4-6 bulb unit, the led's on the cubes work also and then there's the trusty metal halide. its all up to you and of course your budget, yes this hobby is expensive not going to lie about that, its better not to skimp in the beging that have to pay more later.

[ktipp]

So Chris, if you were able to start over and had it your way. What would you puchase to get started. Give manufacturer info.

Thanks

[Big_Pun]

no holds on money or on some kinda budget? im pretty happy with my tank now, just need a better return pump and better pendant, maybe a fixture. but of course if i had the extra cash ide get a vortech powerhead, nice light fixture

[Big_Pun]

your welcome to come by and check out my tank, or my usual hang out Gabes Fish, and talk reef. we usually have some good reef convo and he recently had some costumers set up some nice sytems per his intrsuctions and they are nice and done right

[ktipp]

my budget is $800 to $1000. I'd like to make that visit one day. Do you have any pictures of your setup online?

KT

[Big_Pun]

pics couple months old but not to diff, also heres a link to my build

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?53874-65-gallon-journal(new-video-5-8)

http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu357/stangchris/67834ff0.jpg

[ktipp]

Nice. That's my goal.

KT

[sharkboy]

take it slow and don't rush into anything...and Good Luck!