Help me Decide
 

Ok all My budgets is as always VERY TIGHT so i have a choice to make, sometime next week i will have the money for hardware, here is the choice do i

A) Buy my lights,Skimmer,Return pump,Bulkhead fittings(for the sump under the tank), and Overflow.

OR

B)Buy the Lights,Skimmer and my 2 Hydor Koralia 3 Circulation Pumps.

If i go with A it will take longer to get the tank up and running BUT it will have a sump and Fuge When its up.

If i go with B all i have to get is Sand and Salt and i can get the tank up and running.

I know to Expect some criticisms for this but i am getting most of my hardware from Aqua traders.com But to be honest if i want this tank up and running in less that 1year i have to buy cheap. and i SOOOOOOOOOOOOO want my 55g up and running!

I look forward to everyones input. If i do set up the sump it will look like this pic.

<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/albums/hh81/vance71975/?action=view&current=SumpIdea.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh81/vance71975/SumpIdea.jpg" border="0" alt="My Sump Idea"></a>

Here is a list of the hardware i am thinking about, i used links so that you get more than just a product name.

[url]https://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=313[/url]

[url]https://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=78[/url]

[url]https://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=319[/url]

[url]https://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=265[/url]

Vinnie, check out the sellers forum here on RC and your local craigslist. You'll be able to reduce your spending exponentially. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to get A and B.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11578327#post11578327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NYIntensity [/i]
[B]Vinnie, check out the sellers forum here on RC and your local craigslist. You'll be able to reduce your spending exponentially. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to get A and B. [/B][/QUOTE]

Well i will only have 250 to spend.

Is your tank glass? (I'm assuming so). Nonetheless, check the craigslist listings and sellers forums. Your sump and refuge don't need to be anything extravagant; rubbermaid is for more than food and junk storage.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11578407#post11578407 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NYIntensity [/i]
[B]Is your tank glass? (I'm assuming so). Nonetheless, check the craigslist listings and sellers forums. Your sump and refuge don't need to be anything extravagant; rubber maid is for more than food and junk storage. [/B][/QUOTE]

The 18g part is rubber maid lol and the 10g part is a old 10g tank i had laying around! I have issues with trusting sites like craglist because it puts way to much on the "honor system" You send them your money and HOPE they send you the product, I have no problem buying used from local reefers where i can meet them face to face and Pay for the product as its given to me but i have a problem trusting people to ship me something that i just mailed them a money order for or payed them by pay pal, see they have the money who says they will even ship the product. Yes i know i have trust issues but i have been burned by Ebay a few times!Oh and yes its an all glass used 55g its the Old Style VERY heavy, thick glass 3/4 inch glass i do believe.

use the local craigslist; (e.g. columbus.craigslist.org) You can still meet and pick up in person.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11578488#post11578488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NYIntensity [/i]
[B]use the local craigslist; (e.g. columbus.craigslist.org) You can still meet and pick up in person. [/B][/QUOTE]

I would but then comes another problem No Car! So im again Stuck, Basically i just want to know if i should go route A or Route B.

I, like you, am very impatient when it comes to my tank which is probably not the best thing for both of us...But is there a way to go with plan B and then upgrade to having the sump and fuge later? Forgive me if I'm wrong, I'm new at this.

Look at the Used Equipment forum here on RC.

well let's say you go with plan A. u still need more powerheads for more flow, i dont think the return pump is enough flow

but anyways GL with which ever plan u choose

yea like Finding Emo said u can always add the sump/ fuge later since your using an overflow box, which is what im doing with my 20L, i going to turn my 10G tank into a sump/fuge, ill have it running as soon as my stuff from marine depot arrives :p

Vinnie-

Listen, I may get some opposition here but I have to say, I have those T6 lights from aquatraders. They are crap. I 100% wish I would have just gotten the PC's. Aquatraders does have some great pricing, but those T6's aren't the way to go. They are T6 bulbs, not the same as T5. They are not nearly as intense. Go with A, go with B, but look at regular Power compacts.

My .02

Joe

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11580197#post11580197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jocephus [/i]
[B]Vinnie-

Listen, I may get some opposition here but I have to say, I have those T6 lights from aquatraders. They are crap. I 100% wish I would have just gotten the PC's. Aquatraders does have some great pricing, but those T6's aren't the way to go. They are T6 bulbs, not the same as T5. They are not nearly as intense. Go with A, go with B, but look at regular Power compacts.

My .02

Joe [/B][/QUOTE]

Anyone else have any bad or good to say about the T6 lighting?Input is appricated!

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11580109#post11580109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r [/i]
[B]Look at the Used Equipment forum here on RC. [/B][/QUOTE]

I did and its all still WAY more than i can afford!

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11580197#post11580197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jocephus [/i]
[B]Vinnie-

Listen, I may get some opposition here but I have to say, I have those T6 lights from aquatraders. They are crap. I 100% wish I would have just gotten the PC's. Aquatraders does have some great pricing, but those T6's aren't the way to go. They are T6 bulbs, not the same as T5. They are not nearly as intense. Go with A, go with B, but look at regular Power compacts.

My .02

Joe [/B][/QUOTE]

So you would recommend something like this?

[url]https://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=293[/url]