220gal 4' Square Rimless tank setup

[lfsmarineguy]

Another option is Elos makes custom tanks. They may be able to make the 4x4x20 cube and it would be made with the crystal instead of the starphyre. Rimless tanks look great and depending on what light fixture and how you set it up you can build a housing that will help keep the light focused down instead of out as well. The noise can also be tuned with the drains and returns being sized properly. It might be cool to mount a few lumenarc (or similar) reflectors inside a housing built to match the stand that still hangs over the tank. 250s would definitely be enough for that depth using 4 total to cover the footprint. Are there any pics of the design so far?

 

[lfsmarineguy]

So it is late and I did not read all the posts. Elos is out...... they are the best with rimless though.
As for the rimless tanks at GA they are made of glass... and while glass is in fact a super cooled liquid and not a solid (you owe me if you win final jeopardy with that one) it will bow or sag over time but that time is 100s of years and not months. They are also too shallow to really bow out under the pressure like larger sheets would.
Deltecs are waaayyyyy overpriced for what they are and I honestly feel that a lot of the higher priced skimmer brands are not worth the jump in performance over some of the lower priced companies with great performance too.

 

[House of Laughter]

speaking of jump in performance verses cost ratio -

Here is the new BPS-8c on my 270g SPS prop system and display (150g) - the inside of that riser tube was caked about 1/4" and made me gag when I cleaned it -

I have 15 fish of varying sizes including jhales scopas and tomimi tangs in there as well as 60 different sps.

Enjoy the nog!

House

 

[boozeman]

mmm...nog-alicious!

...the 200xl joined the line-up in standard sizes for Elos. show him a pic of a 200xl bowfront and im sure he'll wet his pants.
the choices for well made rimless are limited to the three I mentioned before, Im sure that after getting quotes delivered Miracles will be the cheapest. Though theres always the chance that the AGE will ship lighter with the PVC bottom and offset the price.

 

[Dace]

Jim, Thank you for taking the time to post especially under your current situation, Hope all is moving along and everything in your house can get back to normal as soon as possible, Also thank everyone else that has taken there time to post. I spoke to rob late last night and he told me to get a quote from miracles today. So here i go,, Ring ring....

speaking of jump in performance verses cost ratio -

Here is the new BPS-8c on my 270g SPS prop system and display (150g) - the inside of that riser tube was caked about 1/4" and made me gag when I cleaned it -

I have 15 fish of varying sizes including jhales scopas and tomimi tangs in there as well as 60 different sps.

Enjoy the nog!

House

 

[cali_reef]

Daceman, around $1,600 dropped off at my door steps on Sep 2006. It is 36"Lx36"Wx26"T, 140 gallons with an external overflow.



Get on it and order a tank already, bitach:lol2:.

 

[Dace]

Daceman, around $1,600 dropped off at my door steps on Sep 2006. It is 36"Lx36"Wx26"T, 140 gallons with an external overflow.



Get on it and order a tank already, bitach:lol2:.

thanks dude, i called them this morning. they said they would get back to me in 20mins. been 3hrs already

 

[Wes]

lighting a 4x4 SPS tank with a single bulb is possible, provided you use a 1000w bulb and have the pendent 2 feet above the tank :lol2:. Not too practical for most people.

how about that "Twin 400w" Pendant from Sfilgoi? The one where they have two SE 400watters side by side in one square reflector.

They have a 1000w pendant as well. I think w/ a rimless open top tank, the less u have hanging above the tank the "sexier"

That would look really nice above a cube if it would be anough light.

Infinity XR6- Twin 2 x 400 Pendant

This ingenious design allows for 2 x 400W Metal Halide bulbs in one compact fixture. This fixture uses the same high quality reflector as the other Infinity XR6 fixtures, but it's double bulb design allows for maximum penetration into your tank.

This Model Infinity Fixture Includes:

* Gorgeous Silver Pendant
* WIDE SPREAD DESIGN- 48" x 48" Spread
* 2 x 400 watt SE Metal Halides
* Includes (2) 400 watt Ice Cap Electronic Ballasts
* Choice of (2) 10K, 14K, or 20K Sfiligoi MH Bulbs
* Hanging Kit
* 1 Year warranty

Dimensions: 23 3/4" LONG x 21 3/4" WIDE x 8" HIGH

 

[Dace]

that looks like it can work.

how about that "Twin 400w" Pendant from Sfilgoi? The one where they have two SE 400watters side by side in one square reflector.

They have a 1000w pendant as well. I think w/ a rimless open top tank, the less u have hanging above the tank the "sexier"

That would look really nice above a cube if it would be anough light.

Infinity XR6- Twin 2 x 400 Pendant

This ingenious design allows for 2 x 400W Metal Halide bulbs in one compact fixture. This fixture uses the same high quality reflector as the other Infinity XR6 fixtures, but it's double bulb design allows for maximum penetration into your tank.

This Model Infinity Fixture Includes:

* Gorgeous Silver Pendant
* WIDE SPREAD DESIGN- 48" x 48" Spread
* 2 x 400 watt SE Metal Halides
* Includes (2) 400 watt Ice Cap Electronic Ballasts
* Choice of (2) 10K, 14K, or 20K Sfiligoi MH Bulbs
* Hanging Kit
* 1 Year warranty

Dimensions: 23 3/4" LONG x 21 3/4" WIDE x 8" HIGH

 

[Dace]

ok. tank update. i spoke to Rob and he decided to go with miracles. the tank will be 4'x4'x2'

 

[Dace]

I vote for a Reeflo 250 needlewheel Dart skimmer. It's going to be my skimmer of choice for my next tank.



Kasei

would this skimmer be over kill for this setup, should he get the ReefFlo Orca 200 Skimmer with Pump instead

 

[jhale]

would this skimmer be over kill for this setup, should he get the ReefFlo Orca 200 Skimmer with Pump instead

not much info out there on them, plus they use 3 times the E that the BK does.

From all I have read and heard from the majority of people who have them, the BK is the best NW skimmer out there. if money is a big concern then just get a DAS look into the new smaller BK's, the bubble king mini is lower priced and still rated for up to a 265 G tank and it uses only 38 watts.

 

[Pseudo]

Depending on the amount of bio-load I dont think it would be overkill but the 200 may be a better choice for him. The BK mini's are crap. Ask anyone that has them if they are worth the cash. I was on the list for one and cancelled after hearing what others had to say about them. The pumps are crap. The skimmate is hardly adjustable to get a drier foam and the skimmer is noisy.

I had a DAS and mine worked well and I actually like them. They are quiet and reliable but you MUST keep the neck clean for them to work well and consistently.

Food for thought... If you are looking at efficiency in your skimmer as the first thoughts in purchasing then you might as well just do water changes everyday. I have yet to find a skimmer that does it all so well that it would justify either the cost or the hassle.

BK is a "good skimmer" not great. If it was a perfect skimmer , then why is Klaus changing the design already? Deltec skimmers are "good skimmers" but I have yet to see one running that made "NOG" that wasn't a 1000 series or better.. (except in pics on the Deltec forum )

It's all about what you expect from the skimmer and it's usage. If you aren't going to push a skimmer to it's limits then get a NW skimmer with power efficient ratings and all that jazz. If you are creating a crazy DSB SPS and multiple fish biotope with a bio-load to match, go looking in the opposite direction.

Everyone is going to have thier own success story with this product and that product. Then go look at thier tanks and make an informed decision as to if thier philosophy matches your own.

Do they have 2 fish and 4 large rocks and 6 stag corals that look great and a BK 250 internal with great colors all around and a bare bottom with 8 streams and 2 vortechs just to swirl the missed detritus on a 125g tank which they fuss with all the time.

Or.. they have a **** load of corals and 20 fish all tangs in a 250g with a refuge and lps and sps and wavy things you cant identify and blah blah blah but running a Barr Aquatics SK5220 with a 100RLT in the garage but have fantastic colors and they are sitting around drinking beer and watching the game the whole time ??

Find out what you or he wants to do and a how to accomplish it then you get the equipment. If cost is a factor then buy a cat and not a reef tank.

Kasei

 

[loismustdie]

Everyone is going to have thier own success story with this product and that product. Then go look at thier tanks and make an informed decision as to if thier philosophy matches your own.


Kasei

I think I heard that before:biggrin:. I also recall hearing something along the lines of your signature not too long after we met. Something along the lines of "hey, I know whats wrong here... your tank sucks". As you poured yourself a scotch.
Words to live by, Dave. I like how Kasei is thinking. My tanks were always better when I approached them with that mentality. Remember, I wasted too much money trying to save electricity.

 

[Dace]

Well i guess I've heard allot of good information. It's time to start making some decisions. I will update this thread when the tank arrives and we start the setup.

Thank you all again. and with all this knowledgeable input, i will make the best of it and we will go buy some stuff soon.... :biggrrin:
Feel free to keep this thread alive.

 

[cali_reef]

Where are pictures of the tank?? :sad2: :sleeping: :sleeping:

All this talk about what can work and what will not... only way to find out is to spend the $$ then have the balls to call out those that said YES, have them buy the crap that don't work for you.

 

[JasonE]

I'm glad you're going with Miracles! We just had a tank built by Derek and it was spectacular. AO tanks were good, but Ron left, he was the main tank builder. Their warranty is very limited compare to Dereks.
Our cube tanks have a very slight bow, nothing I'm particularly worried about, it's the glass that's bowing, not any bad seam structure. Would happen with any 4x4 tank made out of 5/8s glass. Heck, my old AG 120 with a broken brace bowed over 1/4 inch and held up like a champ!

 

[jhale]

Find out what you or he wants to do and a how to accomplish it then you get the equipment. If cost is a factor then buy a cat and not a reef tank.

Kasei

yes comparing high priced skimmers is like comparing girlfriends, no ones going to win that argument (if you have a boyfriend then that also)
like K said you have to find the one that works for you and that's done by first hand experience :pimp:

 

[Dace]

Our cube tanks have a very slight bow, nothing I'm particularly worried about

who built your tanks

 

[Dace]

thanks Jason and Jon