My first build begins

crsaz

crsaz

New member
kinda, after half @$$ing my first build I have decided to upgrade to a 57 gal rimless and a 48"x24"x12" frag tank,sro 2000-ext cone, 60 gal sump. more info to come. I have a few Q's concerning lighting, should I opt for 2 250's instead of one? the tank is 36"x18"x22"
some goodies,sump, frag tank, skimmer and more lights will be here later in the week
the display tank
PB160311.jpg

I will be employing 2(maybe 3 of these)
PB160310.jpg
 
Nice!!! I love the tank.
If your tank is only 36" I recommend only one reflector. I have a 36X24X14 tank and I use a 20X20 reflector and it covers the spread very well. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
That tank looks great! I had a 65g (same footprint, just a few inches taller) by AGA, and I used 2 250w halides both in Coralvue DE reflectors. They're great reflectors, but given the depth, I would go with 2, not 1. I say this because if you don't plan your aquascaping carefully, you'll end up shading out areas that you could light with 2. Also, I've used 1 250w lumenarc reflector (16x16") on a 30BR (also same footprint, but 12" high) and was never truly satisfied with the coverage; I had shaded areas on the side.

Another option to consider (if you can take the ballast back because the reflector should be able to adjust for 400w) is using a single 400w. You could just keep it higher off of the tank. Hope that helps. :)
 
Sweet!!! I will be tagging along with your build! I see that your thread is in the sps forum, what are your plans for flow? I am still debating on what I should do.

I dont know if you have taken that cardboard off yet, but I would check for cracks on the frame..
 
For flow I am planning an mp40 maybe 2, I think I will start with one. Light and set it up so that I could add another at any time. Over the frag tank I will run one 250 on a light rail.

I unpack and inspect every tank at the store. Working at a lfs I've learned that shipping companies damage. A lot of tanks. I'm just using the card board to protect my table
 
Don't take this the wrong way but this is the SPS Forum, a place to discuss SPS corals.

I believe build threads under 180 gallons belong in the Reef Discussion forum...
 
Ian said:
Don't take this the wrong way but this is the SPS Forum, a place to discuss SPS corals.

I believe build threads under 180 gallons belong in the Reef Discussion forum...
Click to expand...

Please don't take this the wrong way either, but many post threads about phosphate problems, vodka dosing, and other water chemistry issues. Yet, we don't suggest that they don't post in the SPS forum or do post in the Chemistry forum. We help them.

The rebuttal to this fact would be that almost always the water chemistry questions in the SPS forum are, in fact, SPS related.

That being said, if he is planning an SPS dominated reef for this tank's future, then it's SPS related. It's nice and educational to see how people set up their systems in preparation for these beautiful animals; therefore, I find it is relevant to the SPS forum.

Furthermore, his questions will be better suited to our crowd of keepers, not the general group, making it very beneficial for him to post here. Let us not forget that the goal in this community is to learn from each other, and I am in no way saying that you've forgotten that goal. But, sometimes we lose sight of the main goal over trivial guidelines, including myself. BTW, Ian, thank you very much for your contributions to this forum. :D

crsaz: I'm willing to bet that you'll want two MP40's, but that's just my opinion.
 
Fair enough. It's just that posts like this resonated with me...

Travis said:
You mean there is still an sps forum? I didn't even realize it since I stopped visiting it so long ago. I think I gave up on it around the time that a bunch of other regulars and people that I would consider knowledgeable also stopped posting there. To me, at the time when I stopped visiting, everything had become a (insert male private area) measuring contest... I'm cool because I have a 1/2" frag of this or that, I just put this new piece of high end equipment on my tank but I don't know how to keep corals alive, etc., etc. That and the forum got way too bogged down with people making new threads on topics that had been discussed 100 times before, sometimes even on the same page. Some people will never be able to find that search button. I can say I really do miss the good ol' days of the sps forum of the past.
Click to expand...

mpoletti said:
Whats really dissapoints me is what this forum has become :sad1:

People post a little of everything here and have cluttered it in a way that some of the most knowledgeable folks don't even want to bother anymore. Please people, this forum is for our obsession with sps corals ;)
Click to expand...

I feel like the "knowledgeable" people mentioned in both posts are the people that guys like you and I can learn from but unfortunately no longer frequent the forum due to the dilution that you mentioned.

Crsaz, Im sorry I derailed your thread and Im sure Ill have some angry people after me but I just had to say something... Good luck with the build, it looks like it'll be a very nice aquarium...
 
Both are good posts, and I see both sides of the discussion. I hope this forum can stay away from little competitions, "I've got this new blah blah blah." And, I do completely agree that too many ask the same question instead of reading. This being said, while I do find this forum wanting at times, I don't feel like I'd post anywhere else. It's hard to find that happy median. Maybe a Build Sub-Forum in the SPS Forum would be good? I don't know...just a thought.

I'm not angry, whatsoever, and I hope no angry people come after you. :p Thanks for keeping a cool head about it as well. :)

And back to the thread...
 
I would go with 2 250 watt lights. I used to have a 36" tank and I tried the single 400 watt route and it wasn't the best option. You just get a better spread over all if you use 2 smaller 250 watt reflectors instead.
Those are nice tanks. I've seen them in person at Premium Aquatics and was very impressed with the build quality!
 
crsaz said:
For flow I am planning an mp40 maybe 2, I think I will start with one. Light and set it up so that I could add another at any time. Over the frag tank I will run one 250 on a light rail.

I unpack and inspect every tank at the store. Working at a lfs I've learned that shipping companies damage. A lot of tanks. I'm just using the card board to protect my table
Click to expand...

Nice looking set up love the rimless look.

IMO I would start with 2 MP20 or one MP40 like you mentioned, (2) vortech MP40's will be more flow than you will most likely want.
I am running 2 MP40's myself and thought I needed 3 on a 210g. what a wave ripple.

All and all I think you will be happy with your pump choice.
 
for now I will be using 1 mp40 and one tunze 6080 since I have one lying around, the thing I like about having 2 vortechs is that they can communicate and "work" together. more updates tommorrow when I build the stand and sump.
 
Looks great! I love 36" wide tank. Since you have a center overflow so most likely, you will have 2 islands like rockscape... I would go with 2 x 250w for even light spread.
 
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