Best SPS equipment setup and why...
- Thread starter JOSHUAB
- Start date
undeadmoto
New member
I am in the build phase of a 75g SPS dom tank right now and with all the reasearch i have been doing for filtration, lights, flow and such they are actually pretty simple, pretty much just like a mixed reef tank. For lighting i am going old school 2x250w MH with 4x54w T5ho's to get the best growth and color out of the corals.(i know there are some who would argue over this point) For flow do to the fact that i dont want to fork out 400 per wavemaker i am going to use 1 jebao RW15 and 1 jebao RW8 with the possibility of 1 RW4 for dead spots behind the rock. The sump i am buying Trigger systems ruby 36x15x16 (LWH) 3 chamber with 2 filter socks, an eshopps psk 150 or eshopps s150, live rock and macro algae, then my return. Still not sure if i am going to buy a doser or a calcium reactor since both have there ups and downs. Will most likely run chemipure blue elite in the media shelf of the sump. Going to get an apex system to control the lights and monitoring and that is all. As long as you keep good maintenance routines such as 5g water change's each week and monitor your cal,alk,and mag your will be set. I have seen far to many posts of GFO and bio pellet reactors crashing systems do to them stripping the neutrients out to fast so i am not going to run thess myself.
Perth_reefer
Member
This is a difficult question to answer. There are many ways to achieve an awesome sps reef. The fundamentals are the same though, high powered lighting, high flow and high nutrient export (so a good skimmer), some people use GFO, some use algae scrubbers, some use Zeovit. It's down to personal preference really.
Big E
Premium Member
You may want to ask the mods to post this in the Sps section.
That still will be messy/subjective.......
Even better would be to just look at some of the nicest SPS dominant tanks and use them as a blueprint
undeadmoto,
I would go with the eshopps s-300 or comparable.
The 150 would barely be good enough for a 40 breeder setup.
That still will be messy/subjective.......
Even better would be to just look at some of the nicest SPS dominant tanks and use them as a blueprint
undeadmoto,
I would go with the eshopps s-300 or comparable.
The 150 would barely be good enough for a 40 breeder setup.
Perth_reefer
Member
There are far more examples of GFO systems working very well. As with most things in this hobby, if you do it properly you'll get results, if you cut corners or don't follow correct instructions/dosages then you're much more likely to run into problems.
tom obrecht
Active member
I agree with Big E and take a look at sps systems you admire. That's what I did and even with that you will get a wide variety of answers. I personally would recommend quality equipment what ever way you decide. I've been in hobby a good amount of years and have seen a lot of changes. The one word of advice I can give is quality always pays off. I purchased a lot of my equipment used and it helps defray some of the sticker shock from setting up a new system.
undeadmoto
New member
I currently use the PSK150 in sump on my 90g mixed reef and it does great pulling nasty dark skimmate
moondoggy4
Team RC
You need to post what size tank you will have. A Bubble King SM 200 won't do you any good on a 40 breeder.
Perth_reefer
Member
I started a 150g SPS dominated reef around 6 months ago and have gone with high end equipment for the most part.
Lighting - 1.5m Giesemann Aurora Hybrid
Skimmer - Reef Life Support Systems DB10i
Flow - 4 x Vortech MP40s + 2 x Xaqua Xin-outs
Filtration - Zeovit
However that's my personal preference, as I said in my previous post there are many ways to achieve the same thing. Some prefer MH, some T5, some LED, I've just changed from LED to a LED/T5 Hybrid. Some prefer Zeovit, some GFO, some algae scrubbers and some don't use any filtration apart from live rock, although I'd suggest these people are in the minority.
A lot will depend on your budget, I could have gone with a larger tank with lower end equipment, there seems to be a mentality of bigger is better with this hobby but I sacrificed a larger tank for higher end equipment, at the end of the day size influences fish choice a lot more than coral choice.
Lighting - 1.5m Giesemann Aurora Hybrid
Skimmer - Reef Life Support Systems DB10i
Flow - 4 x Vortech MP40s + 2 x Xaqua Xin-outs
Filtration - Zeovit
However that's my personal preference, as I said in my previous post there are many ways to achieve the same thing. Some prefer MH, some T5, some LED, I've just changed from LED to a LED/T5 Hybrid. Some prefer Zeovit, some GFO, some algae scrubbers and some don't use any filtration apart from live rock, although I'd suggest these people are in the minority.
A lot will depend on your budget, I could have gone with a larger tank with lower end equipment, there seems to be a mentality of bigger is better with this hobby but I sacrificed a larger tank for higher end equipment, at the end of the day size influences fish choice a lot more than coral choice.
moondoggy4
Team RC
Do you want to run a chiller?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2516006 This skimmer
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2516006 This skimmer
ericarenee
New member
I Am very very sorry to say this.. But .. if you really need to ask this question . Other then just wanting to know what others use...
You should start with a softie tank and work your way up. A GOOD SPS TANK Starts with 2 things.. .
Consistency and a LOT OF MONEY... OK Just a bunch of money... top tear equip not always top price....
You should start with a softie tank and work your way up. A GOOD SPS TANK Starts with 2 things.. .
Consistency and a LOT OF MONEY... OK Just a bunch of money... top tear equip not always top price....
tkeracer619
New member
kalkwasser
Big E
Premium Member
Ok, just trying to help........... If you did the research you said you did I doubt any of the top flight Sps tanks have such undersized skimmers. If you want to stay away from GFO, carbon dosing/pellets and other crutches you need a large skimmer.
I run a Amaxx Cone S 3 on my Sps dominant system with 100g total volume.
Johnseye
Reef Addict
Reef of the Month (ROTM) tanks are a good place to start.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/reefkeeping-blog
Personally, and it's all personal, the best equipment is the Royal Exclusive Red Dragon pumps, so use one for return and use a Bubble King skimmer and the EcoTech products for powerheads and LED lighting. However you may want to go MH lighting or T5 lighting (ATI).
Not everyone uses that stuff, it's expensive, high quality but not always necessary and there are other very good products out there.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/reefkeeping-blog
Personally, and it's all personal, the best equipment is the Royal Exclusive Red Dragon pumps, so use one for return and use a Bubble King skimmer and the EcoTech products for powerheads and LED lighting. However you may want to go MH lighting or T5 lighting (ATI).
Not everyone uses that stuff, it's expensive, high quality but not always necessary and there are other very good products out there.
firebirdude
User and Abuser
Oh? There's "best" equipment? Seesh. What are we all discussing then? What a waste of time all these years have been. Sign me up!!
