Equipment for an SPS reef tank(help?)

[ksicard]

Hey all,
I need some recommendations on equipment. I'm going to do a reef tank with primarily SPS as the focus and I wanted to get some new equipment and I need some help on recommendations for who to buy from.
I have a drilled 75g tank w/sump setup and I need to know where to buy an ATO, automatic doser for trace elements like Ca/alk/Mg, also a quality in sump skimmer. Which companies and models would you recommend for a 75g tank, also if there's any other equipment I might possibly need please let me know.

 

[jef4y]

SPS dominant tanks have a few requirements (caveat - I do NOT have an SPS dominant tank, so what I spew forth is just common knowledge in having SOME SPS corals and being in the hobby for a good bit).

Strong lighting. Metal Halide will be best, but that may require a chiller to keep the tank cool. T5-HO is possible with a very high end unit. LEDs are possible with high-end LEDs

Strong flow. Vortechs or something similar to create random and strong flows

CA reactor or other dosing means (but most all SPS dominant tanks will have a CA reactor)

ULNS - ultra low nutrient system. Basically you need to keep your phosphates VERY low.

How much experience do you have and what is in your tank right now?

 

[ksicard]

I have a lot of experince, and lighting and flow in the tank will not be an issue as I'm buying high end LED's that I already have over my smaller tank and my acros are thriving under it. I also plan to have either 2 mp10's or a single mp40 for extra flow on top of a 20x turnover rate. What I don't have experince in is keeping sps in a larger system, my small nano (34g) is doing wonderful in terms of my coral including sps but with a larger system more minerals will be replenished much quicker and so my 75g will require dosing. I have not purchased anything like ATO/automatic doser in 10 years since I have had my 180g so I want to know what companies are producing the higher end ATO's/auto dosers now adays as I have been out of that loop for quite some time and just recently upgraded to my larger system.

 

[snowmansnow]

ksicard;829636 wrote: I have a lot of experince, and lighting and flow in the tank will not be an issue as I'm buying high end LED's that I already have over my smaller tank and my acros are thriving under it. I also plan to have either 2 mp10's or a single mp40 for extra flow on top of a 20x turnover rate. What I don't have experince in is keeping sps in a larger system, my small nano (34g) is doing wonderful in terms of my coral including sps but with a larger system more minerals will be replenished much quicker and so my 75g will require dosing. I have not purchased anything like ATO/automatic doser in 10 years since I have had my 180g so I want to know what companies are producing the higher end ATO's/auto dosers now adays as I have been out of that loop for quite some time and just recently upgraded to my larger system.

1) it is possible, but be careful with assuming LEDs will carry you long term (4 years and more).. IMO its still a gamble

2) IMO the best ATO you can get is a Tunze Osmolator

3) for a tank that is only 75 g you should easily be able to dose 2 part (even manually) and never miss a beat. A kalk stirrer would be a great way to supplement CA in your system.

4) vertex has the market on high end dosing at the moment. I can't remember what the unit is called, but its pretty sexy

Edit: oh.. if you happen to consider t5 go with ATI powermodule.

 

[mph84]

I would say buy a Calcium reactor. Makes everything very stable. To me its easier than dosing. I know tunze makes a nice ato.

Edit: Not trying to you SMS. Just typed at the same time. All good suggestions.

 

[kzoo]

The bigger the tank the more water the longer it takes for things to change, and in my opinion this is the key to keep sps. Lighting, flow, alk and calcium are all very important too.

 

[mph84]

Trying to "knock"

 

[ralph atl]

Calcium Reactor or something like this for 2 part

http://www.marinedepot.com/Bubble_Magus_BM_T01_Dosing_Pump_Dosing_Pumps_Top_Off_for_Aquariums-Bubble_Magus-4W10010-FIDP-vi.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/Bubble_Magus_BM_T01_Dosing_Pump_Dosing_Pumps_Top_Off_for_Aquariums-Bubble_Magus-4W10010-FIDP-vi.html</a>

I like the 2 part...and many do use the 2 part except in your larger tanks that are greater than 150 or so.......
ULNS= phates at or under 0.03 & trates around 0.5
many ways to do this, however I use Carbon Dosing (V-V), Seachem Matrix, HC gfo changed 7-10 days, Rox 0.8 Carbon Changed 7-10 days, 30% to 40% water changes with Seachem Salinity, and maintain sandbed, overflow, and wet-vac sump every water change. 2, 400 watt radiums over 85 gallon tank with 2, MP40's.....

looksie at build for further info.....

 

[reeferman]

[1) it is possible, but be careful with assuming LEDs will carry you long term (4 years and more).. IMO its still a gamble]


not trying to derail the thread but i totally disagree and really dont even understand the reasoning or logic.

 

[snowmansnow]

reeferman;829690 wrote: [1) it is possible, but be careful with assuming LEDs will carry you long term (4 years and more).. IMO its still a gamble]


not trying to derail the thread but i totally disagree and really dont even understand the reasoning or logic.

fair

Edit: reason being that MOST people with LED success have not had long term tank success.. YET. In my mind its still a risky proposition as it is a fairly new way of doing things and a lot of kinks are still being figured out.

CAN it be done.. ? sure

B