Help me spec my 90g/120g!

[WinnipegDragon]

My RSM is being returned to the store, and I'm specing out a new tank to replace it.

I am keeping the 50lbs of LR I have now, which I will cook until I can get the new tank in 6-8 weeks, so the LR amounts here are not the total amount of LR I will have.

Here is what I have selected so far. I'd like any advice on these components or possible alternates that someone could recommend.
I've decided to go T5 due to the lower temps and operating costs, but I do want SPS and Clams, so feel free to rag on my choices here.

90g
Tank - All Glass Magnaflow 48L x 24 H x 18D
Stand - All Glass Modern Series (no center post, huzzah!)
2" Sandbed - 3 x Bags Caribsea Oolite Sand
Live Rock - 75lbs Tonga/Fiji Mix
Lights - 6 x 4ft Sunlight Supply TEK T5
Moonlights - 4 x Coralife 1w LED
Sump - 30g Aquarium w/ Baffles
Skimmer - Aqua C EV-120 w/ MAG 500
Heaters - 2 x 250w Visitherm
Return Pump - Danner Mag-Drive 700
Powerheads - 2 x Tunze Nano 6045 or 2 x Koralia 4
Refugium Lights - Coralife 20" CF
RO/DI Unit - Melev's 5-Stage - Melev

The 120g will cost about $900CDN more in total, but I can get a bigger sump, and 6" extra depth for aquascaping. Here are the parts selected so far:

120g
Tank - All Glass Magnaflow (2x overflows) 48L x 24 H x 24D
Stand - All Glass Modern Series
2" Sandbed - 4 x Bags Caribsea Oolite Sand
Live Rock - 115lbs Tonga/Fiji Mix
Lights - 8 x 4ft Sunlight Supply TEK T5
Moonlights - 4 x Coralife 1w LED
Sump - 40g Breeder Aquarium w/ Baffles
Skimmer - Aqua C EV-180 w/ MAG 700
Heaters - 2 x 300w Visitherm
Return Pump - Danner Mag-Drive 1800
Powerheads - 2 x Tunze Nano 6045 or 4 x Koralia 4
Refugium Lights - Coralife 20" CF
RO/DI Unit - Melev's 5-Stage - Melev

So any suggestions or advice?

 

[P.Kelly]

Well, from what everyone keeps telling me, go as big as you can afford. That being said, these are basically the same tanks. I personally like the 24" depth, as it really gives better viewing from many places in the room.

On the powerheads, have you given any thought to a closed loop instead? If you're set on powerheads, I hear the MaxiJet 1200 modded is a suitable replacement for the Tunze at a fraction of the cost. I personally have not compared the two, so this could be bad info.

 

[Reefmack]

If money is no object what about a couple of the Vortech pumps - adjustable flow, magnetic drive through the glass (no motor generating heat in the tank). Temperature controller to keep the tank from cooking if a heater sticks on?

 

[WinnipegDragon]

Money is still and object, and I'm just trying not to under-spec the tank. Closed loop would be nice, but then I need to sacrifice space in the stand for another pump.

I'll look into closed loops though, maybe there is decent option there.

 

[WinnipegDragon]

Also on the subject of controllers, they are something I would like to not worry about now, and add later if possible. Cashflow and whatnot...

 

[Scuba_Steve]

I have very similar plans for the 120 im going to be setting up. I think you will need a lil more rock then 165lbs. I would shoot closer to 200. Have you thought about just buying some good base rock, and adding your current live rock? You should be able to get about 100lbs of marco rocks, which will translate to about 150-200lbs by itself when added to water. Also, 2 tunze nanos seems a lil small for sps, and your return seems a lil too large. Shoot for around 5x flow through the sump accounting for head loss, and 25x+ in the display.

 

[WinnipegDragon]

Yeah there is some play there for the return, I was just aiming to match the theoretical 1200gph that the overflows would supply. I'm leaning towards the Koralias anyhow, I like the wide flow, very erratic.

Let me rework my pump selections...

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Just beware, that by maxing out your overflows, if something were to obstruct one of them............ Oh and btw, from what I have researched, and Ive researched alot, a Tek 8x54w fixture should allow you to keep pretty much anything, anywhere in your tank. Same applies to the 6x54w on the 90g.

 

[WinnipegDragon]

Hmm... Can you run a closed loop system without drilling extra holes? Let's talk 120g here, I think I've pretty much settled on that.

Let's say I scale back to something that will give about 600GPH - 700GPH at 5' head for my return pump, let's say a Quiet One 4000, then run a Sequence Dart for a closed loop. That's (roughly) 3300gph at 5' head. 27.5x flow total.

Sound about right?

 

[WinnipegDragon]

So here's the updated specs on the 120g then, swapped a EuroReef RS180 for the Aqua C, and also swapping some base rock for live rock to help on costs:

120g
Tank - All Glass Magnaflow (2x overflows) 48L x 24 H x 24D
Stand - All Glass Modern Series
2" Sandbed - 4 x Bags Caribsea Oolite Sand
Live Rock - 75lbs Tonga/Fiji Mix + 50lb Cooking + 50-75lb Base Rock
Lights - 8 x 4ft Sunlight Supply TEK T5
Moonlights - 4 x Coralife 1w LED
Sump - ??? gallon Aquarium w/ Baffles or Acrylic Sump
Skimmer - EuroReef RS180
Heaters - 2 x 300w Visitherm
Return Pump - Quiet One 4000
Closed Loop - Sequence Dart w/ Wave maker? Oceans Motion?
Refugium Lights - Coralife 20" CF
RO/DI Unit - Melev's 5-Stage