120 gal. lights & pumps questions

trenity · 04/25/2006, 12:33 PM

Ok,
I have read every "120 gal. project" thread, the "T-5 lighting thread" and read countless other posts and all I did was confuse myself to the point where I dont know what to do. Below I will list what I am planning to have in the tank and other info. I am looking for suggestions/clarifications.

120 gal. Acrylic tank (48-24-24) with 1.5" drain and 1" emergency drain 40-50 gal. sump (unless the boss says ok to running my sump out of the basement). Aquarium inhabitants will be: 100 or so pounds of LS, 90-110 lbs of LR, a few tangs, possibly 1 trigger (reef safe), possibly 1 angel, 2-3 cleaner shrimp, 1 coral banded, 20 hermits, 20 snails, 2 star fish, some soft corals of some type.

Return Pump: 1.5" main return Tee'd into 2 - 1 inch lines w/ lock fittings. I have thought about running penductors on on the returns instead of the lock fittings. Pan World 50P is what I was thinking if I use the lock fittings. If I use the the penductor setup should I get a pressure rated pump?

Skimmer: ASM-G2 or G3 w/ RC mods or a ER - Open for suggestions

Lighting: My hood will only be 6" off the surface so MH retro is out. I have looked at the MH/T5 combo fixtures which will elimante my canopy. T5 lighting is what I am leaning towards. Should I go with 8 - 36" T5's or 6 - 48" or 8 - 48". I do not want to have to buy a chiller. Will 8 T5" with 2 large fans keep the heat down? I figured up 3.7 watts per gal. w/ 8 - 48" T5's which is low. but reading about them I have gathered it is ok to have lower wattage / per gal.

Closed Loop: I have not decided yet on a closed loop or not. I would like to have one plumbed for future use. If I do I will use a Pan world 50P until I need something bigger like a Dart.

Any suggestions of any kind would be appreciated.
Thanks
Chris

trenity · 04/25/2006, 11:32 PM

4th page rescue!!

cecilturtle · 04/26/2006, 12:58 AM

Lookup Thunnus's 90 and Clkwrk's 120. Anything in between will be fine.

rickburdeniuk · 04/26/2006, 05:02 AM

If you start with six 48" T5's you can always add more. Later if you move on to SPS or clams you can also consider overdriving four of them with an Icecap 660 ballast to give you a high output zone for needy animals.

I'd go for the G3 with or without the RC mod over the G2/w.

I'd say buy a new affordable and slower return pump and go for the closed loop using the one P50 you have on hand. Just be sure to plumb things so you can easily remove and upgrade the pump when you decide you need more flow.

Forget the penductors for now, they require a lot of pressure, even using the smallest ones I've ever seen a Mak4/Iwaki 55 RLT can barely power two of them.

Mr James · 04/26/2006, 07:30 AM

Tell the "boss" that if you place the sump in the basement, you won't have to buy a chiller. I wish I could have a basement!! If I were in your shoes, I would run T5's only and have a pair of 100g sumps in the basement, on for the fuge and the other for the sump. As for skimmer, there are plenty of opionons out there. I prefer the Beckett driven skimmers. There are a bunch of good skimmers for sale on the "for sale boards" here on RC.

04/25/2006, 12:33 PM	#1
trenity Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 16	120 gal. lights & pumps questions Ok, I have read every "120 gal. project" thread, the "T-5 lighting thread" and read countless other posts and all I did was confuse myself to the point where I dont know what to do. Below I will list what I am planning to have in the tank and other info. I am looking for suggestions/clarifications. 120 gal. Acrylic tank (48-24-24) with 1.5" drain and 1" emergency drain 40-50 gal. sump (unless the boss says ok to running my sump out of the basement). Aquarium inhabitants will be: 100 or so pounds of LS, 90-110 lbs of LR, a few tangs, possibly 1 trigger (reef safe), possibly 1 angel, 2-3 cleaner shrimp, 1 coral banded, 20 hermits, 20 snails, 2 star fish, some soft corals of some type. Return Pump: 1.5" main return Tee'd into 2 - 1 inch lines w/ lock fittings. I have thought about running penductors on on the returns instead of the lock fittings. Pan World 50P is what I was thinking if I use the lock fittings. If I use the the penductor setup should I get a pressure rated pump? Skimmer: ASM-G2 or G3 w/ RC mods or a ER - Open for suggestions Lighting: My hood will only be 6" off the surface so MH retro is out. I have looked at the MH/T5 combo fixtures which will elimante my canopy. T5 lighting is what I am leaning towards. Should I go with 8 - 36" T5's or 6 - 48" or 8 - 48". I do not want to have to buy a chiller. Will 8 T5" with 2 large fans keep the heat down? I figured up 3.7 watts per gal. w/ 8 - 48" T5's which is low. but reading about them I have gathered it is ok to have lower wattage / per gal. Closed Loop: I have not decided yet on a closed loop or not. I would like to have one plumbed for future use. If I do I will use a Pan world 50P until I need something bigger like a Dart. Any suggestions of any kind would be appreciated. Thanks Chris

04/26/2006, 05:02 AM	#4
rickburdeniuk Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 93	If you start with six 48" T5's you can always add more. Later if you move on to SPS or clams you can also consider overdriving four of them with an Icecap 660 ballast to give you a high output zone for needy animals. I'd go for the G3 with or without the RC mod over the G2/w. I'd say buy a new affordable and slower return pump and go for the closed loop using the one P50 you have on hand. Just be sure to plumb things so you can easily remove and upgrade the pump when you decide you need more flow. Forget the penductors for now, they require a lot of pressure, even using the smallest ones I've ever seen a Mak4/Iwaki 55 RLT can barely power two of them. Last edited by rickburdeniuk; 04/26/2006 at 05:13 AM.

04/25/2006, 11:32 PM	#2
trenity Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 16	4th page rescue!!

04/26/2006, 12:58 AM	#3
cecilturtle Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 601	Lookup Thunnus's 90 and Clkwrk's 120. Anything in between will be fine.

04/26/2006, 07:30 AM	#5
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	Tell the "boss" that if you place the sump in the basement, you won't have to buy a chiller. I wish I could have a basement!! If I were in your shoes, I would run T5's only and have a pair of 100g sumps in the basement, on for the fuge and the other for the sump. As for skimmer, there are plenty of opionons out there. I prefer the Beckett driven skimmers. There are a bunch of good skimmers for sale on the "for sale boards" here on RC.