New Tank Build (Returning to the Hobby)

[uwbadgerfb]

Well I have never posted on this site before but have often looked at the vast amount of information to help answer my questions. Now after being out of the hobby for over 3 + years I am finally putting together the tank I have always wanted. As I believe many others have started into the reef hobby, my previous tank was a 55 gallon tank with lots of DIY equipment. I had good success with that tank and set-up until my 2nd child was born and time became very limited and my hobby was put on the back burner.

So now I am starting again and this time with a tank I have often dreamed of when working with my 55 gallon. The tank is a deep dimension 250 gallon aquarium. I am focusing on trying to put my $$ where I can to reduce effort or time, as time is still a valuable resource with 3 kids under the age of 6. My project is still in its infancy and sort of like a blank canvas. I have already purchased some new equipment for this tank (see the list below), but am working on some of the final pieces to get started.

The question I am currently undecided on is protien skimmer for this tank. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. I am looking at 3 models based on reviews or history with their products and they would be SRO XP-5000, Vertex Alpha 200, NextReef NXS1 XL. I can't find any feedback on the NextReef skimmer, but I have their reactor and love the way it is built. If anyone has any suggestions on these or others please let me know. The biggest factors are effiecency (spend less time cleaning and caring for tank), and noise (need something very quiet).

Any thoughts or suggestions on my new tank build would be greatly appreciated, especially regarding thoughts on a proper skimmer and pump which I plan to purchase soon.

Current Equipment List (and building) :
250 Gallon Tank (60'' x 36''' x 27'')
Controller : Apex Aquacontroller
Pumps : Vortech MP40's (x2) need to decide whether to get an additional MP60 or MP40
Sump / Refugium : Using my old 55 gallon (DIY project). Yes I know a little small for this system but the best I can do at this time.
Media Reactor : NextReef
Return Pump: Mag9 or QuietOne (from old system)
Heater : Jager 300W + Using one from old system
Salt Mix : ESV B-Ionic
Additives (when needed) : ESV B-Ionic (Part 1 and Part 2)

[HHIreefer843]

Great Tank!! what are you thinking for lighting?!

[uwbadgerfb]

Thanks !! Now with LED's being more available and affordable, I am thinking my lighting will by DIY, using RapidLED, but still undecided at this point.

[steve053]

Awesome tank.

I've been reading about skimmers and haven't found a bad review on reef octopus skimmers. Solid builds and good customer service.

I've only have one eight year old, so I understand you desire to automate as much as possible.

Steve

[uwbadgerfb]

Thanks. Anyone else with feedback and recommendations on skimmer for my build. Here are my concerns with the 3 I have been looking at...
Vertex alpha 200 - may be the best of the 3 but is it undersized
NextReef - my concern is there is no feedback from users +/-
SRO - probably the most popular of the 3 and finding reviews of some loving and some hating.

Thanks

[brainchild24]

Awesome choice in tanks.

Here is my two pennies worth of advise I have the same tank and I have been running the SRO XP5000 for two years now and I love it, the only complaint is that you have to change out the collection cup once a week because of the smell. But in all seriousness its quiet about 14db and to make it silent I have found a pure silicon hot pot mat which fits perfectly under the main chamber as it will hum ever so slightly against the glass sump. I like a very quiet tank as my tank sits in the living room.

Also depending on your stock I find that three mp40s work pretty well, but I have a mixed reef tank.

-T

[CHSUB]

my tank is a 281 with 80 gallon sump, and i have an alpha 300 and it is awesome i think a 200 or a 250 would be fine, but make sure it fits in a 55 as even the 200 is big.

[uwbadgerfb]

Thanks for the advice, and the idea of the hot pad.

Brainchild - do you have your 3 mp40s located on the two opposite ends plus the back of the tank? Do you sync the 3 together? Any other lessons learned with the start up of your tank (I read somewhere these tanks had a slow overflow and many needed to open up the overflow to get better flow?). Any thoughts.

[uwbadgerfb]

Chusb - I will double check the dimensions, but that many make my choice easy . Thanks for the heads up.

[brainchild24]

Originally Posted by uwbadgerfb

Thanks for the advice, and the idea of the hot pad.

Brainchild - do you have your 3 mp40s located on the two opposite ends plus the back of the tank? Do you sync the 3 together? Any other lessons learned with the start up of your tank (I read somewhere these tanks had a slow overflow and many needed to open up the overflow to get better flow?). Any thoughts.

uwbadgerfb- glad you found the suggestion helpful, as to the MP40s, my layout is just as you suggested sync'd and running the Ecosmart TSM profile. On to the overflow yes this tank has to much surface area for the pin whole in which they drilled into the stand pipe, so I took my1/4" bit and drilled out the factory whole. Then replacing the little straw with a 3" piece of 1/4" tubing, this allowed my two Eheim 1262 to operate at full bore ...

Lets see lessons learned; I followed the large tank section and found this to work in my tank and its something that is debated to no end, that is to vacuum or not to vacuum the sand bed. I personally find it to be very helpful in exporting detritus. I run a medium height sand bed about two inches which I figured when I am changing out water why not vacuum the sand to remove trapped dirt. I have to say that the tank responded very well to this, fish, coral, and inverts. Oh and last but not least battery backup for your vortex, I didn't purchase the battery from ecotech but instead I had a 1500va inverter which will keep the powerheads running for hours.