New Setup – Questions

[MacRaider]

After a few years away, I am setting up again. I’ve been reading the boards and have learned a lot since then but I am still very much a beginner. After reading some great posts (Len – Your lighting pics gave me some great ideas and I too can’t wait to see pictures of your new tank!), I thought I’d put my setup so that people can comment. Some of you may see similarities in my design from your posts… I’ve tried to do my research and learn from the posts. I welcome any new advice and hope to get answers to a few outstanding questions.

Background:
The tank is a 110 gallon (48” x 18” x 30”) with a black oak base and a canopy. This summer I added some height to the canopy to allow for the installation of better lighting. The tank is drilled in the corner for the overflow but the return will have to be piped up the back. I have still have a working UV and a nice RO/DI setup. Not much else from my original tank can be kept.

I have not yet selected the fish or corals but hope to have the flexibility of supporting a reef tank with a range of coral life and fish.

Lighting:
There isn’t a lot of room under my canopy, so I was going to go with two Lumenarc Mini reflectors, IceCap 250W MH Electronic Ballasts and Reeflux 250W 10K bulbs. In addition, I’m going to use two small 15” 2 x 32W USA Power Compacts with dual actinic bulbs to supplement the MH.

Do I need to put something (glass or acrylic) between the lights and the top of the tank? I read somewhere that a splash that hits the bulb could cause it to shatter. Clearance between the bulb and the water is estimated to be 5-6".

Water Circulation:
I can’t decide between Tunze Stream’s (2 x 6100) or Vortech’s. Only reason I would lean towards the Tunze is that I can get a 7195 controller with the setup as a package. I’m not sure how I would control the Vortech’s (other than to leave them on 24x7).

Filtration
I don’t have a lot of space in the base either but I think I can fit in a refugium, the UV, a protein skimmer and a pair of reactors for PhosBan and HydroCarbon (from TLF). I’d love to see some pictures of a working R24 Refugium from Precision Marine, since it is the perfect size for me (all of their pictures are just of the empty box). Based on my reading, a refug seems simple enough to setup.

I need to replace my protein skimmer – Does anyone have suggestions on a good choice for my size tank in the $200-300 range? There are too many to choose from! Right now I’m looking at the MRC MR-1.

Thanks in advance for the advice… looking forward to comments.

 

[trido]

Background:
The tank is a 110 gallon (48” x 18” x 30”) with a black oak base and a canopy. This summer I added some height to the canopy to allow for the installation of better lighting. The tank is drilled in the corner for the overflow but the return will have to be piped up the back. I have still have a working UV and a nice RO/DI setup. Not much else from my original tank can be kept.

I have not yet selected the fish or corals but hope to have the flexibility of supporting a reef tank with a range of coral life and fish.

Lighting:
There isn’t a lot of room under my canopy, so I was going to go with two Lumenarc Mini reflectors, IceCap 250W MH Electronic Ballasts and Reeflux 250W 10K bulbs. In addition, I’m going to use two small 15” 2 x 32W USA Power Compacts with dual actinic bulbs to supplement the MH.

Do I need to put something (glass or acrylic) between the lights and the top of the tank? I read somewhere that a splash that hits the bulb could cause it to shatter. Clearance between the bulb and the water is estimated to be 5-6".[/i]

Water Circulation:
I can’t decide between Tunze Stream’s (2 x 6100) or Vortech’s. Only reason I would lean towards the Tunze is that I can get a 7195 controller with the setup as a package. I’m not sure how I would control the Vortech’s (other than to leave them on 24x7).

Filtration
I don’t have a lot of space in the base either but I think I can fit in a refugium, the UV, a protein skimmer and a pair of reactors for PhosBan and HydroCarbon (from TLF). I’d love to see some pictures of a working R24 Refugium from Precision Marine, since it is the perfect size for me (all of their pictures are just of the empty box). Based on my reading, a refug seems simple enough to setup.

I need to replace my protein skimmer – Does anyone have suggestions on a good choice for my size tank in the $200-300 range? There are too many to choose from! Right now I’m looking at the MRC MR-1.

Thanks in advance for the advice… looking forward to comments.

Looks like youve done your reading, Im jealous of the Lumenarc mini's. The 250 mini DE comes with a glass sheild. You should be able to keep anything you want with your tank dimentions (SPS, clams).
You should be fine with the HOB return. The Tzunze controler will give you the wave action you need to grow healthy corals and on another note, most reefers dont run UV sterilizers on account of pod and phyto loss.
ASM is a good skimmer for the $$$ and alot of reefers are comparing them to the euro reefs.

Keep doing your homework and take your time and you will have a nice tank in time..
Good luck. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

MacRaider
:welcome:


Sounds like you have most everything figured out! What are you going to do for a substrate? DSB? Somewhat DSB? Or bare bottom?

 

[MacRaider]

Interesting to hear that most don't use UV. I only have it because of a problem years ago with green water. I think I'll leave it out of the initial setup and try to get by without it then.

ASM for the skimmer -- I'll look into them. I had seen a few posts about them. Thanks!

Lawdawg: Was going to start with a mix of about 90 lbs of CaribSea Aragamax Sand and one box (40 lbs) of South Pacific Live Sand (from Live Aquaria). I'm hoping that will give me 1.5" to 2".

 

[SnowManSnow]

The TUnze stuff is expensive , but if you can swing it you can't beat them. They REALLY make hight quality stuff that works. I loved mine, it was just too powerful for my system.

ASM is a good skimmer, you may also check into Deltec, again high quality but $$.

B.

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting to hear that most don't use UV. I only have it because of a problem years ago with green water. I think I'll leave it out of the initial setup and try to get by without it then.

ASM for the skimmer -- I'll look into them. I had seen a few posts about them. Thanks!

Lawdawg: Was going to start with a mix of about 90 lbs of CaribSea Aragamax Sand and one box (40 lbs) of South Pacific Live Sand (from Live Aquaria). I'm hoping that will give me 1.5" to 2".

IMO, UV can be counterproductive in a way, it kills off microscopic critters that corals and other livestock use as food. We know the UV will help control parasites like Ich, but if you quarantine new fish that issue doesn't come up all that often.

FWIW, my only thought on your 1-2" bed will be that with the amount of flow you're going to have going, you might have problems with the sand not staying put.

 

[MacRaider]

I had thought about the flow disturbing the sand. In my old tank I had no flow (lesson learned), so this time I wanted to get the right flow and adjust the other variables (dial it down, add more sand, change the spacing) as required.

Good point though... something I've been thinking about.