upgrade advice, 60 reef to 120g reef

[jelwyoming]

I am in the process of planning and buying upgrade equipment to move from a 60g reef setup with all HOB filtering/skimming to a 105-125g reef system. I am looking for advice on sumps, pumps,overflows, skimmers and lighting. Right now I plan on using a EuroReef6-2+ in a sump. This is on a custom 48" stand/cabinet. I already have a 1/3hp chiller that I plan on using on the system. Can you share different configurations that have worked with simular setups, please?

[reefer_for_life]

i used a 40 gallon breeder on my 120. put some partitions in and your all set, plenty of room for skimmer, ref., heater, ect.. as for lights i would go with 2x250watt MH and 4x110 actinic VHO's. as for a return pump i used a mag 18, but if had it to do again i would use a mag 12. the mag 18 just pulled too much water thru the sump. if you have any more questions just ask. good luck.

[jelwyoming]

Thanks for that info. Could you describe your sump in a bit more detail. I am really interested in that. I was narrowing down to the 2x250 MH, but was looking at 4X65 daylight/atinic PC's. Does that sound reasonalbe? I was also considering using one 250 and one 400 to provide some area with more intense light. Maybe the 250's are enough. What is the flow rate on the mag12? I am not sure that I can fit a 40 in my cabinet for a sump. What would be the minimum recommended for that?

[McCrary]

For the lighting I would run 2 150 and 1 250 or 3x250. It depends on the kind of corals you would want to keep.

[jelwyoming]

I already am keeping acros high in my 60 with 2x150's and I don't think they are enough.

[reefer_for_life]

my sump was just an open area at one end where water entered from the main tank, where my skimmer was located. then i placed 3 baffles, going over, under and over again to another open area where my refugium, heaters and return pump was located. a 40 breeder should fit easily in your stand. DO NOT go with PC's for your lighting. if your tank is 48" you only need 2 MH's. and since your going to run a chiller i would go with the 400's and the 4x110 VHO's for actinics. if you dont want supplemental lights go with something in the 14 or 15k range, or even 20k if you like the blue look. if you want PM me your email address and i will try to draw something up in MS paint showing my sump, and ill email it to you. i know i understand something better if i can see a picture. the flow rate on the mag12 is 1200gph at zero head, but your gonna lose some flow, so its gonna be more like 8 or 900gph. like i said you dont want alot of flow thru your sump. if you have any more questions just ask. good luck.

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7303697#post7303697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TurboSnail8898
For the lighting I would run 2 150 and 1 250 or 3x250. It depends on the kind of corals you would want to keep.

Honestly, if you go for the 120(48x24x24), go buy a pair of lumenarcs, or lumenmaxs, sell your 150s, and put the 250s in, and you'll be able to keep pretty much anything you want, wherever you want.

Dont cheap out on reflectors and then try to compensate with more (or more powerful) bulbs.



Also, you'll get more flow, better reliablilty, and less electricity costs by going with a small external over a mag 1200. Theyre really inneficient. Allt he mags are.

[55Reef]

Congrats on the upgrade!

Have you thought about a closed loop?

[jelwyoming]

Lot's of good advice!
RFL, I have been thinking of the 400's. The thought on the PC,s was only to supplement with PC atinics. I already have them on my current system and thought that I would salvage them. Please email me at lacour@collinscom.net with your sump ideas.

55Reef, tell me more about your closed loop ideas, please!

Rich, I've never looked at the lumenarc's. I'll check! I do know what you mean about the reflectors. Inefficient ones just make end up heating up and not redirecting the light.

Keep it coming, please! How about some in/out of sump skimmer configurations. I am looking at using a EuroReef6-2 . Tell me how!

[socalreefer73]

As for the sump, I personally would go with as large of size as you feel comfortable cramming under the tank -- makes large water changes a snap.

jelw - Try a search on the word sump and skimmer. I think you're asking to be forcefed a huge amount of info.

Maybe you should join your local Marine Aquarium Society. You could bring a pad and a pen and talk the groups ears off all night, I'm sure. And they would be more than willing to give it to you all at once...

saltaquarium.about.com has a lot of articles too... They're not great, but they are a start...

[jelwyoming]

73,
Thanks for your input too. Unfortunately, I the nearest reefer group that I can find is several hundred miles away! I have been talking to a few locals that I know about starting one here.

[jelwyoming]

I just talked to Euro Reef on the recommneded recirc flow to the sump while using a CS6-2+. He told me only 1-3 times the tank volume per hour. That seems contrary to everything I've heard before. I was already headed towards something like 10x or 1200gph using a Sedra 12000. What does everyone else use? I have a really nice little March pump that will do 300-400gph. Would that be a better choice?

[omni2226]

The skimmer and refugium need just enough flow to prevent dead spots. Only place you need or want high flow is in the main display.

[socalreefer73]

I was reading a post last week that said you want a decent flow through the fuge to help prevent algae from growing on your macro... interesting...

[jelwyoming]

Sound like there is some conflict of opinion on that. How about some more feedback and experieces on the recirc flow. How about what you'd suggest for a 120 with a 30g sump. I have a sedra 12000 that I was going to use for the return. Too much or just right?

[jelwyoming]

bump

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7312172#post7312172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jelwyoming
I just talked to Euro Reef on the recommneded recirc flow to the sump while using a CS6-2+. He told me only 1-3 times the tank volume per hour. That seems contrary to everything I've heard before. I was already headed towards something like 10x or 1200gph using a Sedra 12000. What does everyone else use? I have a really nice little March pump that will do 300-400gph. Would that be a better choice?

I've got a sedra 9000 on my 58 for the return, and I hate it. Its loud, and is a power hog.

You dont need that much either. look for 3-5x turnover, and make up your flow with seios/tunzes/etc.

OR 2500 may be a good choice, or maybe a small external.

[jelwyoming]

I am thinking of that. I have a good 400gph external that I could use instead. 1200 gph on 125 doesn't seem that much though. Power is a consideration for me though.