New to Manhattan reefs!!

[44santababy]

Hello to all, my name is chris. This is my first post on this forum and i hope to get to know some of you personally. On Oct. 23 i'm having my FIRST ever tank installed by a licensed professional. Its a 120gallon reef tank with top quality equipment. Total cost for entire setup was 6,234.00$. Ill include my exact equipment when its setup and i'm going to add photos from setup to full beautiful tank. I decided to dump a lot of money from the very beginning cause i heard it's actually the way to save money. I bought two 48" LED strips for the tank also. Everything was suggested by the installer...i told him i wanted the best quality. His name is Tom from Island Reefs. Anyone familiar? I'm in Forest Hills queens and i would be interested with interacting with reefers. I plan on having the sickest reef tank that i'm capable of keeping. I plan on using Toms services twice a month until i'm able to do the job myself. SO, i just wanted to say hello...i'll post my setup and pics once the setup is complete. Then i'll add updates weekly displaying my tank and its growth. Please advise me with any tricks to the trade. thanks chris

 

[NYreefNoob]

i would put a list of what equiptment is being used, this way we could help you get the most and best for your money, for 6k i could completely build and set-up and stock a tank, even if labor is 2k 4k is alot of stuff, your best bet is to learn the hobby so you actually know when things arent right with the tank and get a true understanding of the hobby, and dont know of any company that has 48" leds that would be useful for a full blown reef

 

[44santababy]

I know the tank and stand cost me 1290$. The LED strips are going on sale NOV.1. He told me to hold off for the sale and purchase one led strip or two smaller strips and hook em together. He said the LED's were around 2000$ BEFORE the sale. I'll definetly list the exact equipment when it arrives. I did google every unit he quoted and they were spot on or give or take 5 dollars. His service charge was 495$ for full installation. Sounds fair. The price also included live rock and sand for the tank. Only money i need to spend is to add livestock.

 

[Imbarrie]

you have a lot of catching up to do before you can fathom what is happening on the other side of the glass.

What kind of tank are you getting? Reef? FOWLR?

How are you planning your research?
Also, have you priced this on your own.

There are people in here with the sickest tanks they built themselves in a very short amount of time. This is the first time I have seen someone purchase one like this in the forum.

 

[44santababy]

I have a WHOLE hobby to learn indeed!! Thats the reason i requested his services twice a month. He will hold my hand until i understand what i'm doing. Truthfully, this is his creation. He picked all the equipment, live rock, etc. I'm just financing it until im ready to take the reins. I'm looking forward to this hobby. Im in no rush...i'll have an empty tank for months if its required. All the prices for the equipment were spot on according to google prices. The LED's he couldnt price cause he said a sale in on NOV 1. I emailed him to send over another invoice of the exact equipment he ordered. Ill list here. Thanks chris

 

[44santababy]

My goal is to maintain a REEF TANK...any TRUE reef safe fish are welcome!

 

[NYreefNoob]

trust me most of us will be straight forward and honest with you on the equiptment, especially me as i am a equiptment junkie.

 

[44santababy]

Dont even want to mention the price Manhattan Aquarium priced me for the exact same setup.

 

[44santababy]

I got nothing to hide and i only want/expect the TRUTH. I only paid for the tank and stand so far. He wanted the rest after installation. Ill post equipment and prices shortly. Thanks chris

 

[44santababy]

ok...got all info needed

1.00 ESHOPPS REEF SUMPS RS-200 260.00
1.00 AG VERSA TOP 48X24? 51.00 51.00
1.00 ML VISI-THERM HEATER 400W 55.00 55.00
1.00 LFGD QUIET 6000 PUMP 1506GPH 171.00 171.00
4.00 caribsea live sand 20lb 23.00 92.00
1.00 db grounding probe 12.00 12.00
1.00 digital thermometer 8.00 8.00
1.00 net 2.00 2.00
1.00 hydrometer 11.00 11.00
1.00 Salifert calcium test kit 27.00 27.00
1.00 salifert alkalinity test kit 17.00 17.00
2.00 acan lighting 600-18B 742.50 1,485.00
120.00 live rock 7.00 840.00
1.00 chemical reactor 50.00 50.00
1.00 aquamedic arctic breeze quad fan 65.00 65.00
1.00 koralia 1400 65.00 65.00
1.00 calcium supplement 10.00 10.00
1.00 alkalinity supplement 9.00 9.00
1.00 4 stage RO/DI filter w/ shut off kit 200.00 200.00
1.00 auto top off kit 150.00 150.00
1.00 Super reef octopus skimmer SRO-1000int 330.00 330.00
5.00 frozen and dry fish food 7.00 35.00
1.00 plumbing parts 30.00 30.00
2.00 overflow kit 45.00 90.00

Talk to me....

 

[Imbarrie]

Looks like he is making some good choices.

 

[LatinP]

First thing off the top of my head:

You can save a ton of money if you just buy a 30g tank from petco or something and build your own sump. Probably 180-200 bucks off that price just need the tank, a few pieces of glass, some aquarium safe silicon and a peek in this forum's diy section. The "reef sump" pitch is all hype you'd actually make a better one by doing it yourself and you could calculate the space yourself to better fit your gear inside.

Next thing:

hydrometer- NO! Piece of junk plastic thing with a swing arm, if you buy it you'll replace it later and end up buying a refractometer later anyway, these swing arm meters are junk.

Refractometer - yes! This is what you want to measure proper salt levels, they're a bit more expensive but will last a life time if properly cared for and will give you a proper reading.

 

[howze01]

Is the tank reef ready? I saw that there were 2 overflow kits on the list.

Personally I would put another Koralia in there, especially if you plan on keeping SPS coral.

Looks pretty good!

 

[albano]

ok...got all info needed

1.00 ESHOPPS REEF SUMPS RS-200 260.00
1.00 AG VERSA TOP 48X24? 51.00 51.00
1.00 ML VISI-THERM HEATER 400W 55.00 55.00
1.00 LFGD QUIET 6000 PUMP 1506GPH 171.00 171.00
4.00 caribsea live sand 20lb 23.00 92.00
1.00 db grounding probe 12.00 12.00
1.00 digital thermometer 8.00 8.00
1.00 net 2.00 2.00
1.00 hydrometer 11.00 11.00
1.00 Salifert calcium test kit 27.00 27.00
1.00 salifert alkalinity test kit 17.00 17.00
2.00 acan lighting 600-18B 742.50 1,485.00
120.00 live rock 7.00 840.00
1.00 chemical reactor 50.00 50.00
1.00 aquamedic arctic breeze quad fan 65.00 65.00
1.00 koralia 1400 65.00 65.00
1.00 calcium supplement 10.00 10.00
1.00 alkalinity supplement 9.00 9.00
1.00 4 stage RO/DI filter w/ shut off kit 200.00 200.00
1.00 auto top off kit 150.00 150.00
1.00 Super reef octopus skimmer SRO-1000int 330.00 330.00
5.00 frozen and dry fish food 7.00 35.00
1.00 plumbing parts 30.00 30.00
2.00 overflow kit 45.00 90.00

Talk to me....

This (plus $1290 tank, and 495 labor) doesn't add up to $6000+...and the LEDs are already included at $1485.

Am I missing something?

 

[44santababy]

Thanks guys!!! I really do appreciate the feedback. All feedback here will be brought up to Tom. Please keep it coming. I want to learn as much as possible.

 

[44santababy]

No your not...im sorry...the 6200$ was a QUOTE. Looks like he was able to achieve this setup cheaper than he quoted.

 

[44santababy]

I will speak to Tom about adding another Karalia. sorry if spelled incorrectly. I do believe two would be better.

 

[Frank@Wall]

Wow, all this money and not even one vortech mp40? This is crazy. $7/lb for live rock? Man I would never pay that. I think you should do a lot of reading, asking questions before you jump in. and this being your first tank, take it easy unless you're a baller.

Sent from my LG G2X using Reefs

 

[NYreefNoob]

dont need list
1.00 AG VERSA TOP 48X24? 51.00 51.00
1.00 hydrometer 11.00 11.00
1.00 digital thermometer 8.00 8.00
.00 overflow kit 45.00 90.00
1.00 auto top off kit 150.00 150.00 < which brand
1.00 calcium supplement 10.00 10.00
2.00 acan lighting 600-18B 742.50 1,485.00 < would use a different led or go t5

1.00 alkalinity supplement 9.00 9.00

1.00 Super reef octopus skimmer SRO-1000int 330.00 330.00 < would get a different skimmer

1.00 ESHOPPS REEF SUMPS RS-200 260.00 < would use a different sump

1.00 chemical reactor 50.00 50.00< phosban reactor ?

120.00 live rock 7.00 840.00 can get rock on here for a 3rd of the price
1.00 koralia 1400 65.00 65.00< isnt enough and would go with vortechs

1.00 LFGD QUIET 6000 PUMP 1506GPH 171.00 171.00< wouldnt use known to have problems with go with a ehiem or external pump

and he should be getting you a reef ready tank for the money he wants for the tank, for half of what he is charging you, you could buy a complete set-up on here

and would assume most of the people on here would say same thing to you
someone who supposedly does this for a living should be able to put a better list of equiptment together and should know to get a reef ready tank not a regular tank and add overflows, and should never tell you to get a hydrometer, you should be getting a refractometer, and why do you need a fan set if getting leds, and i understand manhattan aquarums might have been more but you can bet it was better equiptment and the right equiptment

 

[Frank@Wall]

Also regarding the heater, I would not get (1) 400watt but would prefer (2) 200 watt heaters.

Sent from my LG G2X using Reefs