upgrading to ~150g tank

so I have been thinking about the build and I am trying to get the most flow in my tank. +75x turnover rate. I was wondering if I should go with 2xmp40s, mp40 and 60, or some other type system (tunze)? I would like some peeps to chime in on their thoughts of this. Tank will be 55" long not counting the overflow so keep that in mind. I would like to just run wavemakers on one side. Should I try for a closed loop?
 
well its hard to say exactly, when i had a 40 and a 60 on my 4ft 120 obviously i was not able to have the mp60 at 100 percent, i think the max was 50percent and 100 percent on the 40. Since it is a bit wider i think you can have 2 40s at 100 percent on.

The 60 was awesome though, i would turn it to 100 pecent for a few seconds and it would flush out the system of detritus without having to fan or turkey blast the rocks. Like a clean up knob.

I would actually try and get 2 used mp60s for the $550-600 range, when you might spend almost that on 2 new 40s. I mean thats what i would do in your situation.

If not go with some sort of tunze wide flow set up of sorts.
 
Pictures!!!

Pictures!!!

Here is what I got, stand being built and multi-chip led came in.
SVH_0057.jpg

SVH_0058.jpg

SVH_0070.jpg

SVH_0074.jpg

SVH_0067.jpg

SVH_0068.jpg
 
They multi-chip is a 16k epistar 50 watt. It creates a good crisp white color to my eyes. I would say slightly whiter than a 14K Phoenix bulb. I am only running them at 1300mA (rated for 1700mA) and they are super bright. Set up was easy, now just need to get tank filled with water and see light distribution. I am thinking three will be fine, I am wondering about getting the hybrid versions. I think I might do a video and post on youtube with light on.
 
pnavarro170 said:
gonna be sweet man, where are you running the overflows and returns, is it gonna be penninsula style a bit ?
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Yep, the overflows will be on the one side close to the wall/window. The space between the couches and tank will be auto-top-off water and my lemon tree will sit above it to get the sunshine :fun4: The tank will separate the tv area and the dinning room table (which is going to be sweet. Solid slab of pine i harvested last year ~8' long ~40" wide). The lights will hang from the ceiling.
 
puffin04 said:
Tank is coming out great as well! Will take some pictures tomorrow! :)

Steffen Sparks
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Lies!!!!!

haha just kidding partner.

I got an update on the multi-chip, so when they say 16k it really means 10k. Here are some pics of the build in the light fixture. I am glad I only ordered one because I am going to get the 50W hybrid 20k + actinic LEDs. I definitely like a white slightly blue look to my tank, but this this is straight crisp white. On a second note, they are being ran at 1400mA and were held 12" from surface of water. The MH is 4" off water surface, and the multi-chip was way brighter. here are the picks.
16kmultichip.jpeg

14kpheonixmh.jpeg

16kmultichiphousing.jpeg

16kmultichiphousing2.jpeg

I will sand down the letters and make the fixture housing smooth. Either keeping white, or black, dont know yet.
 
pnavarro170 said:
should be cool, love it when chaka gets to tinkering ! lol
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Yeah, I still am unsure about LEDs, so If I am gonna try them I want to build the fixture myself for complete control. I am contemplating a large DIY build which would use the 3 leds per board chips and small modular fixtures. I am not sure yet. They would be to supplement the multichip leds. Mainly for color and getting those corals to grow those amazing pigments.
 
So, great news for any S.T.A.R.S. DIYers. I have just ordered an arduino mega and a couple other boards in the hopes of making a reef controller. Eventually it will be able to control dosing, heaters, fans, leds, temp sensors, pH sensor, auto-top off and more (just cant think of it now). I am not sure on if I still am going to do multichip setup or a 3w setup. I might do a 10-20w mutlichip array. When the parts get in I will post some pics on the progress. Oh, and the display for the controller will be touch screen. I will be basing the build of the Jarduino build. He has taken a lot of time to do programming for the platform and much thanks goes out to him.

So in the future if any of you attempt this, maybe I can help!
 
Sounds Sweet! Out of my league as far as DIY though. I do know my own limitations and that is way beyond what I would ever consider trying myself. It's good to see that someone can though. Go for it!!
 
TimGentry said:
Sounds Sweet! Out of my league as far as DIY though. I do know my own limitations and that is way beyond what I would ever consider trying myself. It's good to see that someone can though. Go for it!!
Click to expand...

Don't believe that Tim. Whatever someone else does you can learn. Coding is the hard part and others have already done it for us! If you can solder you can do this project
 
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