Help this amateur make a few upgrades

[allsite]

Payday, let's make some upgrades!

I have a 36 gallon tank with a 200 watt heater. I didn't realize how overpowered it was and would like to upgrade to something sleeker. Perhaps an "always on" heater with a thermostat that can toggle a fan? The room is hot all year, just barely able to keep it at 77-78.

I also have a 12 gallon long frag tank. For flow I have a Sicce 1.5 with a spin stream. The result is a ton of flow in some places and not much elsewhere. It's large and the suction cups don't stay on the side glass. I have a 2 channel wavemaker laying around and could use a recommendation on powerheads that are optimistically low profile and don't break the bank.

Lastly, I have an AI Prime on my 12 gallon long. It's great but the coverage doesn't hit the sides at all. So let's say I add the AI Prime to my bigger tank and get something more fitting for my 12 gallon long. Would a Viparspectra T300 be a good fit for a coral growing utility tank? It's roughly the dimensions of the tank, which is great, but I'm concerned it's overpowered.

Thanks in advance for recommendations!

 

[Kodski]

Payday, let's make some upgrades!

I have a 36 gallon tank with a 200 watt heater. I didn't realize how overpowered it was and would like to upgrade to something sleeker. Perhaps an "always on" heater with a thermostat that can toggle a fan? The room is hot all year, just barely able to keep it at 77-78.

I also have a 12 gallon long frag tank. For flow I have a Sicce 1.5 with a spin stream. The result is a ton of flow in some places and not much elsewhere. It's large and the suction cups don't stay on the side glass. I have a 2 channel wavemaker laying around and could use a recommendation on powerheads that are optimistically low profile and don't break the bank.

Lastly, I have an AI Prime on my 12 gallon long. It's great but the coverage doesn't hit the sides at all. So let's say I add the AI Prime to my bigger tank and get something more fitting for my 12 gallon long. Would a Viparspectra T300 be a good fit for a coral growing utility tank? It's roughly the dimensions of the tank, which is great, but I'm concerned it's overpowered.

Thanks in advance for recommendations!

I have a 36 gallon tank with a 200 watt heater. I didn't realize how overpowered it was and would like to upgrade to something sleeker. Perhaps an "always on" heater with a thermostat that can toggle a fan? The room is hot all year, just barely able to keep it at 77-78.

Sounds like a titanium heater with a controller like an ink bird is what you need. As far as it triggering a fan, that may have to be a custom thing. But maybe you'd be able to program it to trigger a fan, that I'm not sure of. The Bulk Reef Supply heaters are some nice heaters, or finnex are also usually recommened.


I also have a 12 gallon long frag tank. For flow I have a Sicce 1.5 with a spin stream. The result is a ton of flow in some places and not much elsewhere. It's large and the suction cups don't stay on the side glass. I have a 2 channel wavemaker laying around and could use a recommendation on powerheads that are optimistically low profile and don't break the bank.

Look into the Jebao SLW-5 or SLW-10. I have a 10 on my 20 long and it's a nice pump for the money for sure. I'm so happy with it, I'll be using the SLW-30's on my new build for sure. Also multiple points of flow are always better as they create a more turbulent flow as opposed to a constant stream of flow, so combine a SLW with what you've got now and it should be a great solution where you can tune it to your needs.

Lastly, I have an AI Prime on my 12 gallon long. It's great but the coverage doesn't hit the sides at all. So let's say I add the AI Prime to my bigger tank and get something more fitting for my 12 gallon long. Would a Viparspectra T300 be a good fit for a coral growing utility tank? It's roughly the dimensions of the tank, which is great, but I'm concerned it's overpowered.


For a frag tank I'd seriously consider one or two LED light bars. They are going to put out plenty of coverage over that small of a tank and cover it end to end. The T300 will be way more power than you need and could be dangerous. I use a pair of reef breeder LED bars as filler lights over my tank currently and am very happy with them. I feel that they are usually overlooked when discussing LED light bars.

 

[allsite]

I have a 36 gallon tank with a 200 watt heater. I didn't realize how overpowered it was and would like to upgrade to something sleeker. Perhaps an "always on" heater with a thermostat that can toggle a fan? The room is hot all year, just barely able to keep it at 77-78.

Sounds like a titanium heater with a controller like an ink bird is what you need. As far as it triggering a fan, that may have to be a custom thing. But maybe you'd be able to program it to trigger a fan, that I'm not sure of. The Bulk Reef Supply heaters are some nice heaters, or finnex are also usually recommened.


I also have a 12 gallon long frag tank. For flow I have a Sicce 1.5 with a spin stream. The result is a ton of flow in some places and not much elsewhere. It's large and the suction cups don't stay on the side glass. I have a 2 channel wavemaker laying around and could use a recommendation on powerheads that are optimistically low profile and don't break the bank.

Look into the Jebao SLW-5 or SLW-10. I have a 10 on my 20 long and it's a nice pump for the money for sure. I'm so happy with it, I'll be using the SLW-30's on my new build for sure. Also multiple points of flow are always better as they create a more turbulent flow as opposed to a constant stream of flow, so combine a SLW with what you've got now and it should be a great solution where you can tune it to your needs.

Lastly, I have an AI Prime on my 12 gallon long. It's great but the coverage doesn't hit the sides at all. So let's say I add the AI Prime to my bigger tank and get something more fitting for my 12 gallon long. Would a Viparspectra T300 be a good fit for a coral growing utility tank? It's roughly the dimensions of the tank, which is great, but I'm concerned it's overpowered.


For a frag tank I'd seriously consider one or two LED light bars. They are going to put out plenty of coverage over that small of a tank and cover it end to end. The T300 will be way more power than you need and could be dangerous. I use a pair of reef breeder LED bars as filler lights over my tank currently and am very happy with them. I feel that they are usually overlooked when discussing LED light bars.

Noted that the t300 is too much power. Can you explain why it's dangerous. Seeking to understand so I learn. Excited about these recommendations. Cheers.

 

[Kodski]

Noted that the t300 is too much power. Can you explain why it's dangerous. Seeking to understand so I learn. Excited about these recommendations. Cheers.

300 watts of power is a LOT. Without a par meter to tune the Par to something useable you can VERY easily burn any coral you put under it. Many high end lights are this way. Simply put, too much power makes it easier to kill coral when new or inexperienced.

Something like a ReefBreeders LED bar is something that you mount it and put it on a timer. It’s simple and because there is no adjustment and it’s not largely overpowered flfor your application it’s much harder to make a mistake with it.

that’s not to say the 300T won’t work, it’s just you need to use a par meter to tune it to something useable for your tank. But using the right tool for the right job is always the best choice.