Efficient tank build?

sciknen · Sep 27, 2010

I'm moving into my parents apt and I wanted to set up a frag/display tank in it.

I'm thinking 36x24x8 from Glass Cages. It's just cheaper than me building it. And I can just clean up the silicon myself. I haven't heard of any failures of the tanks but just ugly silicon jobs.

Now here is the question. I'm thinking of a small sump with a skimmer and top-off with kalk.

Probably going to use a Mp -10. Not sure how efficient these are compared to other powerheads.

Good efficient skimmer?
I'm thinking LEDs as well.
Advice criticisms.

Steve

sciknen · Sep 27, 2010

Someone on my regular forum brought up the tunze skimmers. Which are very efficient.

A HOB skimmer would be sweet, all I would need is an auto top off and no big pump as a return. I would like a refugium though. I have seen HOB ones but than that's another pump.

Steve

cmcneil · Sep 29, 2010

You can't beat the mp-10 for flow vs watts,the LEDs should be energy friendly too.most skimmers for a tank that size will draw 10-30w max so that's cheap to run.The tunze skimmer draws low watts but I haven't seen one perform great so I would look at other skimmers.maybe the small swc cones or an I-tech 100 would meet your needs well with low power draw and great skimming.I setup my sps tank with power costs in mind.I ended up using one mp-40,two mp-10's,an I-tech 100 skimmer,tunze 1073.04 return pump,a small reactor running off a mj 600,and a 6x39w t-5.the equipment I choose keeps my power bill cheap and the corals happy.it will cost you money up front to setup with energy friendly equipment but worth it in long term power savings.

Hahnmeister · Sep 30, 2010

Thats only a 29g... a skimmer for that thing shouldnt be more than 20 watts, maybe 10. You could likely run it with less than 4 T5's as well... maybe 50-80 watts in LED's too (depends on what you keep and the spectrum you desire)

sciknen · Oct 1, 2010

I'm digging the swc skimmer

I'm also thinking about building my own tank.
Thinking 36x36x12

Steve

sciknen · Oct 2, 2010

Got some equipment ideas

Swc extreme 120
Mp-10 or20 not sure yet
Going to have a 40 breeder as a sump.

Need to figure out two things.
Return pump. I need a very efficient one. Tunze has a 30watt pump. Anything better out there.

Also a heater that's very efficient. Not even sure if this is possible.

Steve

cmcneil · Oct 2, 2010

the tunze is about as energy friendly as they come,you could look into ehiem as well.the mp-20 is out unless you find a used one since they no longer make that pump.ecotech only has the mp-10,mp-40,and the new mp-60.when it comes to heaters there is no such thing as efficient,a watt of heating is a watt of heating no matter how you look at it.

sciknen · Oct 3, 2010

Thought so on the heater. And the tunze beats the eheim hands-on on gph per watt.

Steve

cmcneil · Oct 3, 2010

sciknen said:
Thought so on the heater. And the tunze beats the eheim hands-on on gph per watt.

Steve

That is why I went with the tunze for the return pump,you won't be disappointed if you go with the tunze.

sciknen · Oct 3, 2010

I just read up on someone's DIY tank build and I'm definitely going to go that way. I need .47" glass. Just gonna get .5". Going to get arrissed edges I guess they are called. Supposed to be cheaper. No starfire I don't think. Calflo type overflow with external overflow.

Steve

Hahnmeister · Feb 18, 2011

If you just want to do 36"x36"x up to 16" high you can just use 1/4" glass if its regular plate glass. You only need to go thicker if its Starphire really, and if its only 1/4" thick, regular plate isn't as green so Starphire is less important anyways. Just get the bottom tempered and have the sides sit around the bottom (silicone is stronger in tension than in shear) and use 3" wide strips around the top for Euro-bracing (also inside rather than on top) and the tank will be plenty strong.

MimicOcto8 · Feb 19, 2011

try giving Hydor a look. they have some very nice skimmers. Also I run 2 MP10s on my 90g tall and they are amazing! I love flow and wish I had more so i wish i went with mp40s but the 10s are still extremely good.

LILBUDDHA · Feb 19, 2011

I have owned both the I-tech 100 and still have my SWC 120 cone . Both hardware's rock . If you forgo the sump . I would look into a Tunze . It stands upright on it own and has the hanging brackets you do not see. It would take a lil room up but gives room below for top off .
Since you do not want to build your own . Look on E... for AA tanks . They are Acrylic but have rounded corners. I know two people that like them . I have one but be advised he is slow as molasses being poured on a winter day to get it to you . (they say that over here in NC ) .

U cannot beat what Luke @ Reef Filtration has come up with for the new LEDS he is about to release .

HTH

dougers31 · Feb 19, 2011

I was going to suggest the Korillia line of powerheads since some of them push 500-750gph at around 5 watts(IIRC). What kind of wattage would one be looking at for an mp-10?

laynframe · Feb 27, 2011

A mp10 in a 8" depth tank isnt going to work. If I put one of mine that close to the surface at 8" it creates a cyclone and is very noisy! most power heads in that depth will do it as well unless you buy like 4 really small power heads and just put them in the very bottom.