I have a question. I am thinking/planning/dreaming a build of my own and this tank has inspired my design process big time. One question I did have was is this system based on a bunch of SPS? I am not much or corals and aside from an anemone for clowns I am not looking for much. Would this simplify my filtration selection a lot or would I still need the phosphate reactor and calcium reactor ect?
Yes, there will be a whole mess of corals that will change the landscape of the aquarium and drive the filtration requirements. Heavy metals, and nutrients (phosphate & nitrate) retard the growth of corals, but they also feed nuisance algae.
Yes, you can omit some of the more exotic pieces of equipment but in the end they do assist with keeping the tank clean and looking good. A calcium reactor will add calcium that will lower phosphate thus decreasing nuisance algae populations and increase the growth of beneficial/desirable coraline algae. Using a refugium will help feed fish and further reduce nitrate and phosphate so you will have to clean the glass and substrate less often. A granular ferric oxide (GFO) media reactor will lower phosphates, and in some cases NP biopellet reactors, denitrification reactors, and sulphur reactors are necessary. Since nature is thrown in the mix, there is no sure fire (cookie cutter) method for success.
Having said all that, fish only systems are easier to run because fish have a high tolerance to phosphate, nitrate, and heavy metals, at least in comparison to corals. Keep in mind, a coral tank is a higher order ecosystem where bacteria and corals can help strike a balance between nutrient import (feeding) and nutrient export (excess removal).
Big tanks are always easier tan smaller ones and there are other ways of minimizing nuisance algae like directing light away from viewing panels. I recommend a UV sterilizer for disease and to some extent algae control. Ozone is another good tool, especially for fish only systems, as they kill some beneficial organisms in so called "natural systems". A mechanical filter of some sort will help keep the water clear. You don't need nearly as much flow and there is little benefit from variable flow or wave makers for fish only.
I don't use protein skimmers on commercial fish holding systems, but they are still useful for some fish only display tanks. Despite all the hype and high prices, protein skimmers are by no means the most efficient filtration device at our avail. They are less efficient than the other methods mentioned above and cost considerably more.
This company has some solid, well built, cost effective media reactors. I was going to go with them until I saw the Skimz line and decided to streamline everything.
http://www.nextreef.com/
