New 180BB tank in the works... your advice?

[ghever]

ok guys.... sounds like the wavebox just wont work for me... if I had my overflow on one of the short sides of the tank, it might make more sense, I could hide it next to the overflow... but with my tank having a center trap overflow on the long side of the tank back, I just dont want to keep the wavebox out in the open on one of the viewing sides of the tank..unless you guys have other ideas? I know it needs to work down the length of the tank...it does look realllllly cool though with that wave action... too bad..will wait for the new technology to come out that can better hide these things.

I already have the DART for my closed loop going through an OM 4 way.....

Do you guys think I should go with eductors or penductors on my returns or closed loop???

Thinking about tunzes or the vortech... maybe a couple of the tunzes if I could hide them...since I am doing the foam back, I might be able to hide the electricity cords inside the foam??

G

 

[REEF-DADDY]

If you already have the dart and OM eductors are out of the question, they require a pressure rated pump.

www.kthsales.com

 

[ghever]

hmm...my genX PCX 55 is pressure rated...if used as return, maybe penductors or eductors on the 2 returns?

 

[Dizzyswimmer]

I wouldn't put any cords in the foam . Would make cleaning the pumps a pain.

 

[twon8]

i don't think you would want to put the vortech on the bottom, as you can;t aim and would just be pushing water straight down the side, probably right into the rock work. unless you have a open side to work with the vortech's are not worth the 350 imo.

 

[ghever]

how do most of you hide the tunzes?? how long are the cords?

how many do you think I could benfit from, 2 of the 6100s?

 

[ghever]

Has anyone used the black foam for their background?

I have heard of some success stories, and some people who had problems.

I was thinking of taking sheets of acrylic, cutting them out to fit the back of my tank...forming the black foam onto the acrylic sheets, with rock and rubble... and then siliconing the sheets to my glass..

Do you guys think that should work? Do I need to seal the foam to protect it from UV? I know some say yes, some have had good experience without sealing it...

If I seal, what do you recommend I use?

thanks
G

 

[Weatherman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7277455#post7277455 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ghever
how do most of you hide the tunzes?? how long are the cords?

how many do you think I could benfit from, 2 of the 6100s?

Assuming your return pump is a Gen-X PCX-55HP (pressure-rated), I'd put a pair of eductors on the return. Then two 6100 Tunze Streams on a multicontoller will be sufficent to give the flow a little oscillation. Be sure to get magnet holders so you can place the pumps wherever you wish. The cords are very long, around 16 ft.

I don't bother trying to hide my Tunze Streams (or my eductors).

 

[ghever]

another question...

I want to do a pillar reef on one or two sides of the tank..

I have seen people use fiberglass rods or even PVC and then drill holes in the rocks and stack them..

Do you guys think a 1/4 fiberglass rod is sufficient? Or do I need 1/2?

I also saw HDPE rods, and was wondering maybe I can just drill a 1/2in hole in my HDPE bottom, and then put the rod into this hole? Or is HDPE not as flexible as fiberglass? Any thoughts?

 

[ghever]

ok, the 180gal tank has been ordered... went with Visio because I got a great deal... 3 sided starphire... center trap overflow.. let the maddness begin... I will keep you all posted.

G

 

[ghever]

Ok.. so I am ditching the foam idea....well, partially.. since it only adheres well to acrylic and not glass, and since my overflow has an acrylic face but rest of tank is glass...I will use the foam to hide the overflow....foam plus rock to create ledges...

I think I will get some penductors for returns, I think the eductors might be too long for me.

I have attached a word doc with outline of how my tank is drilled and plumbed. What it doesnt show is I will have two returns coming form over the top of the tank, one on each side of overflow... they will be pointing straight down the back of the tank...this is where I want to use the penductors. The other 4 holes are for closed loop. The two half way up the tank will also be angled down, I will use a 90 degree el and have flow pushing water down...so the OM 4 way will be set to push water down using these two holes that are half way up.

The two holes on the bottom are set to push water to the front of the tank...so the 4way will switch from the two outlets pushing water down to the two on the bottom pushing water to the front...this will also cause water to hit glass on the front of the tank and rise up and back to the overflow.

Where would you guys add tunzes, and which ones would you add, the 6000 or 6100? Or will a couple of 6060 or 6080s work? I can always use my ACIII to control the 6060 or 6080...

I will not do the faux sand bed, just plain HDPE.

Appreciate the help
G

 

[RichConley]

Have you bought the lights yet?

I have ReefOptix pendants, and honestly, theyre junk. SEs in lumenarcs will destroy them every day of the week, adn twice on sunday.

 

[ghever]

yah, I have 2 reef optix.. you think they are junk? hmmm.. anyone else think they are junk? I am using them on my current set up and corals seem fine... but I am willing to listen to others...

 

[RichConley]

Well, theyre not junk, they just arent great in my oppinion. The lumenarcs/Lumenmax/etc, are just phenomenal.