A worry I had was that if I end up with 2 250w MH and 2 96w VHOs Ill probably produce alot of heat and would like to avoid spending on a chiller. How can i manage this? is there any particular company that makes cooler MH or VHOs than others? (im sure its all the same, but figured Id ask) If not what can I do to avoid spending cash on a chiller?
Possible new setup... looking for insight (Please?) :P
- Thread starter Laz A
- Start date
Husky_1
Premium Member
I would have fans blowing between your lights and the water, if you are going to have a hood, you should have at least 2 fans blowing in, and have evacuation holes in the top or sides of the canopy.
I only have a single 250, 2x24 t5's and 1x39 t5 in a canopy. With 2 120mm Zalman computer fans running at 9v, I do not have any temp fluctuations when my lights are on.
HTH.
I only have a single 250, 2x24 t5's and 1x39 t5 in a canopy. With 2 120mm Zalman computer fans running at 9v, I do not have any temp fluctuations when my lights are on.
HTH.
Sweet. Im excited to see that my 24/7 reading of this forum has paid off this way. I was so overwhelmed by all the things you need to run a saltwater system because I didnt know what any of the things did or what exactly I needed. Now I have a pretty good idea of what I need to buy to run a thriving reef thank... But again, I'm nowhere near an expert so keep the advise coming if you stumble on my post 
.
By the way, if anyone ever gets bored and have nothing to do some time and would like to show off their tanks, and grab a beer... id gladly take a look since it would more familiarize me with the mechanics (Ive only been able to take a look at the filtration system and lighting of one SW tank and thats one with some nice LPS at Exotic Aquarium in Miami)
Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to steer me in the right direction .
-Laz
. By the way, if anyone ever gets bored and have nothing to do some time and would like to show off their tanks, and grab a beer... id gladly take a look since it would more familiarize me with the mechanics (Ive only been able to take a look at the filtration system and lighting of one SW tank and thats one with some nice LPS at Exotic Aquarium in Miami)
Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to steer me in the right direction .
-Laz
db_triggerfish
Premium Member
Big Al's is having a big sale week for example AGA 90g RR only 169.99 and Koralia pumps starting a 24.99, i just the email from them this morning.
REDDAWG43
New member
ATO = Automatic Top Off.
Big Al's
6820 N University Drive
Tamarac 954-722-3474
Mon - Sat 10 - 9 Sun 10 - 7
http://www.bigalsusa.com/
Big Al's
6820 N University Drive
Tamarac 954-722-3474
Mon - Sat 10 - 9 Sun 10 - 7
http://www.bigalsusa.com/
racermike27
Premium Member
I got my ATO from www.aquahub.com
Pretty simple kit, but it is a DIY. Good thing is if anything breaks the parts are pretty generic so I can get replacements easily.
Pretty simple kit, but it is a DIY. Good thing is if anything breaks the parts are pretty generic so I can get replacements easily.
compulou
In Memoriam
Laz,
I've had a 65g setup for almost 2 years now and if your going that route let me give some of my input.
Return Pump:
Stay away from the mags and QO's unless your going to run your pump internally. If your return pump is going to run internally than a mag 7 would be fine, just stay away from the QO's all together. If you’re going to run your pump externally than an OR2500 would be an excellent choice, Ehiems would be an even better choice but for the price, energy usage, lack of noise and cool running the OR2500 is just as good.
Lighting:
Again if you go with the 65g there's nothing that says you HAVE to go with a dual 250w setup as I think that's a bit of overkill in light and heat. If you take the dual 250's and the dual 96w VHO's on a 65g that's over 10w per gallon. Too much in my opinion. I went with a Current-USA 36" single 150w 10k w/184 watts of PC and it's works well but I'm going to upgrade to the new Current-USA dual 36" 150w w/T5's and I think that light will be more than sufficient. That light wasn't out when I initially setup this tank and I've never had heat issues. Also I went with an open top setup which I love, you just got to be careful what you stock your tank with and you might have a couple of carpet surfers. Knock on wood I haven’t lost a critter yet to any carpet surfing.
Skimmer:
I think you’ll be fine with the ER-180 but I use an EV-120 and have never had any problems with it. Just keep in mind where you’re going to run the skimmer. Again keeping with the 65g in mind there’s just not enough room under the stand of a 65g to fit a nice sized sump and skimmer. So what I ended up doing was installing a sump/fuge that took up most of my stands space and using a skimmer I can run externally (AquaC EV-120). I installed a shelf in the rear of the stand running the entire length of the stand about a foot up from the bottom and my skimmer sits on the shelf with water being plumbed up from the first chamber in the sump and it returns back to the sump.
Filtration:
Definitely go with a Fuge and scrap your idea of going with a wet dry. It’s a mistake many of us have made. Speak with The Saint regarding having a sump/fuge made
Circulation:
The 2 Seios would be fine, but newer methods of moving water have come around the last couple of years. It would greatly benefit you if plan out each part of your tank with circulation being just as important as any other. On a 65g two Koralia 4’s on each side of the tank would be fine. I initially went with a SQWD on a closed loop using a Mag 7. Well as I’ve mentioned not to use a Mag externally I had to re-think my closed loop idea as it just didn’t work the way I wanted not to mention the Mag running externally leaked. I then went with an Ocean Motions 2 way on a Gen-X PCX-40 1190gph with a bypass going through a 15w UV light. MUCH better design, and best of all very little maintenance needed.
Stand:
Go pick up Mels (Reddawg) stand for FREE!!! It’s nice as I’ve seen it and it’s a little taller than a standard 65g stand which will give you a little more room to play with.
Laz if you do decide to go with the 65g I invite you to come over and check out my system as if I would have had another like system to compare and take notes from I would of save A LOT of $$$$.
Later and good luck,
Lou
I've had a 65g setup for almost 2 years now and if your going that route let me give some of my input.
Return Pump:
Stay away from the mags and QO's unless your going to run your pump internally. If your return pump is going to run internally than a mag 7 would be fine, just stay away from the QO's all together. If you’re going to run your pump externally than an OR2500 would be an excellent choice, Ehiems would be an even better choice but for the price, energy usage, lack of noise and cool running the OR2500 is just as good.
Lighting:
Again if you go with the 65g there's nothing that says you HAVE to go with a dual 250w setup as I think that's a bit of overkill in light and heat. If you take the dual 250's and the dual 96w VHO's on a 65g that's over 10w per gallon. Too much in my opinion. I went with a Current-USA 36" single 150w 10k w/184 watts of PC and it's works well but I'm going to upgrade to the new Current-USA dual 36" 150w w/T5's and I think that light will be more than sufficient. That light wasn't out when I initially setup this tank and I've never had heat issues. Also I went with an open top setup which I love, you just got to be careful what you stock your tank with and you might have a couple of carpet surfers. Knock on wood I haven’t lost a critter yet to any carpet surfing.
Skimmer:
I think you’ll be fine with the ER-180 but I use an EV-120 and have never had any problems with it. Just keep in mind where you’re going to run the skimmer. Again keeping with the 65g in mind there’s just not enough room under the stand of a 65g to fit a nice sized sump and skimmer. So what I ended up doing was installing a sump/fuge that took up most of my stands space and using a skimmer I can run externally (AquaC EV-120). I installed a shelf in the rear of the stand running the entire length of the stand about a foot up from the bottom and my skimmer sits on the shelf with water being plumbed up from the first chamber in the sump and it returns back to the sump.
Filtration:
Definitely go with a Fuge and scrap your idea of going with a wet dry. It’s a mistake many of us have made. Speak with The Saint regarding having a sump/fuge made
Circulation:
The 2 Seios would be fine, but newer methods of moving water have come around the last couple of years. It would greatly benefit you if plan out each part of your tank with circulation being just as important as any other. On a 65g two Koralia 4’s on each side of the tank would be fine. I initially went with a SQWD on a closed loop using a Mag 7. Well as I’ve mentioned not to use a Mag externally I had to re-think my closed loop idea as it just didn’t work the way I wanted not to mention the Mag running externally leaked. I then went with an Ocean Motions 2 way on a Gen-X PCX-40 1190gph with a bypass going through a 15w UV light. MUCH better design, and best of all very little maintenance needed.
Stand:
Go pick up Mels (Reddawg) stand for FREE!!! It’s nice as I’ve seen it and it’s a little taller than a standard 65g stand which will give you a little more room to play with.
Laz if you do decide to go with the 65g I invite you to come over and check out my system as if I would have had another like system to compare and take notes from I would of save A LOT of $$$$.
Later and good luck,
Lou
compulou
In Memoriam
Thank you gentlemen.
I wish my photography skills where on par with my Computer or Tank building skills.
I've got my boy coming over tonight with his digital SLR to take new shots of my display. But in the mean time here's a pic of my plumbing, please pay no attention to the CL (Closed Loop) intake in the overflow as it has since been moved into the display using black PVC which has since been completely covered in coraline.
Laz, in this pic you can also see my AquaC EV-120 Skimmer mounted on the shelf I mentioned, and the OM Squirt (Oceans Motions wave maker) in the lower middle of the plumbing.
I wish my photography skills where on par with my Computer or Tank building skills.
I've got my boy coming over tonight with his digital SLR to take new shots of my display. But in the mean time here's a pic of my plumbing, please pay no attention to the CL (Closed Loop) intake in the overflow as it has since been moved into the display using black PVC which has since been completely covered in coraline.
Laz, in this pic you can also see my AquaC EV-120 Skimmer mounted on the shelf I mentioned, and the OM Squirt (Oceans Motions wave maker) in the lower middle of the plumbing.
