Looking for advice

TLeTourneau · Feb 1, 2018

Hello all,

I have posted this on other forums so if some of you have seen it elsewhere I apologize! I am trying to get a broad range of input.

My wife and I have been doing planted freshwater for some time. We currently have a 75 gallon, 38 gallon bowfront, and a 20 gallon. We recently picked up a 150 gallon tall that we plan on consolidating all of our freshwater aquariums to. Our initial thought was to convert the 75 to a marine aquarium and sell the rest of the freshwater gear.

After much discussion, we have decided to consolidate all of our freshwater to the 150 as planned and use both the FX4 from the 75 & the new FX6 on that tank. We are going to get rid of the remaining freshwater setups including the 75 and get the following setup for saltwater:

Red Sea Reefer 350
Neptune Systems Apex WIFI Controller System
Simplicity 240 DC Protein Skimmer with DC Pump
Current USA Loop Orbit Marine 48”-60" Marine Bundle
2 - 48” Orbit IC LED Lights
2 - eFlux Wave Pumps 1050 gph ea.
1 - eFlux DC Flow Pump 1900 gph
2 - Tank Mounts for lights
1 - Power Center
BRS GFO & Carbon Reactor - Dual with Pump
2 - 300 watt Finnex Titanium Heaters controlled by Apex

Or, if the light is not sufficient:
Red Sea Reefer 350
Neptune Systems Apex WIFI Controller System w/ two WAV pumps
Neptune Systems COR15 Intelligent Return Pump
Zetlight ZT-6600A 200W LED - controlled by Apex
Simplicity 240 DC Protein Skimmer with DC Pump
BRS GFO & Carbon Reactor - Dual with Pump
2 - 300 watt Finnex Titanium Heaters controlled by Apex

For sand we plan on 80lbs of CaribSea Ocean Direct - Original Grade Live Sand.

For salt we like AquaVitro Salinity.

We are focusing on softies, low light LPS, and fish/clean-up crew.

I'd really like to save a bit of money with the Current USA option but if the light isn't up to it then I'll go the other route. It would be great if BRS would do a review of the Current USA Loop stuff, especially the Orbit IC Pro but seeing that they don't sell them I wont hold my breath.

I am just looking for some advice. Does anyone see any glaring problems or have any input on which way to for on the lighting/wavemakers/return pump?

Lovemyreef2015 · Feb 1, 2018

Welcome to R2R, sounds like you guys are on the right track!

GWHouston · Feb 1, 2018

Welcome to R2R.
I'm certainly not the one with the experience to give you advice on your choices but I would advise to read everything you can on SW before buying or deciding anything. I've been doing FW and SW for years but only on R2R for almost a month and I have learned much from the many on here. And as a result, I have changed my direction and options on my tank build. For all the SW souls on here, each will have an opinion and best solution but only you will know the right one. If you have a local club to you, that is a great place to start for help. Hope this helps.

mjlash22 · Feb 2, 2018

I don't know much about the lights you made mention to, but I can say the rest of your equipment/supply list looks like a great start. Welcome to SW! It's a very rewarding hobby.

TLeTourneau · Feb 11, 2018

After more thought and discussion we have decided to change the equipment. It may cost a bit more at the outset but between the concern about the Current USA Orbit IC Pro lighting being sufficient, the Zetlight not being a good product, and that I want one system to control the aquarium we are going with the following:

Red Sea Reefer 350
Simplicity 240 DC Protein Skimmer with DC Pump
Simplicity DC-1600 Return Pump
Neptune Apex System with 2 WAV Pumps
Neptune MPR Magnetic Probe Holder
Neptune ATK - Auto Top Off Kit
Neptune 1/4" Flow Sensor?
Neptune SV1 Solenoid Valve?
2 - Kessil A360W-E Tuna Blue Wide Lens LED's
2 - Kessil Fixed Mounting Arms
Kessil 90° Unit Link Cable
Kessil Neptune Apex Control Cable
BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor - Dual with Pump
Large CITR PRO w/ Sliding Bracket and Black Back, Deluxe with Pump
2 - 300 watt Finnex Titanium Heaters

The flow sensor and solenoid valve may be used with the ATK. As the RODI system and water storage will be on a different floor than the aquarium it might be easier to tie right into the RODI output but I'm not sure.

Does anyone see any glaring problems or have any input on this configuration?

TLeTourneau · Feb 16, 2018

Well it's all ordered!

Here is what we ended up going with.

Red Sea Reefer 350
Simplicity 240 DC Protein Skimmer with DC Pump
Simplicity DC-1600 Return Pump
Neptune Apex System with 2 WAV Pumps
Neptune MPR Magnetic Probe Holder
Neptune ATK - Auto Top Off Kit
Neptune SV1 Solenoid Valve
Neptune IO Breakout Box
Neptune LD2 Leak Detector
2 - Aquatic Life Halo M80 Basic's
2 - Aquatic Life 24" Mounting Arms
Aquatic Life Neptune Apex Control Cable
BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor - Dual with Pump
2 - 300 watt Finnex Titanium Heaters
3 - CaribSea Ocean Direct - Original Grade Live Sand, 20 lb.
50 pounds Reed Saver Dry Live Rock
Ace Roto Mold 40 Gallon Vertical Dome Top Tank VT0040-18 for RODI storage, NSF with gallon indicators.
Float Valve
Vertical Mount Float Switch

For anyone interested in the 40 gallon tank Rural King has the best price with shipping I found. Just about all of the on-line retailers I found that carried the item want $80+ for shipping. Rural King shipped it UPS for about $13 and was less expensive for the item as well.

We are going to have RODI plumbed to the 40 gallon storage tank using the float valve to shut it off when full. The tank will be placed so that the overflow can go directly in a drain.

The solenoid valve be used with the ATK. As the RODI system and water storage will be on a different floor than the aquarium it will be easier to tie right into the RODI output. The leak detector will be in the sump area.

As I will be running the ATO to from a separate source I may look at a way to convert the included ATO tank into a refugium if one is needed but I don't know if it is worth the effort for a 2.8 gallon volume.

Any thoughts on the path?

TLeTourneau · Feb 28, 2018

Well we got the rock placed and should be adding sand and water this weekend. We also returned the Aquatic Life M-80 Halo's, I just couldn't get the to work right with the Apex. We ran up to Bulk Reef Supply and picked up a pair of Kessil's with the A mounting arms. I was able to get those working immediately.

TLeTourneau · Mar 4, 2018

And it has water in it, yay! We'll be adding the Dr. Tim's One and Only tomorrow to help kick start the cycle. The return pump and skimmer are noisier than I thought they would be. I may need to look at alternate solutions.