HELP!! Planned tank keeps getting bigger...

HornetMech242

HornetMech242

Premium Member
So i am in the process of planning my next tank. I started out with a 180 72x24x24 and realized that does not give me enough surface area for aquascaping or enough sand bed for a small stingray. So i changed it to a 72x30x24, but then i thought the fish would like some more swimming room and decided on a 72x30x30. Glasscages has a 290, 72x31 1/2x30 1/2 duel overflow, acrylic covers for the overflows, all holes drilled with bulkheads and three viewing panels low iron glass for about $2,100. I think i am going to go with that size, we are going to pick it up so i can have them fix anything on the spot that i dont like. Now for the questions....

I already purchased lighting, three XM 250 watt on Ice cap electronic with Lumenarc III reflectors and four 72" 160 watt VHO for actinics, do you think this will be enough lighting for the 290g tank? Oh, going to keep LPS and SPS.

I am also having a hard time choosing a skimmer, I was thinking either the Deltec AP701 or the Euro Reef RC250. Is there something better out there that you would suggest?

I would really like to have someone that has already planned out there tank that can help me out with the component selection and plumbing design. Please PM me and i will send you my e-mail address.

Thanks everyone.

Chris
 
welcome to the club, my original project was a 24x24x24 and it ended up being a 48wx36dx26t. its kind of funny how these things blow up.
Lighting, i can tell you with my tank, i originaly planned on 2x250's in the middle, not nearly enough light. I wasnt getting good coverage anywhere but the center. So i bought 2 more 2x250's and have them front and back, and its perfect. I would speculate you would want three more 250's . 3 in the front and three in the back.
I have all my lights come on in a sequence so i can save money on power. starting at 0 hours, 2 light's comes on, 2 hours later 3rd light comes on 4 hours later hours later 4th light comes on, all the lights are on for 1 hour, then it turns of in the reverse order.

As far as skimmers, i chose the MRC MR-2R. I couldnt be happier with my purchase.

A few other goodies that im totally impressed with are the aquacontroller 3, and the tunze 6100 on there own controller.

Things i have not been impressed with are the korallin calcium reactor, and the aquamedic PH computer.
 
The only problem with adding more bulbs is the lack of room for the reflectors. The LIII reflectors are 19.5x19.5 in size so the really the only way to add more light is to go with 400 watters.

Would a 1500GPH for a closed loop and another 1500GPH for the sump/fuge return be enough flow?

Chris
 
I am pretty sure your lights will be fine. 250 watters easily cover a 24"x 24", so going to 24" x 30" is not much of a stretch.



Sounds like a fun tank. I look forward to seeing it.
 
I am in Iraq right now so i am trying to get the equipment while i am here and order the tank when i get back. I cant wait to get this going either. Thanks for the input.

Anyone know about the flow i mentioned, if i need more?

Chris
 
I would say that your sump flow is to high, you CL seems fine. you dont want that much water blasting through your refugium, i would say 500 gph would be plenty.
Im not sure 750 watts of ligt is enough for 300 gallon aquarium, i like more light, so to each his own. If you could trade those for 3 400w that would be better.
thanks for serving out country by the way. be safe.
 
I like being here. I already got someone lined up for the 250 watters if i chose to upgrade. I should of posted a diagram of the fuge/ sump. I planned on doing a DIY with this design so that i can controle the flow through the fuge.

Sump/Fuge

with three 400 watters, how much actnics would i need?
 
I like being here. I already got someone lined up for the 250 watters if i chose to upgrade. I should of posted a diagram of the fuge/ sump. I planned on doing a DIY with this design so that i can controle the flow through the fuge.

Sump/Fuge

with three 400 watters, how much actnics would i need?
 
i dont think that 2.5 watts/gallon is enough. 6 250's would give you 5, 3 400w would give you 4 watts/gallon. At the very least i would go with 3 400's .
 
I am putting together a tank with a footprint thats 84x30 and I am using 2x250 watt halides and a 400 in the middle. The reflectors are lumenarcs and should provide consistent coverage for the whole area.
 
I am going to go with the 400 watt on Icecap electronic with XM 10000k with Lumenarc III reflectors. Sump custom made from link above by me. Now i have to jump on the Oceans Motions board and get help designing the closed loop. I want to use the revolutions with them but i am affraid it will block too much light.

Chris
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9018339#post9018339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TurboSnail8898
I am putting together a tank with a footprint thats 84x30 and I am using 2x250 watt halides and a 400 in the middle. The reflectors are lumenarcs and should provide consistent coverage for the whole area.
Click to expand...

Do you have a photo of the lighting? I dont want to do that setup if the middle will look obviously brighter than the ends.

thanks,

Chris
 
Stick with the math. You want 4-5 watts per gallon IMO. the only way to get that is with 3 400's
As far as skimmers go, the majority of threads on this section of reef central are about skimmers. Im not sure what info your looking for but i would find the "club" for what ever skimmer your intresed in.
Im a becket/injection guy, and one of the best built/best price skimmers on the market are MRC. If you want to check them out you can go to www.myreefcreations.com
 
Could put some T5 lamps on there to add more light if needed. Would help keep the heat down then adding more MH to the mix. Just a thought though. I ahve seen big tanks with all T5 and they look great but you don't get the shimmer like you do with MH. And like BrokeColoReefer sid thank you for serving our Country.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9020290#post9020290 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrokeColoReefer
Stick with the math. You want 4-5 watts per gallon IMO. the only way to get that is with 3 400's
Click to expand...

just wondering about this, as I have heard many times from experienced folks on here that watts per gallon is not the way to plan your lighting??
 
I have heard the 4-5 watt per gallon rule and i also heard that wattage to gallon does not matter. I was going by PAR ratings and i figured i would have enough lite with 250w on Lumenarc reflectors. I kinda knew i would need 400w but wanted to get away with the 250's.

The info i was wanting for skimmers was the top performing skimmers that pull out the most gunk. I am not really worried about price but would like to be under $1,000.

thanks,

Chris
 
Hey Chris
I have a skimmer that's too big for my 120, and I think it's probably perfect for a 300 gal system. It's the BarrAquatics Dual Beckett 5220. It's a beast, in excellent condition, and would totally let you stock that tank to the hilt. I'm new to RC, and not sure how the buying and selling is done here, but if i'm not breaking any rules you could pm me. You can see the skimmer on http://www.barraquatic.com/super_skimmers.php
 
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