New build - few questions

[satiger]

Greetings!.

I have a 50G tank (fish only) and ordering Red sea Peninsula 625 XXL (166 GAL) tank from Marine Deport to build reef and fish tank.

These are the items suggested by sales guy;

• Current USA Orbit Marine IC PRO Led Light Fixture 48-60 inch
• EcoTech Marine VorTech MP40wQD Propeller Pump w/ Wireless QuietDrive Driver
• EcoTech Marine Vectra M1 Aquarium DC Water Pump
• Tunze Master DOC Protein Skimmer 9410.001

I have heater and may need to look into chiller. Is this setup appropriate for reef with fish tank?. Am I missing anything?

Any suggestions and inputs much appreciated.

 

[lpsouth1978]

Greetings!.

I have a 50G tank (fish only) and ordering Red sea Peninsula 625 XXL (166 GAL) tank from Marine Deport to build reef and fish tank.

These are the items suggested by sales guy;

• Current USA Orbit Marine IC PRO Led Light Fixture 48-60 inch
• EcoTech Marine VorTech MP40wQD Propeller Pump w/ Wireless QuietDrive Driver
• EcoTech Marine Vectra M1 Aquarium DC Water Pump
• Tunze Master DOC Protein Skimmer 9410.001

I have heater and may need to look into chiller. Is this setup appropriate for reef with fish tank?. Am I missing anything?

Any suggestions and inputs much appreciated.

Everything looks good except for the light. That light would be fine for a fish only system, but for most corals it will be inadequate. Look at the AI Hydras, or the Radions. Even the Kessils would be better options. Or you can go the MH or T5 route.

 

[satiger]

Thanks Ipsouth1978. I will get a different light as you suggested.

Is that pump (EcoTech Marine VorTech MP40wQD ) ok?. I prefer a quite and reliable pump.

 

[lpsouth1978]

Thanks Ipsouth1978. I will get a different light as you suggested.

Is that pump (EcoTech Marine VorTech MP40wQD ) ok?. I prefer a quite and reliable pump.

You will not find a better pump. The MP40 will move ALOT of water and you will likely run it at 50% or less in a 50g, but it is a fantastic pump.

 

[[]V[]addog]

If you want to cut cost a little. two MP10's would be more than enough on a 50 gallon!
all the same features, smaller footprint.

People will not agree, but I had two on a 125 gallon mixed reef with great success for years.

 

[lpsouth1978]

If you want to cut cost a little. two MP10's would be more than enough on a 50 gallon!
all the same features, smaller footprint.

People will not agree, but I had two on a 125 gallon mixed reef with great success for years.

I will agree that 2 mp10's would be better, but not to save costs. 2 mp10's is more expensive than a single mp40, but will give more flow options and better "random" flow throughout the tank.

 

[satiger]

If you want to cut cost a little. two MP10's would be more than enough on a 50 gallon!
all the same features, smaller footprint.

People will not agree, but I had two on a 125 gallon mixed reef with great success for years.

Sorry about the confusion.

The pump is for 160GAL Red sea Peninsula 625 XXL. Looks like MP40 is the good choice.

On lighting, based on lpsouth1978's feedback looked at Radions. Looks impressive. I have an option to get 625 XXL deluxe which would come with 3 AI hydras for additional $1000. Should I go with Red sea deluxe (hydras) or just 625 with radion?. WHat is the difference between hydras and radions?.

Since I never owned a reef, I am very blank when it comes to aquarium lightening......

 

[lpsouth1978]

Sorry about the confusion.

The pump is for 160GAL Red sea Peninsula 625 XXL. Looks like MP40 is the good choice.

On lighting, based on lpsouth1978's feedback looked at Radions. Looks impressive. I have an option to get 625 XXL deluxe which would come with 3 AI hydras for additional $1000. Should I go with Red sea deluxe (hydras) or just 625 with radion?. WHat is the difference between hydras and radions?.

Since I never owned a reef, I am very blank when it comes to aquarium lightening......

The 625 XXL is 133g, the 750 XXL is 160g. If I could, I would go with the 750 XXL for the extra $700, but that is just me. I agree that for a tank that size, I would go with 2 x MP40's, again you would likely dial them back a bit, but you would have more flow options available. I always have multiple sources of water movement in my tanks to provide great , random, flow patterns.

Anyway, either of those lights would be a good option, there is not a whole lot of difference between them. The Hydras and Radions are both quality lights that have been around a long time (as LED's go) and have a proven track record. I would probably just get the system with the Hydras. This will make things easier for you since it already comes with the mounting hardware (fewer problems for you to solve).

 

[Crooked Reef]

I have an mp40 and an mp10 on a 90 gallon standard tank. (48” tank). I wish I would have gone with two mp40s. If you go with the radions I would get the reeflink from ecotech. It allows you to control the pumps and lights from your phone via a WiFi connection between the reeflink and your router. The hrdras have it built in i think.

 

[Lupine]

I just found this thread while researching the Current USA Orbit Marine IC PRO Led Light Fixture. I would like to know if it was said to be insufficient because of the size of the OP's new tank (vs being used on say, a 55 gallon tank), or is it just an inadequate product?

 

[lpsouth1978]

I just found this thread while researching the Current USA Orbit Marine IC PRO Led Light Fixture. I would like to know if it was said to be insufficient because of the size of the OP's new tank (vs being used on say, a 55 gallon tank), or is it just an inadequate product?

It really depends on what you plan on keeping in your system. For softies and some lower light LPS, it might be ok. But for most LPS and just about every SPS, it is not adequate.

 

[Lupine]

It really depends on what you plan on keeping in your system. For softies and some lower light LPS, it might be ok. But for most LPS and just about every SPS, it is not adequate.

Thanks for the input. Was wanting to use it on some LPS, guess I won't be throwing out the old halides after all. :sad1: