New tank build advice/review

[EightOmens]

Hello all I would appreciate feedback about my planned build and equipment I am proposing. I have been reading both forums, reviews etc. And the following is for the mechanics excluding lights. Still shopping around for them. Thanks in advance.

Planned tank is a 125 gallon reef ready glass tank for mixed reef with fish. (I know this is a months/years long process) Probably an oversized stand for equipment.

Equipment List:
55 gallon 3 chamber DIY sump intake/refugium/return
200 micron sock on the intake
20 gallon Rodi reserve for ato
Reef octopus 200 in sump skimmer
Eheim 1262 universal pump
Tunze osmolator ATO
Spectrapure RODI system (please advise)
Finnex hmx 500w titanium heater
Aquean 250w heater
Risepro thermometers
Milwalkie 887 refractometer
2 hydor koralia Evo 1500 gph powerheads
Ice cap 3k gyre generation pump w/controller

Considering but need definite advice on the following:
ATI 8 bulb by 80 w 60" T5 housing plus timers to run a 5 setting 24 hour cycle (sunrise, morning, high noon, afternoon, sunset, moon) Proper LED systems seem to be out of my price range
Apex controller

Initially a chiller is out of reach. For an urgent situation I plan to have an ice box dedicated to keeping RODI ice in it that can gradually, and naturally be dispersed through the sump do as not to shock the system.

Thoughts? That's an idea I have not seen elsewhere on any forums. Everyone says fans that cause rapid evaporation, imo that defeats the purpose, less water=faster heating and the ice can act as a small top ofg

Last item is reactors. From research my understanding is that the LR, Sock, Skimmer, and refugium, the reactors would be optional, as I would have optimal filtration and if dosing were needed I could use the appropriate filter pad in place of the sock or directly in the sock if it's carbon.

 

[EightOmens]

PS I am acquiring needed equipment prior to the DT. I know how impatient I can be so the mechanics first is a must do. My first purchases will be next Tuesday as petco is having thier $1 a gallon sale. I can get my 55 gallon sump and 20 gallon RODI resivoir, Woo-hoo!

 

[ndrwater]

I think you definitely are in the right track.
Couple items of note that I would like to throw my 2¢ at.
Fans do a remarkably good job at keeping temps in check during a heat wave. Yes, there is some additional evaporation, but keeping the tank cool(ish) with corals is oftentimes a definite must.
As for reactors, a nice idea to have, but definitely not a must. Having something like the dual chamber from BRS for carbon and or GFO is something that could potentially help control things like cyano/ diatoms during the new tank uglies.
IMO, long term neither carbon or GFO is 100% necessary, but nice to know that you have the ability to put a reactor on line if necessary is relatively cheap piece of mind.

 

[EightOmens]

I think you definitely are in the right track.
Couple items of note that I would like to throw my 2¢ at.
Fans do a remarkably good job at keeping temps in check during a heat wave. Yes, there is some additional evaporation, but keeping the tank cool(ish) with corals is oftentimes a definite must.
As for reactors, a nice idea to have, but definitely not a must. Having something like the dual chamber from BRS for carbon and or GFO is something that could potentially help control things like cyano/ diatoms during the new tank uglies.
IMO, long term neither carbon or GFO is 100% necessary, but nice to know that you have the ability to put a reactor on line if necessary is relatively cheap piece of mind.

really appreciate it. that was one of the reactors I was looking at. thinking I could mount it to the stand and run bypass lines from the main plumbing controlled by flow valves for an emergency. 2 t connectors to the return pipe plus valves wouldn't cost that much.

 

[ihavecrabs]

@EightOmens Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I think you are certainly on the right track. What are the dimensions of your planned tank?

A 60" 8-bulb may be way over doing a 125g. To give you a comparison, my tank is 60" long x 30" wide x 20" high and I run a 6-bulb ATI. My PAR values can be found here <a href="https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/crabs-155g-in-wall-fish-room-build.317244/page-8#post-4407888">Crabs 155g In-Wall Fish Room Build</a>

My thoughts are if you do 60" 8-bulb, you'll be blasting the tank (still totally fine) and a lot of light will be on the front and side glass with a lot of spill over. Either way, nice choice on the light You can even pick them up for an awesome discount on their website for dented units (usually just the outer housing).

As far as your heater goes, my recommendation would be to purchase two undersized heaters rather than one. The reason being is that if one fails in the ON (heating) position, it cannot over heat the tank and the secondary heater will turn itself off. Also, if one fails OFF (not heating) the secondary one turns on and doesn't let the tank get too cold. This is secondary redundency to your apex which will control them via the temp probe.

I'm using two 300W in my tank (but I also have a 40g sump and a 60g frag tank). You should be good with two 150W or two 200W, depending on the normal temperature of the room you are in.

 

[EightOmens]

Thanks, plans are 72 long 18 wide 22 deep. And the back up heater listed is is an aquean 250w. I live in TX so heaters shouldn't run too much in the summer ac runs at 75 and keeps us between 73 and 78 actual temps. In the winter heater is set to 72 when needed. Main heater would be in sump with thermometer, back up in the overflow box.

Thanks for the tip on the light. The new ones are over $700. I'll check out thier direct cite.

 

[CJS80]

Proper LED systems seem to be out of my price range

You could do 3 AI primes to start with controllability, then add a DIY t5 kit, or buy a Aquatic Life hybrid fixture as you get coral.

 

[CJS80]

For an urgent situation I plan to have an ice box dedicated to keeping RODI ice in it that can gradually, and naturally be dispersed through the sump do as not to shock the system.

If you try this make sure you do it after heaters/probe or it could possibly cause the heaters to turn on and heat the tank even further.

 

[EightOmens]

If you try this make sure you do it after heaters/probe or it could possibly cause the heaters to turn on and heat the tank even further.

Oh absolutely, I should have clarified that the ice would be for an emergency such as the heater got stuck in the on position and after I unplugged it I still needed to bring the temp down.

 

[EightOmens]

You could do 3 AI primes to start with controllability, then add a DIY t5 kit, or buy a Aquatic Life hybrid fixture as you get coral.

yes to this too. Looked at some hybrids and seriously considering 2 32" SBOX pros. I like the price and the reviews I have found seem positive. Since I won't set the tank up until I have all the equipment I can get them 1 at a time and not hurt my budget.