ULM-ish 75G mixed reef planning with questions

[hockeyhead019]

Alright so here goes...

Currently I have a 20g long tank that's pretty low maintenance and has been doing well with a mix of softies and LPS. It's very very very minimally stocked with currently just a goby and pistol shrimp combo. No sump, just basic LR filtration with a chaeto ball in the "sump" (5 gal bucket under the tank lol)

My wife and I just bought a house and I would like to upgrade to a larger tank for some more interesting live stock options as well as some additional stability due to a larger water volume.

The ULM-ish approach is based off how much I travel for work and the last thing I want is to shoulder her with tank care other than "top off the ATO resevoiur". So I wanted to lay out my plans and use the forum as a sounding board prior to executing the plans. So the build will be all about redundancy where possible and automation where possible. Hopefully going to keep it lower tech with minimal reactors and no skimmer to aid with that.

Stocking Plan:
Softies (zoas, riccordea mainly)
LPS (frogspawn, torch, acro, micromussa, duncans)
Maybe some SPS, I like the look of the stylos but if they become too demanding then no worries
Possibly a BTA
Clown Pair
Leopard Wrasse
Watchman goby & Pistol shrimp
Possibly a tang
Possibly an angle of some type

Equipment List:

Tank: 75g Standard tank (4'x2'x18")
- The driving factor for this is that I believe it's a big enough size without needing to break the bank for equipment to correctly build the tank. It also has a good footprint that fits our new home in the basement and will allow me to create a pennisula scape.

Sump: 40g breeder with custom baffles mostly for hiding equipment and running the cheato ball. My goal is to stay skimmerless as I've had success in my 20g and my 55g a few years ago.

Return: Syncra Silent 2.0 x2, they're sized for redundancey and should give me about 7x the flow with the plumbing plans

Overflow: Synergy Shadow Overflow (I realize the flow rate is overkill but I liked the option for the emergency drain configuration in case any clogs happened in the main drain)

Flow in tank: Gyre XF230 *** Curious to know if people think this will be enough flow***

Controller: I'm planning on building a #reef-pi to control the following
- 8 outlet powerstrip
- dosing pumps (for future utilization)
- ATO
- water leak alerts
- possibly lighting control depending on the next point
- pH when it's available in the 3.0 build
- temp control via probe

The controller decision is heavily cost driven. I realize that I could buy a neptune but that's a lot of stocking cash spent on equipment. I'm curious if anybody will make a good argument to spend the money.

Last but not least... Lighting:
I'm struggling a bit after doing reading about some of the black boxes and some of the cheaper fixutres like CurrentUSA's offering.

I currently use a Nanobox duo light that's been great to me so I'm definitely ok sticking with the LEDs.

Questions:

I think I'm mostly looking for confirmation on the flow plan and any suggestions for budget lighting. I know going with something like two Kessils would be ideal but I'm struggling to want to shell out that kind of dough when people seem to be having good results with more budget friendly options. Especially given the fact that I don't want a heavily stocked SPS tank.

Feel free to poke holes in the plan! Better now than issues after I start the build lol

I'll try and keep this OP updated with comments or anything that I left out but I think that's most of the major items.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Comments based on all your above info (because you asked for feedback):
A chaeto ball in the sump is a refugium, a very basic one, but still a refugium.
BTA's are OK, if you want low maintenance look at a Rock Flower Anemone. The clowns will be fine without an anemone.
Leopard Wrasse and Angler's can be difficult.
I still think gyres are fragile and need cleaning more often than basic wavemakers. Besides, 2 wavemakers will give you better coverage and more random flow (a good thing).
A controller is OK but IMHO not necessary. I had one and sold it when I downsized from a 120g reef to my 40g cube with a 40g sump/refugium (with just macro algae).
Two small Mars Aqua fixtures or even 1 big Mars Aqua will do you well. More light than you need, reliable, and inexpensive. If you even consider a Current led, the only one to consider is the 'Pro' version with 3 watt leds. And if you go that far, IMHO a 32" Photon V2 or V2+ is better. I just bought an almost new V2+ used here at R2R for half what a new one costs.
If budget is an issue, used stuff from your local club, Craigslist or here at R2R can save you some serious money!

It sounds like you have a pretty good plan. And if you are going to have a sump and an auto top off system, a skimmer isn't really any more of a maintenance item than some of the other things you are considering.

 

[hockeyhead019]

Comments based on all your above info (because you asked for feedback):
A chaeto ball in the sump is a refugium, a very basic one, but still a refugium.
BTA's are OK, if you want low maintenance look at a Rock Flower Anemone. The clowns will be fine without an anemone.
Leopard Wrasse and Angler's can be difficult.
I still think gyres are fragile and need cleaning more often than basic wavemakers. Besides, 2 wavemakers will give you better coverage and more random flow (a good thing).
A controller is OK but IMHO not necessary. I had one and sold it when I downsized from a 120g reef to my 40g cube with a 40g sump/refugium (with just macro algae).
Two small Mars Aqua fixtures or even 1 big Mars Aqua will do you well. More light than you need, reliable, and inexpensive. If you even consider a Current led, the only one to consider is the 'Pro' version with 3 watt leds. And if you go that far, IMHO a 32" Photon V2 or V2+ is better. I just bought an almost new V2+ used here at R2R for half what a new one costs.
If budget is an issue, used stuff from your local club, Craigslist or here at R2R can save you some serious money!

It sounds like you have a pretty good plan. And if you are going to have a sump and an auto top off system, a skimmer isn't really any more of a maintenance item than some of the other things you are considering.

Thanks for the feedback!

I agree with the points you made. The BTA is more from desire/enjoyment than low maintenance side so I'll admit there is some conflicting info lol. That's good to know about the gyres, any wavemakers you recommend? As for the controller, I completely agree that they aren't necessary, however it's another fun thing for me to tinker with (I'm an electrical engineer so I love tinkering with that kind of stuff). And an excellent call on the used section of the forum, I'll be sure to keep an eye out as the build gets closer.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I've used the Maxspect and the Jebao and they were both very low torque motors and they stop running quite easily. I have friends who use the IceCap and it's very similar. They have all made upgrades and they work better, but still not nearly as trouble free as a good wave maker powerhead.

I completely understand the desire to tinker with the controller. If you don't enjoy tinkering with some aspects of this hobby, then you'll never be happy trying to maintain one!

BTW, your screen name... hockeyhead... I grew up in Detroit and both my parents were from Canada, eh. So I've always been a hockey fan. Since I moved to Florida and the Red Wings are far away and have fallen on long term hard times, I've slowly become a Lightning fan... until game 4 in the first round of the Cup playoffs. LOL! I even support our local ECHL team, the Florida Everblades (as in Florida Everglades). They ended up 2nd in the ECHL and have won their first 2 games in the Kelly Cup playoffs. It's kind of weird how good hockey is here in SW Florida! Who'd a thought!

 

[hockeyhead019]

I'll definitely say that the south is growing the sport much quicker than I think a lot of people realize. I've always been in the Philly area so the Flyers have been a struggle to love in the past few years.

I'm currently using a Jeabo wp-20 on my 20 gallon and it's way over kill... Maybe I'll just plan on doubling up on that for the time being when upgrade time lands. Mixed with the return pumps it could end up being enough but I don't know. Probably won't know until I give it a shot unless somebody with a similar tank style can chime in

 

[Ron Reefman]

I have a 40g cube with 4 nozzles from the return pump as well as 2 small Current wavemakers and a big Reef Breeders Reef Power RP-26 wavemaker. IMHO, random flow is a great think in a reef tank. I'd rather have 4 over sized wavemakers running at half power or less than one big gyre or 2 big wavemakers.

 

[hockeyhead019]

I definitely agree with having the random flow, two smaller > one larger at least in my experience with my old 55g. I'm seeing the new OW brand Jebao's getting a decent amount of love, tough to overlook them for the $60 price tag lol

 

[BeejReef]

Sounds solid. You sound very technically able and experienced and you certainly know your needs, wants, and your wife's abilities and interests better than I.

FWIW, I've gone skimmerless as well. Still, you might incorporate a cheap used one and program it to run for 15 minutes every other hour (just to avoid stagnation) so in the event you're out of town and something goes south, you can just have wife turn it on, or do so remotely.

My other thought is with the rasberry PI controller. It's another level of complexity. If you're really skilled with that sort of thing, then who am I to argue. Still, it's one more thing that can go wrong, need updated, need calibrated, or go haywire when the internet goes down. It's also really hard to explain how to fix on the phone from a conference. So, I could argue Apex, but in fact, I'd even consider no controller (aside from temp).

If you're running mostly softies with a smattering of lps and sps, what could be easier than telling wife "after the ATO resevoir fills, mix in 3 teaspoons of Kalk and put the cover back on."

Really depends on if she's normally at home and is at all interested in the tank or not. Hope you do a build thread. Best of luck.

 

[hockeyhead019]

Sounds solid. You sound very technically able and experienced and you certainly know your needs, wants, and your wife's abilities and interests better than I.

FWIW, I've gone skimmerless as well. Still, you might incorporate a cheap used one and program it to run for 15 minutes every other hour (just to avoid stagnation) so in the event you're out of town and something goes south, you can just have wife turn it on, or do so remotely.

My other thought is with the rasberry PI controller. It's another level of complexity. If you're really skilled with that sort of thing, then who am I to argue. Still, it's one more thing that can go wrong, need updated, need calibrated, or go haywire when the internet goes down. It's also really hard to explain how to fix on the phone from a conference. So, I could argue Apex, but in fact, I'd even consider no controller (aside from temp).

If you're running mostly softies with a smattering of lps and sps, what could be easier than telling wife "after the ATO resevoir fills, mix in 3 teaspoons of Kalk and put the cover back on."

Really depends on if she's normally at home and is at all interested in the tank or not. Hope you do a build thread. Best of luck.

Thanks for the input! I'll definitely be starting a build thread when things get going.

I definitely understand your point about the controller being one more thing to keep an eye on. As I mentioned to Ron that's more of a tinkering interest of mine. I'll be building the tank so if the controller completely dies the system will be able to function as intended. Pumps will be just plugged in, no reason to link them to the controller, lighting as well. I'm working on how to figure out how to have redundancy or at least notification of controller failure. I'm still working through all of the details on that end, lots of reading yet to do in the DIY section to see how people are implementing fail safes etc...

 

[Ron Reefman]

Thanks for the input! I'll definitely be starting a build thread when things get going.

I'm working on how to figure out how to have redundancy or at least notification of controller failure. I'm still working through all of the details on that end, lots of reading yet to do in the DIY section to see how people are implementing fail safes etc...

If I had one back when my chiller failed (it wouldn't turn off) I could have saved a 120g tank stuffed full of sps corals. Chiller ran all night (it was located in the backyard) and in the morning our tile floor had a big puddle in front of the tank from condensation dripping off the front glass! The tank was just below 60 degrees. By the end of the day all the branching and plating corals were white skeletons. Only encrusting corals, zoas and rock flower anemones survived.

I almost gave up the hobby. But instead I downsized and now have a beautiful 40g cube that just about glows in the dark (under all blue leds at night) and is easy to maintain.

 

[hockeyhead019]

Glad to hear you stuck with it!