Starting a 225 gallon reef tank

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6805189#post6805189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CAreefer
You can see all the hooks in the ceiling from my previous experiments trying to get the desired coverage. I intended from the beginning for this to be an SPS dominant tank, so I knew I needed lots of light. IMO it would take at least 6 of the ROIII reflectors to get full coverage front to back.

Here is with the 5 250 watt, actually 2 were SE and 3 were DE
Lights.jpg


And what I ended up with.
Lighting-8_14_05.jpg


What bulbs you're on running will determine the best ballast for your situation. I bought all PFO HQI's so I could run the Radium. The 10k Reeflux gives the corals great color, I believe due to the very high spike in the 450 nm range. but on the HQI ballast, it has a pink tint to it that I find unattractive. I'm going to give the CV e-ballast a try and see how I like it. The par difference is minimal and the blue spike remains.

CAReefer
Click to expand...


Nice set up
 
The LAIII's come with the socket, accompanying bracket, mounting hooks (for hanging), and a cord with a proprietary plug (IIRC you get both male and female too). The cords are really long, like 12 ft. Makes remote placement nice. You will need the PFO lamp cord as it is sold seperately and plugs directly into the ballast.
Click to expand...

So I will need tto buy three of these?
IMD_150_PF2613.jpg


And those then hook up to the LA3 cords correct? Thanks for the help guys.

-Mike
 
Ok thanks. The tank and stand/canopy is going to be ordered some time this week, and all the other junk I will probably order tonight. I will keep yall updated.

-Mike
 
Heres a list of some stuff Im going to be ordering from marine depot tonight.

2- 250watt 10k XM MH bulbs
1- 250 watt 20k XM MH bulb
3- 250 watt Won Brothers Digital LCD heaters
3- TLF Phosban reactors (2 for phosban, one for carbon)
3- maxijet 400
1- Panworld 200ps skimer to drive my MyReefCreations MR-2R Beckett Skimmer
A PFO 2 bulb VHO retro fit kit with two 72" super actinic VHO bulbs
2- Dual 250 watt PFO HQI ballasts (I will probably run the other halide on a pro tank or something)
3- Pfo Quick disonnect cables

I will be ordering 3 Luminarc III reflectors aswell from Pacific Garden supply, I think Im going to get the glass sheets aswell to protect the bulbs

Then I am going to order a GEO Kalk reactor, and a Geo 618 calcium reactor. I already have a co2 bottle, and im thinkning about getting a new JBJ regulator. Anyone have experience with those regs??

I am also highly considering ordering a wavebox to run along with my 2 6100 tunzes streams on a multi.

I also gotta get a new RO/DI unit; I am probably gonna get the typhoon III from airwatice.

So how does all that sound to you guys??? I will keep yall updated.

-Mike
 
Keep in ming im going to be using alot of equipment I already have from my current tank, so I really only need to upgrade the lights, reactors, skimmer pump, and possibly get a tunze wavebox.

-Mike
 
I wouldn't spend the money for the glass on the LAIII's. Your going to take a ~20% hit in par. IMHO the 250's are going to limit SPS placement to the top half anyway, and with the glass, you'll be stuck with the top few inches of rockwork. I know your going with mainly LPS and softies, but after you acquire a few nice SPS, you'll be addicted like the rest of us. Again, JMHO

Marshal
 
Im gonna have alot of sps. will I be able to keep all my sps in the top of the tank, or do you thnik i should go with 400watt halides?? Ill take the glass of my list. I am already hooked on SPS, but wanna get some softies and LPS too. 250's should be good huh?

-Mike
 
Without the glass, 250's will be fine. It will give you lower light areas (bottom half) of tank for zoos and such. Also some of the lower light demanding SPS. I switched over from 250's to 400's to get the coverage. If I had bought the LAIII's before buying new ballasts and bulbs, I probably would have never went to 400's.

With the 10k/20k/10k, there will be a visible difference in coloration in the tank.

I don't remember, are you going BB? With that much flow, you will have a lot of sand stirred up all the time. I personally don't care for the BB look. If it were me, I'd use just a thin layer of a larger (>2mm) sand.
 
No i am not going Bare bottom. Im going to run a SSB. I really like the look of your sand, what kind is that if you don't mind me asking?? I think im gonna stick with the 250s.

-Mike
 
Do you think I should just do all 10k with the actinics? Ive ran xms with VHO actinics before and it looked really good, but was wondering what it would look like with a 20k in the middle. Im open to all suggestions..

-Mike
 
The Wave box and JBJ co2 regulator has been ordered. Now all I gotta order are the lights, reactors, and the other stuff from marinedepot. Heres a pic of what my stand is going to look like. The stand will be 40" tall, and the canopy 20" tall so I can fit 3 luminarc III reflectors in there. I think it will look very proportional. I like tall canopies, and the higher stand will aloow us to view the tank at eye level.
135sidecolumns.jpg


Heres what my tank is kinda gonna look like (this is a 280 gallon with 2 external overflow boxes)
wexternalwacryliccladding.jpg


-Mike
 
Lighting is so subjective. I hesitate to give bulb K recommendations. I personally don't care for the XM/VHO combination. Too yellow for my taste. I lean a little more towards the blue look. I'm looking for a nice crisp white with a hint of blue. So far I haven't found a combination that works for me. The Hamiltons in 400 watt on the HQI ballast was a good color. But the growth totally sucks IMO.

I'm going to be removing the sand I have and replacing with something larger. It is continually being kicked up and floats around the tank like micro bubbles. IIRC it is the Aragamax, sugar or oolitic, I have a bag in the garage, I will check in a bit to see which. I think the sugar tho.

That stand is gorgeous. My tank is 42" off the ground. A really nice height. Being in earthquake country, I had to take a few extra steps to make sure it stays in place during the next one. The San Simeon quake as 6. something, the tank was on the stand but empty at the time. Didn't budge. My free standing 75 moved 4" away from the wall and 6" to the east. Splashed out about 5 gallons of water.

Marshal
 
Mike, I like either one of the sand choices above. The grain size should be fine. At 1-2 mm, It will move around abit, but not get up into the water column.

Marshal
 
I just ordered my geo 618 calcium reactor and nielsen reactor. Should be here in about week. I plan to order the other junk by tonight, and the tank and stand/canopy should be ordered tonight/tomorrow morning. I think im gonna go with a mix of the two sands above. Still not sure yet, gonna have to see them iun person to see if i like them.

-Mike
 
The wavebox has arrived and the reactors should be here somtime tonight. I will post pics when I get back home.

-Mike
 
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