help me build my reef tank!!!

[rng_pw]

So after about a 5year break i have decided that it is time to set up another aquarium. The only problem is that it seems that tecnology has come a long way since i left. That's where you guys come in. Help me put together an equipment list so that i can start my build. My last tank was a 450 gallon in wall reef. 3-450 watt metal halides and 8 or so 3ft. T5s. Atb skimmer 5tunzies for flow (cant remember the size but big). Hammerhead return pump along with kalc reactors calcium reactor and some kind of controller. I can't remember all of the brands.

New tank 4x4ft cube 30 inch deep. It is going to be a plywood tank with a starfire glass front viewing panel. It will probably be sps dominant with a decent mix of lps zoas and palys.

Now i need help designing my sump and the equipment that i should put into it.

Lighting has come a very long way. It's led the way to go now? Are you having the same success with leds that people had with metal halides?

Which controller should i run and why?

Thanks for any and all suggestions and info.

Ricky,

 

[rng_pw]

Here Is my old tank.

 

[Oldude]

Even with all the advances in technology in LED lighting I have chosen to stick with MH & T5 in my main display as that is what has been the most successful for me.

 

[powdermonkey]

I switched from mh+t5 to radions. I now use my radions to supplement the 400w+t12. Now Im not saying LEDs dont work, just liked the mh/vho combo.

 

[rng_pw]

So your running mh/ vhos and the radions?

 

[smiley28]

I'd say stick with mh and man that was a nice in-wall you had. Must if even hard to let that go.

 

[rng_pw]

Really... Hmmm. I was hoping people were going to say that leds were the way to go lol. What about protein skimmers??? What's the best bang for the buck? I plan to have lots of fish.

 

[rng_pw]

As far as mh/t5 combos. Which combo and brand would you recommend? Something that won't absolutely blow up my power bill lol

 

[powdermonkey]

So your running mh/ vhos and the radions?

Correct...I run the radions on 85% power for 10hrs a day. The vho 7hrs, and the mh 5hrs.
I ran the xp2000 on my 180. When I was going to the 300 I started searching for a bigger skimmer. In my search a vendor that sells both told me for function reef octopus is just as good. Well I ended up with the SuperMarin 250 with speed 3 pump. I really like the BK but like the vendor said I cant tell if it works all that much better. I do like the DC pump on the BK though. One thing on that, I had to change out a breaker from a GFCI to a EPD breaker. GFCI only allow 5ma before tripping and EPDs allow 30ma.
If you a sps nut I would go with the 400w. If you just like sps but will have a mixed reef 250w will be plenty. Or if you dont like the heat or electric bill look at ATI fixtures. I had success with just the radions and so are many others. But I just felt my reds, pinks, orange, lacked. Pretty much all but blue and purple...lol Remember all this is just one idiots opinion....and beautiful reef you had.

 

[Colorado reefer]

I'm free this weekend to help 30" is pretty deep for leds to reach. I have them on my 120 and it is only 24". I have to put most of my sps at the top. When I had my mh I was able to put frags at the bottom without them turning brown...no longer. My girlfriend was sick of the heat they created so we switched to led, and I enjoy saving money because we do not have to run the AC all day to keep her comfortable. My friend has a sps 500 gallon with huge colonies and he went back to mh/leds after using just leds for a year. He said his growth wasn't as fast with the leds.

 

[captainsaquarium]

LED's are all the rage now and they are fine but there is nothing wrong with what you have. Great setup!

 

[rng_pw]

Yeah I think for the time being I am going to go the old mh/t5 route. Its what I know so might as well stick to it lol. Any way I made my first purchase today. I have a friend that had a gently used ATB external 12.5 deluxe skimmer that he let me talk him out of. Hes had it for a few years but he only used it for about 1 year. should be a good skimmer.

now I need to figure out which controller route im going to go and get a kalk reactor and calcium reactor.

oh yeah and finish building the tank lol.