First 6ft tank, need some equipment suggestions.

[AdamW0611]

I recently set up a 75 gallon, non drilled fowlr tank with a cannister filter and HOB skimmer... as with most who go this route, as soon as I added my first fish I wanted an anemone, and coral, etc... I'm chalking this up to a learning experience and bought a 125 gallon tank, stand, new sump. The parts I'd like help with picking out are powerheads, skimmer, and lights.. If I had vortech money it would be easy, but the prices I've seen, even on used mp's and radion lights are out of reach, so I'm looking at brands like current-USA, Jebao, or last night I came across reefbreeders, but I know nothing about them.

This is the stuff I've found around my price point, however I'm open to other suggestions too.

Thanks

Skimmer:
Bubble Magus 7, I believe will fit in the Ruby 36s

Light:
Current-USA IC PRO 72 inch version, with 2 Strips

Powerhead x 2 of each:
I have 1 MP10 in my 75 gallon, if 2 of them would be sufficient I could get another one ( I do like the look of these the best)

Jebao ow25
Current-USA Wavepump, 2100GPH
ReefBreeders RP-M

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tank looks nice !! Focus mainly on lights, sump and components for sump which are the biggest necessities for such size tank

 

[Flippers4pups]

Build Thread - Flippers reef 125 gallon

The story of Flippers reef started long ago.......... In a time before a thing called "The Internet"existed. Land locked Missouri, mid western U.S.A. back in 1993. I had just got out of the army in 1992 and got busy starting a family. See, I had fresh water tanks off and on since I was very...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[bigroost]

I've had good luck with the jebao cross flow pump, don't remember the exact number but its the one that looks like a gyre. Also I use the reef breeder photon v2, ive had good results with it.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Bubble magus or RO skimmer
Jebao return pump
I would sell the mp10s and buy a pair of maxspect gyres

Lights.. i will let someone else chime in

 

[AdamW0611]

Bubble magus or RO skimmer
Jebao return pump
I would sell the mp10s and buy a pair of maxspect gyres

Lights.. i will let someone else chime in

I have the Eflux 1900gph return pump, I had both Jabeo and eflux in the amazon cart, same reviews, same price, I just took a stab in the dark.

 

[Bpb]

Mp10’s will be inadequate for that tank unless you put 6 of the along the back glass. I’d recommend either a pair of XF280 or XF350. One on each end will be all you need.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

^ exactly. The gyres work soooo much better for a bigger tank. I have the 350's on my 6 foot. I can blow sand on the opposite side of the tank if i wanted.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

So far (first welcome to R2R) it sounds like bobs your uncle. The current lights will work well for that tank and the same with the wave makers. The eflux return pumps are super quiet and are very powerful. I use twin eflux 3200 returns and six of the eflux 2100 on my 240, plus an icecap 300 gyre in the back wall. You may want to check the current usa dual marine ic pro combo as well it gives the the lights and wavemakers in a package deal
And they all work off your phone or remote. They can all link together including your return pump.

 

[AdamW0611]

So I was looking into the 300 series gyre, specifically the 330, or 350. The sides of the tank between front, and corner overflows is only 9.5", and the 330 needs 10.5". I've seen people puting them on the back walls. Would that be a good option, or should I look at other options for flow? Or 2nd thought can they be mounted verticle along the overflow? I saw a review on Amazon saying it didn't work, or made wierd noises etc when it wasn't horizontal.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

Both of mine are the icecaps 3000 same as the 350. If your tank is not wide enough you can place it on the in between the overflows. I would not place it vertical, (it says you can but (well mine it says you cdo to how the bushing are placed. I’m running two in my 240 between the over flows and they have a lot of flow. For the size of your tank and overflows you can probably direct flow pretty well. It would not be a bad idea though to run 2 smaller wave makers lower in the tank. The nice thing about the gyres is you can change flow for each side by adjusting them.

In regards to noise they (well mine has been silent, but as soon as the inner rubber bushings start to tear it will make noise. Make sure you keep the spare set they send handy. (I have already gone through one set and changed all four). However, I have found it kinda difficult to order them online and customer service isn’t much easier. Once I was able to I order two sets (think they are 12 per set kinda ridiculous), but hopefully I’ll be set for a few years.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

You want to put then on the ends, not the back. They put out a crazy amount of flow..

 

[HawaiianReef]

Right now I think the best bang for your buck is the Icecap 1k gyres @ $120 each. 2 would be nice for the 6 footer. If budget allows, the 3k would be even nicer.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I have to disagree, i dont think the 1ks will have enough juice for a 6 foot tank. Plus the programming on the maxspects is super customizable. Mine run through 7 different programs and flows throughout the day.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Bubble magus, Yes
MP10’s No

I would do Black-Boxes for lights, save the money for powerheads. Gyres look like a good suggestion, but I’ve never tried them

 

[HawaiianReef]

I have to disagree, i dont think the 1ks will have enough juice for a 6 foot tank. Plus the programming on the maxspects is super customizable. Mine run through 7 different programs and flows throughout the day.

Yes Maxspects are better than the Icecaps imo, but they also cost 3x more.
2 1k are fine for 6 feet. If you plan on a lot of sps 3k would be better. But in a mixed reef, on a budget, you cannot beat 2 1k for $235.

 

[TheOne]

I ran one maxspect gyre 350 on the end of my 6x2x2 tank and it created plenty of flow. I placed it on the back and didn't like it at all. Could not keep it from blowing my sand around in the front. Just didn't have the random flow that I was looking for either. I'm now running three mp40w's and will be adding a fourth mp40w soon. I also ran with only two mp40w's. One on each end and prefered them over the single gyre 350 mostly for the random flow and they are easier to clean than the gyre.