chimera Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 This thread for info on a basic reef setup. How about we say, for arguments sake , that the tank size is 4 foot with a predominantely softies and LR (live rock) for biological and aethetic reasons. (no SPS) List the items that you think are required and approximate cost range (depending on budget/cheap through to expensive) and pro's/con's of each item. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 imported Iwaki for return pump .. why (you will get a great pump for the same price as an NZ sourced ehiem, and you will be able to use it on the next bigger tank too. I would say buy a Iwaki 55, cost ??? if you don't have the patience to wait for delivery... give up the hobby now! Payless plastics etc for 25L water carriers. Get 4 so you can collect NSW cost about $20 each Old plastic drum to cure your own rock, will save you a fortune. AKL 240L rubbish bins are EXCELENT if you can find one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 water containers above are also required for ASW making i have two and for a bigger tank would have more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 How basic are we talking would ehiem or something similar be more suitable than a Iwaki. This is why I think we should put a rough price range on these systems. We could end up with an advanced system and a basic system with the same gear and the only differance being the size of the tank which is pointless. Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted April 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 i think iwaki is more an advanced reef item (specifically because we are trying to keep a basic reef in the right budget) yes, i think an eheim return pump from the sump is better, anything from a 1060 upwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 For the Price differance and there life span I would go 2000 min, It would also be a great addition to an eventual upgrade. Anything that can be carried over to an advanced system would be benifical as long as we can keep it in budget. Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Ehiem retail will be more than IWAKI imported. Go with the IWAKI. cheaper, better, last longer, less heat transfer. 25L water containters are too heavy, use 20L, much easier to lug around. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 That may be so but not everyone will be in the position to buy that way. However that should be added as a comment. Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Why not go for a pump that is not a brand name top of the line? Aqua One pond pump would do just fine and would be a lot cheaper. I know a lot of you guys don't like them but they are getting better all the time. As far as importing, maybe that should just be listed as a suggestion. It would be easier for most people if the items used are just off the shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 I think you're better off with something like a laguna pond pump or a resun for a basic setup return pump especially if you can get them at a good price. Not going to beat them for flow per buck. You can also DIY a topoff for maybe $50+airpump and 25L jerry can, mine works well after I corrected a...Ummm...Manufacturing fault. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Because it's not worth the risk when you look at the possible value of the stock that could be lost. The price differance could be to great. Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogmatix Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 I love my laguna pond pump, Its a UP or 7 cant remeber now, very happy with this, have no probs recomending it, aswell as it being a return pump it will easily run my denitrator and CaCO3 buffer cylinders. Mine cost a little less than 2.5k to set up http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?t=5363 http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?t=5166 This is a couple of weeks old and starting to colour up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 I have the a similar pump, but am having a bit of trouble with it, I think mine is faulty, though. It just seems to stop for no reason every few weeks. Turn it off then back on and it's fine. Going to see if I can get it replaced. It's not really a big deal though, just put a heater in the main tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Yeah I would agree on the Laguna. I have one in my pond running on a prefilter. The sponges will be like solid chunks of mud and its still pumping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Ira When I moved my tanks around I put All of my stock in one of my test tanks in my garage while I was moving and setting up my main tank. The front of the test tank cracked and I lost over $1500 worth of stock. The same thing can happen if a important pump fails. it's just not worth it. I now have next to nothing in my main tank and it looks like a pig because I never bothered to run all of the gear on it. Losing a couple of thing is one thing but a total loss just hits you to hard. Aaron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 The pump stopping is not going to crack the tank. The pump failing is simply going to make the water a bit still. It's not critical. Ok, if it fails in my tank worst case it goes a little while unskimmed. Sure, having a heater in the main tank kinda goes against one of the reasons for a sump, but no big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogmatix Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Aaron I tend to disagree, if my return pump failed my four 3300 L\H seios would happily keep every thing alive, the heat from the light plus the heat generated by the pumps would just keep the system going. And i feel the laguna's are high quality. I see no need for an iwaki, on a basic set up, also as Pet Planet said its more off the shelf stuff, ppl setting up will buy retail not import pumps and the iwakis arent really available here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 It probably won't be the only pump the system has (powerheads). Worst case they gradually cool. I had a heater go in the middle of winter and the tank dropped to 14 degrees. Got a new heater, they warmed up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 The tank was cracked by an uneven surface that I thought I had fixed. It was only an example of what you can go through if something goes wrong as happened to me. Dogmatix I never said Iwaki I said Eheim or something similar because I thought Iwaki was overkill for this system. My main tank has a big Pond Master in it as well as Eheims Aaron I tend to disagree, if my return pump failed my four 3300 L\H seios would happily keep every thing alive, the heat from the light plus the heat generated by the pumps would just keep the system going. That nice Dogmatix but we don't all live in the warm climate of Auckland. Lets see Gone away for two or three days middle of winter outside temp at night say -3 daytime temp 3-5 single return pump fails and the heater is in the sump what temp do really think lights will bring the tank up to with these conditions. Aaron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 How about this No Imports, buying equipment from NZ Suppliers, off the shelf, makes it easy How about the following laguna pond pump $Cant remember say $250 Plastic Containers x 2 = $50 Heater Eheim Jager 300 watt $75 Next Lighting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Jager Smager. Cheap heater will do the job just as well. Less than $40 for an Aqua One. Lighting T5's but more likely metal halides. Aqua One do a double 150W with 4 blue tubes. Probably retails around $900.00. I agree, off the shelf prices make it much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 I am using Visitherm heaters, $18.00 for a 300watt at Hutt Pet Center, less 10% discount for being a FNZAS member. I think saying "no imports" is a little off (PetPlanet does own a pet store, (and I think Bruce does as well??) hence the protest to importing). I see no 'legit' reason to put people off internation/internet purchases. Why bother to list prices if your not going to list the 'street' price, which is quite different to the NZ Retail store price. Anyone can do it, look in the T&E section Chimera has organised a shipment for all of us so we can avoid the retail margins. I would much rather buy an Ehiem pump from over seas, than buy a 'Resun' pump locally if the prices were the same. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogmatix Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Yeah but 3/4 of ppl stating basic set ups are newbies, no ? the will go straight to the LFS, rather than import. Pretty much all of those ppl dont know of this website nor many other websites plus the best ones are in 120v ie reefs.org reefcentral.com so it is probably more hassle to them. Plus they are getting started in a basic setup, wouldnt we be assuming they are buying this basic equipment locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Yeah but 3/4 of ppl stating basic set ups are newbies, no ? the will go straight to the LFS, rather than import. Pretty much all of those ppl dont know of this website nor many other websites Agree completely. Pieman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 I agree with using cheap heaters if they are well made. I've seen cheap one's with better construction than some of the expensive brands. Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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