25 G SPS/clam best equipment

raulalonso · 03/05/2016, 06:15 PM

Hi,

I used to have a 100g SPS tank, suddenly crashed in one of my trips (chiller failed) so I quit from the hobby.

I am planning to set up a 25 gallons Nano Square base of 50 cms X 59 cms (19.76" X 19.76") Height 40 cms (15.81")

I already have a Remora Skimmer (back pack), I know water movement is important, so I am thinking in one Vortek MP10, I know I do not want o spend a lot of money in lighting, so I am thinking on LED lamp, any suggestion?

In my previous tank Heath transference from the pumps was an issue, but in case the temp gets high I may buy

Aquawind Aquarium Fan from Tunze, but that will be later.
For ATO I am planning an Osmolator 3155 from Tunze

Would recommend a back sump?

What about the return pump?

How much live rock should I put?

Here in Mexico in Guadalajara is not that cold, so I do not need a heather right now. But it gets warm.

Thanks so much in advance for sharing your comments

ReefWreak · 03/05/2016, 07:42 PM

Sorry to hear about your tank crashing.

Did you want to do a sump, or no? It's helpful, but not necessary, and it hides the equipment.

I'm not sure if the remora will be very efficient for that size tank though, but you can find out if you already have the skimmer.

Vortech is a lot of money, but man is it great. LEDs, the Mars Aqua LED sets are very good.

raulalonso · 03/05/2016, 09:03 PM

ReefWreak yeah it was really bad coming back from that trip and watching and smelling all of my beautiful SPS and other animals either dead or about to. It took a while but I guess I am ready to re engage in the hobby.

To sump or not to sump? Well just for the sake of hiding the equipment probably I will do that.

So the Remora would not work? Mm mm any other that might fit in a back sump? I am planning stage, so I can make the adjustments.

Thanks for the advise !

Anybody would recommend a return pump?

Volcom698 · 03/05/2016, 09:27 PM

I'm a huge fan of Ehiem pumps, I have one that is super quiet. I have the 1262 on my 30 gallon tank, with a 15 gallon sump. I split my return to run other reactors and stuff, and still have mine turned down some. You can look into the 1262, or the 1260.

raulalonso · 03/05/2016, 09:31 PM

Volcom 698
Thanks!! I certainly like Ehiem pumps too.

Hey which skinner do you have?

Big sump, is that beneath the tank huh?

Volcom698 · 03/05/2016, 10:06 PM

Yea I actually have the tank in my basement and I built a wall and have the sump on the other side. I have a bubble king mini 160 on it. That thing is awesome. I had that on my larger tank when it was running, so I kept it and put it on this tank.

raulalonso · 03/05/2016, 10:08 PM

Thanks Volcom698

And by any chance do you recall the pump you are using for the BK mini?

Thanks buddy

raulalonso · 03/05/2016, 10:09 PM

Ouch I just saw the BK mini sold for $1,133.98 ay caramba!!

Volcom698 · 03/05/2016, 10:21 PM

The pump on the BK is a red dragon pump

I didn't pay that much for it lol. It was an expensive skimmer that's for sure but not that much.

raulalonso · 03/05/2016, 11:18 PM

Mmmm any other good skimmer that might work well?

mrhasan · 03/06/2016, 09:08 PM

You can always go for Aquamaxx/JNS HOB-01 or WS-01 (internal). If you do decide to go with a sump, there are a lot of options but with HOB, HOB-01 is highly praised.

For lighting, if you want to go with LED and want to keep SPS, Kessil A360we should work nicely. I prefer kessil over many other LEDs in the market due to the fact that kessil doesn't give that disco effect almost all other fixtures are known for.

raulalonso · 03/06/2016, 09:24 PM

Thanks Mthasan!

I am still thinking on the sump beneath the tank or in the back, one of my concerns is that I may put the aquarium in a place where the back of the aquarium is seen, and also that for redundancy purposes I may have 3 pipes in the overflow, so that might look weird for such small aquarium.

I may go for the sump in the back just because of that.

Now, would anybody comment on whether or not I need two Vortek pumps facing each other in that small aquarium? Or would one be ok for SPS?

Another question is

For a sump in the back, what Skimmer would you recommend?

Thanks to all for your savvy advises

mrhasan · 03/06/2016, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raulalonso

Thanks Mthasan!

I am still thinking on the sump beneath the tank or in the back, one of my concerns is that I may put the aquarium in a place where the back of the aquarium is seen, and also that for redundancy purposes I may have 3 pipes in the overflow, so that might look weird for such small aquarium.

I may go for the sump in the back just because of that.

Now, would anybody comment on whether or not I need two Vortek pumps facing each other in that small aquarium? Or would one be ok for SPS?

Another question is

For a sump in the back, what Skimmer would you recommend?

Thanks to all for your savvy advises

An HOB sump/refugium (or any HOB per say) is always a overflow/leak waiting to happen. It is better to go for a sump underneath or no sump. Since you are going SPS, it would be ideal to have a sump (powerful skimmer and more water volume). Colourful pipes going around the tank always looks nice haha but that is just a personal preference.

If you still want to go HOB sump, you can't go wrong with a WS-01 (if the size permits). Do a quick search over here and you will see glowing reviews.

For pumps, I prefer multiple pumps. My 20 gallon non SPS tank has two RW04 which is a little less powerful than a vortec mp10. To me, two pumps at a lower flow is better than one pump at max flow. Makes the wave distribution better.

Volcom698 · 03/06/2016, 09:37 PM

I have two vortech MP10s in my 24x24x12 tank, I love the flow of two of them in there.

raulalonso · 03/07/2016, 12:22 PM

Another question that I have is:

Is LED technology already ready to replace T5s?

I am reading about that and some people say is not, and recommend a hybrid solution with LEDs and T5s

What do you think?

As I said I am planning to have SPS, and a Clam. Some Acans as well

Thanks guys

Volcom698 · 03/07/2016, 12:42 PM

I use an ATI 6 bulb set up all T5. I'm thinking of adding a reef bright LED to the fixture though at some point.

ReefWreak · 03/07/2016, 02:17 PM

If you are willing to experiment, then you can do LEDs. If you are relatively new to the hobby, and want plug and play, I would not buy LEDs. A nano tank is more forgiving with LEDs though, but on deeper tanks success with LEDs is not guaranteed.

raulalonso · 03/07/2016, 02:38 PM

Thanks to both of you Volcom698 and ReefWreak

Not new in the hobby, just absent for a number of years.

This used to be my tank :'(

http://youtu.be/yQ3XGrbHlk4

03/05/2016, 06:15 PM	#1
raulalonso Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 72	25 G SPS/clam best equipment Hi, I used to have a 100g SPS tank, suddenly crashed in one of my trips (chiller failed) so I quit from the hobby. I am planning to set up a 25 gallons Nano Square base of 50 cms X 59 cms (19.76" X 19.76") Height 40 cms (15.81") I already have a Remora Skimmer (back pack), I know water movement is important, so I am thinking in one Vortek MP10, I know I do not want o spend a lot of money in lighting, so I am thinking on LED lamp, any suggestion? In my previous tank Heath transference from the pumps was an issue, but in case the temp gets high I may buy Aquawind Aquarium Fan from Tunze, but that will be later. For ATO I am planning an Osmolator 3155 from Tunze Would recommend a back sump? What about the return pump? How much live rock should I put? Here in Mexico in Guadalajara is not that cold, so I do not need a heather right now. But it gets warm. Thanks so much in advance for sharing your comments

03/05/2016, 10:09 PM	#8
raulalonso Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 72	25 G SPS/clam best equipment Ouch I just saw the BK mini sold for $1,133.98 ay caramba!!

03/05/2016, 07:42 PM	#2
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	Sorry to hear about your tank crashing. Did you want to do a sump, or no? It's helpful, but not necessary, and it hides the equipment. I'm not sure if the remora will be very efficient for that size tank though, but you can find out if you already have the skimmer. Vortech is a lot of money, but man is it great. LEDs, the Mars Aqua LED sets are very good.

03/05/2016, 09:03 PM	#3
raulalonso Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 72	ReefWreak yeah it was really bad coming back from that trip and watching and smelling all of my beautiful SPS and other animals either dead or about to. It took a while but I guess I am ready to re engage in the hobby. To sump or not to sump? Well just for the sake of hiding the equipment probably I will do that. So the Remora would not work? Mm mm any other that might fit in a back sump? I am planning stage, so I can make the adjustments. Thanks for the advise ! Anybody would recommend a return pump?

03/05/2016, 09:27 PM	#4
Volcom698 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: South central PA Posts: 132	I'm a huge fan of Ehiem pumps, I have one that is super quiet. I have the 1262 on my 30 gallon tank, with a 15 gallon sump. I split my return to run other reactors and stuff, and still have mine turned down some. You can look into the 1262, or the 1260.

03/05/2016, 09:31 PM	#5
raulalonso Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 72	Volcom 698 Thanks!! I certainly like Ehiem pumps too. Hey which skinner do you have? Big sump, is that beneath the tank huh?

03/05/2016, 10:06 PM	#6
Volcom698 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: South central PA Posts: 132	Yea I actually have the tank in my basement and I built a wall and have the sump on the other side. I have a bubble king mini 160 on it. That thing is awesome. I had that on my larger tank when it was running, so I kept it and put it on this tank.

03/05/2016, 10:08 PM	#7
raulalonso Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 72	Thanks Volcom698 And by any chance do you recall the pump you are using for the BK mini? Thanks buddy

03/05/2016, 10:21 PM	#9
Volcom698 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: South central PA Posts: 132	The pump on the BK is a red dragon pump I didn't pay that much for it lol. It was an expensive skimmer that's for sure but not that much.

03/05/2016, 11:18 PM	#10
raulalonso Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 72	Mmmm any other good skimmer that might work well?

03/06/2016, 09:08 PM	#11
mrhasan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: AB, Canada Posts: 42	You can always go for Aquamaxx/JNS HOB-01 or WS-01 (internal). If you do decide to go with a sump, there are a lot of options but with HOB, HOB-01 is highly praised. For lighting, if you want to go with LED and want to keep SPS, Kessil A360we should work nicely. I prefer kessil over many other LEDs in the market due to the fact that kessil doesn't give that disco effect almost all other fixtures are known for.

03/06/2016, 09:24 PM	#12
raulalonso Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 72	Thanks Mthasan! I am still thinking on the sump beneath the tank or in the back, one of my concerns is that I may put the aquarium in a place where the back of the aquarium is seen, and also that for redundancy purposes I may have 3 pipes in the overflow, so that might look weird for such small aquarium. I may go for the sump in the back just because of that. Now, would anybody comment on whether or not I need two Vortek pumps facing each other in that small aquarium? Or would one be ok for SPS? Another question is For a sump in the back, what Skimmer would you recommend? Thanks to all for your savvy advises

03/06/2016, 09:37 PM	#14
Volcom698 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: South central PA Posts: 132	I have two vortech MP10s in my 24x24x12 tank, I love the flow of two of them in there.

03/07/2016, 12:22 PM	#15
raulalonso Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 72	Another question that I have is: Is LED technology already ready to replace T5s? I am reading about that and some people say is not, and recommend a hybrid solution with LEDs and T5s What do you think? As I said I am planning to have SPS, and a Clam. Some Acans as well Thanks guys

03/07/2016, 12:42 PM	#16
Volcom698 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: South central PA Posts: 132	I use an ATI 6 bulb set up all T5. I'm thinking of adding a reef bright LED to the fixture though at some point.

03/07/2016, 02:17 PM	#17
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	If you are willing to experiment, then you can do LEDs. If you are relatively new to the hobby, and want plug and play, I would not buy LEDs. A nano tank is more forgiving with LEDs though, but on deeper tanks success with LEDs is not guaranteed.

03/07/2016, 02:38 PM	#18
raulalonso Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 72	Thanks to both of you Volcom698 and ReefWreak Not new in the hobby, just absent for a number of years. This used to be my tank :'( http://youtu.be/yQ3XGrbHlk4