New Reefer

[AquaSquid]

In the beginning of a new set up you need to invest alot of time and patience. Definitely start out with LR and substrate only, at first. Good strong circulation and skimming for a few weeks, with frequent testing of water quality. Don't add anything until your ammonia and nitrite start to drop close to zero. If Algae becomes an issue get a clean up crew started. I personally wait until my water parameters are stable. Think twice about using Damsels. They are nearly impossible to kill, true, but they are very aggressive and impossible to catch in a reef tank. You may be stuck with them. Also if you have access to another reef tank, get a small cup of sand to inoculate your tank.

[sticky]

That's the kit I was referring to. With the IceCap 660 and the ARO ballast in that VHO link that you had, that ballast will turn all 4 lights on at the same time and you won't be able to do a dawn/dusk effect. You need multiple ballasts to be able to run timers for the dawn/dusk effect.

I don't plan on going with the VHO from the suggestion above, and would like to be able to setup 2 ballasts if possible that way I can have 1 come on first(blues) then have the whites come on then kick off then have the blues shutoff.

Would that setup work??

[sticky]

That's the kit I was referring to. With the IceCap 660 and the ARO ballast in that VHO link that you had, that ballast will turn all 4 lights on at the same time and you won't be able to do a dawn/dusk effect. You need multiple ballasts to be able to run timers for the dawn/dusk effect.

I don't plan on going with the VHO from the suggestion above, and would like to be able to setup 2 ballasts if possible that way I can have 1 come on first(blues) then have the whites come on then kick off then have the blues shutoff.

Would that setup work??

Also what kind of mounting system does it use/need? Direct mount to surface or does it need a bracket setup. This is very important since tomorrow evening I am sitting down with the guy building my base/canopy so I can give him measurements and I need to know how tall to make the canopy so I have the light 6 inches from the top of the tank.

Also roughly what time or how long would it take to get the lights and setup if the setup mentioned above with 2 ballasts would work take to get to me?

I am trying to put together a time table on roughly when my parts start arriving and when my stand will be ready so I can put it together and set the stand up at one time. I don't mean to rush you I am just trying to avoid saying one thing then a few days later telling him the canopy needs to be taller.