400 Gallon SPS System in MIAMI, FLORIDA (PICTURE HEAVY)

Reef_Daniel1527

Reef_Daniel1527

Member
After 5 years in the hobby I am finally on track to build my dream tank with all the bells and whistles after experiencing in my prior systems the importance of having A+ equipment which some of us don't understand from the start is essential to this hobby. I remember myself thinking why would I spend $1000 dollars on a skimmer, no way, lets get the $100 which does the same thing. I guess I don't have to continue the story as some of you can figure out how that ended. Moving on, I have a great passion for the ocean and all of its inhabitants, and enjoy a great deal being able to have a little piece of it in my home day after day for me to look after. I hope you fellow reefers input some feedback so this little ocean comes out to be the best it can be. I have done a lot of research but never enough. Here are the plans.........

400 Gallon Build


TANK: Optiwhite 300 gallon (by Reef Savvy)
-Dimensions 72xx36x27

STAND & CANOPY: PICS UPON ARRIVAL on NOVEMBER 20, 2010

FILTRATION: 100 Gallon Sump (by Reef Savvy)
-Dimensions 48x30x16


LIGHTING: 3- 400 Watt Coral Vue Metal Halides Dimmable Ballast w/ 20k Reeflux bulbs "¦


PROTEIN SKIMMER: Royal Exclusiv Alpha Vertex Cone 250

CALCIUM REACTOR: GEO 618 w/ Peristaltic Pump

POWERHEADS (FLOW): 4-Vortech MP40W ES by EcoTech Marine


CONTROLLER: APEX Controller


RETURN PUMP: Reeflo Barracuda

CHILLER (ALREADY OWN): 1/3HP Current USA Prime Chiller

ATO: Tunze Osmoloator 3155

All feedback is greatly appreciated. :wavehand:
 
This is a picture of the old 150 Gallon set up
Aquarium.jpg
 
where is your sump going to be?
if its a basement sump, then the barracuda would be fine. if its under the tank, i would look into a reeflo dart gold.
i have a standard dart and its super quiet and produces a lot of flow. but i have heard 100% positive feedback on the gold series.

i have heard that the barracuda is a little loud for in the same room. if you have a dedicated fish room, then no worries again. (it will hide any noise)
 
dahenley said:
where is your sump going to be?
if its a basement sump, then the barracuda would be fine. if its under the tank, i would look into a reeflo dart gold.
i have a standard dart and its super quiet and produces a lot of flow. but i have heard 100% positive feedback on the gold series.

i have heard that the barracuda is a little loud for in the same room. if you have a dedicated fish room, then no worries again. (it will hide any noise)
Click to expand...

I have been debating this back and forth. The pump will actually be under the stand. Some people on this matter say that the dart is not sufficient, some say the barracuda is too little or its ok, and some say I should get a hammerhead which I believe is too much. Reason why so far I have chosen to go with the barracuda is because I will be running the main return as well as chiller and any other equipment. Which way to go?:idea:
 
i run the Dart on my 240. its perfect. if it were less, then i wouldnt care especially with those MP40's.

with those in the right place, it shouldn't matter which pump you have.

if you have the pump, then there is no need in spending more money. you can hook it up and if its noisy, then tell your significant other that you need to spend a little more money to get a new quiet one..... :)
they both have 2" suction and 1.5" return so there wont be any plumbing changes needed. (i believe the barracuda uses the 2" suction. if not then you can put a 2" bulkhead and just use a bushing to get it to the 1.5 that way you dont have to deal with it later....


your sump flow only needs to be equal to the skimmer so your not using the sump for actual tank flow. (you can, but the vortechs will do plenty for you if positioned right and on the right mode.)
 
I still haven't purchased a pump. Right now i'm between a super dart gold or a barracuda gold. It'll be one of the two. I'm going to see how many things this pump will run and see which one is more fit. You do have a point with the MP40's doing the job for flow. Thanks for the input dahenley
 
these are my opinions of course....
see if there is anyone in your club or close to you with a barracuda and go and see how loud it is. also do the same with the dart gold. (make sure when someone talks about a dart, they arnt talking about the AO Smith ones... those sucked and they dont make them anymore.... the new ones have a reeflo motor (which is huge) or the gold with the finned balder motor)

that way you can hear a pump in action before you buy one....
i cant wait for more pictures and i loved that tank you got.... i want to see it up and running again!!
 
dahenley said:
these are my opinions of course....
see if there is anyone in your club or close to you with a barracuda and go and see how loud it is. also do the same with the dart gold. (make sure when someone talks about a dart, they arnt talking about the AO Smith ones... those sucked and they dont make them anymore.... the new ones have a reeflo motor (which is huge) or the gold with the finned balder motor)

that way you can hear a pump in action before you buy one....
i cant wait for more pictures and i loved that tank you got.... i want to see it up and running again!!
Click to expand...

Will do, good idea. Will keep the thread updated as I go. I look forward to a great build too. :dance:
 
Joining along. I have a old dart that has been running for 3 years. I about to order a dart gold or barracuda and keep mine as a backup. I agree with dahenly,with your vortechs you should be good with a dart but a barracuda would be better for more options to run other stuff. Hammerhead is bad boy but it also draws some more wattage. Are you gona run a sea swirl or anything to split flow in the tank?
 
erics3000 said:
Joining along. I have a old dart that has been running for 3 years. I about to order a dart gold or barracuda and keep mine as a backup. I agree with dahenly,with your vortechs you should be good with a dart but a barracuda would be better for more options to run other stuff. Hammerhead is bad boy but it also draws some more wattage. Are you gona run a sea swirl or anything to split flow in the tank?
Click to expand...

Haven't really heard much about the sea swirl. Whats the advantage or the need for one? Don't know much about it
 
Congrats on the build. I have the same size tank in the works so looking forward to seeing another tank in progress. I'll be tagging along.
 
dahenley said:
where is your sump going to be?
if its a basement sump, then the barracuda would be fine. if its under the tank, i would look into a reeflo dart gold..
Click to expand...

I think he's going to do an under-the-tank sump, A basement sump just isn't too common down here in florida! :beachbum:

I will be following along for the ride as well. I'm not sure either way on the pumps, sorry.
 
Reef_Daniel1527 said:
Haven't really heard much about the sea swirl. Whats the advantage or the need for one? Don't know much about it
Click to expand...

my technical term for a sea swirl is a motorized output privater.... (nice haa)

it takes your flow. (from your return pump or any flow pump) and instead of pointing in one direction all the time, it pivots it from side to side. more then 90deg. so it has a sweeping back and forth motion and uses your existing flow from the return.
they are neat. i just got 2 and love them. i cant say how much it has contributed to coral growth, but i will say there is some polyp movement in places that have never moved before. and because its not stationary flow, it reaches so many other places that normally wouldnt have flow...
i hope i didnt complicate that too much....
its almost 1am here......
 
dahenley said:
my technical term for a sea swirl is a motorized output privater.... (nice haa)

it takes your flow. (from your return pump or any flow pump) and instead of pointing in one direction all the time, it pivots it from side to side. more then 90deg. so it has a sweeping back and forth motion and uses your existing flow from the return.
they are neat. i just got 2 and love them. i cant say how much it has contributed to coral growth, but i will say there is some polyp movement in places that have never moved before. and because its not stationary flow, it reaches so many other places that normally wouldnt have flow...
i hope i didnt complicate that too much....
its almost 1am here......
Click to expand...

Very well put, nice and easy. I like the idea of this thing. I had never really heard too much about these, guess I was missing out. Post some pictures of yours if you could or a video to see them in action, that way we get to see your display. Thanks

erics3000 said:
http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEEQ8wIwBA#

Just a little random flow with your excellent flow from your vortechs would be sweet

I have one of these hooked to my return.

http://www.oceansmotions.com/store/...0df2d&osCsid=fbdd1e2f8fd50141f44fbf281430df2d
Click to expand...

Checked both of these out, gotta say they both look good. I'm gonna definitely include one of these. Thanks for the links.

Mangodude said:
I think he's going to do an under-the-tank sump, A basement sump just isn't too common down here in florida! :beachbum:

I will be following along for the ride as well. I'm not sure either way on the pumps, sorry.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more with you, basement's here would be below water in most cases as we are right above sea level. :beachbum: Anyhow a wonderful state we have.

gtaylor67 said:
Congrats on the build. I have the same size tank in the works so looking forward to seeing another tank in progress. I'll be tagging along.
Click to expand...

Thank you and good luck on your build. I'm really looking forward to receiving the tank, I really like the width of this tank, it will be a whole different ball game than my prior 150 which was 18" wide. BIG DIFFERENCE. :thumbsup: Did you go with the Marineland tank or a custom made tank?
 
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