Want to set up a Zoo prop tank. Suggestions?

[MRCORAL]

IM thinking a 40 Gal Breeder tank and 175 HQI 14k. What do you guys think?

Also, do you think I need a sump or should I just get a nice skimmer?

Also, for zoo prop system how much flow should I have thinking it cant be a lot.

Any other equipment I might need?

[bluemanta]

175 MH will be a little overkill. if this is strictly a zoo prop, i'd stick with T5's and VHO actinics, and you save $$ on bills. running a sump is always convenient for scaling your system up, in case. for a 40 i'd say the flow be 1000-1200 max. i have a 60 SPS, and the flow is 2200.
ASM skimmers seem to do the job well and quite afforable. for a 40 and maybe a 10-20 gal sump, i think a cpr backpak will do (hang back to save space).

[tekknoschtev]

I would personally say the opposite. I think a 175W HQI is underkill for a 40 breeder. I've got zoas exploding in growth under 400W halides (but a deeper tank) but with a 40 breeder, a single 250W halide would do the trick and you could create shelves for acclimating new purchases. Trust me, if acclimated properly (and sometimes if not) your zoas will thank you in terms of increased growth.

I think sumps are one of the better things we as hobbyists can do for our tanks, especially if you are going barebottom in the main tank. Gives you a place to put live rock, and other equipmet maximizing the useable space for frags. A good sized fuge as well wouldnt be a bad idea.

For flow, I'd reccomend somewhere in the range of 20-30x turnover. I've found that zoas grow well when they are getting tons of flow - just not blasting flow that causes them to close up. You could run a closed loop, or have powerheads. Either way, I've noticed that giving them lots of flow (not necessarily laminar like from a maxijet, but overall flow and turnover like a Seio gives) helps them grow faster.

[Dewey115]

I agree with tekknoschtev, I have a 250W over my 20 and have much better growth than frags of the same coral in my 30 with T5s and PCs. Not really close actually... and they are all on the same system, so same water and actually the T5/PC tank has better flow (had to take the closed loop off the other tank to fix a leak :-( ) I noticed an overall more healthy look to the coral in the higher flow, but they dont have near the growth under the 250W (6500K Iwasaki bulb). I have noticed that as long as there isn't a pump output blowing directly on polyps, that most seem to adjust (and like) higher flows, but thats just my experiences, guess everyones tanks are different though.


Rick