My new 215
- Thread starter dalilgriffith
- Start date
reeftard73
In Memoriam
diggin' the munky jammies
Damn Patrick, that BK is sweet, what model is it?
How tall is the stand, you may have to cut the bottom of it out to accommodate the height of a good skimmer, I don't know. That is one of the major problems with running everything in the stand, plus there may be a big noise issue too, especially is this in a quiet part of your home. There is a lot of planning involved, get it right the first time. I would go with 250wt or even 400wt Halides(3 of them) with good reflectors, like Darin said, you may be able to get away with just 2 bulbs, depends on how well the reflectors spread the light out. I personally would look into either a T-5 kit for some actinic light, helps make your corals pop. I have found the best light for this is VHO, but T5's do a pretty good job, plus I am just running bulbs from TFP, no ATI bulbs yet, they may do better when I give them a try.
Are you looking at external pump or internal for the return? As far as movement in the tank, Vortechs or Tunze are the only ones I'll put money down for anymore, I haven't tried those Polario pumps, so I can't vouch for them. I have modified maxijet's too, but the sometimes can look kind of funky. If you want to keep "stix"(Acroproa, and other SPS), then I would be looking at no less than 50X's tank volume for flow inside the tank(not through the sump), and upwards of 100X's is even better, IMO. In a 215, that would equate to something like 20,000GPH, you may not need quite that much, but I would figure at least 15,000GPH(again really the more the better with Acros, IMO, so that would be like 5 or 6 Vortechs, or high volume Tunze streams on a controller/s. It is going to be expensive, it would be like $2700 for 6 Vortechs, I'm sure the controllable Tunze's would be right around the same, unless you could find a deal on some used ones. I am sure I have more to ramble on about, but got to go take son to little league practice. Have a good one.
Matt
How tall is the stand, you may have to cut the bottom of it out to accommodate the height of a good skimmer, I don't know. That is one of the major problems with running everything in the stand, plus there may be a big noise issue too, especially is this in a quiet part of your home. There is a lot of planning involved, get it right the first time. I would go with 250wt or even 400wt Halides(3 of them) with good reflectors, like Darin said, you may be able to get away with just 2 bulbs, depends on how well the reflectors spread the light out. I personally would look into either a T-5 kit for some actinic light, helps make your corals pop. I have found the best light for this is VHO, but T5's do a pretty good job, plus I am just running bulbs from TFP, no ATI bulbs yet, they may do better when I give them a try.
Are you looking at external pump or internal for the return? As far as movement in the tank, Vortechs or Tunze are the only ones I'll put money down for anymore, I haven't tried those Polario pumps, so I can't vouch for them. I have modified maxijet's too, but the sometimes can look kind of funky. If you want to keep "stix"(Acroproa, and other SPS), then I would be looking at no less than 50X's tank volume for flow inside the tank(not through the sump), and upwards of 100X's is even better, IMO. In a 215, that would equate to something like 20,000GPH, you may not need quite that much, but I would figure at least 15,000GPH(again really the more the better with Acros, IMO, so that would be like 5 or 6 Vortechs, or high volume Tunze streams on a controller/s. It is going to be expensive, it would be like $2700 for 6 Vortechs, I'm sure the controllable Tunze's would be right around the same, unless you could find a deal on some used ones. I am sure I have more to ramble on about, but got to go take son to little league practice. Have a good one.
Matt
dalilgriffith
Member
I think I want to go with the Hydor 3250gph about four of them. How much does the control for the magnum cost. And how many ports do they have?
reeftard73
In Memoriam
4 x $189.00 for the Koralias that do 3250 + another 2 x $289 (2 way controller) for the controllers, grand water flow total of $1,334.00 of water flow. That's not even including your return pump(s). That's NOT including tax and any 20% off one single item coupons you may have.
Large tanks == Large investements
Large tanks == Large investements
reeftard73
In Memoriam
Here's goes lighting...
4 x 4 Lumenarcs (you want 4, with a tank as long as yours, 3 would likely leave too many dark spots) - $520, + 4 nice ballasts or 2 x double 400w ballasts $400 and 4 nice 400w bulbs ($300)... $1200 - 1300.
Don't forget, we still have to do return pumps and sump and skimmer.
We need to make sure there's some money left for those corals too!
4 x 4 Lumenarcs (you want 4, with a tank as long as yours, 3 would likely leave too many dark spots) - $520, + 4 nice ballasts or 2 x double 400w ballasts $400 and 4 nice 400w bulbs ($300)... $1200 - 1300.
Don't forget, we still have to do return pumps and sump and skimmer.
We need to make sure there's some money left for those corals too!
dalilgriffith
Member
Does anyone know of any lighting pendant that looks like this:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/23724/product.web
but is a 400 watt fixture.
I want to start out with two and buy a third later.
The fixture should be hopefully fit but I would like suggestions on lower profile lights. Thanks.
If you guys think i can get away with 3 250 watts, ill do it.
Again, id like keep primarily acros
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/23724/product.web
but is a 400 watt fixture.
I want to start out with two and buy a third later.
The fixture should be hopefully fit but I would like suggestions on lower profile lights. Thanks.
If you guys think i can get away with 3 250 watts, ill do it.
Again, id like keep primarily acros
dalilgriffith
Member
What is that<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14682450#post14682450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lpkenneys
If Darin's spending your money, so am I..... I got your return pump!:rollface:
Looks like a controllable Red Dragon, but I really have no idea. Pat will have to chime in and reveal the secret. I am pretty sure you can use the 250wt fixture with a 400wt ballast, pretty sure the bulb and socket are the same, again I could be wrong but I think that is right. About that, if stix are your main concern then I would probably go ahead with 400wt'rs, you could also do 250's on the ends and a 400 in the middle. It is hard to say, I forget what the dimensions are for that tank. It has been awhile since I worked there and had to unload them bastards off the freight trucks. They are really sweet looking tanks. Back to lighting, I'm pretty sure you could get 250's to work, just may have to keep Acros mid to high in the tank. I guess it depends on how mad you would be if you have to upgrade ballast and bulbs a couple months to a year down the road, again they may do fine and they may not. Tank dimensions would really help with this. Are you going with open top or canopy? Good luck, again more to say but off to swimming and softball practice. Have a good evening.
Matt
Matt
reeftard73
In Memoriam
I'd buy at least 3 and likely 4 of the 400 watters now. Don't skimp now, you'll only be ****ed later.
dalilgriffith
Member
Ok, I have decided to go with a few (4 for now with two controllers) Magnum Powerheads from Koralia.
Anyway, thats now what my post is about. My question is about lighting.
What are the main components?
Reflectors
Ballasts
and bulbs
any other components to go into this?
I want to get the best of all three plus any of my ignorance that I dont know about.
A wiring explanation could be in order as well
----------------------------------------
I am also looking for suggestions for sizes of tank for the sump/refugium. A 55 i have as my old tank may work. I am tearing that down to make room for this one. Its still active so i dont know what i could use.
Anyway, thats now what my post is about. My question is about lighting.
What are the main components?
Reflectors
Ballasts
and bulbs
any other components to go into this?
I want to get the best of all three plus any of my ignorance that I dont know about.
A wiring explanation could be in order as well
----------------------------------------
I am also looking for suggestions for sizes of tank for the sump/refugium. A 55 i have as my old tank may work. I am tearing that down to make room for this one. Its still active so i dont know what i could use.
reeftard73
In Memoriam
You got it. The main components are reflectors, ballasts and bulbs. Depending upon the lighting system you choose, you may not have to do any wiring, as there are many plug-and-play lighting systems on the market.
dalilgriffith
Member
I know id like to do Lumenarc reflectors
20 k bulbs?
Who makes the best 400w ballasts
20 k bulbs?
Who makes the best 400w ballasts
turbonegro
Member
If I were you I would put three of the lumen bright reflectors with 400w radium SE bulbs and galaxy ballasts. If I still had my 72" tank I would have gone with this lighting combination. Here are some links
http://reefexotics.com/lumen_bright.htm $329.97 plus shipping
http://www.worldwidecorals.com/proddetail.asp?prod=radium
$269.07 plus shippung
http://www.worldwidecorals.com/proddetail.asp?prod=galaxyballast $539.85 plus shipping
Total= 1138.89
http://reefexotics.com/lumen_bright.htm $329.97 plus shipping
http://www.worldwidecorals.com/proddetail.asp?prod=radium
$269.07 plus shippung
http://www.worldwidecorals.com/proddetail.asp?prod=galaxyballast $539.85 plus shipping
Total= 1138.89
dalilgriffith
Member
Do the ballasts plug right in the mogul reflectors or would this setup require some wiring Bob
turbonegro
Member
Here is the male end for the mogul.
http://www.sunlightsupply.com/aqua/...S&title=Components / Accessories&type=product
http://www.sunlightsupply.com/aqua/...S&title=Components / Accessories&type=product
dalilgriffith
Member
Three wires, what exactly do i do with that? lol
As far as flow have you considered 2 vortechs in your tank, i have 2 in my tank and you cant beat the flow and undertow they put out. I know your tank is much bigger, and i would add another tunze or two in there, but from the start your corals wont big as large and wont demand as much flow till they start to grow.
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