Help Me Build My 75g Mixed Reef !

[427HISS]

Hello everyone, I had several tanks back in the 90's, gave it up and now we're getting back into it.

If you're curious you can read about me in my profile.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/member.php?u=32775

I have a few threads asking advise on tanks, lighting, controllers etc, but I decided to just start a new tank build thread, so it doesn't get so confusing. :tongue:

I think the best way for us to discuss my questions is to hopefully, stay on one subject at a time, rather that several at once.

The mixed,... reef tank will go into the living room wall again, next to the flat screen TV, and have great access behind the wall as the "fish room".

The first question is the lighting.

I do not want MH because of the heat nor a chiller. I realize the LED's are new for us reef keepers and every year there will be advancements, so I want a system I can upgrade as time goes buy, rather than buy a new system.

This time I want a mixed reef including SPS's, computer controlled for LED lighting, pumps, doser's etc....

The big issue is with LED lighting. I want the correct intensity & spectrum for the corals, not just my eye pleasing colors. There are several company's that are popular with us reefers like Ecotech, but I feel their too expensive for what you can get from others. I'm hoping,,,,,to buy a Apex (or similar) controller, but they are also expensive. The great thing about these are they can control everything, even wave making, so you don't have to buy separate electronic and pay more in the end anyway.

I have the same metal hood that I built for 4-VHO's. I made a pulley system so I could raise & lower the hood when working in the tank, so if I can get a fairly simple DIY kit to save money, that's fine. I hate electronics, but will give it my best shot. I spoke with the owner & member here, "Reef LED Lights" and says his kit is very simple to install. Or, buy a ready made system.

Phoenix ReefSpectrum P47 Retro Kit - Reef LED Lights

Reading about other members LED's and my researching on different company's systems, I've come down to the top 4 or so. Even though EcoTech has great lighting, I think the cost is too high. There are so,... many variable's about what lighting is best to suit our tanks, but I want to state that I'm trying to do what's best for the corals, not just what looks pleasing to my eye's.

Some say only white & blue are needed, others say white, blue, green, purple, red, etc.... full spectrum and where to place the different colors and how many ? What Kelven, 10, 15 20 ?

How can you beat Reef Radiance 2- 140's or 1-240's (for my 4' long 75g" ?

LUMENTEK PRO 120 - Reef Radiance

LUMENTEK PRO 240 - Reef Radiance

Please let me know what brand you have, apx. cost and why you chose them ?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[427HISS]

The lighting research has just grown larger. The new AI's Aqua Illumination Hydra LED, looks very nice, but does it have enough white ?
The great thing is they have a wifi controller.

Aqua Illumination Hydra LED youtube video-

Aquaillumination (AI) Hydra LED Hands-on Review - YouTube

$400 at Marine Depot-

AquaIllumination Hydra LED Fixture

Controller for Nano / Sol / Vega / Hydra

Marine Depot $80-

AquaIllumination The New Controller for Nano / Sol / Vega / Hydra LED Fixtures

 

[peterthegamer]

If your going with any of those light go with the AI seen better reviews about it. You want as much control over the light for yourself and the corals.

 

[427HISS]

The price is high for the Hydra 52 is $600. Has more white led's. I don't know if I want to spend that much money.

Since their only 12", do I need only two ?

$1,200 is high enough for two, let alone if I need three.

 

[427HISS]

Happy to say I bought the Reef Radiance Pro 240. Now onto the next step of a sump. I believe I'll DIY one as most are very expensive.

 

[redtop03]

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the quality and output of the Pro 240...they don't have all the flexability that the Apex controllable lights offer, but they have more than enough to keep you and your coral happy...actually, I think the Pro's controller offers the cloudy day effect, it doesn't have the lightening storm but this is more a really cool gimmick than a necessity

 

[427HISS]

lol,...I don't care for the lighting affect anyway, and all the gimmicks !

Just need the lights to slowly,.... ramp up & down and have clouds some times.... At some point, I want to buy the Apex to control everything else.

The next goal is making a sump and refugium. I'll take a look in DIY forum.

Any suggestions, drawings etc ?

 

[adupree]

What size are you wanting? I'm running a 20L on my 75 and am happy.

 

[427HISS]

I do have a 40g that was plumbed as our clams tank years ago, or I might buy a used cheap 55g.
Since it will be on the back side of the wall in my fish room, size really won't matter. (in this case anyway) lol
I'm planning a large refugeium tank & maybe,.... separate the two ?

 

[adupree]

I'd run a 40g, from what I've been told 55g are horrible for sumps bc of the height and depth.

 

[redtop03]

if you have plenty of room, the bigger the better, I'd go with a 75 if I could find one cheap, as far as a minimum, I'd say go with a 40 breeder, they make a great sump tank and if you find a sale going on at petsmart or petco which ever it is, you can get a new one for about $40

 

[redtop03]

as for a DIY sump, you can build one fairly cheap if you have a good local source for glass, buy an old tank that don't leak and have your baffles cut to fit...

here's a good video of one being built, might give you some ideas

[video=youtube;kzdZy59Gbsc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzdZy59Gbsc[/video]

 

[427HISS]

I did actually did see that video, among others. I drilled the 40g since it was our clam, and soft coral tank, and I even made it with the plenum method, which I believe works wonderful. I also had it in our 200g fish only tank. We did not have a real high fish load, but it never had more than 20 nitrites. I also made a 6" dia x 6' tall air driven skimmer which always had the darkest and smelly nasty crap I've ever seen or smelled. (worst than the worst diapers) lol
I had to make a large carbon section on top of the collection cup. WHEW !....

I'm going to use all glass as I do not like acrylic.
Don't know if I'll make a refugium in the sump or to separate it ?
I can use a gate valve if in the sump, so I can have slower water flow, or if as a separate tank, have a small pump ?
I like the idea that a small refugium has little affect, so I want to build a large one, say,....4' long & short in height and maybe above the main tank so gravity will bring the water back to the main tank ?

What about all the electrics, probe holders, that are in the newer high teck sumps ?

 

[redtop03]

What about all the electrics, probe holders, that are in the newer high teck sumps ?

I use one of these

it clamps to the tank wall and can be adjusted to the water level SoCal Tropical Fish Outlet : Triple Probe Holder [SSATPH] - $19.99 Superior fish supplies : there's also magnet mounted holders available too

 

[427HISS]

Since I'm starting over from a reef back in the 90's, I need a lot of stuff, so this
Tunze Osmolator that RTR is giving away for Christmas would not only wonderful, but was on my Christmas list, but I guess I wasn't good enough to get as a gift from Santa. So, give me a second chance RTR !

(I still can't paste any link's, here or on Facebook for the contest, so I don't know what to do here) ?

 

[427HISS]

I use one of these

it clamps to the tank wall and can be adjusted to the water level SoCal Tropical Fish Outlet : Triple Probe Holder [SSATPH] - $19.99 Superior fish supplies : there's also magnet mounted holders available too

Wow, those look very nice. I'll check them out.
Thank you !

 

[redtop03]

Wow, those look very nice. I'll check them out.
Thank you !

no problem, the excess acrylic sticking up above the sump is a bit of an eye sore but the build quality is great....those are just 1 of many ways to mount the probes, Avast marine has some nice looking magnet mount holders too that look a bit neater than mine

 

[427HISS]

I'm researching for a return pump and a fellow reefer and now friend recommended this company, but we're not sure which GPR to choose.
I may tee it off to provide water for my 40g refugium and reactors, etc ???

The great part of this brand is it's variable speed Soft start operation - pump gradually builds up to set flow rate.

Feed mode disables pump for 10 minutes

6 speed settings - 100%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 70% and 60% - setting is retained if power is lost.
Multi mode controller to allow adjustment of the pump to suit the users requirements.

Model DC-6000 =1585 gph
Model DC-9000 =2377gph

ebay-

Jebao DC Series Pumps Free Shipping | eBay

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[427HISS]

Bump ?

 

[Small triggers]

Well I run a dc12000 on my 5ft long 150g reef tank and I love it! If I were you I'd go with the 9000 as you re able to dial it down, and this may actually delete the need for any powerheads in the tank if you can split your returns into the tank...