Help with shopping list

St1ckyReefer · 06/26/2013, 01:06 PM

I currently have a 55g saltwater with a variety of fish and soft corals, HOB skimmer and 4x 54 watt T5HO.

My wife gave me the go ahead to convert our 46g bowfront to salt as well.

I'd like to step this one up a notch or two

I am going to be building my own stand again, but this time i will be drilling the tank and building a sump.

I have not decieded on mixed reef vs. anemones, but would like to know my options for basically keeping anything i'd like.

I don't really know anything about MH lighting, as i've stuck to T5's on my 55. Is it really better or is it a personal taste?

Also what sized pump should i be looking at for ideal flow into the sump?

And finally what sized/brand skimmer would you recommend as "ideal".

I am not rich, but i do want to do things right, so please don't suggest equipment thats encrusted in diamonds and 100% silent etc, just looking for practicality

MrClam · 06/26/2013, 01:32 PM

Many people are successful with T5 with SPS and anemones so you could do either.

Sump volume does not have to be very precise but around 8x your DT for the sump flow is a good target.

You can find many reviews on skimmers using the search function. Most people recommend getting an oversized skimmer so something rated for the 90g range should be good. I have an Reef Octopus skimmer and it works great, but other people will also have good reviews of other companies.

Mr. Fish · 06/26/2013, 04:13 PM

I personally wouldn't use halide lighting on a 46g. There's too much risk of having heat issues. You can have a great tank with T5 lighting.

As for pump size, I wouldn't go with anything smaller than 5x tank volume after head loss. I recommend an Eheim 1260 or 1250.

My favorite skimmers are SWC and I have a SWC Xtreme 250 A cone skimmer on my 250g sps tank. A more economical brand is Eshopps. I have an Eshopps psk-100h on my 55g and a psk-75h on my 24g seahorse tank; they both do a good job and I would buy them again.

Chiefillini · 06/26/2013, 07:27 PM

For the skimmer I recommend SWC 160. I have this one on my 90 gallon and it works great. Really creates bubbles and pulls alot of gunk from the tank. Not sure about T5 lighting. I use 2 MH 150 watts and two blue actinic and they have worked great. Moon lights at night is also a great additional touch.

St1ckyReefer · 06/27/2013, 07:56 AM

Thanks everyone

If T5 lighting is "Just as good" then i'd save my money going that route anyway, but the tank will be in my basement, so heats really not an issue there

So what i have gathered so far, i should be going for atleast 5x turnover rate through sump, if not closer to 10x (most likely will be aiming for 10). And the skimmer should be about double the rated size, my LFS uses Reef Octopus so i will most likely have them order one in for me

What size hole should i drill for around 500 gph of flow? Probably more of a DIY section question...

Edit* Another quick question, for Anems or SPS, what watts should i aim for with T5s? Do i need to go VHO?

thegrun · 06/27/2013, 09:23 AM

For the drain I would drill for two 1" drains (6oo GPH each), I'm a big advocate of having a second emergency drain. You could use a single 3/4" line on the return side. On the lighting I would go LED for less expensive long term costs (T-5 bulbs get expensive to change out annually). If you want to stay fluorescent t-5s are much better than VHO.

TimeConsumer · 06/27/2013, 09:39 AM

Let me clarify on T5 vs MH. T5 is just as good in some cases, not all. 2x150w HQI with high quality reflectors, good bulbs, and the right HQI ballasts is not equal to a 4x39w T5 from current usa, coralife, odyssea, or any otherlow end brand. However, a 6x39w ATI sunpower can easily keep up. The reverse is also true, a MH system with cruddy reflectors and bulb can't compare with the Sunpower.

MrClam · 06/27/2013, 12:48 PM

Don't focus on wattage for the T5, but rather the quality of the ballasts/reflectors/bulbs. A 200w coralife with rusted reflectors is not better than a 150w ATI. There are many large informational threads on T5 lighting so I would suggest doing a search and do some research on brands and PAR values.

St1ckyReefer · 06/29/2013, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

For the drain I would drill for two 1" drains (6oo GPH each), I'm a big advocate of having a second emergency drain. You could use a single 3/4" line on the return side. On the lighting I would go LED for less expensive long term costs (T-5 bulbs get expensive to change out annually). If you want to stay fluorescent t-5s are much better than VHO.

Thanks a lot for the advice. Personally i just dont like the look or lack of customizing look of LED lights. I have 4 t5s on my 55 and currently going between 2 blue 1 purple 1 coral, to 2 coral, to 1 blue 2 coral 1 purple, still cant decied what i like the look of most

And for others on T5s, i do plan on going for a higher end unit, but i still would like to know the watts or number of 36" bulbs i should go for

St1ckyReefer · 06/29/2013, 01:48 PM

Adding this to my shopping list

http://www.marinedepot.com/ATI_36_In...FIT56U-vi.html

MrTuskfish · 06/29/2013, 02:05 PM

I'll never understand why quarantine tanks (try Craigslist) never make this list. IMO & IME; A QT and the will to always use it, has saved more fish and hobbyists than anything I can think of. Pay a little now, or suffer a major loss down the road.

St1ckyReefer · 07/02/2013, 11:19 AM

Oh i have plenty of small tanks laying around and this will be my second reef tank, so QT is not so much an issue

06/26/2013, 01:06 PM	#1
St1ckyReefer Moved On Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 51	Help with shopping list I currently have a 55g saltwater with a variety of fish and soft corals, HOB skimmer and 4x 54 watt T5HO. My wife gave me the go ahead to convert our 46g bowfront to salt as well. I'd like to step this one up a notch or two I am going to be building my own stand again, but this time i will be drilling the tank and building a sump. I have not decieded on mixed reef vs. anemones, but would like to know my options for basically keeping anything i'd like. I don't really know anything about MH lighting, as i've stuck to T5's on my 55. Is it really better or is it a personal taste? Also what sized pump should i be looking at for ideal flow into the sump? And finally what sized/brand skimmer would you recommend as "ideal". I am not rich, but i do want to do things right, so please don't suggest equipment thats encrusted in diamonds and 100% silent etc, just looking for practicality

06/27/2013, 09:39 AM	#7
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	Let me clarify on T5 vs MH. T5 is just as good in some cases, not all. 2x150w HQI with high quality reflectors, good bulbs, and the right HQI ballasts is not equal to a 4x39w T5 from current usa, coralife, odyssea, or any otherlow end brand. However, a 6x39w ATI sunpower can easily keep up. The reverse is also true, a MH system with cruddy reflectors and bulb can't compare with the Sunpower. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

06/29/2013, 02:05 PM	#11
MrTuskfish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Wild Blue Yonder Posts: 8,887	I'll never understand why quarantine tanks (try Craigslist) never make this list. IMO & IME; A QT and the will to always use it, has saved more fish and hobbyists than anything I can think of. Pay a little now, or suffer a major loss down the road. __________________ If God didn't want us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat. Steve Current Tank Info: 180, 2-240 FOWLRs, 240 reef

06/26/2013, 01:32 PM	#2
MrClam Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 557	Many people are successful with T5 with SPS and anemones so you could do either. Sump volume does not have to be very precise but around 8x your DT for the sump flow is a good target. You can find many reviews on skimmers using the search function. Most people recommend getting an oversized skimmer so something rated for the 90g range should be good. I have an Reef Octopus skimmer and it works great, but other people will also have good reviews of other companies.

06/26/2013, 04:13 PM	#3
Mr. Fish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 828	I personally wouldn't use halide lighting on a 46g. There's too much risk of having heat issues. You can have a great tank with T5 lighting. As for pump size, I wouldn't go with anything smaller than 5x tank volume after head loss. I recommend an Eheim 1260 or 1250. My favorite skimmers are SWC and I have a SWC Xtreme 250 A cone skimmer on my 250g sps tank. A more economical brand is Eshopps. I have an Eshopps psk-100h on my 55g and a psk-75h on my 24g seahorse tank; they both do a good job and I would buy them again.

06/26/2013, 07:27 PM	#4
Chiefillini Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Saint Charles, IL Posts: 53	For the skimmer I recommend SWC 160. I have this one on my 90 gallon and it works great. Really creates bubbles and pulls alot of gunk from the tank. Not sure about T5 lighting. I use 2 MH 150 watts and two blue actinic and they have worked great. Moon lights at night is also a great additional touch.

06/27/2013, 07:56 AM	#5
St1ckyReefer Moved On Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 51	Thanks everyone If T5 lighting is "Just as good" then i'd save my money going that route anyway, but the tank will be in my basement, so heats really not an issue there So what i have gathered so far, i should be going for atleast 5x turnover rate through sump, if not closer to 10x (most likely will be aiming for 10). And the skimmer should be about double the rated size, my LFS uses Reef Octopus so i will most likely have them order one in for me What size hole should i drill for around 500 gph of flow? Probably more of a DIY section question... Edit* Another quick question, for Anems or SPS, what watts should i aim for with T5s? Do i need to go VHO?

06/27/2013, 09:23 AM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	For the drain I would drill for two 1" drains (6oo GPH each), I'm a big advocate of having a second emergency drain. You could use a single 3/4" line on the return side. On the lighting I would go LED for less expensive long term costs (T-5 bulbs get expensive to change out annually). If you want to stay fluorescent t-5s are much better than VHO.

06/27/2013, 12:48 PM	#8
MrClam Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 557	Don't focus on wattage for the T5, but rather the quality of the ballasts/reflectors/bulbs. A 200w coralife with rusted reflectors is not better than a 150w ATI. There are many large informational threads on T5 lighting so I would suggest doing a search and do some research on brands and PAR values.

06/29/2013, 01:48 PM	#10
St1ckyReefer Moved On Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 51	Adding this to my shopping list http://www.marinedepot.com/ATI_36_In...FIT56U-vi.html

07/02/2013, 11:19 AM	#12
St1ckyReefer Moved On Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 51	Oh i have plenty of small tanks laying around and this will be my second reef tank, so QT is not so much an issue