I'm back...Advise needed

[Reefaholic]

Well, after a serveral years away from the hobby I'm back. Lucky me... my wife is the person intiating this, so I get to do it my way. It will be SPS dominated.

I had a 150 ft reef tank in the past, I kept the lights and the Euroreef skimmer. I didn't want to go as big this time so I went with a 75 gal with one 1" overflow, 36x24x20, stand and canopy.

It doesn't appear much has changed in the way of lights, I still have my 5' Hamilton hood, 3 x 250w MH, 4 x 55w PC. What should I do with the lights? The canopy measures 36x24x13. Should I tear apart the hood and install them into the canopy, if so how many? It seams to me any more than one 250w mh would be overkill, then what to do with the remaining lights. I could sell the current setup and buy retro online...not sure I would come out ahead in that transaction. If I tear apart he current setup, what is a good reflector for the MH and I cant find one for the PC (do I need one?).

The sump will measure 30x17x17, leaving little room in my stand. No problem... sump will go in laundry room about 15' below the tank (wife's idea to start a new tank). I will go external for this application, so what is a good brand now days. I was thinking Velocity T3 or whatever there called now.

If I have the wet room in the room below, is there any problem with keeping the ballast down in that room and running the wires that distance. I don't like the buzz noise they make, plus keeps the heat out. I could just leave them under the tank. Obviously, the PC ballast is seperate from the MH ballast and as you know...big and bulky. I am trying to keep the tank and stand neat and clean.

This is just a start I know. I'm not rushing this, so I don't have a lot figured out. I was 2 Koralia 3's for circulation, are they any good?

What type of rock would you use. Stick with the Fuji? I was looking at live Aquaria's lalo rock???

I am open for suggestion.

 

[Reefaholic]

I have been doing a lot of reading. I'm not that familiar with t5's, I saw a thread on here somewhere and someone had one of the best looking tank I have ever seen, I guess they were using t5's. I have also read that t5's dont provide the shimmer, and my tank height is 20" and my canopy is 13", would that still work for t5's.

I also read that monster thread on the LED's, for $2500 is there really a debate on whether of not they can grow SPS? Every lighting system (stop lights, flashlights, headlights), all seem to be moving in that direction. A lot of money, but, they sure sound cool.

 

[Electrobes]

I agree they sound cool, but far too expensive for my tastes for now.. especially with what's available now. I think 2 X 250W halides over a 75 would be perfect. I'd also consider adding two VHO actinics or just stick with slightly bluer halides. If you want to try T5's for actinics that would be fine too, but I still think VHO's are better for that, and not as hot either.

Not sure about what you're asking with what is good nowadays?

As for the ballast you supposedly do lose power to the bulbs when locating the ballast that far. I think they are still testing this idea, but thus far it's starting to be confirmed.

I like the Koralias, and for an SPS reef I'd prob consider getting the #4's instead of the #3's.

As for rock I am in the middle of getting that ready (Also building my new reef). I prefer to start out with base rock and culture it myself. That way I know what's in the rocks so i don't have to worry about them being in the reef. I bought my rock from Marcos.. great stuff at a great price. Something to think about

 

[Reefaholic]

Thanks for the reply. I think I will go with the Koralia 4's, I see they make them in a wavemaker set as well, is that necessary or just nice to say you have?

Thanks for the advise on the lights, what I meant by nowadays is I thought in 3 years things would change. I guess not much.

Having a 1" drain in the overflow and the sump being 15' below any advise on the return pump? What size pipe for the drain and return?

 

[Electrobes]

I wouldn't go for the wavemaker. I find it stupid expensive and just not worth it. Stick with the ones that don't need it IMO.

As for the lights LEDs is still very much a new thing but just needs to be proven more and come down in price.

I don't know much about pumps... I am a sumpless kind of guy!

 

[Reefaholic]

50lbs of base rock and 50lbs of live rock? How long does it take to seed the base? Do I cook it? Maybe I wasn't understanding what I read in the forums, I thought I saw it takes 6 - 9 months to cook and seed the base, that sounds rediculous.

 

[kar93]

Re: I'm back...Advise needed

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12363985#post12363985 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefaholic
I had a 150 ft reef tank in the past,

:eek1: 150ft!!!!:eek1:

 

[Whisperer]

I have a 120G and I find that koralia 4 is just too big for my taste.

 

[Reefaholic]

Any advise what size pipe to use - to and from the tank, 1.25 or 1.5. I'm thinking the velocity t3 or I was told the Iwaki rlt40 was a good pump. The Iwaki is a little more expensive, both appear to do the job.

What application would I use a gate valve, how is it different than a ball valve.

 

[scott11]

the t3 may add heat to your tank. If the pump is remote, you dont have to worry as much about the noise, I would use a fan cooled pump. I recently got a blueline, and I am happy with it. I prefer tunze nano's over the koralia if you want to be able to control them. If you dont care about control, cant beat the price of koralias.

 

[Reefaholic]

Thanks, I'll look into it, what about Panworld any good?

Any advice on the size of pvc for the sump and return?