Equipment Recomendations for 225 gallon custom build

[Zacktosterone]

So I'm ordering a tank from MiraclesAquarium. It will measure 72"x30"x24" and be Eurobraced. My only problem right now is finalizing the equipment list.

I need the following

Lights

Preferably A T5 fixture. I already own two kessils but I would rather buy an entire new fixture for for my tank then buy another kessil just because Ilike the look of T5's over any led fixture on the market, I don't want Hallides either because of PUC costs.

what size do I go for? how many bulbs? can i get away with a 60" fixture? I might even put my two kessils on there somehow anyway.

SUMP

I don't want to do a DIY I would rather get a manufactured brand of sump. I'm a really big fan of Trigger System Sumps but for some reason they havn't been replying to my emails for a custom made sump. I've purchased one before and really love their work but the lack of attention to my emails has left me very unimpressed. I want a sump with a refugium and sump holders as well as made of acrylic. suggestions for a large sump would be great.

Heater

I need a nice heater that's big enough to warm at least 230 gallons of water easily, without having to buy two hearters. If I need to then I guess I must

Protein Skimmer

I need a protein skimmer that can easily handle a Very heavy bioload that fits in sump but also won't cost an arm and a leg like $800.00. I'm willing to spend $500-$600 max. I also don't want something cheap like an SWC (sorry swc fans) I want something with a good pump like a bubble blaster. I need the customer service if something goes wrong.

That pretty much sums it up. Thank you SO Much for your help folks

 

[leveldrummer]

If you can afford it, the ATI t-5 fixtures with ATI bulbs are pretty much top of the line, you should be fine with a 60" fixure. it will leave a 6" gap on each side, it should still get plenty of light if you get an 6 or 8 bulb fixture.

For the heater, get two, its much safer, if one sticks on or off, having the second will act as a saftey, Neither one can malfunction and do too much damage to the tank. it would take both to malfunction to cause issues.

Protein skimmer. do you like the super reef octopus brands? Check reefgeek.com for some models with bubble blaster pumps in your price range.

 

[Zacktosterone]

If you can afford it, the ATI t-5 fixtures with ATI bulbs are pretty much top of the line, you should be fine with a 60" fixure. it will leave a 6" gap on each side, it should still get plenty of light if you get an 6 or 8 bulb fixture.

For the heater, get two, its much safer, if one sticks on or off, having the second will act as a saftey, Neither one can malfunction and do too much damage to the tank. it would take both to malfunction to cause issues.

Protein skimmer. do you like the super reef octopus brands? Check reefgeek.com for some models with bubble blaster pumps in your price range.

Budget isn't too much of an issue for this project. I'm prepared to go big but not huge lol. Is the ati sun power controllable via controller?

 

[Arnel0387]

Great dimension! I'm getting a 72x36x22 and will have the following equipments:

Light: ATI 8x80W or 10x80W Powermodule with 2x 60" XHO Blue Reefbrite LED attached to the fixture. You're probably good with one Reefbrite since you have a 30" width.

Skimmer: SRO XP 5000Int (rated for up to 500G) (I'm getting the BubbleKing Supermarin 300 since I'm having a separate refugium and a frag tank attached to the system as well)

Sump: Order one from Advanced Acrylics, or Melevs reef, or A.G.E, or Elite Aquatics

Controller: NEPTUNE Apex (GOLD series if you have the $$$)

Heaters: 2x Jäger 300W

Return Pump: Do you want submersible or External? If submersible go with the Fluval SP6 (3434GPH) or the DC 10500. Use only one return pump and have enough to create a manifold to feed your reactors, chiller, etc.

Circulating Pumps: Go with Vortechs and Tunzes if you have $$$. Or the Chinese made WPs if you wanna save money.

Plumbing: I prefer hard plumbing so I can glue everything therefore my choice is to go with Schedule 80 PVC (it's more expensive and overkill but I'd rather spend the extra money to prevent any plumbing issues)

Chiller: for my tank I'm getting a 1/3rd HP JBJ

Well hope this helps! If money is not an issue, then my advice is to do it right the first time and never cut corners on equipments.

Oh and don't forget, QT all fish and dip your corals! Happy Reefing

 

[Dmorty217]

Get a controller to control the heaters and it won't matter if the heater fails since the always fail "on" and they will only be told to turn on by the controller, not frying the tank. Pumps Tunze or vortech or nothing... WPs are cheap but totally unreliable and have a very short lifespan as a company for the saltwater hobby. I also have a trigger systems sump that I love. Return pump is a hard one to suggest, sicce and mag drive are what I have used in the past (mostly mag drives) also quite one. Skimmers bubble magus or SRO. Don't know enough about T5s anymore to help you, LEDS for me RapidLED onyx fixture and Radion gen2

 

[tom obrecht]

Might see if miracles can do a sump for you as well. That way you can get both at the same time. Just a thought.

 

[Zacktosterone]

Might see if miracles can do a sump for you as well. That way you can get both at the same time. Just a thought.

I did, they refered me to another place. I guess they can't do what I'm looking in for.

 

[ntrlsur]

For the heater I would def go with 2 or 3 smaller heaters instead of one large one. A controller for it is a must either using a stand alone or as part of an apex, reefkeeper or reefangel setup. For the sump what size are you thinking about? You can get some prefab ones from BRS or marinedepot but those might be too small for you..

 

[Zacktosterone]

For the heater I would def go with 2 or 3 smaller heaters instead of one large one. A controller for it is a must either using a stand alone or as part of an apex, reefkeeper or reefangel setup. For the sump what size are you thinking about? You can get some prefab ones from BRS or marinedepot but those might be too small for you..

I'll be deffinately buying a controller. I'll have to go custom I guess if I want the size im shooting for

 

[Zacktosterone]

Here's and update on my progress!!!

Lights

I'm going to go with a 60" 8 bulb t5 sunpower fixture with two reefbright tech leds (blue)

SUMP

K I decided to ditch the idea of a refugium! I went with an SS 34 sump from Synergy reef. i'm not concerned about water volume since it was stable in my 90 gallon it will be stable in my 200 gallon.
Heater

I'm still looking

Protein Skimmer

I'm going to go with a super reef octopus 5000sss space saver skimmer for $650.00

I'm still looking for power heads. since I'm not on methamphetamines I'm not going to pay 1500 dollars for mp40s and a battery pack... so i'm still looking. I might buy wp40s will they hold up to 3/4" glass?

 

[Dmorty217]

Here's and update on my progress!!!

Lights

I'm going to go with a 60" 8 bulb t5 sunpower fixture with two reefbright tech leds (blue)

SUMP

K I decided to ditch the idea of a refugium! I went with an SS 34 sump from Synergy reef. i'm not concerned about water volume since it was stable in my 90 gallon it will be stable in my 200 gallon.
Heater

I'm still looking

Protein Skimmer

I'm going to go with a super reef octopus 5000sss space saver skimmer for $650.00

I'm still looking for power heads. since I'm not on methamphetamines I'm not going to pay 1500 dollars for mp40s and a battery pack... so i'm still looking. I might buy wp40s will they hold up to 3/4" glass?

Not sure, they make a wp60 now that I'm sure works on 3/4"

 

[cas1069]

i have a wp-40 on my 220 and it holds great, but i would go with the wp-60. my wp-40 at best can only put out a 2-3" wave in my tank still a good amount of flow but nothing like what you can see on a 90gal tank. i would also say get 2 of wp-60 for crazy random flow if you want a sps tank

 

[Arnel0387]

Excellent light fixture and sump! Go with two WP60s, reefbreeders carries them for $99 each with a 6-month warranty. Two 300W jäger heaters and a Reefkeeper Lite Plus controller for $279. And for GFO and carbon reactors, I'd say get the Nextreef MR1 dual monster.

 

[Zacktosterone]

How big are wp60s

 

[Finland]

How big are wp60s

Jebao WP-60 with Controller

Flow: 2,600 - 5300 gph

Wattage: 30 - 60 watts

Maximum Tank Thickness: 1"

Appropriate Tank Size Range: 150 to 300+ gallons

Dimensions: 5" x 4"

110V 60Hz US plug

Night Mode (sensor) function: Yes

 

[Zacktosterone]

Jebao WP-60 with Controller

Flow: 2,600 - 5300 gph

Wattage: 30 - 60 watts

Maximum Tank Thickness: 1"

Appropriate Tank Size Range: 150 to 300+ gallons

Dimensions: 5" x 4"

110V 60Hz US plug

Night Mode (sensor) function: Yes

Nice thank you. On reefbreeders.com it comes with a dual controller, should I get this?

 

[maddmaxx]

i would so you dont have to use two different controllers..

 

[Zacktosterone]

What about the new RW-15?

 

[Arnel0387]

What about the new RW-15?

I dont know, they might not hold well on a 3/4" glass.

 

[ca1ore]

What about the new RW-15?

Some early reports suggest the RW line is an improvement over the WP. Though I don't think the RW analog for the WP60 has appeared yet. Wouldn't think a euro braced 220 would use 3/4 inch glass? My 265 is 12 mm (1/2 inch).