New to saltwater set up , help please

DrewM8 · Jul 15, 2018

Hello everyone, so I am getting ready to set up a saltwater (reef) tank. After doing TONS* of research I have a decent feeling about everything but still need help with a few things. First off I am wanting a 30-50 gallon system. I do not have room for a super long tank so Cubes will be best for me. I am looking at 2 different systems.... the red sea reefer 170 (34 gallons and 9 gallon sump) , the IM Nuvo 50 INT with a Trigger systems 20 inch cube sump. As much as I like the red sea reefer I feel like the bigger item will be better in the long run.... I still do not know what else I need other than what I have added into my cart which I will post on the bottom of this thread. Does all the equipment I have posted look like it will work for my tank. Will my light be strong enough to grow medium to hard to grow corals? How difficult will it be to plumb this tank? Does anyone have experience with a similar set up? What size return pump will I need to run? Can I fit a refugium in this sump? What is a good ATO set up inside this cabinet (GF will not want a bucket of water sitting next to the stand so it needs to look clean).... I have done so much research but just still have so many questions... ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!

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jsker · Jul 15, 2018

Auto top off.
I thing you are going to need two lights.
Return pump, I would suggest a DC pump with a controller. All so buy bigger is you go DC with controller for the reason one can always turn the pump down and running a large pump at a slower speed with increase the life of the pump.

dimidragos · Jul 15, 2018

I have in use one 40 g with internal sump. The advice with a DC pump its very good. In my opinion it's better to use two power heads, not only one. This Ecotech it's a very nice and good one but if you ask me i will not spend so much money on it. I use one Tunze 9040 power head in begin and i add a Jebao RW4 after. I can tell you honestly that i'm more happy with Jebao water flow and controls also. Maybe will not last so much time but was half price of Tunze.

dimidragos · Jul 15, 2018

The 250W heater it's too big also and about lights i will go for two instead of one also. I have a Inovative 40 and i'm pleased, then i advice you to buy the bigger one. A soon as you start to cycle your tank you must have water tests for amonia, nitrite, nitrate. Later more test also.

DrewM8 · Jul 15, 2018

So what heater should I swap too? I have read it would be better 2 than 1. Anyone think a Radion G4 could run the tank by itself?

dimidragos said:
The 250W heater it's too big also and about lights i will go for two instead of one also. I have a Inovative 40 and i'm pleased, then i advice you to buy the bigger one. A soon as you start to cycle your tank you must have water tests for amonia, nitrite, nitrate. Later more test also.

dimidragos · Jul 15, 2018

DrewM8 said:
So what heater should I swap too? I have read it would be better 2 than 1. Anyone think a Radion G4 could run the tank by itself?

i have a 250W in my 125g tank and 100W in my 40 g tank and i live in Norway you get a lot of heat from pover heads, feeding pump, light , ...Radion 30 G4 in my oppinion will be one of the best choices and one its enough, AI Hydra 52 also

dimidragos · Jul 15, 2018

you don't need two heater for a small tank a soon as you keep in a heated room

Billldg · Jul 15, 2018

Welcome to R2R
I use a 100w heater for my mixing barrels and it will heat it up from room temp to 78 degrees in less than an hour, so I would agree on a 100w heater.
I also agree that the Radion G4 would be the top choice for lighting

reef lover · Jul 15, 2018

Welcome to r2r!!

Joshua M Hall · Jul 15, 2018

If you have the funds. Add another MP10 wireless (I love mine), get the reef link controller, and since you will already be going with ecotech products and you will definitely need 2 kessils, just get one ecotech radion 30 and call it a day. I didn't want to spend the money on the radion and was going to go with the AI but at the last minute I went with radion. Absolutely no regrets other than I wish I would have just went with the 30 instead of the 15. Mainly for future expand-ability but also because even in my tiny IM20 the spread and par diminishes drastically outside the center focus point. Good luck. Keep us posted

DrewM8 · Jul 15, 2018

Wow thanks everyone for all the input. I move into the new apartment August 4 so I will be ordering everything then. Which gives me a little more time to read up on everything. Going to sell all my planted tank lights and filters before I leave. Plan to post pics and updates but we will see how life goes and how much time I have for it all. Does anyone have experience with trigger systems sumps?