Need some help/advise

[lotsoftats]

After the new year I plan on setting up a total SPS 40 breeder...My budget will be $1000 bucks...I already have the stand it is a Oceanic stand that is for a 120g...I figure if I use this I can add a 3/4" top and with a little work I will have a stand big enough to keep all my equipment in.

I also have enough dry and cured rock for this project.

Now What I need is for you SPS guru's to tell me how to spend my $1000 to get everything I need to make my dream come true.

I am torn between running a single 250w radium or a 4 bulb t5 fixture...if you like the t5 idea what fixture would you go with?

next is circulation...I know I will hear Vortech as the number one choice but should I go with a single mp40 or 2 mp10's?

which skimmer?

I await your advice and suggestions.

 

[lotsoftats]

bump

 

[sminker]

ditch the vortech idea. with the money saved upgrade to a 120 gallon and buy a few Koralias.

just read a thread about how there have been alot of Vortecs for sale. seems the consensus is that they lose there luster and people sell them before they lose too much value.

 

[LifeAquatic]

I would never sell my Vortechs. Had them over a year and they are one of the best investments I ever made. Save the Koralias for your kids tank.

 

[sminker]

I would never sell my Vortechs. Had them over a year and they are one of the best investments I ever made. Save the Koralias for your kids tank.

Could you really justify a Vortech for a 40B? It would take up less realestate but come on, the newer Koralias have smaller foot prints and would be MORE THAN enough flow for a 40B. Not to mention when he is on a budget is a $400+ powerhead worth it?

if he was not on a budget then it wouldnt be a big deal. im thinking money wise.

 

[myaerica]

Could you really justify a Vortech for a 40B? It would take up less realestate but come on, the newer Koralias have smaller foot prints and would be MORE THAN enough flow for a 40B. Not to mention when he is on a budget is a $400+ powerhead worth it?

if he was not on a budget then it wouldnt be a big deal. im thinking money wise.

Yes if its too much flow which is next to impossible in an sps tank just dial er back A little. I have 4 in my 180 and im thinking about getting one or two more.If you have ever been to foster and smith in there display tanks they have 5 mp 40's in A 90 gallon.

 

[Reefobsession]

buy one Mp10 for your 40 breeder and that will be good enough.

 

[buy_baff]

i would never sell my vortechs. Had them over a year and they are one of the best investments i ever made. Save the koralias for your kids tank.

+1!

 

[Pickupman66]

The MP 10's shoudl be good fo rhte tank. a single would be fine. they are very awesome pieces of equipment. I dont own any, but that may change if I can get the money.

with that small of a volume, that 250 may get that water pretty hot. be prepared for that. the three on my 180 will raise the temp up quickly.

 

[LifeAquatic]

Flow

Flow

Could you really justify a Vortech for a 40B? It would take up less realestate but come on, the newer Koralias have smaller foot prints and would be MORE THAN enough flow for a 40B. Not to mention when he is on a budget is a $400+ powerhead worth it?

if he was not on a budget then it wouldnt be a big deal. im thinking money wise.

Maybe a MP10 would be less harsh on the budget. You can always use that MP40 on a tank upgrade though.

 

[allsps40]

I also say get a MP10. I want to get one for my 40 breeder. Go with the 250w Radium, I use a 250w DE Phoenix 14k in a Reef Optics3 pendent. Gives great coverage, love this light. Invest in a good skimmer. I use a 2nd gen Octo NW110 it was great when it came out but Octo has made a new better design. Cone skimmers are great to. Build a good sump the larger the better.

 

[iap]

How is the new koralia footprint smaller? Maybe a quarter inch or something but they are still huge, and in a 40b they will stick out. Get an mp20, that will be enough and this way you can upgrade it to an mp40 if you choose to. I have an mp20 in my 40b and its plenty.

 

[ChicagoReefOne]

I'd definitely start researching and thinking about the skimmer, especially with holiday deals coming up. While flow is very important, the skimmer is just as, if not more. I'd look at Vertex and Reef Octopus. Check out the skimmer forum for more info to do your research.

 

[phenom5]

I would look for a used mp20. Perfect size for a 40g breeder, and you can upgrade it to a 40 down the road if need be.

Maybe a SWC cone 120 for the skimmer.

Maybe an old school Tek fixture. You could go with the elite, but I don't think you'd need it on that short of a tank.

All told, you could get that done for under 750 (maybe cheaper depending on what you can find used), so you'd still have some left over for a reactor or ATO or a controller.

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

I just got a four bulb tek, and I am so so about it...if you have enough left get an ati sunpower...the fixture is just built so much better, my old ati didn't even get a scratch after one of my toggle bolts came out of the ceiling...I saw it happen and figured the light would bever work again, it smacked against the tank hard and came through like a champ...if this happened with this tek it would be toast