New 180 & Lots of Questions

[SteveOhh]

OK, so I'm moving up in the world.................I bought MargaritaMan's 180 last weekend & I'm going to take the time to set it up right! I've got some questions I'd like to ask & there are no better people to ask then the reefer's that already have big tanks. So here goes nothing..................

Tank is a 72" x 24" x 24" glass w/ centerbrace............Planning on running some SPS up top & lots of LPS on the sand................maybe a clam or two also...............

Lighting.................Planning on (2) 250's w/ (4) 36" T5's for sup..............Enough????

Sump will be a standard 60 gallon tank w/ a additional 15-20 gallon fuge...........................Return will be ran thru Sea Swirls...............should I go 1/2" or 3/4"?? Do Sea Swirls require a pressure rated pump to run them? Are they compatiable w/ pendacators (sp)?

What size return pump should I use? I'm thinking 1200-1500 gallons per hour but if it's returning thru pendacators, do I have to increase that? Does it have to be pressure rated?

Additional flow in the tank....................Would a few Tunze's do the job?

Thanks in Advance,

Steve

 

[bryanth73]

1. for lighting use 3 250s if your keeping sps

2. I would go 3/4 more flow(volume not pressure)

3 is the tank drilled (reef ready)? and how big are the drains? 1200 to 1500 would be ok for the return, but to much for the fuge. That you could "t" off with a little slower flow ( giving the macro time to use up nutrients better)

4. tunze babyyyyyy yes would be great for flow. or a closed loop would be good, if done right

 

[prugs]

Oceans Motions 4-Way powered by a Reeflo Dart pump on a closed loop would be my choice. Seaswirls are out dated equipment, & require pressure rated pumps that use alot of electricity.

 

[JonTarutis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8988725#post8988725 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by prugs
Seaswirls are out dated equipment, & require pressure rated pumps that use alot of electricity.

Maybe you are thinking SCWD?!? There is no minimum amount of flow to run a sea-swirl...

 

[SteveOhh]

Ok here's what I'm thinkin...................

(& please rip me to shreds if it won't work)... :lol:

Return..............Dart going thru (2) 1" Sea swirls w/ penductors.............Definately want the dart.........seems to be the best bang for the buck..........can always throttle it back...........

Lighting............I got a dual 400 HQI ballast that I wanna trade for a 250 HQI ballast........................Still thinkin dual 250 hqi's w/ 4 "36" t5's & I'll be fine...................I can always add that 3rd 250 if I need to..................

Flow..............Would (4) 1200 Maximods be enough?..................

Steve

 

[ben&bobbi]

going through the same thing here.

this is my plans. We will have 3 250mh XM 10k's, actinic VHO's to suppliment (not sure which config there yet) either 2-6' or 2-4' and 2-2'.

i have been told that i could get away with 2 250 with luminarc reflectors, but i already have PFO reflectors and will use them.

using dart for return, will add powerheads if needed, but only a Seio 1500 or 2 at max. There are a couple others on here with very similar setups. They aren't using additional powerheads.

I don't have any input on the penductors, did very little research and of course half so waste of money, other half say best things ever!

Here's a link to what i have going.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=993852

 

[prugs]

Dart pumps are best for closed loops. If you want a lot flow/splashing/salt creep/general mess push alot of flow thru your sump/fuge.

 

[Paikuhan]

For lighting if you are going to keep SPS and LPS you can get by with only two 250's you will just have to have two mounds of rock with most of your corals under the lights leaving the center of the tank open. You can put some zoa's or softies in the center but basically leave it open.

For flow I personally don't think a single dart would suffice for SPS I would definatly get a couple Tunze's with controller on top of the dart, maybe even some seio's with controller. I don't think maxi-jet's would really cut it.