150G build

[lee_steffen87]

Im getting ready to start my 150 mixed reef build well closer to 200g with sump/fuge. I decided to start this thread for some fellow reefers wisdom and show my progress. At this point I have the display tank stand and i have built my fuge out of a 35g tank you can see it below. I am deciding on if i should run a skimmer or not at this point i think i should. so i am going add a second tank that dumps into the return partion of the fuge tank. i have 10 t5 ho lighting that i will put in a custom canopy for now until i can upgrade to leds. I currently have a 55 up and running about 9 months. residents include 2 false percs 1 mandarin dragonet 1 sexy shrimp. future residents regal tank YWGtiger pistol and magnificent foxface. so at this point i have heaters powerheads. I need return pump any advice on that and skimmer. any advice period is greatly appreciated as this is my first large reef tank.

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Edit: Oh i have rodi filter as well i learned that is pretty important. lol

 

[rdnelson]

Hey, that sump looks familiar. Looking forward to seeing this one come together.

 

[lee_steffen87]

Sure is thanks. I have to say you really take care of your stuff its was clean and near perfect condition i hated putting it under my tank.

 

[rdnelson]

lee.steffen87;767393 wrote: Sure is thanks. I have to say you really take care of your stuff its was clean and near perfect condition i hated putting it under my tank.

LOL That tank was bought brand new back about the time the Olympics were in town. It was fresh water up until last July. Glad it found a good home and it going to good use. I had planned on using it as the sump for my 125 but I found another beat up one free which gave me a chance to build it before breaking that one down. Worked out perfect.

Anyway, keep the pictures coming. :yay::yay::yay:

 

[db366]

What size acrylic did you use for that baffle? It looks like 1/8" if so you will want to double up on it or put something in there to help brace it as it will just bend and eventually pop out. 1/4" is about the thinnest you would want to use.

 

[lee_steffen87]

What size acrylic did you use for that baffle? It looks like 1/8" if so you will want to double up on it or put something in there to help brace it as it will just bend and eventually pop out. 1/4" is about the thinnest you would want to use.[/QUOTE
Yea I didnt pay attention when it was given to me so I did double it and water tested it it had very slight bend so if i need to before i button every thing up i might slide a piece of pvc to brace it.

Edit: At this point im trying to decide on weather or not I want a DSB on my tank or not. In my 55 i have the black coarse sand i like it because it looks good but i dont really know how to compare it to finer sand or DSB as i have never used. any advice personal experinces.

 

[rdnelson]

lee.steffen87;767455 wrote:

What size acrylic did you use for that baffle? It looks like 1/8" if so you will want to double up on it or put something in there to help brace it as it will just bend and eventually pop out. 1/4" is about the thinnest you would want to use.[/QUOTE
Yea I didnt pay attention when it was given to me so I did double it and water tested it it had very slight bend so if i need to before i button every thing up i might slide a piece of pvc to brace it.

Edit: At this point im trying to decide on weather or not I want a DSB on my tank or not. In my 55 i have the black coarse sand i like it because it looks good but i dont really know how to compare it to finer sand or DSB as i have never used. any advice personal experinces.

I used 1/4" in my first sump and found out that wasn't a good idea. LOL I put a piece of 3/4" PVC between the baffles to maintain the 1" spacing and then cut a piece that ran horizontal over to the fuge baffle. did the trick but I wouldn't build it that way again.

As for deep sand bed, I am no expert but from what I have read, I don't think it is worth it.

 

[db366]

rdnelson99;767464 wrote:

I used 1/4" in my first sump and found out that wasn't a good idea. LOL I put a piece of 3/4" PVC between the baffles to maintain the 1" spacing and then cut a piece that ran horizontal over to the fuge baffle. did the trick but I wouldn't build it that way again.

As for deep sand bed, I am no expert but from what I have read, I don't think it is worth it.

You sure it was 1/4, most sumps are built using 1/4. 1/8 is usually the one that is bought from HD or Lowes for cheap and bends.

 

[rdnelson]

My bad. You are correct. It was 1/8". I used 1/4" on the sump I currently have.

 

[lee_steffen87]

Im hoping the way i have the fuge and sump seperate tanks will compensate for the skimmers bubbles at least thats the thought at this point. any suggestions on a fair price skimmer that can handle the 150g.

I agree im reading and im thinking im just gonna go with about 1.5" white live sand.

 

[lee_steffen87]

Ok so i have my sand now and 80% of the rock im gonna use so all i need now is the pump. How do i figure out how much return flow i need for this tank?

 

[rdnelson]

I have heard many different opinions but the one most often quoted is 10 x volume of the tank. In my case I had a 125 gal tank so I wanted a pump capable of 1250 gal per hour. The one I got is 1650 per hour giving me extra capacity for future reactors and for my skimmer.

 

[lee_steffen87]

So something like a mag 18 then. Seems like alot.

 

[db366]

If it were me, just my opinion. I would go with a Mag 9.5 or even a Mag 7 for just a return. If you wanted to run reactors on it as well then I would more than likely go with something a bit stronger.

I prefer slow flow sumps. I don't see the point in using your return as a flow source, that's what a CL or powerheads are for. Your sump is for filtration and as long as water is getting to the sump the water is being filtered.

Also maybe instead of using a Mag pump look into Quite one.

 

[lee_steffen87]

got any suggestions on a quite one? What the company claims and what it is is a different story and I do want to add at least one reactor I was thinking two though one for carbon and maybe one for bio pellets. I had planned for them to be on a sepreate pump but if its better to have them on the main than thats what I will do.

 

[db366]

I have used Quite One, Danner Mag, and BlueLine (external). Quite One and Mag are both silent but Quite One uses less power. From reading and no first hand experience others have recommended Sicce as well. I would also recommend Eheim but there customer service is the worst ever, to the point I will never buy anything else eheim.

If it were me i'd go with a pump that can do around 800-900 gph at a 4-5ft head height. There is a calculator on the front page of reef central to figure it all out.

 

[lee_steffen87]

Oh I see Quite One is a brand lol I will have to check them out. Thanks

 

[rdnelson]

Can't say enough good things about the Quiet One pump I have. If you want to see (but not hear) one in action come on by the house one day. You know where I live.

 

[lee_steffen87]

Thanks. I may just have to take you up on that offer.

 

[dme330i]

Between mag and quiet one, I like quiet one better. Based on the specs that you're looking for, a Quiet One 5000 should fit the bill.