75g RR sump, wet/dry, or refugium

[knoxtnreef]

hi all

new saltwater hobbiest here. I have a 75g RR and need advice on which filtration option to choose for reef keeping. I would like a cheap yet effective solution because lighting is going to take all my cash. There are many options being thrown at me....the LFS would love for me to buy their wet/dry system all of which are pretty much plug and go but with a steep price tag. I want an option that is easy to setup, productive for my reef, and safe because I live in a rented condo.

BTW lighting suggestions are also appreciated.

I'm looking at anything MH 350W + 10k w/moonlight & ballistic for Coral, Anemones, Clams that is mountable in a canopy?

 

[tangboy]

I would go fuge!!! More experienced will fill you in in just a sec....

 

[cee]

Wet/dry really only needed (and that's debatable) for a fish-only system. LR is really all you need, plus a good skimmer, but the skimmer is only "critical" if keeping some of the harder to keep corals or if you have a big fish load. Lighting doesn't have to be expensive, though. I had a dual 250 W probe-start ballast posted awhile back. I still have it, and it was less than $100 and I could probably throw in sockets and maybe a reflector. OK bulbs can be had on ebay for around $20 each which will be good enough to get you started until you decide which way you really want to go with the hobby. Welcome, good luck, and keep posting questions on here.

Dave

 

[ct_vol]

Yeah, I'm all for a nice refugium and a top notch skimmer... Oh, and plenty of Live Rock... I'm not a big fan of the skimmers at LFS's... But really it depends on how much you're willing to spend...

As far as lighting goes, you'd be fine with T5's on a 75, so thats one option... Or you could go with a couple of 150w MH's or 250w MH's... Another thing you'll have to consider is whether you want to go mogul or HQI...

If you'd like to come to the meeting, its supposed to be at my house... I have just about every different lighting setup you can have... lol Well, besides mogul MH's... There are pros and cons to them all... So if you could give us more of an idea of what you're looking to do and spend, our advice can be a bit more specific...

Oh and:

[welcome]

 

[knoxtnreef]

I'm currently looking at the (below) but it's over 400 bucks (AHH) and is pretty big...I'd have to build custom stands inside the canopy with fans blowing in to accomidate the monster.

"Current USA 48" 2.150w 14k Sunpod HQI Metal Halide"

 

[ct_vol]

Current makes a retrofit that would be easier to accomodate inside a canopy... Sunpods and Outer Orbits are made to fit on top of the tank... Here's a pic of the Outer Orbit I have over my 56g, and the Sunpod I have over my 24...

I just put up the 56 about 2 weeks ago, so excuse the barren look...

And heres a pic of my aquapod with the Sunpod on top... The pic is about a year old, but you get the idea...

 

[Pandarian]

Nice light Randy

 

[ct_vol]

lol Thanks Donny... I'm pretty tickled with it... You need to show pics of yours whenever you get it set up...

 

[knoxtnreef]

thanks for the nice pics ct_vol!

i'm glad you have the current usa's. I have a question.

the Current USA 48" 2x150w MH HQI 14k I found a good deal on does not have Actinic light but

I found this response from Current USA on the product

"The fixture uses a 14,000k HQI lamp and provides an excellent spectrum for coral growth, so most hobbyists do not usually have to supplement Actinic lighting with this fixture."

Do you think this is a current asumption? I do not want to buy something that is missing an important part of lighting. I know they do make system with Actinic lighting built in but their mostly 10k.

 

[ct_vol]

Well, the sunpods don't have actinic supplements... You'd be fine with 14k's... I have a 14k 150w phoenix in my sunpod... And I love it... That being said, you will get a broader spectrum of light with a 10k bulb w/ actinic supplementation... I personally don't like the look of 10k bulbs... I think they look a bit too yellow, even with actinics... But its a matter of personal preference... I'm going to try using a 20k bulb in my Sunpod next, just to get better coloration of my sps... The 14k isn't bad by any means, but certain SPS look more brown and don't color up as nicely without some type of actinic supplement...

There is another thread going about 250w MH bulbs... Supposedly the Reeflux bulbs even the 10k's have a color spike at the 452nm color spectrum... This will bring out the blues in your corals... Actinics usually run at either the 420nm (purple) or 460nm (blue) color spectrums... So thats probably the next bulb I'll try on my 120g...

Another thing to consider is bulb life...

VHO's need to be replaced every 6 months
MH's usually every year
PC's every year
t5's are supposedly good for up to 18months to 2 years... We'll see...

Here's a link to some bulb comparisons on the same tank... It should give you more of an idea of what you want to do...

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_metal_halide_bulbs_information.asp?CartId=

 

[knoxtnreef]

i like the hamilton 1400k in the pictures. They bring out descent color in the reef. Sorry to be such a newb on this subject. I've been reading but it's hard to determine what to buy without actually seeing it

None the less I personally like the blue look lights give off at night. I assume this is done by the actinic supplements? From what I understand the MH bulbs in the Sunpod only give off a white color while still brining out the color of your reef.

That's at least what I think I'm seeing in your pictures. With that said, If I want that blue look during the night time I probally shouldn't go with the sunpod..is that a correct obersvation or am I totally off here?

If I'm asking too many questions I'll come to the meetings for sure!

 

[ct_vol]

It is hard to determine what you like w/o seeing it... Thats what is nice about the reef club and this discussion board... You can learn from other peoples' knowledge, success, and failure... So no need for apologizing about asking questions... People will agree and disagree according to what they've had success with... I'm surprised more people haven't chimed in???

 

[tangboy]

I would chime in but I have no idea about lighting My schools project currently is using 2 PC ballists. Both have 4X65w bulbs in them. Two blues and two white in each one. I have no idea the intensity Just blue and white is all I can come up with! Have a great night!

 

[knoxtnreef]

Ok so I bought a sump/fuge today off ebay. I had them customize the length because the 24" long would not make the turn in my AGA stand because of the bracers (already not liking the stand). Instead the sump will measure 20" long. In addition the kit allows me to place the baffles myself.

it's 20L x 12W x 14H

I'll like set it up just like you see in the picture. Placing a in sum skimmer at the end with return to the tank. I'll need to pick-up sump piping for the return. This is likely over board in terms of size of a sump/fuge but at least ill have enough room to hide my heater, pump, skimmer with out the possibility of flooding. Please chime in with questions/concerns.... I haven't recieved this yet and still need to buy a skimmer once I get it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=300119542098&rd=1&rd=1

 

[ct_vol]

I probably would have figured out which skimmer I was going with before I designed my sump... Skimmer footprints can vary quite a bit...

 

[skwirl]

if i were you, i would have the skimmer in the first chamber where the water drains. you want as much raw water going in you skimmer as possible, and if you put it in your return chamber, it will be easier for microbubbles to escape into your display. also how big is your skimmer chamber? its gonna be hard to find a skimmer that will handle the tank well, and fit in that small of a compartment.

 

[knoxtnreef]

I wont assemble the interior baffles until I have a skimmer. That way I can make enough room for whatever I buy. I'd say the skimmer can't go over 18" in height though because with this AGA stand there's only like 23 1/2" from top to bottom to work with.

If I place the skimmer in the drain chamber the LFS seems to think I'll actually have higher oxygen levels then if I skimmed last? Also, by having the skimmer in the return chamber it weeds out bad things from the refugium. You guy's know more about this stuff then me. When I get back in town Friday I'll try to make a meeting to discuss.

 

[ct_vol]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10111644#post10111644 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by knoxtnreef
If I place the skimmer in the drain chamber the LFS seems to think I'll actually have higher oxygen levels then if I skimmed last? Also, by having the skimmer in the return chamber it weeds out bad things from the refugium.

I really don't get these statements... I don't see why you would have higher oxygen levels if you skimmed in the drain chamber??? Just having a skimmer anywhere in your sump will help raise your oxygen levels... They suck in air from their venturi and and then chop it up with a needle wheel or other methods... Oxygen can't help but diffuse into the water... Having the skimmer in your return chamber will increase the likelihood of having microbubbles in your display... And skimmers may get some of the bad things out of your refugium, but they'll also take the good things that feed your corals at night, which is another reason for having the refugium in the first place... I mean, really if you keep up your refugium and don't just let things rot in there, more good is coming out of it than bad, or why have it in the first place???

Am I wrong in any of this???

 

[skwirl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10112094#post10112094 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ct_vol
I really don't get these statements... I don't see why you would have higher oxygen levels if you skimmed in the drain chamber??? Just having a skimmer anywhere in your sump will help raise your oxygen levels... They suck in air from their venturi and and then chop it up with a needle wheel or other methods... Oxygen can't help but diffuse into the water... Having the skimmer in your return chamber will increase the likelihood of having microbubbles in your display... And skimmers may get some of the bad things out of your refugium, but they'll also take the good things that feed your corals at night, which is another reason for having the refugium in the first place... I mean, really if you keep up your refugium and don't just let things rot in there, more good is coming out of it than bad, or why have it in the first place???

Am I wrong in any of this???

thats about what i would have said.
which lfs told you that?

 

[ct_vol]

Well, besides, its not like high oxygen levels are bad or anything either... The fish do need oxygen in the water to live and breath and all that... lol