Help me out here...

[sslarison]

I'm going to be buying a new tank. I currently have a 50 gal reef and will be going up to a 100 gal. I have some questions so please offer what you can.

1. I currently have a 20 gal sump. Can I use this with the 100 if not what size will I need?

2. What lights do you recommend? I'm gonna get the tank at my LFS and the guy there recommends a 2/175 MH and 2/55 PC Retrofit. He has it for 599.00(I'm not sure if this is with the bulbs) and will install it for me. Is this a good deal and will this lighting be good?

3. Will I need a chiller?

4. What skimmer should I go with. I was thinking Turbo floater.

I'm trying to do this and get the best set up for my money. I also dont want to spend too much because the wife will kill me. Help me out here guys and gals I need it.


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[Unarce]

I think the lighting is a bit on the low side for a 100g. You'll probably only be able to maintain softies and clams. The MH should be stronger because of depth. I just peeked on ebay, and you could get 3 of these for about $50 less (including shipping):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW

250W HQI's are double-end bulbs that are the near equivalent to 400W single-ends. They also run cooler so you may get away with some well-placed IceCap fans instead of a chiller.

Looks like the auction comes with 20K bulbs, so you can forget about getting actinic supplementation. With 3 of these over a 100g, you can pretty much keep anything. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

1) Can you fit your 50g under the 100?
MOre sump is always better, but 20 is fine as long as you can fit in everything you want, and there is enough volume to collect the overflow if the power goes off.

2) That is fine. Someone will recomend that you use higher wattage bulbs. The deal is Ok. Also I prefer VHO to PC, but whatever.

3) You will need a chiller if you retrofit these lights in a canopy (unless you have some good fans) If this will be hung above the tank, evaporation will keep your tank cool enough.

4) I have no experiance with this skimmer. A quick serach of RDO will give you a clue with what to go with.

Good Luck!

 

[sslarison]

Reefnutz,

How do I mount those in into the hood? Do they have fans built in to the fixture itself? If so do I need to put fans in the sides of the canapy?

 

[Unarce]

Reefnutz,

How do I mount those in into the hood? Do they have fans built in to the fixture itself? If so do I need to put fans in the sides of the canapy?

I believe what most would do is simply hang them with some short chains inside the canopy. As long as they're at least 6" from the water, minimum. It appears that each pendant has its own fan, but you may want one fan on each side of the canopy. One blowing in across the water and one blowing out on the other side. Because they're double-end and the bulb kelvin is high, heat shouldn't be an issue.

I just pulled those up on a quick search in ebay. There may be some other good deals too, but $169 each is a pretty good price. Especially when it also comes with a bulb. You may want to ask the seller some questions about the brand, warranty, etc.

 

[alkataz]

I would also suggest using the 50 as a sump and maybe the 20 as a fuge if you have space for it somewhere.

I would upgrade to a larger skimmer a euro-reef if you have the room and the money. But Aqua c's are good as well.

As for lighting the setup they suggest is a good one. But the lighting thing is kind of mostly preference when it comes down to what kelvin bulb to use and all that so go with what you like. Premium aquatics has some mh hoods that come all put together that would fit nicely over you tank and since the space above you tank would be open instead of closed up inside a canopy you will get more evap and probably lover the chances of needing a chiller

HTH

 

[Unarce]

sslarison,

I just saw that all 5 of those pendants from ebay are gone. Were you able to get in on any of them?