Shopping list for new tank

[Anonymous]

So, am I missing anything?

To recap, this is for a 36"x24"x18"H glass overflow aquarium, with probably a 24"x18"x18"H sump.

What I have on my list at the moment is:

Skimmer: Super Space Saver Octopus XP-1000SSS Cone Skimmer

Circulation: 2 x MP10w-ES (wanted 2 x Tunze 6055 plus multicontroller, but it's much more expensive)

Return Pump: Eheim 1260 (does this look to be the right size return? I don't want something too powerful)

Top-up and kalk dispenser: Tunze Osmolator plus kalk dispenser

Heater - 2 x 100w Ebo-jaeger

RO/DI: Premium Reef Supply 50gpd 4 stage

Inline TDS meter

Plus sand, rock etc.

The one thing I'm finding it impossible to make my mind up on at the moment is the lighting. I have it narrowed down to either:

The safe option: Giesemann Infiniti fixture with one MH and 4 x T5. Premium Reef don't seem to have the 150W version, but I'm hoping they can order one in for me. Otherwise I might be tempted by the 250w version.

OR

The slightly adventurous version: the Illumagic Blaze M-90C, an LED fixture made in Taiwan, not yet sold in the US, but available from one vendor in Japan. 12 x Cree 5W White LEDs, 24 x Cree 5W Blue LEDs and 8 x 1W Edison UV LEDs. I have no idea whether the maker is reliable, the bulbs are strong enough for a mixed tank, including clams and the occasional SPS, though there is one tank on the internet out there looking good underneath this fixture. Though I've just noticed that most of his corals, including zoas etc are right at the top of the tank. Though he does have LPS further down...

Any thoughts on my best choice for lighting here? It's a bit of a risk to go for this particular LED fixture, as the company doesn't even seem to have a homepage as such, just a thread from a Taiwanese BB (where's Craig/JH when you need him?). But it looks well made and my main concern is actually whether it's high powered enough...

 

[Ben1]

Are you going with the space saver for space reasons? If you could fit it I'd personally go with the internal 1000 vs the space saver just for the extra reaction area. The Space saver is built like my bubbleking mini and when I want to clean the skimmer pump I have to take the whole skimmer out of my sump, take it apart and then put the whole thing back. I have a pretty tight space under my tank and this becomes a pain so I tend to service my skimmer pump less than I should. Otherwise I think your in good shape the gear looks sweet and I cant wait to see the build thread.

 

[Anonymous]

Those LEDs look great. They also look like they could be plugged into US sockets. I'd give them a shot.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry Dan. I think I'm swinging back towards the safe and sensible, if unexciting Giesemann fixture. It's not so much the technology putting me off as the lack of information/reputation for the manufacturer. Giesemann has that reliable German air to it (I'm also swinging back to the Nanostreams for the same reason, having seen a thread somewhere with Ecotech basically telling an overseas customer that any repairs would have to be done at their own expense at a local dealer. It might well be the same with Tunze, but I suspect there is less of a chance (albeit there is one) that something will go wrong. Still, the new specs on the MP10w-ES pumps are tempting...

Ben, interested to get your take on the Octopus Space Saver. I will have to do some serious calculations about the footprint I have available. I have a old (but never used) drop in acrylic refugium I want to use in the sump and need to be sure I have enough space for it, plus the skimmer, plus the return. Time to break out the calculator (wish everywhere worked in inches or everywhere worked in cms).

Thanks both for the input!

 

[Anonymous]

There are tons of people using those Maxspect LEDs and they are saying the CS is very good and they fix/replace with no questions asked. Unfortunately, they must be sent back to China. You would be closer to China so the shipping would not take so long. Also, IMHO, I feel the Illumagic looks like it is better made and uses stronger LEDs. I find Tunze just as good, or better, than Vortechs. You would probably get better CS in Europe from Tunze. The only drawback to that skimmer is that cleaning the pump will be a PITA. I would hate having to remove the whole skimmer or take it apart in the sump to clean it.

Good luck!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dan - you and Ben are convincing me to think again about the skimmer. I'll have to look at what footprint I can spare quite seriously.

As for the LEDs, well the Illumagic fixture is not made by the same people as Maxspect, so I don't know whether the customer service would be quite as good. Although in theory the fact that I'm buying it from a Japanese retailer might help, the Japanese retailer is a website I've never heard of, which is also a little worrying, given how much time over the last four years I've spent looking into Japanese reef shops!

Thanks for your opinion about the Tunze powerheads. They are reasonably well established here, so I should be able to get hold of parts, plus the Tunze operation in the US seems more helpful than the Ecotech (based on the sponsor forums I've seen). I'm leaning towards them, despite the extra cost.

 

[Anonymous]

I would imagine that illumagic is better than Maxspect, overall. Do not get my words mixed up, I believe that Vortechs have awesome CS(IME), but as far as europe oes Tunze is probably better due to regional aspects.

 

[Anonymous]

Aah, thanks for the clarification. I'm now in Japan, so the CS in Europe doesn't make a huge amount of difference. I'm just commenting on the basis of something I've seen elsewhere about how Ecotech approached an issue an overseas customer had with a product bought in the States (plus my perception that the Vortechs have a slightly high rate of problems than the Tunze - probably not that different really, but if I have to choose and one of the needs I have is for something as reliable as possible...).

 

[Ben1]

FWIW one of my vortechs power supply died after a year, the case bubbled up on it. I had to buy a new one and it was like $55.00. I am running three though and one ran with out issue for years, but eventually the wet side needed replacing and that was $75.00.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks again Ben. FWIW, I am aware that Len had one of his Streams seize up after he bought it as well, so Tunze is not immune to problems, but my impression is that, if say 0.5% of Tunze pumps have problems, maybe 1% of Vortech's do. With either the chance is probably slight, but given the difficulty for me in dealing with a failure, it makes sense for me to minimise the chance of it happening where possible.

 

[Anonymous]

I had quite a few problems with the Gen 2 Vortechs, they were corrected quickly, but a PITA none the less. It was bearing issues that they have corrected and all is well since. My Tunze has been hassle free from day one, I rarely clean it and have onbly replaced the impeller once after running it for a few years. I love my Vortechs now but I had severe doubts about them when I first got them. What I am trying to say is that you win either way you go.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dan. I think I'll stick with the choice of Tunze, but know that the Vortechs aren't a bad option for the future.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dan. I think I'll stick with the choice of Tunze, but know that the Vortechs aren't a bad option for the future.

It's your lighting that you may have an arguement with me. There are many that have gone LED and it seems most of them can rival or surpass halides. I too am exploring my options. I have dumped some coin lately and hopefully it will pay off in the long run.

 

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean and I was seriously tempted by the Illumagic fixture, and but for it being an unknown quantity, I might have gone for it. If it had been a fixture with the same name value (Giesemann reliability/quality) I might have gone for it. But I don't have the funds to replace the fixture if it turns out not to deliver. My wife is pretty patient, surprisingly so when it comes to spending a bit more to ensure I get a high quality fixture, but not in terms of me replacing something after a year or so. The Illumagic might be brilliant, but there is not enough data out there for me (both in terms of the manufacturer's background and users' experiences). Other LED fixtures I've seen are too expensive.

 

[Anonymous]

Giesemann is coming out with a LED fixture soon.

 

[Anonymous]

Not soon enough. Stop trying to tempt me over.