new tank-spend my money for me

[lgresham]

Hi guys,

I am purchasing a new tank tomorrow as an upgrade from my 55 cube, and I'll have quite a bit of time to build this, so I'd love as much help as possible with what I should do for flow, skimming, etc.. The tank is:

48x30x24, Eurobraced, center overflow.

This will be a predominately SPS tank, as is my 55. I'm going to list out what I'm thinking about doing, and let you guys not let me make mistakes:)

Lighting-

My 55 has a single hamilton 250 watt hqi pendant with a 14k bulb, I'm thinking of just buying one more of these and running the tank open top.

Flow-

I will have to totally redo this, as nothing I have in the 55 will really work well in here.

I was thinking a CL, but open to any and all suggestions

Skimmer-

Thinking about an Aqua Euro USA 400 or an ASM G4

Calcium Requirements

I am thinking of just going with a CA Rx; I use Randy's on my 55, but it's already becoming a pain. Was looking at the MyReefCreations units, as well as the Geos....

Controlling

Thinking about an ACJr., I've never had a controller, and don't want to go too crazy with one.

Tomorrow, when I purchase and pick up the tank I'll post it, but please give me as much help as possible. I've spent so much money in the past because I bought things, used tactics I didn't really like, or weren't as good as I thought they were gonna be; I just wanna take my time on this one and do it right the first time=)


TIA,

Scott

[lgresham]

TTT

[drummereef]

Why not do a couple of Lumen Max IIIs or Lumenarc Stealth reflectors HQI with Phoenix 14ks? ASM G4+ or ER RC180. Geo reactors are sweet, I'd look into the 618. I have an ACjr and love it. Best controller for reefers on a budget. If you aren't on a budget then go for the ACIII pro. ;)

I am concerned you aren't going to get the coverage you want, since it's 30" wide, unless you go to a bigger reflector. If you want to stick to DE, then I'd go with the above. There is also the SE option. If you do that, I'd put 2 Lumenmax III's with 400 watt XM 20k bulbs. Probably would be my first choice. ;)

[lgresham]

Thank you for the reply=) The reason I was thinking DE is I already have one of the de fixtures, so I would just have to purchase one, but you might be right about front to back coverage. I will look into the lumen max and lumenarcs. I have heard great things about them. As for the bulb, maybe it's because I have a HQI ballast and not an E-balast, but I switched out my hammy 14k for a phoenix, and I really didn't lke it a bit. I have the phoenix just sitting now.

The ASM G-4+ is definitely one of the options I'm looking at for skimmer, but this Auqa Euro USA 400 is realy intriquing me.

I'm thinking of just getting some tunzes or possibly 2 vortechs for water movement. I have thought about it all night, and I really don't know if there would be much benefit to running a CL.

I'm getting the tank in just a few hours now. I can't wait, and I'll post pics=)

Scott

[drummereef]

Since you have an HQI ballast you could run Radium or Helios SE bulbs in the Lumenarc III's. I'm always a fan of the Tunzes. A couple 6100 or 6200 on the controller would be nice. Why not add a wave box while you're at it. :)

[lgresham]

I have started looking at the wavebox. I do think it would really rock. I have just about decided to ditch the closed loop. I don't want the hassle of it with so many other options available. I am now caught trying to decide between maybe 2 vortechs and my return pump, or a wave box and I don't know what else. Since the vortechs are about to have the wireless controller pretty soon, that could be really cool as well.

That's an option for the HQI ballast I never really thought about. What 14k bulbs SE bulbs will run on an HQI ballast? I really love the color of 14ks.

Thanks so much for the help; I just went and picked up the tank, and pictures are coming shortly.

[lgresham]

Ok, here's some pictures of it the new tank. I was a little off on the size. It is 48x30x21. So it's 130.90 gallons.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/sgresham/newtank2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/sgresham/newtank.jpg

[drummereef]

Well, you can run any 14k bulb on an HQI ballast, but you will overdrive them. The Radium and Helios are really the only SE bulb available to run specifically on HQI (optimally). The Radiums will burn a little whiter than most 20k bulbs. The color is fantastic, imo.

The tank looks awesome! :) Are you going to be using a hood, or leave it open? There are plenty of cool DE HQI fixtures that look really cool if you want to do a 'pendant style' light hung from the ceiling.

[purebullet417]

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GM-250-263-K&Category_Code=Giesemann
that is is a sexy light lol
if u do a closed loop a sequence dart would be good ibut i dont rember if u said if it will be bear bottom or not so that may be to much. if you go the power head route 2x tunze stream 6000 and the 7095 multicontroler or 2x 6055 and the controler

[lgresham]

that is a very sexy light:dance: This tank is definitely going to be barebottom, but I just about sold on getting 2 vortecs from ecotech. The only negative right now is that there is no controller available, but i know the wireless controller is just around the horizon. I'll probably be painting the back of the tank today.

Scott

[SptfireXIV]

First off, awesome, awesome dimensions. That will make for a hell of a tank. It'll be like night and day between that and your 55.

If it were me, with lighting, I would keep your 250 watt DE (perfect for a 24" high tank) and add a second one, offsetting both so you have some areas of high light and some areas of lower light. An example would be having one pendant in the front left hand side of the tank covering a 2'x2' area, with the back pendant in the back right hand side of the tank. Then, I would build the aquascape to reflect where the pendants cover, giving you open areas that are relatively dark and outcroppings of rock that are brightly lit.

[Fuegofish777]

If you get the AC jr. couldnt you control the vortechs that way, at least until their controller comes out? plus the ACjr can control everything else including that Ca reacor you were eyeballin. Just a thought

[lgresham]

If it were me, with lighting, I would keep your 250 watt DE (perfect for a 24" high tank) and add a second one, offsetting both so you have some areas of high light and some areas of lower light. An example would be having one pendant in the front left hand side of the tank covering a 2'x2' area, with the back pendant in the back right hand side of the tank. Then, I would build the aquascape to reflect where the pendants cover, giving you open areas that are relatively dark and outcroppings of rock that are brightly lit.

That is an awesome idea on lighting, and it saves me quite a bit of money actually. I really like that idea:)

If you get the AC jr. couldnt you control the vortechs that way, at least until their controller comes out? plus the ACjr can control everything else including that Ca reacor you were eyeballin. Just a thought

You may be right, and if so, that would even be more reason to get the ACjr., as if I needed more reason. I just heard earlier that the vortec controller was "supposed" to be coming out around July, so that's not awful, and I do think I am going to get the ACJr. anyway.

The calcium reactor I am looking at is the reeftek singe chamber. It seems like a really good price. If I find a setup for sale in the sell forums I might go that route too.

I ordered the standthis morning, 36 inches tall, and it will be arriving on the 26th, so I have to sit on my hands for awhile, but that gives me more time to plan, which I really need.

Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it.

Scott

[SptfireXIV]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9700721#post9700721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lgresham
That is an awesome idea on lighting, and it saves me quite a bit of money actually. I really like that idea:)
Scott

I don't know how close you are to invincible569, but you might want to speak with him about it too, he's a master at aquascaping and is trying some very different things with lighting (spotlighting would be a better term for it, much like the Japanese style tanks). I know he's in Texas, but I don't know how close he is to you.