Setting up a 225

[twiggyb]

I am venturing into a bigger tank and thought I'd ask the questions here. Now my first tank was pretty much just put together by the lfs and I just purchased it. First question is, is it 10x the amount of water you have in your tank you want turned over in an hour? If so, what pump should I run? I want to do an external pump so I'd like to know what brand/ how much gph to look for. The dimensions are 72"L x30"W x24"H and the overflow box is rectangular in the middle. What kind of power heads should I run to get enough flow around the tank? I plan on doing a tower on each side, one with montis and one with tabling acro. Then maybe some bridges leading to the over flow box and a pile of rocks behind it for better refuge for the fish. Also, how loud is the external pump going to be? Will it keep me up at night if in the same room? The tank is acrylic. How big of a skimmer should I get? I know the bigger the better but what about minimum. And last, any suggestions I should take into consideration before completely setting this up? I know I'd like to set up a calcium reactor too for the sps and clam I'll be keeping but I'm new to those things. Is there different sized reactors for this? Sorry for all the
newb questions. Thanks for any helpful comments.

 

[bradleyj]

This sounds just like my tank.
Acrylic 225g
I run a Sequence Dart for my return, very quiet and does close to 3000 gph.

I also run another Dart on a closed loop, and then have 2 MP40 Vortech powerheads for a total close to 12,000 gph.
I know it sounds like a lot of water moving, but realistically, Its not.
I also have a big skimmer because I have over 30 fish in there and it is key to haveing pristine water conditions for sps .
It's a combination of w/m, big reliable skimmer and a good amount of liverock that is essential in good growth.
I also use ozone and have a big calcium reactor, rowaphos reactor and , nitrate reactor.
72 inch Maristar light fixture that runs 3, 250w, DE phoenix bulbs and 4, 39w T-5's.
All controlled by my AC III controller.
Thats about it for my 225g reef tank. over 4 yrs old now.
If you have anymore Q's, I'm happy to help.

 

[bradleyj]

One thing. If I had to do it all over again. I would of never had acrylic. Very hard to keep from scratching, no matter how careful you are, and is a corrallin algea magnet. LOL

 

[bradleyj]

My first tank was also a 65g, just like yours, I see in your signature. Great minds think alike. LOL
Mine is still up and running, almost 8 yrs now.

 

[twiggyb]

Lol, for sure. I'm getting this one at a decent price, so that is why I'd prefer glass, but can't afford it at the moment. Nice tank, beautiful colonies you got growing.

 

[bradleyj]

Thank you, Like I said, if you have any questions, just let me know, I'm happy to help.

 

[twiggyb]

What size skimmer do you run and how big is your sump? How much clearance should I have underneath the stand?

 

[bradleyj]

I have the Deltec Ap702, which is a recirculating skimmer and is big enough to run a tank double the size of our tanks. My sump is 70gallons and you should have at least 30 inches underneath.

 

[twiggyb]

Awesome, is that a GFO reactor by the skimmer? Equipment wise, what would be the best thing to invest in? My fish load will be 4 Lyertail anthias, 1 clown goby, 2 o. clowns, pink spotted goby, chalk bass, orange spot filefish, 7 green chromis(we'll see how many actually make it, started off with 8) and 2 emperor angels. I'd say at an inch per 2 gal. I'm already at my max, but I was thinking of a tang of some sort. Is this a bit much with the tang also? How do you like that light fixture? Anyone else have a tank similar they'd like to share and what they're using?

 

[bradleyj]

I would buy the best light fixture you can afford and the best skimmer. Especially with a large bioload. I have 2 tangs and a large rabbbitfish, 20+ wrasses and 7 smaller angels. So a very large reliable skimmer is a must. IMO.

 

[bradleyj]

My GFO reactor is on the right side of my sump with the red tape. By my skimmer on the right side is a Korallin Bio-Denitrator and on the left side is my Deltec PF601s calcium reactor.

 

[twiggyb]

How often do you do water changes and how much? Since I don't run a skimmer on my 65 I have to do 15g weekly to keep my sps happy. Would you recommend getting the denitrator? Maybe I'll start dosing vodka since I'll have a skimmer now.

 

[bradleyj]

I do 30 gallons every other week. I would hold off on the denitrator untill you see that your nitrates are high and can't keep them down. Mine are high because of so many fish and I feed 3-5 times a day. Same with vodka, just wait and see if they get high.

 

[twiggyb]

I wish I had that much time in a day to feed that much lol. Alright. I'll just take it slow.

 

[twiggyb]

I also run another Dart on a closed loop, and then have 2 MP40 Vortech powerheads for a total close to 12,000 gph.

I've been confused on what a closed loop is. Do you have a pic of this or is it easily explained how you have it on your system. The mechanics of this hobby is not my forte, the science of it is what I like to learn. Plumbing, electronics, and the rest are a little confusing at times when I see complex systems like yours and others with pipes and wires going everywhere :lol: I'd like to learn more about this stuff though.

 

[dahenley]

closed loop is a "Closed Loop" you have a pump where the intake is in the tank. (not in the overflow) and the output is in the tank.

an open loop is your overflow and sump. there is air. water cascades in the box and and drains to an open container (sump) and then pumped to the tank.

a closed loop will have intakes and a few outputs in the tank. it lets one pump flow water all over the tank. you can use OM devices which switches the output to different areas.
i hope this gives some insite??

 

[twiggyb]

I think I get it. What is a OM device and how would you plumb a closed loop into a system?I'm more of a visual person, sorry :lol:

 

[dahenley]

i understand. (it took me a little while to understand it)

goo gle "ocean motion" or OM 4way or OM8way

it is a drum with pipes attached to it. water goes from the pump to the bottom of the OM, and there is a motor that spins a internal drump wich deverts water out the 4 pipes. (it send them to in series 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4 or 1&3, 2&4, 1&3, ot 1&2, 2&3, 3&4, 4&1, 1&2 ect.. this all depends on the internal drum) this creates a varied flow in the tank.

the other half of the people with Closed loops just have a pump, going to a tee (or a few tee's) and out pipes all over the tank. but this just creates water turnover/circulation/flow. not any kind of varying or switching flow.

you can drill holes in the bottom or back of the tank to achieve this closed loop, or just plumb everything over the back of the tank. (this will require you using a powerhead to prime the pump. (push some of the air out of the Closed Loop)) once its primed, it will hold water and will not require priming again. (just like taking a length of tube, sucking the air out, then pinch the hose and stick the other end in the water as well. the water will stay in the length of hose no matter. (as long as both ends are in water) any air bubbles or the rest of the air will be pumped out once the pump is turned on.

i hope this helps as well

 

[dahenley]

also, i am on a budget (personally) and i have purchased a lot of equipment over the past 2 years, and no matter what i do, i am always buying something new and better. (started off with Maxi jet pumps, then modded them for more flow, then replaced them with Korella (spelling??) and then i purchased a Vortech. the vortech is amazing and quiet and moves a ton of water. plus, i have spend 4-500$ in pumps and just got this 350$ pump, and i can see flow all the way across my tank. and all the old pumps have broke, quit, leaked electricity, ect.... but you never see 20$ here and 20$ there till you get tiered of replacing the same things all the time.

what im getting at is that if you buy something cheap, chances of you buying something else before the year ends is a huge possibility. if you can wait a little while longer and buy the right equipment the first time, you will be SOOOOOO much happier. and you will enjoy the hobby more. if you buy cheap and keep replacing things, it gets tiering and makes a lot of people want to get out of the hobby because of the huge money pit.
but with the right stuff the first time, its a little more $$ up front, but way less in the long run. plus the dependability and enjoyment will be 100% better.

i could have put together 3 tanks with the crap that i have threw away.....


if you have time, take it and save a little and get the right stuff the first time. (i had a problem and had to go from a 55 to a 240 and only weeks to get things transferred over. so i went cheap and it has cost me tons of $$ )

 

[twiggyb]

Yeah, I'm not a bottomless pit full of money, that's why I'm asking everything now before I get the tank full of water and set up then learn I need to drill a hole in the tank to add something. Thanks for explaining the closed loop. I think I want to do that. Now I just gotta figure out how haha. It will be a little while before it is actually set up. I purchased the tank and its being buffed out right now. It was used and had a lot of scratches, hopefully the lfs can drill some holes in it for me to do a closed loop. My dad is making me a stand here in a week or so. I'd say this project will probably be up and running by spring of next year, hopefully sooner if all works out ok.