Hi all,
First off, let me introduce a lill bit about myself....I'm Alan from Penang Island, Malaysia! I was working I'm Singapore when I had 4 reef tanks. Had to decommission all the tanks as work commitments require me back at Kuala Lumpur (Capital of Malaysia)
Now, a brief introduction of my reefing history. I started out reefing about 10 years back. Started of with a 2ft nano tank. Not knowing much about marine, I end up purchasing things I don't need and, spending more and more trying to maintain the health of the inhabitant as I learnt more along the way. Thankfully, despite my ignorance, I never lost any inhabitant for the entire 3 years of the lifespan of that tank! Beginners luck I guess.
Thinking back, it first started with a simple 2 ftx1ftx1ft prefabricated tank. Was convinced by the LFS how simple it was to keep marine. How ignorant was I!! At least I knew enough to cycle the tank.
Anyway, to cut the story short, from a simple tank with PL lights and an eheim canister filter, the evolution involved a 1/4 hp chiller, 150W MH, 2 HOB(acting as refugium and the other to house 5 starfish which I use to rotate amputation of arms to feed my harlequin shrimps), a tunze wavemaker, 2 fluidized reactors (phosban/activated charcoal) with my eheim canister as a feeder pump to the reactors and chiller!! I've came a long way since than..... I recently just decommissioned 4 reef tanks before my return back to KL.
I've learnt a lot from this forum, however, had never really participated in discussions.
After a long wait since me and my wife got back to KL, we decided it's about the right time to have our passion reignited. The new tank would be placed as a partition between the living room and the study. Here is where your advice would help us decide...
1. Tank size
- 7ft length x 3ft length x 2.5ft height
It would be viewed from 3 side ( the walk way, the living room and the study room )
I was actually more in favor of 3ft height, giving more volume. However, my dilemma would be the penetration of the lights and the ease of cleaning the tank. Anyone with a 3ft deep tank out there? would it be a problem cleaning the tank (sandy bottom etc..)?? would it be a problem when placing/relocation corals??..especially those on the sandy bottom. I find it difficult enough for a 2.5ft deep tank. Any advices/suggestions/experiences would be very much appreciated!
2.Controller
I'm in favor of getting a Neptune apex aquacontroller with the module to control my PH in the calcium reactor, monitor PH of my tank, control my tunze's and vortech, control my lights (if I get the AI Vegas). However, I've read quite good reviews on Profilux controllers. Anyone out there can give me advice on this and the differences between the 2.
3.Lightings
I'm ALMOST decided on this. My favor lies towards having 4xOrphek Atlantiks. 2nd in line would be 6xAI Vegas (3blues+3colors). What I like about the atlantiks are the high PAR/PUR based on what they say. On the other hand, what I'm skeptical about is that the videos they posted on youTube on the PAR at various distance and depth were bias. One video showed PAR of 478 at 2.4M. But, that was without any water. Another video actually showed PAR or 400+ at 1.2 meters(if i'm not wrong), but with just 10 inches of water. Another let down is that the atlantiks are assembled in china-anyway, what isn't?! And not to mention, I can't help but to notice the serious bias-ness against Orphek at reefcentral.com
The vega's, on the other hand, have 2 great points - No. 1 : love the wireless control , No.2 : Great after service, considering RA are the local distributors.
There was however one small annoying review whereby it was said that the vegas, although may have high PAR, do not have a high PUR ( which is everything we want in a light )
The only thing that tip the balance towards Orphek would be Trilobites (Thiru's) inspiring thread at 'Ultimate reef'. I just hope that reliability wouldnt be an issue considering it being assembled in china . Pricewise, theyre both about the same.
Any advice in this aspect?
4.Pumps
Is it justified to purchase an Abyzz pump with the amount of flow I would have with 2xTunze6105+2xMP40's. Is the variable speed control useful? N' yes, money doesn't drop from heaven for me...haha
Your views are deeply appreciated
Here are the list of things that are to be added to the system
- Return Pumps : Abyzz 200A X 1 , Eheim 1264x2
- Chiller : 1 ½ HP York Compressor with titanium coil drop in
- Tunze 6105 X 2
- Vortech MP40ES X 2
- Skimmer : Skimz Monster SM302
- Skimz Fluidized reactor
- Media : DT- Live aragonite sand (any place to buy it in KL? Or Ill have to get it in Singapore), RowaPhos, Rowa-carbon
- Ca reactor Deltec PF601 with Rowalith C+ coarse
- Deltec Kalk reactor
- Neptune Controller
- Tunze ATO
I gues that's about it. Do be brutally honest. Appreciate any advices/comments!
Thanks!
First off, let me introduce a lill bit about myself....I'm Alan from Penang Island, Malaysia! I was working I'm Singapore when I had 4 reef tanks. Had to decommission all the tanks as work commitments require me back at Kuala Lumpur (Capital of Malaysia)
Now, a brief introduction of my reefing history. I started out reefing about 10 years back. Started of with a 2ft nano tank. Not knowing much about marine, I end up purchasing things I don't need and, spending more and more trying to maintain the health of the inhabitant as I learnt more along the way. Thankfully, despite my ignorance, I never lost any inhabitant for the entire 3 years of the lifespan of that tank! Beginners luck I guess.
Thinking back, it first started with a simple 2 ftx1ftx1ft prefabricated tank. Was convinced by the LFS how simple it was to keep marine. How ignorant was I!! At least I knew enough to cycle the tank.
Anyway, to cut the story short, from a simple tank with PL lights and an eheim canister filter, the evolution involved a 1/4 hp chiller, 150W MH, 2 HOB(acting as refugium and the other to house 5 starfish which I use to rotate amputation of arms to feed my harlequin shrimps), a tunze wavemaker, 2 fluidized reactors (phosban/activated charcoal) with my eheim canister as a feeder pump to the reactors and chiller!! I've came a long way since than..... I recently just decommissioned 4 reef tanks before my return back to KL.
I've learnt a lot from this forum, however, had never really participated in discussions.
After a long wait since me and my wife got back to KL, we decided it's about the right time to have our passion reignited. The new tank would be placed as a partition between the living room and the study. Here is where your advice would help us decide...
1. Tank size
- 7ft length x 3ft length x 2.5ft height
It would be viewed from 3 side ( the walk way, the living room and the study room )
I was actually more in favor of 3ft height, giving more volume. However, my dilemma would be the penetration of the lights and the ease of cleaning the tank. Anyone with a 3ft deep tank out there? would it be a problem cleaning the tank (sandy bottom etc..)?? would it be a problem when placing/relocation corals??..especially those on the sandy bottom. I find it difficult enough for a 2.5ft deep tank. Any advices/suggestions/experiences would be very much appreciated!
2.Controller
I'm in favor of getting a Neptune apex aquacontroller with the module to control my PH in the calcium reactor, monitor PH of my tank, control my tunze's and vortech, control my lights (if I get the AI Vegas). However, I've read quite good reviews on Profilux controllers. Anyone out there can give me advice on this and the differences between the 2.
3.Lightings
I'm ALMOST decided on this. My favor lies towards having 4xOrphek Atlantiks. 2nd in line would be 6xAI Vegas (3blues+3colors). What I like about the atlantiks are the high PAR/PUR based on what they say. On the other hand, what I'm skeptical about is that the videos they posted on youTube on the PAR at various distance and depth were bias. One video showed PAR of 478 at 2.4M. But, that was without any water. Another video actually showed PAR or 400+ at 1.2 meters(if i'm not wrong), but with just 10 inches of water. Another let down is that the atlantiks are assembled in china-anyway, what isn't?! And not to mention, I can't help but to notice the serious bias-ness against Orphek at reefcentral.com
The vega's, on the other hand, have 2 great points - No. 1 : love the wireless control , No.2 : Great after service, considering RA are the local distributors.
There was however one small annoying review whereby it was said that the vegas, although may have high PAR, do not have a high PUR ( which is everything we want in a light )
The only thing that tip the balance towards Orphek would be Trilobites (Thiru's) inspiring thread at 'Ultimate reef'. I just hope that reliability wouldnt be an issue considering it being assembled in china . Pricewise, theyre both about the same.
Any advice in this aspect?
4.Pumps
Is it justified to purchase an Abyzz pump with the amount of flow I would have with 2xTunze6105+2xMP40's. Is the variable speed control useful? N' yes, money doesn't drop from heaven for me...haha
Your views are deeply appreciated
Here are the list of things that are to be added to the system
- Return Pumps : Abyzz 200A X 1 , Eheim 1264x2
- Chiller : 1 ½ HP York Compressor with titanium coil drop in
- Tunze 6105 X 2
- Vortech MP40ES X 2
- Skimmer : Skimz Monster SM302
- Skimz Fluidized reactor
- Media : DT- Live aragonite sand (any place to buy it in KL? Or Ill have to get it in Singapore), RowaPhos, Rowa-carbon
- Ca reactor Deltec PF601 with Rowalith C+ coarse
- Deltec Kalk reactor
- Neptune Controller
- Tunze ATO
I gues that's about it. Do be brutally honest. Appreciate any advices/comments!
Thanks!
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