What equipment to buy next

[marino420td]

My 120 gal tank has been up about 2 months now. After the initial algae blooms, all is going well. Here is an equipment listing:

120 RR Glass tank on DIY stand (48X24X24)
2- 250 watt Coralvue 10K SE MH bulbs in Lumenarc Mini reflectors
Fired by Coralvue Electronic ballasts
Gen X Mak 4 return pump
Little Giant closed loop pump
H&S A150-2001 external skimmer
100 gallon Rubbermaid sump
40 gallon refugium

Approximately 130 lbs live rock
2" sand bed
1- Maroon Cloun
1- Lawnmower Blenny
100 blue leg hermits
100 astrea snails
50 cerith snails
20 nassarius snails
4 emerald crabs

What would you recommend as the next major addition to this system to support sps?

Calcium Reactor
Phosphate Reactor
Controller
Other?

Those with experience, please let me know what your priority would be and why.

 

[Wiskey]

I would get more flow.

Whiskey

 

[EmDy]

test kits?

 

[twon8]

controller and flow would be tops on my list.

 

[Cody Ray]

What are ur phosphates? If they are in line scratch the phosphate reactor. Maybe a calcium reactor would make a good addition?

 

[marino420td]

Phosphates test out at 0 with a Salifert test kit (I have test kits already by the way).

Why did you others suggest more flow? This is my first experience with a closed loop system so I'm in the learning stages. Do you not feel that the closed loop will provide enough?

 

[wishntoboutside]

an auto top off may notbe a bad idea, along with a reactor

 

[twon8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8127906#post8127906 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marino420td
Phosphates test out at 0 with a Salifert test kit (I have test kits already by the way).

Why did you others suggest more flow? This is my first experience with a closed loop system so I'm in the learning stages. Do you not feel that the closed loop will provide enough?

well we don't know how many gph the closed loop is, but even if we did, you can nearly always use more flow imo

 

[JOSHUAB]

flow, that is if you want things to grow, get it flow and grow, funny, bit they go together provided everything else is correct w/water params

 

[marino420td]

My closed loop pump is a Little Giant 4-MDQX-SC rated at 1325 gph. Return pump is a Gen X Mak 4 rated at 1190 gph at 0 head. With all of the plumbing, this is probably putting out about 700 gph (a guess). So I figure I have about 2000 gph flowing through the tank. Let me know your thoughts on this. If not enough, what would you do to increase flow? Since I made the closed loop, I don't want pump or powerheads in the tank. I would have to upgrade my CL pump.

As far as an auto top off unit, I'm very interested in one. What do you recommend for a system this size?

 

[twon8]

ive got more than double that flow in a 90, so i would say an upgrade is in order.

auto top off, i love the litermeter 3, pricey, but worth it imo.

 

[twon8]

you might want to check out the nanostreams; while you say no pump/ powerhead in tank, they are tiny, magnets come with them and they are easily hidden.

 

[EmDy]

I have 53X & wave box and still feel not enough.

 

[chrisaggie]

In my opinion a calcium reactor is a priceless piece os equipment for an sps tank.

 

[-=DieselDave=-]

^ +1

 

[Cody Ray]

U have decent flow but as already stated more is better. I would go for more flow first.

 

[MikeEe]

if your starting out with just frags, then I think your flow should be okay for now, but definitely increase once your frags grow out. But for now, I would get a calcium reactor.

 

[dots]

We have been losing tanks left and right this summer due to overheating here in Sacramento, CA......I think a chiller is one of the most important pieces of equipment esp. when coupled with a heater and controller....adds to the whole stability equation.......

Flow needs to be upped as mentioned, and could 2 part supplementation until the need arises to make a decision on going with a reactor or not.....

 

[Yinger]

i know its been said, but i'd go with more flow. I have a 120 as well with a tunze 6000 and a wavebox in there and I'm going to add two more nano streams when they ship out and another 6000 later on.

 

[SunnyX]

These items should be at the top of your list:

:CA reactor (GEO makes a fine reactor)
:Increasded Flow (1 Tunze 6100 or 2 Seio 1500)
:Auto Top Off Unit ( A Deltec KM500 Kalk Reactor would be perfect)
:Carbon (Marineland)