What do you think of my tank plans?

[TimLikesFish]

Hey guys so I'm getting ready to set up a 120 mixed reef and I'm putting together a list of equipment I will be buying.

-Standard 120 Gal with 40 gal sump holding a refugium.
-Apex Lite
-1 Vortech Mp40W and 1 Tunze 6045
-2 AI Sol Super Blue units
-JBJ ATO
-Three Little Fishes Kalk Stirrer
-Haven't really picked out an RO unit yet, was looking at the BRS ones. Any Suggestions? I already own an Eheim 1262 for my return pump and an MSX-200 which i will be upgrading the pump to a bubbleblaster 3000.

I know these posts are annoying for a lot of people but nothing's worse than spending good money on equipment to find out about fatal flaws afterward lol. Thanks for any input

[worm5406]

So far so good.

Think about a QT tank (little 10 gallon one works good.)
I like the AI's but I have not gotten one yet.
I have two mp40's plus some others.

[Reefmedic79]

I think the Eheim will be a little under powered fro a return, IMO.

Why 1 Tunze and 1 Vortech? Why not 2 of one or the other?

[footballdude2k3]

If you are set on two pumps, I would do an MP10 and MP40, if you want one, you could get away with an MP60

Edit, actually I do not think the magnets will work on a 120

[worm5406]

Originally Posted by footballdude2k3

Edit, actually I do not think the magnets will work on a 120

HUH? Magnets? They work fine on a 120.

[TimLikesFish]

yea i want to do an mp10 but i heard the glass on a 120 is thicker than 3/8" which is all the magnets are rated for. thanks for the replies

[footballdude2k3]

Originally Posted by worm5406

HUH? Magnets? They work fine on a 120.

the MP10, not the other ones

[worm5406]

Ahhh ok... I have mp40's.

[footballdude2k3]

Yea I am getting things together for a 180 build, using 2 MP40s

[worm5406]

NOT hijacking this thread... look in the special interest group in the large tank area for ideas. I have a thread there too.

SO... Personally I would stay with the same type. That way parts and controlls will be the same. My two mp40's are on opposite sides of the tank and they cross streams right in the middle, but slightly off set on purpose. That way they get a GOOD flow/mix right in the center (ritteri there) and when they are on anti-synch mode they make a GOOD flow all across the tank and collect up any detrus and move it to get removed.

Funny the tank is a LARGE stacked figure 8 about 4 times when you follow the flow of some flake food. Makes for good clean sand.

[TimLikesFish]

Thanks for the help. As long as i have good flow from my powerheads, will an eheim 1262 suffice for my return? I figure if the sump flow was slighlty slower it would just mean more efficient skimming, no?

[milonedp]

How many times the tank volume would that ehiem be? And what is the recommended throughput on your skimmer. Your assumption is correct about getting more efficient skimming but only to a point most people i think push took much volume through their sump.

An mp60 would be too big you'd have to have it toned down otherwise I'd be took close to some corals causing tissue damage, two 40s would probably be better depending on species of coral. I had two 40s on opposite sides of a 180 6ft tank, tried a 60 on a 8 ft tank and that never would have worked in my 180 you'd need too much clearance in front of it.

Are you planning on going sps heavy? If not you may not want the kalk stirrer.

[cap032]

Originally Posted by TimLikesFish

Thanks for the help. As long as i have good flow from my powerheads, will an eheim 1262 suffice for my return? I figure if the sump flow was slighlty slower it would just mean more efficient skimming, no?

I have a Sicce Syncra 3.0 dialed down to produce approx 300gph through the sump. With the powerheads you plan to use, you dont need a ton of flow through the sump. More flow than the skimmer can process equals more splashing, noise, and power usage. You have the right idea.

[TimLikesFish]

Thanks for the answers. The Eheim 1262 is rated for 900GPH but the chart from Eheim says the pump will do 600gph at 5-6 feet of head. The reason i have this pump is because I had bought it a couple of years ago with the plans of using it for a 90. I really want to make it work with my 120 though. I do plan on being more focused on SPS down the line. Im not really sure what would be considered heavy for you SPS-ers. Everything i see or read says SPS rips through calcium so I figured I would need to start dosing or have a reactor relatively soon once i start SPS.

[milonedp]

I'd say to add it when you need it, if you start putting something (Alk and CA) into the system that the tank isn't consuming things can get out of whack (learned the hard way a couple times on that one). As for the return 600gph isn't too low for a 120, that is 5 times the display, that is the top end of what I run at, the way I've always looked at it is the sump is for filtration not for flow. Mp40s, Tunzes, etc are much better (less power consumption) for flow as you aren't fighting gravity. I didn't catch your skimmers recommended throughput but I'm guessing that its less than 600gph. Outpacing the filtration needs, skimmer, reactors etc... by too much in your sump is just wasted electricity in my opinion. Basically flow in the tank is driven by the needs for the animals, flow through the sump is driven by the needs of your filtration otherwise you are just spending more on getting those gph...

[Swamp Donkey]

Personally I'd go with 3 AI sol on a 120. I have a 75 with 2 AI sol Blues and while they look amazing I think they would leave a ton of dark spots on a 120.

[djp2313]

Originally Posted by milonedp

I' As for the return 600gph isn't too low for a 120, that is 5 times the display, that is the top end of what I run at, the way I've always looked at it is the sump is for filtration not for flow. Mp40s, Tunzes, etc are much better (less power consumption) for flow as you aren't fighting gravity. I didn't catch your skimmers recommended throughput but I'm guessing that its less than 600gph. Outpacing the filtration needs, skimmer, reactors etc... by too much in your sump is just wasted electricity in my opinion. Basically flow in the tank is driven by the needs for the animals, flow through the sump is driven by the needs of your filtration otherwise you are just spending more on getting those gph...

Couldn't have said this better myself. No reason to be concerned about the eheim.

Did I miss a skimmer or are you going pure ATS?

[TimLikesFish]

Originally Posted by djp2313

Couldn't have said this better myself. No reason to be concerned about the eheim.

Did I miss a skimmer or are you going pure ATS?

I have an MSX-200 that i will be swapping the psk-2500 for a bubbleblaster 3000

[TimLikesFish]

Originally Posted by Swamp Donkey

Personally I'd go with 3 AI sol on a 120. I have a 75 with 2 AI sol Blues and while they look amazing I think they would leave a ton of dark spots on a 120.

Couldn't that be adjusted by raising the fixtures, though?

[whiteshark]

Originally Posted by TimLikesFish

Couldn't that be adjusted by raising the fixtures, though?

To some extent but you will lose par quickly as you raise the fixtures up; especially low in the tank.

[Swamp Donkey]

Originally Posted by whiteshark

To some extent but you will lose par quickly as you raise the fixtures up; especially low in the tank.

Exactly. you can raise them, but everything in the tank will suffer. If you are building it right spend the extra few $$$

[TimLikesFish]

Any recommendations on other comparable/better LED set-ups? Not trying to break the bank but i do want to do things right. I'd really like to stay at or below the price of the 2 AI Sol units but if 3 is the only way then i'm sure a better fixture could be purchased.

[milonedp]

Have you looked at the apollo reef leds? Not the knock offs, the ones made in the states. You should talk with Joe over there and he could help you out.

Don't forget of you want a mixed reef you'll need some lower light areas toward the sides anyway.

I have 4 for my 96 by 36 by 30 (probably could have gotten away with 3), still trying to balance the color but the coverage is great hard to beat on the price even though you need to get a controller.

Also heard really good things about the orphek atlantik not sure if one would cover your tank to make it price comparative.

[TimLikesFish]

What about 2 Ecotech Radions? They seem to be pretty solid for a decent price.

[milonedp]

They'd work but two of the new ones cost almost as much as what i needed for my entire tank with the apollos.

The Radions have far more whistles and bells and if that is important to you then they make great products and have great customer service. If you just want lights that can be controlled and dimmed the apollos are nice.

Id still take a look at orphek if i were you and you were considering something in the price point of Radions.