Clowndude's New SPS Tank Build

[clowndude]

So I was at the LFS today and found a really great deal on a custom made starfire tank. It's 48x24x19 100 gallon tank. This is going to be an all sps tank and was looking for a few suggestions.

Lighting Suggestions:

I'm thinking either go with a 400 watt 20K bulb or 6-T5 4foot bulbs. I'm looking for something that isn't going to heat up the tank and that won't drive the energy bill through the roof. Not interested in LED lights.

Protein Skimmer:

I'm looking for a skimmer that can take a fluctuating water table. Look for a good skimmer that won't break the bank.

I'm going to run kalkwasser to begin with and then add 2-part once the demand increases.

Flooring:

My current tank has the fine sugar sand and it always looks bad and would like something else. Suggestions?

Circulation:

I currently have a koralia and a mp20 right now. I'm going to add another mp10 pump later.

I will be running a biopellet reactor on the tank and probably going to ditch the refug. I'd like to load the tank up with fish as much as possible.

Any other questions or comments will be appreciated. I'll post up pictures tomorrow night when I get the tank home, but will not be setup with water for about a month. Just trying to buy everything right now.

 

[mark54321]

Congratulations on new tank Nick,I am sure it is going to be great.As far as suggestions I like T5 for lighting ,you can mix different bulbs for optimal PAR and color and T5 don't add to much heat .For sand I use CaribSea seaflor special grade reef sand.It works great and doesn't cause sand storms.For flow you will need more when corals grow out.I have 4 Koralias 4 and need to get more flow now.I would skip the MP10 and save for MP40 instead.Good luck with your new project.

 

[Lps157]

Went with Reef Geeks LET retro 6 bulb on my 90 and have been very pleased. If you want a module, the ATI's definitely won't disappoint.

Also went from sugar size to the CaribSea special grade with my upgrade and it's hands down the best.

Like Mark54321 said, I would definitely look for more flow. I have 5500 gph on a CL with mine and still plan on adding one if not two Mp40's.


Good luck with the build.

 

[clowndude]

Congratulations on new tank Nick,I am sure it is going to be great.As far as suggestions I like T5 for lighting ,you can mix different bulbs for optimal PAR and color and T5 don't add to much heat .For sand I use CaribSea seaflor special grade reef sand.It works great and doesn't cause sand storms.For flow you will need more when corals grow out.I have 4 Koralias 4 and need to get more flow now.I would skip the MP10 and save for MP40 instead.Good luck with your new project.

Thanks Mark. I can't wait to get the tank running with water. I am going to save up and get a mp40 like you suggested. I got to thinking about the MP10 this morning and wondered if it was gonna be weak. Especially since I read a thread about how many times people are turning over their tank. I'm going to pick up the tank after work tonight and should be able to get pictures of it up tonight.

 

[clowndude]

Went with Reef Geeks LET retro 6 bulb on my 90 and have been very pleased. If you want a module, the ATI's definitely won't disappoint.

Also went from sugar size to the CaribSea special grade with my upgrade and it's hands down the best.

Like Mark54321 said, I would definitely look for more flow. I have 5500 gph on a CL with mine and still plan on adding one if not two Mp40's.


Good luck with the build.

Thank you for the reply. I will looking into the Reef Geeks LET retro. One of the biggest things in the upgrade to me is ditching the crappy sand floor and going with something else. I am going to look into the caribsea special while I'm at the fish store tonight.

 

[phenom5]

I think you'll be hard pressed to find a skimmer that works well if the water level constantly fluctuates. SWC 160 or SRO 1000sss(2000sss?) would be good performers and won't break the bank.

 

[mdefo25]

I cant wait to see this tank all set up!!!!

 

[clowndude]

I got the tank home last night and put it in the garage. Attached are some pictures. Please ignore the crap around it. It's the only spot I could make for it to fit in the garage.

 

[clowndude]

Curious if anybody has experience with the Reef Octopus NWB-110 skimmer? My local fish store sells it and seems like a well built skimmer, but I'm curious how well this thing will perform on a 100 gallon tank? I'm going to load it down with fish and also be running the outfeed of the biopellet reactor into the skimmer.

 

[phenom5]

Curious if anybody has experience with the Reef Octopus NWB-110 skimmer? My local fish store sells it and seems like a well built skimmer, but I'm curious how well this thing will perform on a 100 gallon tank? I'm going to load it down with fish and also be running the outfeed of the biopellet reactor into the skimmer.

Too small for a 100g IMO, the 150 would be a better fit.

 

[clowndude]

Too small for a 100g IMO, the 150 would be a better fit.

After reading some reviews and seeing your post, I realized it would be undersized. I will keep an eye out for a used 150 model and if not I'll buy a new one come setup time.

What is a good return pump that most people use? 10 years ago I used ehiem pumps because they were reliable. I'm thinking of getting another one unless there is better things on the market now?

 

[urbaneks]

Looks like you are off to a great start. I'm in the process of setting up a similar sized tank. Mine is 48x30x18. I went with a Geisemann Infiniti for my light. Did you decide on a light? Based on your comment on don't want heat and no LED, sounds like you will be going with T5's. Best of luck with the new setup.

 

[clowndude]

Looks like you are off to a great start. I'm in the process of setting up a similar sized tank. Mine is 48x30x18. I went with a Geisemann Infiniti for my light. Did you decide on a light? Based on your comment on don't want heat and no LED, sounds like you will be going with T5's. Best of luck with the new setup.

I started off wanting a tank that was going to be 36x30x18, but I was at my LFS and this guy was going through some personal troubles so I got the tank really cheap. So I had to jump all over it. You will have to let me know if you have a build thread going on your tank?

I'm most likely going to get a 6 bulb T5 fixture. I really wish I could get a mixed MH/T5 fixture, but I know heat will be an issue if I do that. I like the thought of endless bulb combinations with T5 lighting. I'm probably going to run almost all blue and fiji bulbs.

I've almost decide on which skimmer to add to my tank. I'm leaning towards a octopus 150 skimmer. It has really good reviews and people seem to really like them.

Still have figure out a sump idea yet. I'm thinking of taking a 45 breeder and making it into sump. I'm going to build a dedicated water table for skimmer. I'm pretty much sure the return pump is going to be a eheim pump of some sort.

 

[clowndude]

Well today I bought my light for the tank. It is a nova extreme pro 48" 6 bulb fixture. Attached are some pictures of it. Wow this thing puts out some light.

I'm now shopping for my protein skimmer which I'm pretty sure it's going to be a reef octopus 150 cone series skimmer.

 

[sahin]

Nice start.

Is the light unit with single reflectors for the tubes?

Eheim pumps are very robust and last a long time.

Have a look at my thread if you like. I went with T5/LED hybrid as my lights. Loving it so far.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1948575

Good luck with your build.

 

[clowndude]

Nice start.

Is the light unit with single reflectors for the tubes?

Eheim pumps are very robust and last a long time.

Have a look at my thread if you like. I went with T5/LED hybrid as my lights. Loving it so far.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1948575

Good luck with your build.

The light unit I got has the individual reflectors in it. I like the idea that with T5 if you don't like the color combo you can just change bulbs. I think later on down the road I'm going to look into doing a hybrid like you did. I've been following your thread for awhile now and love the way your tank is looking. I can't wait for mine to look that way.

I've always been a fan of eheim as their products seem to just last forever.

I'm hoping to have the tank running by the end of the month as I'm moving across town. My hoped are when I move the new tank will be ready and I can just transfer everything from my biocube 29 to the new 100 gallon tank. I'm still a few parts shy of having it running though.

 

[phenom5]

Are you sure about the SLRs? The NEP comes with a single contoured reflector. I would highly recommend switching out the stock Current bulbs with some ATI ASAP also.

 

[clowndude]

Are you sure about the SLRs? The NEP comes with a single contoured reflector. I would highly recommend switching out the stock Current bulbs with some ATI ASAP also.

I think you are right. It's a single reflector with reflector wedges between each bulb. Is that a bad thing? The bulbs in the unit are aftermarket. Guy that had it before me just changed the bulbs a few monthes ago. Once I get all settled in at my new place I'm going to replace them with the bulb combo I want. I'm trying to decide a good bulb combo right now. I want a 20k look in the tank. Recommendations?

 

[phenom5]

SLRs are a better option than the contoured reflector, and a contoured reflector is better than a flat reflector. Not ideal, but not the end of the world either. FWIW, I'm running a NEP on my 75, and it does fine with SPS throughout the tank.

I've been running...

Front
ATI Blue +
ATI AB Special
ATI Blue +
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI AB Special
ATI Blue +

I like it, although I might switch out the KZ. I was thinking of switching it out with another Blue + but I'm not sure if that will make it too blue.

 

[urbaneks]

I started off wanting a tank that was going to be 36x30x18, but I was at my LFS and this guy was going through some personal troubles so I got the tank really cheap. So I had to jump all over it. You will have to let me know if you have a build thread going on your tank?

Clowndude - I do have a build thread started. Here is a link to it. Viewpoints - A Photographic Journal