Help on setting up my tank

[andreasch]

Hello again,
since i already introduced myself in my previous post, i thought to start a new post to help me setting up my tank. To some of you, some of my questions may sound stupid but like a said am totally new to reef tanks since i never had one and thats my first attempt of setting one
My current tank, which i want to set up as a reef tank, is a 600 liters tank (width:2m, lenght:50cm, depth:60cm) with a side overflow and a sump.
My overflow is 25x15x30cm with a single drain hole with a 32mm pipe tanking water down to the sump.
So my first questions are:
1. Since i cannot make any changes to my overflow due to the way my aquarium is now, i have to go with the one i have now. My concerns is if the current overflow and the single drain hole will be enough and working properly for me if a go to a coral reef tank. I dont need more flow ? Or more drain holes on it? My return pump is 3000 liters per hour, but i think my overflow can handle abit more...maybe around 3800-4000 liters per hour. (ill try it out). So even if i stay with 3000 liters per hour return is good to go?

2. How much liters/hour wavemakers i shall put for my tank's dimensions if i wanna put LPS/SPS corals?

3. When it comes to choose a skimmer, do i have to consider the flow of my return pump or is completely irrelevant? For example if i have my return pump doing 3000 liter per hour like i said above, i can get a skimmer with a water throughput of 1000 l/h?
And if these 2 values are irrelevant, what skimmer throughput i shall get? Was thinking for the Tunze DOC Protein Skimmer 9410. What you think?

Thanks alot for your support

 

[tyler1503]

You can get away with a single drain. The main problem I can see is if it were to block up and stop working. It's possible to do, my old 120 had a single drain and I never had an issue. However that tank was taken down after a few months due to unforeseen circumstances. It will work, but for how long no one can't say. You may have it clog up
In a week, you may never have it clog up at all.
Use powerheads/wavemakers to increase flow in the display. You want to figure how often the water in the display is being completely turned over by the wavemakers.
Aim for 10x for a fish only/soft coral tank. 10-20x for LPS and 20x+ for SPS. That rule is outdated and no longer used in the hobby, but it's a good starting point to work with.
As for the skimmer/return pump flow, I asked this recently and got answers ranging from the absolute slowest is best (less than 1% turnover), all the way up to the most turbulent (30x+ turnover) is best. Everyone believes something different when it comes to that so just use your own judgement and see how it works.
Any skimmer you buy will have a l/ph or g/ph rating as well as a tank size recommendation. The typical idea is to get a skimmer rated for double the size tank.

For instance if you have a 20gal display and 10gal sump, that's 30gal total. Buy a skimmer rated for 60gal.

Good luck and welcome to R2R!!!

 

[sebastiaan1985]

Single drain is not ideal, but I have the same issue.
Has been working, as long as I don't reduce flow in the drain, even snails will slide through.
What I will do during my rebuild is to add a float-switch or optical sensor in the overflow, connected to my Apex, to shut down the return and set an alarm in case water level rises too high.

Good luck and enjoy your build!

 

[Katrina71]

Don't worry about asking stupid questions. Not asking is stupid. There are so many people on here that can answer anything. Amazing knowledge. You'll have fun with this. Enjoy your tank. Go ahead and buy the big bottle of aspirin.

 

[andreasch]

hahah thats true @Katrina71

@tyler1503 when you say the aim for corals is 20x+ for SPS, this means in total from all the wavemakers am gonna have?
for example, if my tank is 600 liters it means i need a flow of 1200 lph. This means that each of my wavemaker should do this amount of flow, or i can have 2 powerheads of 600 lph each and get a total of 1200 lph from both?

 

[tyler1503]

hahah thats true @Katrina71

@tyler1503 when you say the aim for corals is 20x+ for SPS, this means in total from all the wavemakers am gonna have?
for example, if my tank is 600 liters it means i need a flow of 1200 lph. This means that each of my wavemaker should do this amount of flow, or i can have 2 powerheads of 600 lph each and get a total of 1200 lph from both?

Yes, Katrina is correct. The only stupid questions are the ones not asked!!

If your display is 600 litres, 20x turnover would be 12,000l/ph total from the wavemakers. A lot of people believe random flow is best and a lot more natural, so 12,000l/ph can be the total from multiple wavemakers, not just one. So you could use 2x 6000l/ph or 3x 4000l/ph etc.

A flow rate of 1200l/ph is only 2x, not 20x.

Remember that's just a basic starting point to get an idea of what may work for you and not a hard set rule.
When I started reefing this was something that was a firm rule you had to follow, but it's not like that anymore. It worked for a lot of people back then so I still like to repeat it to people new to the hobby.
These days we accept that every tank is different and will react differently to different amounts of water movement

 

[Katrina71]

If you only knew the things I have asked...you'd laugh!

 

[andreasch]

hehe @Katrina71 wait abit to see also mine

Thank you @tyler1503 . Sorry, the 1200lph was typing error

I want to ask something else now.
Am thinking to buy the "Current Orbit Marine LED" (http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/orbit-marine-fixtures/orbit-marine/) and my questions are:

1. Does anyone has an experience with these lights? Are they good?

2. Since my tank is 2 meters long, 60cm depth and 50cm width, if i take 2 LED that fits aquariums between 24'' - 36'' will be sufficient? Or i need 2 LED that fits aquariums of 36'' - 48''?

 

[Katrina71]

Bring it on! We can laugh together.

 

[Bdog4u2]

If you want sps eventually I wouldn't get that light. if your not looking to spend big bucks on a light the black boxes are OK for the price but do a good amount of research on a light b4 you buy it as not all lights are created equal and Manf will say anything to get you to buy their lights.

 

[andreasch]

How about my question concerning the size of the LED lights? Anyone could help? With any leds i decide to go, 2 of 24'' - 36'' inches will be enough for my tank size or am gonna need 2 bigger ones? @tyler1503 what u think?

 

[pdisner]

Take a look at the AI Hydra HD line. I just got a Hydra 26HD and the coverage is amazing. Also BRS has a few really informative videos comparing and reviewing a lot of the leading light sources out there. Also goes deeply into the specific fine points. You must check it out.