How to choose equipment

pjwperth · 05/25/2013, 05:38 AM

Hi all how do you go about choosing the best protein skimmer for your set-up.

Do you look at gph? If so what ratio for your tank? Also do you include the amount of water your whole system hold or just the DT? I get back from work on Tuesday and was going to start looking at equipment so I can design sump and work out Budget if there is one.

I also am getting prices on a new tank let me know what you think.
tank 1 6x2x2
tank 2 6x3x2
Also have the option of a 6x18x18 tank to convert into sump and refugium.

Wife wants one tank and be done with it no upgrades later. This tank will have a custom cabinets including hood by a professional carpenter and me of course, it will be drilled on the side so all plumbing will be hidden as the tank will be viewed from both 6ft sides

for joy also

dont want to waste cash and get ripped off by buying something that wont keep up.

shifty51008 · 05/25/2013, 05:46 AM

deff. go with tank 2. that width of 3' is great.

as for the skimmer, I was always told to include your whole system

pjwperth · 05/25/2013, 05:52 AM

Sorry was going to add I need the equipment to be really reliable as I work away from home, 3 hour plane ride to one of the remote spots in Western Australia, it needs to be easy to use for my wife who has basically no experience keeping aquariums.

pjwperth · 05/25/2013, 05:59 AM

sometimes I feel Stupid asking all the new questions but it has been awhile since I have kept Marines or worked in the industry when I knew most answers to most questions. I know surface area is greater in the 3foot wide tank and the more water technically the more stable so to speak it will be it is just a matter of price shifty. I'm meeting with the tank builder on Thursday and he says he has the marine guru on that day and he will be able to "guide" me through the equipment but Ebay looks so tempting with the prices we face in Perth and thats why I need as much info from as many people as I can.

pjwperth · 05/25/2013, 06:03 AM

Also a trip to the states maybe in order as the fish and coral food we get here is crap as far as selections go was looking at utube at the HPD food showen by the AmericanReefChannel looked intersting but as per my luck I can't get it here so may have to suck-up to my family over there to get it and ship it to me.

Mark Bianco · 05/25/2013, 06:06 AM

I agree the wider the tank the more you can do with it. As far as a skimmer goes, I had a 75gl with a 100gl basement sump and purchased a EV240 knowing that I would be upgrading to a 210gl. The skimmer ran excellent with the 75 then after installing the 210 it was ok with a light bioload, but when I increased the load to a heavy bio load it would not keep up although the manufactre claims it would be no problem for 300gl. I have just recently purchased Ocotpus 6000 ext we shall see how that does. I reccomend buying a skimmer for 1.5 times your total water volume. One other thing to consider if you buy a skimmer that is way too big you will not get a constant skim, instead it will be be cycling.

Mark

splateee · 05/25/2013, 06:12 AM

The extra width also gives you more options for rock placement and coral placement if you decide to keep them. Are you wanting to keep corals?

See if you have a local marine society group in your area, you may be able to get a lot of decent used equipment from there as well as live rock and live stock and save a few dollars.

pjwperth · 05/25/2013, 06:39 AM

Thanks splatee i'm just going to keep softies, mushrooms and zoos at this stage I say that now lol, my design was going to be basically two drop off ledges one from each end and a bombie in the middle.

Palting · 05/25/2013, 09:26 AM

You're in for a ride, as you will get all kinds of opinions on recommendations on what is each posters favorite brand of each equipment

.

Definitely got with the 6'x3'x2'. With this tank at 232 gallons plus the 6'x2'x2' sump at 155 gallons, you'll have a 387 gallon system.

That is a large tank and a large system. Best place for you to post and get the best opinion from people who actually own and maintain large tank systems is be at the large tank forum, here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=252 . In that forum, the smallest tank is 180 gallons, and the largest goes to the thousands of gallons. WOOHOO!!

pjwperth · 05/25/2013, 08:23 PM

Thanks Palting

05/25/2013, 05:38 AM	#1
pjwperth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Perth W.A Posts: 276	How to choose equipment Hi all how do you go about choosing the best protein skimmer for your set-up. Do you look at gph? If so what ratio for your tank? Also do you include the amount of water your whole system hold or just the DT? I get back from work on Tuesday and was going to start looking at equipment so I can design sump and work out Budget if there is one. I also am getting prices on a new tank let me know what you think. tank 1 6x2x2 tank 2 6x3x2 Also have the option of a 6x18x18 tank to convert into sump and refugium. Wife wants one tank and be done with it no upgrades later. This tank will have a custom cabinets including hood by a professional carpenter and me of course, it will be drilled on the side so all plumbing will be hidden as the tank will be viewed from both 6ft sides for joy also dont want to waste cash and get ripped off by buying something that wont keep up. __________________ Don't ask if your not willing to hear the advice from others Current Tank Info: new tank about to set-up my largest so far 72x36x24 wife's idea go large or don't do it

05/25/2013, 05:46 AM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	deff. go with tank 2. that width of 3' is great. as for the skimmer, I was always told to include your whole system __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

05/25/2013, 05:52 AM	#3
pjwperth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Perth W.A Posts: 276	Sorry was going to add I need the equipment to be really reliable as I work away from home, 3 hour plane ride to one of the remote spots in Western Australia, it needs to be easy to use for my wife who has basically no experience keeping aquariums. __________________ Don't ask if your not willing to hear the advice from others Current Tank Info: new tank about to set-up my largest so far 72x36x24 wife's idea go large or don't do it

05/25/2013, 05:59 AM	#4
pjwperth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Perth W.A Posts: 276	sometimes I feel Stupid asking all the new questions but it has been awhile since I have kept Marines or worked in the industry when I knew most answers to most questions. I know surface area is greater in the 3foot wide tank and the more water technically the more stable so to speak it will be it is just a matter of price shifty. I'm meeting with the tank builder on Thursday and he says he has the marine guru on that day and he will be able to "guide" me through the equipment but Ebay looks so tempting with the prices we face in Perth and thats why I need as much info from as many people as I can. __________________ Don't ask if your not willing to hear the advice from others Current Tank Info: new tank about to set-up my largest so far 72x36x24 wife's idea go large or don't do it

05/25/2013, 06:03 AM	#5
pjwperth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Perth W.A Posts: 276	Also a trip to the states maybe in order as the fish and coral food we get here is crap as far as selections go was looking at utube at the HPD food showen by the AmericanReefChannel looked intersting but as per my luck I can't get it here so may have to suck-up to my family over there to get it and ship it to me. __________________ Don't ask if your not willing to hear the advice from others Current Tank Info: new tank about to set-up my largest so far 72x36x24 wife's idea go large or don't do it

05/25/2013, 06:06 AM	#6
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	I agree the wider the tank the more you can do with it. As far as a skimmer goes, I had a 75gl with a 100gl basement sump and purchased a EV240 knowing that I would be upgrading to a 210gl. The skimmer ran excellent with the 75 then after installing the 210 it was ok with a light bioload, but when I increased the load to a heavy bio load it would not keep up although the manufactre claims it would be no problem for 300gl. I have just recently purchased Ocotpus 6000 ext we shall see how that does. I reccomend buying a skimmer for 1.5 times your total water volume. One other thing to consider if you buy a skimmer that is way too big you will not get a constant skim, instead it will be be cycling. Mark

05/25/2013, 06:12 AM	#7
splateee Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 561	The extra width also gives you more options for rock placement and coral placement if you decide to keep them. Are you wanting to keep corals? See if you have a local marine society group in your area, you may be able to get a lot of decent used equipment from there as well as live rock and live stock and save a few dollars.

05/25/2013, 06:39 AM	#8
pjwperth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Perth W.A Posts: 276	Thanks splatee i'm just going to keep softies, mushrooms and zoos at this stage I say that now lol, my design was going to be basically two drop off ledges one from each end and a bombie in the middle. __________________ Don't ask if your not willing to hear the advice from others Current Tank Info: new tank about to set-up my largest so far 72x36x24 wife's idea go large or don't do it

05/25/2013, 09:26 AM	#9
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	You're in for a ride, as you will get all kinds of opinions on recommendations on what is each posters favorite brand of each equipment . Definitely got with the 6'x3'x2'. With this tank at 232 gallons plus the 6'x2'x2' sump at 155 gallons, you'll have a 387 gallon system. That is a large tank and a large system. Best place for you to post and get the best opinion from people who actually own and maintain large tank systems is be at the large tank forum, here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=252 . In that forum, the smallest tank is 180 gallons, and the largest goes to the thousands of gallons. WOOHOO!! __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

05/25/2013, 08:23 PM	#10
pjwperth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Perth W.A Posts: 276	Thanks Palting __________________ Don't ask if your not willing to hear the advice from others Current Tank Info: new tank about to set-up my largest so far 72x36x24 wife's idea go large or don't do it