Suggestions for a Dream 180 system

[Abraxos]

I currently have a 90 gallon system and know that I will have to move soon since the schools aren't great where I live for my son. When I do move, I would love to do a 180 set up and have looked at some here but I would like to go simple. I doubt I will have a dedicated fish room for instance. I would love for it to be as quiet as possible since it will be in a TV room. So if you were building a standard mixed reef (SPS, softies, LPS) 6ft 180 what would you buy with interest of power consumption and quietness in mind but also descent quality?

What type of skimmer?
What type of system? (Closed loop?)
What type of lights?
How big of a sump/refugium? Would need to go under the stand.
What type of pumps?
What other type of equipment (Reactors etc).
Live Rock (How much?)


I've found alot of info but many people use existing equipment, add on chillers, complicated plumbing, fish rooms etc. Just wanted to hear what the experts would do starting a 180 from scratch? Oh I would do a basic sandbed also. I'm hoping to consolidate some info into one thread for future use.

 

[Phillybean]

I have plans to upgrade to a 180 when I move as well. This is what I plan on going with:

What type of skimmer?
MSX 250

What type of system? (Closed loop?)
I'm a big fan of closed loops, so that's what I would go with. I'd go with two Darts, 4 returns each of a total of 8. If you can afford it, a OM 4 way on one of them.

What type of lights?
I'd go with 3 x 250 MH and 4 x 54 Watt T5s

How big of a sump/refugium? Would need to go under the stand.
I'd go with a 75 gallon. Nothing bigger than 4'. That extra 2' will come in handy

What type of pumps?
For the closed loop(s) I'd go with Darts. I'm a bigger fan of a slow running sump/fuge so I would go with a Mag 12. I know some people aren't fans of Mag Pumps, but I've never had any problems with mine

What other type of equipment (Reactors etc)
I'd also go with a Zeo Reactor, Calcium Reactor, Auto Top off with 20 gallon tank and a controller of some kind (Elite or AC III)

Live Rock (How much?)
I'd go with about 150 - 200 lbs.

 

[Abraxos]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14198748#post14198748 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Phillybean
I have plans to upgrade to a 180 when I move as well. This is what I plan on going with:

What type of skimmer?
MSX 250

What type of system? (Closed loop?)
I'm a big fan of closed loops, so that's what I would go with. I'd go with two Darts, 4 returns each of a total of 8. If you can afford it, a OM 4 way on one of them.

What type of lights?
I'd go with 3 x 250 MH and 4 x 54 Watt T5s

How big of a sump/refugium? Would need to go under the stand.
I'd go with a 75 gallon. Nothing bigger than 4'. That extra 2' will come in handy

What type of pumps?
For the closed loop(s) I'd go with Darts. I'm a bigger fan of a slow running sump/fuge so I would go with a Mag 12. I know some people aren't fans of Mag Pumps, but I've never had any problems with mine

What other type of equipment (Reactors etc)
I'd also go with a Zeo Reactor, Calcium Reactor, Auto Top off with 20 gallon tank and a controller of some kind (Elite or AC III)

Live Rock (How much?)
I'd go with about 150 - 200 lbs.

Great info! Is their a diagram of a closed loop system or other diagrams out there for other systems? Right now my 90 has a water in and a water out with a skimmer and a Phosphate filter running into the sump? Also what's a Zeo Reactor? It seems a 180 is a big jump equipment wise from a basic 90? Hopefully this will give everyone some good ideas for their big tank one day?

 

[amay121]

I'm starting with a 220g, almost the same dimensions as with the 180, but just 6" taller.

What type of skimmer?
Reeflo Orca 200

What type of system? (Closed loop?)
Dart with OM-4way

What type of lights?
3 x 250W IC x SLS Lumenmax Elite x Radium

How big of a sump/refugium? Would need to go under the stand.
90g sump + 40g Fuge

What type of pumps?
Dart Return

What other type of equipment (Reactors etc)
ReefKeeper Elite, Calcium Reactor, Media Reactor.

Live Rock (How much?)
I'd go with about 200 - 400 lbs.

 

[Abraxos]

I see Dart mentioned alot in bigger builds. Who sells those?
How do you determine your needs as far as how much flow is needed?
What is an OM 4 way? Is it another pump? Is OM a brand name?
Also does these electronic reef keepers actually keep up with PH, Temp, Calcium and Alk? What else do they do?
Sorry for the stupid questions but these are what confuses me going from basic tank to huge tank. Thanks for all the input!
Matt

 

[Phillybean]

No worries.

A Zeo Reactor is Zeovit. It is a complete system which is a little expensive (but worth it IMO) to drive a low nutrient system, which basically means 0 Nitrates and 0 Phosphates...always.
Read about it here, long read but again, worth it.
http://www.korallen-zucht.de/files/zeoguide_103_english-1.pdf

Dart pumps are made by a company called Sequence are are available from most online retailers and more LFS can get them in. There are several "versions" of Sequence pumps, some with more GPH than others. The Dart seems most popular and does 3600 GPH with 0' of head.

40x+ turnover is a good estimate for flow. 180 x 40 = 7200 GPH.

OM stands for Oceans Motion. It is a system that you run the closed loop returns into that creates random flow. More info on their site:
http://www.oceansmotions.com/

A controller will handle your lights, temp, PH and ORP. I does not control Calcium and Alk directly. That said, it can monitor the PH coming out of your calcium reactor, which is needed to control it.

A 180 from a 90 doesn't have to be that big of a jump. It all depends on how much you can/want to spend and what you want out of it.

You could just go with the 180, 250 Watt Bulbs, Skimmer, Return Pump and modded Maxi jets. Dose two part to maintain Calcium and Alk, use a timer for lights and test kit for ph.

It all depends on what you want to do.

I don't have any pictures or diagrams of plumbing, but if you would like I could draw one up for you.

 

[Abraxos]

I can google "closed loop" for a diagram. I appreciate the info. I haven't seen it all in one spot before which is nice.
So the basic idea of a closed loop is to avoid using powerheads?
Lastly what is ORP? I currently don't monitor that as far as I know on my 90?

 

[Phillybean]

No problem, happy to help.

Yes, basically to avoid using power heads. There is a lot of debate between the two, personally I like the cleaner look of a loc line as opposed to power heads. That said, if someone gave me a Vortech I wouldn't complain...

More info on ORP can be read here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-12/rhf/feature/index.php

I personally don't monitor it, but some people like too. Most controllers monitor it.

 

[amay121]

Abraxos,

Closed loop is a means to create more flow in the tank without powerheads (some people think it's not as UGLY as using powerheads). For me, it's a toss up. With powerheads you can control where the flow is directed and if you don't like it, you can always change it. Even though on my new tank, it's already drilled for a closed loop system.

Anyways, typically people use the ocean motions 4-way to create random flow. Look at a few of the threads here and you can find some closed loop systems or just do a search.

Good luck, if it was me, instead of the closed loop, it would be nice to go with a Tunze wavebox or multiple Tunze powerheads on a tunze controller.

Also, ORP isn't necessarily measured by everyone, just by some people.

 

[bag151]

First on your list- Dedicated electrical circuits for the tank and if you are going through the trouble put in at least 2.

Second- you need a budget, since you didn't specify and this is a dream tank I am assuming equipment costs don't mean anything just monthly electrical.

Third- up size to a wider tank then 24in, 30in or greater, gives you the most flexibility aquascapeing. It will give you space for rock and coral mixed in with open areas for you fish to swim.

What type of skimmer?
Bubble King mini 200- Best designed, Quietest, and efficient pump on the market. Great skimmer but costly
What type of system? (Closed loop?)
Scratch the closed loop, I wish I didn't bother with my tank, large pumps are two inefficient and noisy, Power heads 4x Tunze 6105'2 or Vortech with a battery backup for either. which one depends on the setup
What type of lights?
3x 250w MH in Lumenbright pendants, 12k or 20k reflux, T5 supplements if needed.
How big of a sump/refugium? Would need to go under the stand.
As big as you can get under there, dedicate a section for skimmer
What type of pumps?
Red Dragon, they are efficient and nearly silent
What other type of equipment (Reactors etc).
Geo Calcium and Fluidized Bed Reactors. Deltec Kalk reactor. Trade wind chiller if needed, I control my tank temp with A/C, Rotomold Drums for storage of Water both Fresh and Salt, as large as you can alot a space for. Spectra pure maxcap RODI
Live Rock (How much?) Don't go overboard, but as much as you can get in there to build a nice rock structure, you will need space for coral growth.

IMO everyone I see who runs zeovite has amazing tanks, but I have seen just as many amazing tanks without it. It's Just another system. Maybe allot some space for a reactor just in case you change your mind. In my case cost is a prohibiting factor to scale it up to my size tank, and I don't like dosing a ton of stuff every day. More work = more things to go wrong when I go out of town and someone watches the tank.

-Brett

 

[Abraxos]

I don't exactly mean "Dreamtank" as in "Price is no object" but moreso that right now I don't have the space and I have to pay my credit card off before I could start the new one.
Chances are I would buy a used tank to save money and refinish the stand and then add new equipment (unless the used one has a Deltec setup or something cool).
Brett brings up another piece of equipment, a fluidized bed reactor. What does this do?
I did read the Zeofit article and it seems like it takes daily attention which might be beyond my capabilities?
I've seen several tanks with the Tunze's powerheads on them so now I understand the difference between closed loop and wavemachine setups. This is a big help. Keep the opinions and experiences coming.