"FordStyle" wrote in message
. com...
|
| "perkinskr" wrote in message
| news:955Kd.4670$Vg3.1464@lakeread05...
|
| Ken,
| Prices at the LFS usually are higher than mail-order. You are
pretty much
| stuck on the tank prices as they are too costly to ship. If you are
willing
| to do it in parts it can be done cheaper.
| The mag 12 would work well but you could do it with a 9. Turnover
actually
| should be higher overall but can be accomplished by the pump and a
few
| powerheads or wavemaker in the system to get this figure. Pump is
available
| for about 55-60 online. The protein skimmer can be had for less by
same
| maker. CS8-1can be gotten for 429.00 or a CS6-2 which is fine for
that tank
| for 369.00 at premium aquatics. You don't need a wet/dry but can do
a DIY
| sump fuge for less and a little work. Bio balls can actually cause
nitrate
| problems if not kept in check. UV sterilizer is not necessary at
this time
| and its debatable on the pros/cons of it in a reef softie tank. A
RO/DI unit
| that works fine for reef tanks can be had on Ebay and the like for
under 100
| for a 6 stage unit.
| Check out reefcentral.com and the forums to get some ideas. I was
in the
| same boat you are in now last year and saved $$$$ looking around
for parts
| and just getting the tank at the local fish store
|

Good post. I agree with every word. I would like to add that the
wet\dry filter would be pointless in most reef tanks as the the Live
Rock takes care of all biological filtration needs.

billy