I'm 30 and need my first tank

benbarfield · 01/04/2017, 08:05 PM

I am looking to get my first tank. I am trying to decide on a 120 gal (48 1/2 x 24 1/4 x 25 1/2) or a 125 gal (72 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 23 3/8). I want to do a mixed fish reef tank.

What kind of lighting would you recommend? I was looking into the the Current USA Orbit Marine IC 48-60".

Here are the components I am looking at getting:
R-200 Refugium for 125-225 g
Current USA eFlux DC Flow Pump 1900 mph
Current USA eFlux Accessory Wave Pump 660 gph
Reef Octopus Classic 150 Protein Skimmer

Comments and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Ben[/FONT]

whosurcaddie · 01/04/2017, 08:54 PM

Skip the current wave pump and get a couple Jebao pp8's.

Ditch the orbit marine fixture not powerful enough for lps or sps. Its really soft coral only, and that's from mid to top level. Especially on the 120 as its deeper than the 125.

As far as the tank goes it comes down to personal preference. Would you want a shallow tank or a deeper one?

A 125 will be more expensive to light because of the extra foot of tank width.
Most fixtures in the hobby today cover a 2'x2' area. That leave's you needing 3 for the 125 and two for the 120. 2 fixtures on the 125 would lead to shading.

The lighting completely depends on your budget. You could choose something like the galaxy hydro for about 99$ a piece. Or your could get Ecotech or AI Hydra's for 600$ a piece.

I personally run a 120 and love it. I went with the reefbreeders photon 48 v2. The fixture is fully controllable with sunrise and sunset and at 590$ it comes cheaper than the ecotech or radions and it wil span the length of your tank. They also sell a fixture for 5 foot tanks.
https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-v2/

There is a sticky at the top of this forum titled setting up. I would give it a good read it will help a lot.

Good luck, and welcome to Reef Central.

Homestead_Dad · 01/04/2017, 09:00 PM

I'm setting up my first saltwater tank now. My equipment list looks really similar to yours. I was waiting to see some reviews on the. Current USA loop equipment the IC lights and eflux pump. I'm still new to the hobby so my opinion isn't worth much but I've been doing my homework. The 48" 120 is better for mixed reef and the 72" 125 for Fish only. The reasons are the 48" is 2 2ft cubes and most high end lighting comes in pucks that light 2ft sections. If you get into SPS corals this may become real important and save you 400-600 dollars.
Then there is aquascaping 2ft deep vs 18" makes a big difference. My tank I'm setting up is a 36"x18"x20" it was practically giving to me or I would have bought the 4ft 120. 18" is terribly little space to work with and get depth to your aquascaping. Not impossible but hard.

From what I have read the current USA lights have great color but they are kind of low wattage. The IC lights are new and don't have any reviews on them or videos of them growing anything. However the price is right and the effects are awesome. My plan was to get the IC lights and if they didn't grow corals well add t-5s or another IC light bar. I Have some Compact Florescent lights right now but the bulbs are expensive.

One other thing to think about is the loop system doesn't work well with other controllers so if one day you decide you want an apex to control dosing, temp, etc.. you will probably wind up scraping the loop system and using the apex as it has many more functions and safety features.

Hopefully someone who owns the IC lights and loop system will chime in, I'm interested in what they think.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

flooddc · 01/04/2017, 09:02 PM

I'd go with the 120. I had a 125 before. While the 125 have a nice length, it's too narrow for aquascape. As for lighting, I never had experience Current Marine lighting. However, I recalled that many reefers do not like it. I notice from the spec that the light has ONLY 46 Watts with 192 leds. Which equate to only .24w per led. IMO, not ideal for reef. probably good for fish only. For the price, you're better off with 2 cheap LED boxes.
The skimmer is a good choice, but for the other equipment, there are better options out there than what you listed. example, DIY sump that can give you much more volume as well as room for equipment/expansion.

whosurcaddie · 01/04/2017, 09:06 PM

Just to give you the idea of the power difference of the LED's in an actual reef fixture and the orbit fixture.

The orbit marine has 44 watts of led's that's the 46" fixture. So the led's are one watt led's. Always avoid one watt led's. The galaxy hydro the cheapest fixture that you can get for your reef has 144 watts. So that's less than a 3rd of the power of a 20" fixture in the hydro.

Edit: they are .25 watt led's sorry for the confusion.

FullBoreReefer · 01/04/2017, 09:19 PM

If anything, I'd recommend the wider of the two tanks, 18.5" inches will not give you much for aquascaping.

Homestead_Dad · 01/04/2017, 09:35 PM

Here is my DIY sump. 29 gallons cost me $55 including getting glass cut and silicone.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

benbarfield · 01/08/2017, 11:32 AM

I decided to go with a 60x24x18 tank. Thanks for all the input and suggestions.

TauntingBeef · 01/08/2017, 05:53 PM

I like my dsuny lights they are on ebay

heathlindner25 · 01/08/2017, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homestead_Dad

Here is my DIY sump. 29 gallons cost me $55 including getting glass cut and silicone.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What kind of silicone did you use?

Homestead_Dad · 01/08/2017, 06:56 PM

GE I

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

WatDatThing · 01/08/2017, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TauntingBeef

I like my dsuny lights they are on ebay

How long have you had the dsuny?

TauntingBeef · 01/09/2017, 07:38 AM

6 months so far they come with a controller and there sleek not bad for $200 for 2 of them

ericarenee · 01/09/2017, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homestead_Dad

Here is my DIY sump. 29 gallons cost me $55 including getting glass cut and silicone.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

this is likely too tall for a sump.. you are going to have issues getting equipment especially a simmer in and out of that especially if its under your stand

Xandernfs · 01/09/2017, 09:49 AM

Having a tank that size, you'll prolly want something a little bigger than the RO Classic 150 skimmer.

Homestead_Dad · 01/09/2017, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericarenee

this is likely too tall for a sump.. you are going to have issues getting equipment especially a simmer in and out of that especially if its under your stand

It's a tight fit but will work

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01/04/2017, 08:05 PM	#1
benbarfield Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 127	I'm 30 and need my first tank I am looking to get my first tank. I am trying to decide on a 120 gal (48 1/2 x 24 1/4 x 25 1/2) or a 125 gal (72 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 23 3/8). I want to do a mixed fish reef tank. What kind of lighting would you recommend? I was looking into the the Current USA Orbit Marine IC 48-60". Here are the components I am looking at getting: R-200 Refugium for 125-225 g Current USA eFlux DC Flow Pump 1900 mph Current USA eFlux Accessory Wave Pump 660 gph Reef Octopus Classic 150 Protein Skimmer Comments and recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Ben[/FONT]

01/04/2017, 09:06 PM	#5
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Just to give you the idea of the power difference of the LED's in an actual reef fixture and the orbit fixture. The orbit marine has 44 watts of led's that's the 46" fixture. So the led's are one watt led's. Always avoid one watt led's. The galaxy hydro the cheapest fixture that you can get for your reef has 144 watts. So that's less than a 3rd of the power of a 20" fixture in the hydro. Edit: they are .25 watt led's sorry for the confusion. Last edited by whosurcaddie; 01/04/2017 at 09:26 PM.

01/04/2017, 09:19 PM	#6
FullBoreReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wooster, OH Posts: 1,862	If anything, I'd recommend the wider of the two tanks, 18.5" inches will not give you much for aquascaping. __________________ 60x36x24 mixed reef. 40b sump. Regal 250int Varios. 4xHydra26HDs+t5s. 4xMp40wes. Apex2016.

01/08/2017, 05:53 PM	#9
TauntingBeef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Aztec,Nm Posts: 200	I like my dsuny lights they are on ebay __________________ 2 blue chromis,1 maldives exquisite firefish, 2 yellow clown gobies,1 green clown gobies, lawnmower blennie it 1 flamehawk Current Tank Info: 48"long 55 gallon 30 pounds of dead sand,40 pounds of reefsaver rock, 5 pounds of live fiji rock, 2 sun powerheads,20 long sump with a viaAqua 2600 pump

01/09/2017, 07:38 AM	#13
TauntingBeef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Aztec,Nm Posts: 200	6 months so far they come with a controller and there sleek not bad for $200 for 2 of them __________________ 2 blue chromis,1 maldives exquisite firefish, 2 yellow clown gobies,1 green clown gobies, lawnmower blennie it 1 flamehawk Current Tank Info: 48"long 55 gallon 30 pounds of dead sand,40 pounds of reefsaver rock, 5 pounds of live fiji rock, 2 sun powerheads,20 long sump with a viaAqua 2600 pump

01/04/2017, 08:54 PM	#2
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Skip the current wave pump and get a couple Jebao pp8's. Ditch the orbit marine fixture not powerful enough for lps or sps. Its really soft coral only, and that's from mid to top level. Especially on the 120 as its deeper than the 125. As far as the tank goes it comes down to personal preference. Would you want a shallow tank or a deeper one? A 125 will be more expensive to light because of the extra foot of tank width. Most fixtures in the hobby today cover a 2'x2' area. That leave's you needing 3 for the 125 and two for the 120. 2 fixtures on the 125 would lead to shading. The lighting completely depends on your budget. You could choose something like the galaxy hydro for about 99$ a piece. Or your could get Ecotech or AI Hydra's for 600$ a piece. I personally run a 120 and love it. I went with the reefbreeders photon 48 v2. The fixture is fully controllable with sunrise and sunset and at 590$ it comes cheaper than the ecotech or radions and it wil span the length of your tank. They also sell a fixture for 5 foot tanks. https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-v2/ There is a sticky at the top of this forum titled setting up. I would give it a good read it will help a lot. Good luck, and welcome to Reef Central.

01/04/2017, 09:00 PM	#3
Homestead_Dad Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 44	I'm setting up my first saltwater tank now. My equipment list looks really similar to yours. I was waiting to see some reviews on the. Current USA loop equipment the IC lights and eflux pump. I'm still new to the hobby so my opinion isn't worth much but I've been doing my homework. The 48" 120 is better for mixed reef and the 72" 125 for Fish only. The reasons are the 48" is 2 2ft cubes and most high end lighting comes in pucks that light 2ft sections. If you get into SPS corals this may become real important and save you 400-600 dollars. Then there is aquascaping 2ft deep vs 18" makes a big difference. My tank I'm setting up is a 36"x18"x20" it was practically giving to me or I would have bought the 4ft 120. 18" is terribly little space to work with and get depth to your aquascaping. Not impossible but hard. From what I have read the current USA lights have great color but they are kind of low wattage. The IC lights are new and don't have any reviews on them or videos of them growing anything. However the price is right and the effects are awesome. My plan was to get the IC lights and if they didn't grow corals well add t-5s or another IC light bar. I Have some Compact Florescent lights right now but the bulbs are expensive. One other thing to think about is the loop system doesn't work well with other controllers so if one day you decide you want an apex to control dosing, temp, etc.. you will probably wind up scraping the loop system and using the apex as it has many more functions and safety features. Hopefully someone who owns the IC lights and loop system will chime in, I'm interested in what they think. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

01/04/2017, 09:02 PM	#4
flooddc Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 304	I'd go with the 120. I had a 125 before. While the 125 have a nice length, it's too narrow for aquascape. As for lighting, I never had experience Current Marine lighting. However, I recalled that many reefers do not like it. I notice from the spec that the light has ONLY 46 Watts with 192 leds. Which equate to only .24w per led. IMO, not ideal for reef. probably good for fish only. For the price, you're better off with 2 cheap LED boxes. The skimmer is a good choice, but for the other equipment, there are better options out there than what you listed. example, DIY sump that can give you much more volume as well as room for equipment/expansion.

01/04/2017, 09:35 PM	#7
Homestead_Dad Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 44	Here is my DIY sump. 29 gallons cost me $55 including getting glass cut and silicone. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

01/08/2017, 11:32 AM	#8
benbarfield Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 127	I decided to go with a 60x24x18 tank. Thanks for all the input and suggestions.

01/08/2017, 06:56 PM	#11
Homestead_Dad Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 44	GE I Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

01/09/2017, 09:49 AM	#15
Xandernfs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: STL Posts: 730	Having a tank that size, you'll prolly want something a little bigger than the RO Classic 150 skimmer.