Setting up a new 72gal bowed front, need some input.

[lostmyz]

I am currently gathering all my equipment for my 72 gal bow front drilled with a glass-holes.com 700 overflow box mixed reef. I have all my:
Return pump (Mag 9.5)
Skimmer (reef octopus 110)
sump/refugium (29 gal tank baffled)
reactors (BRS dual stage with a maxi jet 1200)
top off (Tunze Osmolator)
UV sterilizer (turbo twist with an aqueon 2400)
Chiller (with a mag 3 pump)

Now I am down to my power heads and lighting. I already have an Ecotech Marine MP40w ES EcoSmart Wireless Wave Driver and Powerhead and I am thinking of getting 2 EcoTech Marine Radion XR30w LED Light Fixture (Because each only cover 30" and my tank is 48"). Calculated it out and the cost of 2 Radion XR30w's over the course of 7-10 years will cost me less than the other set up that I wanted with replacing the bulbs every 6 months. However I don't know if I need a second MP40 or if I should get a MP10 or if I will even need another powerhead.

let me know what you all think. I will be making a thread. I am transferring my BioCube 29 stuff into this future tank just this time I want to set it up right from the start and not have any regrets.

Thanks

 

[rajkovich207]

I have an odd question, you don't work at a petland do you?

 

[lostmyz]

nope... i am a medical student

 

[rajkovich207]

Ah ok I know a guy planning the EXACT same setup you are, and is also transfering from a bc29. Honestly I think the radions are fricken awesome and super strong. But way to expensive. I would rather invest the money than pay all that money for the LEDs that will be outdated in a few years anyways. Imho you can't beat a good t5 HO with a nice bulb combo. I may be a budget feeder but I would stick with one MP40 put in in the center top of the tank blowing forward. They are crazy strong but if you find you would still like more flow, you can always get a couple power heads and pit them on a wave maker (often an included bonus in controllers). That is my two cents, you will end up with many different opinions though.

 

[JR719]

To help cut cost, I would first ditch the idea of a mag 3 thru the chiller. Run the return thru the chiller. 1 less pump cost and less electricity to run an additional pump when not needed. I would also seriously look at ditching the mag 9 and get a good external with less power consumption. You might take a look at Reeflo and Iwaki, whatever your chiller is rated at.

You did not mention what you plan to keep, only mixed reef. I take that as a high calc requirement. You might look into a calcium reactor and or a kalk reactor. Maybe a good reef computer/controller. Another thing not mentioned, but if you do not have, a good ro/di.

There are so many things, this is just a start. I think your on the right track.

 

[lostmyz]

JR719:
I already have the mag 9.5 and mag 3 they were given to me from a buddy on a tear down. The mag 3 is BRAND new and the mag 9.5 was used for literally 6 months. I have an external little giant i used on my old 125gal reef like a decade ago...lol.

I haven't had problems with calciumin my BioCube 29 but that all might change in a larger tank. I have debated on getting a calcium reactor I just need to figure out where I would stick it....haha. Maybe I can find a stand/cabinet to put next to my tank to do my work and store things? Thank you for that idea. The only issue I have had on my Cube was f'ing pH and Alk. I have stabilized my pH and buffer it with a maintenance dose twice a week and that keeps it at 8.3. But my Alk is always in the proper range just more dynamic than stable. I am so busy and I havent been home for more than 2 weeks at a time in the last few months to set up a doser for my Alk. My fiance takes care of the tank while I am gone and feed the fish and coral but I hate making her add additives. But my corals all still grow like gang busters so I guess its not that bad And I am too afraid to set one up and than leave for a month. I would like to be around to make sure its working for a few weeks before I take off and leave.

I have a buddy who makes RO/DI water at his house for his tanks and has a TDS of 3 on avg.

I have debated on running the chiller in line with the return BUT its rating is much lower than what I need to be pumping out. I also thought of just running it in line with the UV sterilizer (which I plan to only run on the weekends) I haven't finalized all my pluming but the equipment listed above is what I have available to me.

Hmm never thought about a controller. I did look into them at one point. which would you recommend?

rajkovich207:
As far as the lighting goes... i can get 2 Radion XR30W for 1400 flat. And that would last me 10 yrs and if I were to run T5HO's and replace the bulbs over 10 years it would cost me 1700. Not much of a savings but I like the idea of syncing my MP40 with my lights. I also thought of just putting in a Koralia EVO that i have and a nano somewhere in the tank on my RedSea Wavemaker Pro that I am currently using on my Cube.

 

[JR719]

Sounds like you have a plan. Can't argue with it at all. As far as controllers, I have a neptune aqua II, but there are bigger and better now. Just depends on what you want it to do. I really don't care about email notifications and such. Just run the tank. I guess it's what you want to spend. If your going to run a uv, turn it on and leave it on.

Good luck and hope all goes good for you.

 

[rajkovich207]

Yea I love the idea of the radions, but I made the mistake of dumping a little more than that into a custom computer, and while it will compete with any of the new tech fairly well it is out dated at 2 years old. And now that I am trying to sell it ill be lucky to get 1/3rd what I put into it. That is the only reason I haven't taken the led plunge yet.

 

[Danzig]

I have the same tank, starting her up. You can check out my gear in my sig. You went the expensive route i see, im just starting with the basics. Im glad you decided to go with LED's though because anything else costs more in electricity and bulb changes easily without a doubt, however the initial cost is horrifying.