Need help on Equipment list

gotzkill

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 10, 2012
Messages
68
Reaction score
0
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My tank total volume is around 170 gallons or so, Im having trouble on a lot of things considering what to get and i would like to plan ahead. I have been doing as much research as i can and just decided to ask on the forums on a total overview on what i should be getting. Im going for the quietest possible system and i believe that the main display only reflects on whats under it. Im planning on a heavy bio load of fish, sps heavy corals, and large anemone. I have not started my tank in any way besides getting the stand and ordering the tank from Reef Savvy :xd: (48x30x22"high 137 gallons) . So for the sump i decided to get a custom sump from trigger systems, or get one custom made glass from reef savvy. I am not sure if i should go 45"x15"x16" high (long sump) or 32X20x16" high (wide) sump. I plan on using vertex items because they are well known and i like to stick with one brand rather than a mixture of products from different brand names. Using instant ocean Reef Crystals salt mix 200lbs

Skimmer- Vertex Alpha 170 or 200 (unsure which to choose since my heavy bio load im planning on having)
2 MP40's
2 Ecotech radio pro's

unsure on filtration i want to have a fuge for mangrove, cheato, and copepod's
Bio Pellet reactor?- BR-110 Reef Octopus Biopellet Reactor
or should i use GFO/ Carbon or use pellets and Carbon and gfo or just pellets (My main confusion)
1 Red dragon return 6.5 liters
Apex lite with module for mp40's also salinity probe and module, and an extra ph probe for calc reactor.
Calc reactor-
VERTEX RX-4 CALCIUM REACTOR
2 heaters (suggestions)
refuge light (suggestion prefer LED)
i wont be starting the reactor right off the bat since i wont have any corals but for down the road, at first i will be 2 part dosing any other suggestions or comments are welcomed thank you :D


 
Wow, that's a big question...

I would think it is best to step back and take it one step at a time. First, what kind of overflow are you thinking of?

I wouldn't start with the idea of a heavy bio load. This is a recipe for problems. This is something to do eventually but with all these questions, I think the best thing to do is soul search and determine what exactly you want to keep.

I think it's best to take it slow, be very thoughtful and don't rush into this.
 
Wow, that's a big question...

I would think it is best to step back and take it one step at a time. First, what kind of overflow are you thinking of?

I wouldn't start with the idea of a heavy bio load. This is a recipe for problems. This is something to do eventually but with all these questions, I think the best thing to do is soul search and determine what exactly you want to keep.

I think it's best to take it slow, be very thoughtful and don't rush into this.

It's a custom overflow reef savvy is making and around 1,300 gph I wana keep alot of sps, zoas/pallys, around 25 small fish and 3 small tangs. Just unsure about Gfo, biopellets, refugium, and carbon filtering to clear water.


Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
 
What type of overflow are you thinking of running? Durso, Beananimal, Herbie, etc.

To know what size sump you need you have to know how much water will drain from your tank when the return pumps are off. There are quite a few sump calculators out there that take into account the dimensions of your DT, the height of water to the overflow, and the amount of water missing from the sump when operational.

For 137 G, I believe you may be cutting it very close with those 46 and 44 G sumps you mentioned. The size/dimensions of your sump are really determined by 1) your DT, 2) your skimmer requirements (the water height and physical space it requires), 3) the bio load of your tank, 4) your cabinet size.

If you are running biopellets you most likely won't need a refugium. This again depends on your goals. There are libraries of information about the purpose of each of things you are wondering about. Bulk Reef Supply has a new series of beginner videos which will explain the purpose of all of these things. Check them out. I think they will answer all your questions about Carbon, GFO, refugiums and biopellets.
 
Last edited:
What type of overflow are you thinking of running? Durso, Beananimal, Herbie, etc.

To know what size sump you need you have to know how much water will drain from your tank when the return pumps are off. There are quite a few sump calculators out there that take into account the dimensions of your DT, the height of water to the overflow, and the amount of water missing from the sump when operational.

For 137 G, I believe you may be cutting it very close with those 46 and 44 G sumps you mentioned. The size/dimensions of your sump are really determined by 1) your DT, 2) your skimmer requirements (the water height and physical space it requires), 3) the bio load of your tank, 4) your cabinet size.

If you are running biopellets you most likely won't need a refugium. This again depends on your goals. There are libraries of information about the purpose of each of things you are wondering about. Bulk Reef Supply has a new series of beginner videos which will explain the purpose of all of these things. Check them out. I think they will answer all your questions about Carbon, GFO, refugiums and biopellets.

Ya Im running a Beananimal i believe over flow, skimmer space and height are all taken care of since i can always raise the height of the skimmer with a stand and i have plenty of space for the foot print in either sump design, the bio load i know will be heavy because i will probably over feed rather than starve my tank, and my cabinet size is 48x27x27" high
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top