(securing lighting units for a 30" length could be a problem?). I was thinking of a or more likely a 150 with 36x36x27 BUT 27" seems a bit deep for LED light penetration and the price jump to this size is dramatic!
Plan is to not put a canopy on the tank - suspend the lighting for a "floating cube of water" look.
Guidance Requested:
1. With a cube tank, go with corner or center overflow - seems center would be less visually offensive?
2. Berlin sump - suggested manufacturers and size? Tweaks? Alternatives?
3. Skimmer - go with new Cone skimmers? Brand?
4. Lighting - Wow, has this area changed! As my main focus is the coral arena, both hard and soft I'm really needing some guidance here. I'd prefer to avoid a chiller, thus seriously looking into the new LED approach BUT need to be sure that the spectrum needs of the corals can be met. Suggested brands and configurations would be greatly appreciated.
So there is the mission - to build a reef setup based on today's improvements in technology and logic.
I await your guidance.
Jack
Welcome back to the club! The statement about LEDs was true in the past but that view has kind of changed over time. As information has slowly come available about LEDs I have learned that they can easily penetrate the water column. Take look at my signature, with more than 30" between my lights and the sandbed I cant turn my lights on past 50% with out totally cooking my SPS, which btw, are still acclimating in the sand. The Cube sounds like a great idea and I would be glad to save someone else money on constantly upgrading equipment.
First, the overflow, I would love to see you get a corner overflow or even less invasive option such as an Gl***Hole* or external. Any of those three options will allow you maximum space inside the tank and minimize the dead spots created on either side of a center overflow. I am going to skip the sump and head straight to the skimmer.
The cone skimmers are definitely all the latest rage and with good reason. Personally, I like that less strain is put on the motor, less water is over the pump and your replacing that water volume with very light air bubbles which will remove more waste per gallon. I should state this second reason hasnt been verfied by anyone with a PhD after their name but I have a decent grasp of the concept. I think as air rushes in a more uniform direct route to the top more bio matter will attach to those bubbles in less time. Add in the bonus that these airbubbles have a more direct line to travel straight up the sides into a smaller area which increases the bubbles velocity which will get you less gunk accumulation in the neck and place it in the collection cup where it belongs. These body changes should do nothing but improve the outstanding efficiencies of todays skimming pumps. As for the lighting, you know where I stand, LED's.
LEd's are truely a game changer in the world of in home aquariums. While all the benefits have yet to be realized all the cost with these units is frontloaded vs Backloaded. You have no heat which means no chiller! You have minimal draw for power which means less strain on your pocket every month by your electric bill ( I saved 30-50 a month)! You dont have to shell out yearly for bulb replacements and you can control the intensity of those bulbs. Beyond that the performance of LED's has atleast in my experience been head and shoulders above MHs or T5. Do yourself a favor and check out this link; you will learn a lot very quickly
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1841197. FWIW I feel 4 AI Sol BLue units would be more than enough. I would estimate you might be pulling 144watts to light a tank of that size (4unitsX72watt X .50)
I hope my advice helps and I look forward to seeing pictures of your new set up!
P.S. Dont forget the RO/DI unit and tunze osmolator.
