Castor's 240g project

[castor]

I've got most things planned out except for a few details. GOing to be adding a lot of pics as things progress. Here is what the setup is going o be.

A 240 gallon tank, acrylic, 8 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet. Custom built with a center overflow with a dry box to put all the cords through to the sump. A 36" custom built oak stand. A 75 gallon for a sump. For lighting I am going to use two 4 foot 8 bulb t5 fixtures with an open top with the lights suspended from the ceiling. Going for SPS. For flow I am getting the tunze 6100s with the controler. Also going to have the return from the sump. That's one detail I'm not sure about, what size pump for the return and what pump. I think I will have 2 1" bulkheads in the overflow.

I am having a guy that is just starting a business build me a skimmer and calcium reactor. He says the skimmer will be good for a 400 gallon system with two pumps for a recirculating setup. I'm going to have pics from him as he makes them.

Well, that's about it for now.

 

[roni]

sounds like you've thought it through. i like doing about 5-10x through my sump. I'm using a gen-x 55 for my 240 with basically identical water motion (2 6100s, wavebox).

 

[Bax]

I am with roni 5 - 10X thru the sump.

If you going for SPS tou may want more flow, I like to think in the 40 x range.

Sounds good so far looking forward to updates.

 

[yoboyjdizz]

I believe you really want only 3-5x through the sump...and then add extra via tunze or e.t.c to get up to 40-50x tank turnover for sps...?

 

[castor]

For the return pump I already have a mag 9.5, would that be enough?

For lighting I might try something different that I was looking at last night. Instead of the 16 bulb t5 (two 4 foot sets of 8 bulbs) I am thinking of going with two four foot fixtures with 3 175 DE HQI and two 96w pc actinic which would give me a total of 6 175w and 4 96w.

The big difference, the cost. The t5 setup with bulbs is $1200, the MH setup is $758. It seems like a no brainer to me but I wanted to get your opinions.

 

[coralfarmer84]

I don't know what kind of energy T-5's pull but i'll tell ya 6 metal halides will get expensive after awhile. You might save some money up front but your electric bill will suffer. My current 240 has 3 250 watt HQI fixtures by aquamedic over it but its only 6 feet long. I paid around 800 for the three so that should give you an idea of how much they cost. I would get the DE metal halides but i would look for maybe 4 250 watt fixtures. granted you'll be using the same electricity but when you switch out bulbs every year you'll only need 4 instead of 6.

I agree with the fact that the sump should only have 5x turnover or so but I don't think you need 40x turnover for sps. I have an sps dominated tank and i have about 25x turnover and that seems to be more than enough. I have some LPS and softies and they take a beating from the flow.

I should also add my return pump is a P.O.S. only turning over about 2x an hour and this tank looks great, running for a year now. I don't suggest you do this but I'm in the process of setting up my 300 and it will have all the goodies. The sump will have around 8x turnover so I'll still be around 25-30 turnover and plan to stay with SPS.

Goodluck

 

[roni]

i'm using 3 400 W SE 14K right now (will trade out for 20K next light change). I'm using the LAIII and find that I get very good light dispersal. You could easily go with 250 10K XM + VHOs and be fine (I would have but already had the 400s) The key is the reflectors. THey are one of the best things I've ever bought for my tank.

 

[Bax]

The Mag 9.5 will do OK as it's right around 4 x. But, it'll add a lot of heat. Especially considering the MH lighting that will add a lot of heat too. Will you be using a chiller?

Can you use a external pump?

 

[castor]

It's going in a basement that stays pretty cool and I will first try a couple fans, if that doesn't work I will get a chiller.

 

[coralfarmer84]

You'll be fine, I live in Ohio which is right next door and never really had a heat issue. On really hot days I just kick on the AC. I have metal halide and submersible pumps no problems.

 

[castor]

I never mentioned I am going BB which I think is the way to go anymore. For live rock I was thinking of just getting 200lbs. Think that will be enough for the 240? Keep in mind it's not really for looks just the funtionality of it. I came across cooking your rock a while back but never read much on it. What are the pros and cons of doing so and what exacty do you do?

 

[castor]

I'm still debating between the MH or T5. I'd like to hear some more opinions from maybe somebody that has used both.

 

[castor]

I was looking at ozone and it's a lot cheaper than I thought. I could do the aquamedic 100 for $219. Will it really help things out though?

 

[Bax]

I love my MH T5 combo, I am building two new systems with the combo the look is awsome!

 

[emilese]

Are you going with one 1" bulkhead as a drain to the sump and the other 1" bh as a return? Or, are both 1" BH's going to be used as a drain to the sump?

 

[castor]

both bulkheads are going to be used as out flow