Oldude's new 400 gal tank build

[Oldude]

As stated in the latter part of this other thread
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1457600
I have decided to go with 96L x 36D x 27H for a volume close to 400 gal. The picture below shows the footprint size of the new tank in blue tape compared to the size of my present tank in green tape. This will be the approximate location so the old fooseball table has to go and I have a lot of work to do. The equipment/wet room will be built behind & around the tank. I hope I haven't bit off more than I can chew with this project.

Obviously I'm still in the planning stage and I just have a few bugs to work out regarding the location for the other two tanks and what to do for a new sump.
As soon as I can arrange for the contractor I will start pulling up the rug etc.
Suggestions and ideas are more than welcome.

 

[GSMguy]

first!

 

[Oldude]

After much flip-flopping with ideas for flow in the tank I am now considering a combination of a closed loop and vortech powerheads. I was told if I go with an external wave maker it's recommended that I use 3/4 glass which I don't want to do. I could always go with acrylic but I have a 60 gal acrylic tank now and I hate it. It is a nightmare to clean. I don't know how all these guys with large acrylic tanks do it. Mine is a total coraline algae magnet and scratches whenever I clean it. It's the same problem I have with my stingray whenever I clean it within 5 minutes it's attracted a bunch of dust to it again.:mad2:
Long story short I want to go with glass if possible.
Now back to the flow idea, I will likely utilize the 2 Tunze streams I have now and get the "rock" ceramic covers for them. So I figure with 4 closed loop holes, two Tunze streams and a couple of vortechs I should have enough flow. Any thoughts?

 

[crab0000]

Subscribing to the new thread! You may want to post a link from the other thread to this one to make it easier for people to find.

 

[GSMguy]

sounds like enough flow, you can add vortechs until your broke if you need more flow


i agree with acrylic being hard to clean i was just getting some grief in my thread for not cleaning my coralline.

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13233451#post13233451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crab0000
Subscribing to the new thread! You may want to post a link from the other thread to this one to make it easier for people to find.

Whoops I thought I had done that but obviously not, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Oldude]

lighting

lighting

As for lighting I am hoping to use my existing fixtures and adding a 400w hqi pendent on the extra 2 feet. What I have on my present tank is this:
3x 250w & 2x 150w + 4x 39 w T5 fiji purples.
Will I need more? I'm starting to think I might. Any thoughts?

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13233535#post13233535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
sounds like enough flow, you can add vortechs until your broke if you need more flow


i agree with acrylic being hard to clean i was just getting some grief in my thread for not cleaning my coralline.

I'm hoping a couple of these may do the trick.
http://www.ecotechmarine.com/products/mp40w.php
I'm also considering one of these as well.
http://www.ecotechmarine.com/products/batterybackup.php

 

[crab0000]

I have a Vortech on my 65 and love it! I just wish I had the money for another.

 

[Oldude]

If I need extra lighting I am thinking about 2 of these to go across the 8' span behind the MH fixtures and I'll use my 39w T5 fixture on my softie tank (which will be my present 72" 130 gal)
Any thoughts?

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13234475#post13234475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crab0000
I have a Vortech on my 65 and love it! I just wish I had the money for another.

Is it the 20w or 40w? I am getting excited but starting to feel a cramp in my wallet.

 

[BangkokMatt]

What next -'Oldude's new 650 gal tank build'

 

[crab0000]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13234575#post13234575 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldude
Is it the 20w or 40w? I am getting excited but starting to feel a cramp in my wallet.

I have the 40W running wide open in Reef Crest mode on my 65.

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13234794#post13234794 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
What next -'Oldude's new 650 gal tank build'

:lol:
I would if I could.

 

[rigleautomotive]

Greg, i would go with 4/ 400 watt lumenarc or lumenbrites if money is not an issue and some T5 supplements .Although you have one of the best looking tanks i've seen with your current lighting.so either way it will be awesome i'm sure.I think the tunzes are a bit more dependable then the vortechs so the closed loop and the tunzes are me choice on the flow.

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13237489#post13237489 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rigleautomotive
Greg, i would go with 4/ 400 watt lumenarc or lumenbrites if money is not an issue and some T5 supplements .Although you have one of the best looking tanks i've seen with your current lighting.so either way it will be awesome i'm sure.I think the tunzes are a bit more dependable then the vortechs so the closed loop and the tunzes are me choice on the flow.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it. I wish money was not an issue but it is. I want as little equipment viewable inside the tank so I thought the vortechs might be the answer since they are so small compared to the Tunze streams. In regards to the lighting I am trying to keep the heat down as well as the electric bill. Since I am on a bit of a budget I am hoping to utilize as much equipment I already have where possible. That said, I will give your suggestions some serious thought.
Thanks again.

 

[dholic]

For what it's worth, I love my Vortech's(Gen 2's MP40W) or as I like to refer to them, tank nipples. I will admit, I've had issues(shipped back 3 times) with the one I bought in Fed 07 and still love it but have had zero issues with the second one purchased in Nov 07.

My two are in a 100gal corner tank and I could not get the necessary flow(corner tanks and flow are a pain)without the footprint of several pumps in my tank.

I run them on Long Pulse, anti-sync at only 50% power in 15 second cycles

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13240596#post13240596 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dholic
For what it's worth, I love my Vortech's(Gen 2's MP40W) or as I like to refer to them, tank nipples. I will admit, I've had issues(shipped back 3 times) with the one I bought in Fed 07 and still love it but have had zero issues with the second one purchased in Nov 07.

My two are in a 100gal corner tank and I could not get the necessary flow(corner tanks and flow are a pain)without the footprint of several pumps in my tank.

I run them on Long Pulse, anti-sync at only 50% power in 15 second cycles

I appreciate you letting me know. I have heard elsewhere that the gen 2's are much better.

 

[CW from the OC]

I've had the vortecs since the first day they came out, serial #'s 5 and 6. I also had problems, having to have them fixed a few times.

Both have been upgraded with both the hardware and software upgrades, and I've had zero problems since. I was about to change out to Tunze's, but now they are rock solid, and virtualy silent to boot.

 

[GSMguy]

i have an MP-40 i got 2 years ago, great pump.