Question on setup

[tgriffin]

I'm in the process of moving to the Atlanta area. I'll for sure be there by Feb 8 or sooner if I can sell my house before then. I'll be in corporate housing for a little while while we find a house to buy. Once I buy a house I'm planning on starting a new tank. Below is what I am planning so far. The only thing I'm for sure on is the tank I'm going to use. I am wanting to go with T5's to keep from running a chiller, but I am not 100% on them. I am wanting to do a predominantly SPS tank.

Any info/input/suggestions on the equipment would be greatly appreciated

-150 gal marineland Deep Dimension Series tank (36x36x27)
-8-10 T5's Retro(icecap 660 overdriving 4 bulbs and the other 4 or 6 on two workhorse 5 ballasts)
-Reef Octopus DNWB200 (would like to hear some opinions and reviews on this skimmer)
-Closed loop with two way oceans motions
-Vortech MP 40 powerhead
-DIY Calcium Reactor
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">If anyone has any suggestions on some good (but not too expensive) equipment that would be worth looking at I'd appreciate it.</span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Thanks</span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Tyson</span>

 

[cr500_af]

Sounds like a good setup... every single person I know with an Octopus loves it. It will probably be my next skimmer (as I don't have an MRC bankroll... if I find a smoking deal MRC it is, but they don't come up like that very often).

For a predominately SPS tank, I'd put as many T5s as will fit up there. Good reflectors are a must if you want really good T5 results. If it were me I'd probably go with two MP40s and not use a closed loop, but that's just me. The only thing I don't like about CLs is how bad it can be if you get a leak in the plumbing, since plumbing is way below the waterline. The money saved on the Oceans Motion can go a long way to offset another Vortech.

 

[tgriffin]

I would like to go with two mp40's but I just cringe to think that I'd have over $800 in powerheads. I might have to wait a month or two longer and save up some more money. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[cr500_af]

Don't get me wrong.... I've seen a lot of people suggest CL systems in larger tanks, but as far as I know the only real reason for doing so is to not have the appearance of powerheads in the tank. Vortechs are very unobtrusive in that regard. If there is another reason on the side of CLs, I'd love to know about it. I also noticed a few people in the "efficiency" thread discussing ditching CLs for powerheads to help with operating costs.

I know what you mean about the money, though... I am still cringing at the thought of buying ONE MP40w. But realitically, take the 2-way money, plus a good pump for the CL and that's a pretty hefty chunk of change on its own. You could always pick up a couple of Tunzes; even though they aren't a Vortech they don't carry a Vortech price tag either. Later as budget permits you could switch to Vortechs one at a time... changing powerheads is obviously super simple.

 

[hackman72]

FWIW. I run MH and my temps stay a pretty steady 79 deg. I keep the heater plugged in but it rarely comes on, usually only at night if it does at all. I did have a bit of trouble with heat but I made adjustments that allowed more air in to the canopy and added an $8 fan over the sump for evap. cooling and all is well.

 

[cr500_af]

Hackman72;422462 wrote: FWIW. I run MH and my temps stay a pretty steady 79 deg. I keep the heater plugged in but it rarely comes on, usually only at night if it does at all. I did have a bit of trouble with heat but I made adjustments that allowed more air in to the canopy and added an $8 fan over the sump for evap. cooling and all is well.

Similar experience here... I had heat issues (meaning my chiller kicked on every hour or so) when I had my 2x250w MHs over an open top. When I put on a canopy (generosity of Charlie/Dawgdude) and two 4" fans, the chiller VERY rarely comes on, and it is set to come on at 80.0 degrees. Backwards from what I would have thought (I thought open top would cool better), but I'm not complaining.

One other factor worth considering: It costs substantially more to replace 10 T5 bulbs than it does 2 MH bulbs. Maybe even enough to make the difference in electricity costs a moot point. The ability to make a custom array of colors that fit your liking is very nice however... but IMO nothing replaces that shimmer!

 

[grouper therapy]

I run a dolphin 6500 pump on a closed loop with 4 seaswirls. I did not drill my tank at all so there is no chance of a bulkhead leaking. The pickup for the closed loop is a hang over and the 4 outlets come thru the seaswirls. I purchased all the seaswirls used and changed the motor on two of them to 2rpm motors and now I have random chaotic flow. The draw back for me on the vortechs is that the direction never changes from a single unit. I know they move a lot of water butI would like to know how the gph flow on a vortech was determined .

 

[snowmansnow]

if your tank is only 24" or so deep you will be fine with anywhere from 7 T5 lamps up. This is assuming the fixture / retro is overdriven and has high quality INDIVIDUAL reflectors. I have a 7 lamp constellation and love it.. only thing over it is ATI PM, but can't justify the cost for what the difference is. I currently have 35 + different SPS corals in my tank that are growing like crazy. If you want more info on the constellation I'll be happy to pm with ya.. just shoot me a message.

 

[tgriffin]

The tank is 27" deep and I'm still on the fence about a bare bottom tank. If I do a sand bed it is going to be pretty thin.

 

[tgriffin]

-Reef Octopus DNWB200

Anyone using this skimmer?

 

[tgriffin]

cr500_af;422444 wrote: It will probably be my next skimmer (as I don't have an MRC bankroll... if I find a smoking deal MRC it is, but they don't come up like that very often).

sorry to ask but I'm still pretty green on this reefing thing.... but what is an MRC? I'm assuming a high end skimmer.

 

[tgriffin]

So I'm entertaining the idea of going with MH's. I'm concerned with lighting the tank evenly and was wondering about the lumen max reflectors. I also didn't know if I could get away with two 250 watt or if I needed to go with two 400 watts? Again I'm wanting to go primarily SPS. Any advantage with going with a HQI over a mogul? Any suggestions/thoughts??

Thanks

 

[snowmansnow]

400W would be an over kill IMO. I've had 400w.. then 250w.. now t5s haha.

 

[lilrobb]

cr500_af;422444 wrote: every single person I know with an Octopus loves it. It will probably be my next skimmer (as I don't have an MRC bankroll... if I find a smoking deal MRC it is, but they don't come up like that very often).

Funny how quickly things can change...