Upgrading my tank/ need advice

[MrsBugmaster]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this. If not, can a mod call please move to appropriate forum. Edit: I also posted this in equipment forum.

Plan to upgrade my current 180 gallon Fowler tank but have some questions. It will be 3 to 4 months before this happens. Need to save some more money!!

I’ve decided on a Planet Aquarium tank, stand and canopy. First though I need some advice on the new tank. I really want their 270 gallon 84” x 30” x 25”, external overflow, bean animal, but due to cost have to keep my current sump, return pump and skimmer and was wondering if the equipment I currently have will be big enough for this size tank.

Current equipment:
Return pump: Royal Exclusive Red Dragon 80 watts, 2113 gph/17 feet pressure height.

Sump: Bashsea Signature Series 48” x 15” x 16” with 3 - 1 1/2” drains holes.

Skimmer: ReefOctopus Elite 200 INT, rated at : heavy bio load -125 gal, medium -210 gal, light-300 gal

My biggest concern I think is the skimmer. It may be too undersized. But I will also have the following and can implement any or all if needed for nutrient control, a fuge with Cheato, Auto Turf Scrubber, GFO Reactor, and a bio pellet reactor (I still need to buy the latter)

So wondering if anyone can tell me if my current equipment will work on the 270 gallon tank. Otherwise my only option will be to go with a 220 gallon tank 84x24x25. But I really really want the 270 gallon!

Thanks

 

[exnisstech]

I can't really comment on the equipment being compatible as I haven't used it. But if the skimmer turns out to be the only item questionable I would just try it and see. Many people do not even run a skimmer. I have a tank that has been running over 3 years and I have to dose nitrates to get them measurable and have never run a skimmer. I have another larger tank with somewhat large fish 6-7 inch tangs and a trigger with other smaller fish. I have a skimmer in that one but it doesn't pull much and when I forgot to turn it back on for several days I couldn't tell it had been offline.

I would go with the 270 if it's what you really want. When I've compromised it always cost me more in the long run or I just accepted it but didn't get the pleasure I would have had I got what I really wanted.


PS you can delete all the text in your other post with the same content then just type deleted and save. Just saying

 

[Devaji]

did you get the tank? another option is keep the skimmer you have and add an ATS to the mix i bet that would work. or a large fuge that might be cheaper. but id space is limited i think ATS have more nutrient export per Sq inch than a fuge.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

did you get the tank? another option is keep the skimmer you have and add an ATS to the mix i bet that would work. or a large fuge that might be cheaper. but id space is limited i think ATS have more nutrient export per Sq inch than a fuge.

No don’t have tank yet. Will be a 3-4 weeks before w have all the money. Then will take 6 weeks to be built.

 

[WVNed]

I know someone that might be willing to donate a used SRO-5000 to this project to get it out of his way.
It would need cleaned and function checked first.

Footprint: 17.5" x 11" | Body Diameter: 10" | Height: 24"
Well Stocked Tank - Rated up to 400 gallons
Medium Stocked Tank - Rated up to 450 gallons
Light Stocked Tank - Rated up to 500 gallons

 

[MrsBugmaster]

Thanks so much for the offer, but I think it might be a little too big but I will think about it. Can I put a dc pump on it? Has to be silent or my husband has a fit.

 

[choob99]

If the price isn't too far off and you have room I recommend you go with a 96" tank from planet, that extra foot is an amazing difference for tangs and angels....but on the skimmer, I wouldn't be too concerned the Elites are great and adding in a fuge or scrubber will more than make up for it if the skimmer happens to lack for you

 

[MrsBugmaster]

If the price isn't too far off and you have room I recommend you go with a 96" tank from planet, that extra foot is an amazing difference for tangs and angels....but on the skimmer, I wouldn't be too concerned the Elites are great and adding in a fuge or scrubber will more than make up for it if the skimmer happens to lack for you

Unfortunately I can’t fit in a 96” tank. Wish I could! Thanks for the advice on the skimmer.

 

[Moomee]

I can't really comment on the equipment being compatible as I haven't used it. But if the skimmer turns out to be the only item questionable I would just try it and see. Many people do not even run a skimmer. I have a tank that has been running over 3 years and I have to dose nitrates to get them measurable and have never run a skimmer. I have another larger tank with somewhat large fish 6-7 inch tangs and a trigger with other smaller fish. I have a skimmer in that one but it doesn't pull much and when I forgot to turn it back on for several days I couldn't tell it had been offline.

I would go with the 270 if it's what you really want. When I've compromised it always cost me more in the long run or I just accepted it but didn't get the pleasure I would have had I got what I really wanted.


PS you can delete all the text in your other post with the same content then just type deleted and save. Just saying

Curious about your filtration setup, given that the skimmer sounds unnecessary. I assume you run a large fuge? What else?

 

[MrsBugmaster]

.

 

[exnisstech]

My red sea reefer 170 has no skimmer just a sock and chaeto. I do run a skimmer on my 180 but the reason I say it may not be needed is because a lot of people run tanks successfully without one. It was just a suggestion to maybe save money. Many people say they use them for aereation but I could buy a box of air pumps and stones if all I needed it for was aeration and save a lot of cash. Most people will tell you have to have a skimmer. Mine doesn't pull much of anything, I only empty the cup every couple of weeks and even then it isn't even close to being full. I have forgotten to turn it on before for days with no I'll effects. I have no doubt that my 180 would be fine without one but I already have it and it's in the sump so I run it. If it breaks I won't replace it.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

My red sea reefer 170 has no skimmer just a sock and chaeto. I do run a skimmer on my 180 but the reason I say it may not be needed is because a lot of people run tanks successfully without one. It was just a suggestion to maybe save money. Mine doesn't pull much of anything, I only empty the cup every couple of weeks and even then it isn't even close to being full. I have forgotten to turn it on before for days with no I'll effects. I have no doubt that my 180 would be fine without one but I already have it and it's in the sump so I run it. If it breaks I won't replace it.

Yeah I am going to just use the skimmer I already have and not but a bigger one, so not costing me anymore. My skimmer pulls out all kinds of nasty stuff. It is always a dark color.

 

[exnisstech]

Yeah I am going to just use the skimmer I already have and not but a bigger one, so not costing me anymore. My skimmer pulls out all kinds of nasty stuff. It is always a dark color.

Good plan. You can always upgrade later if you need to.

 

[Moomee]

My red sea reefer 170 has no skimmer just a sock and chaeto. I do run a skimmer on my 180 but the reason I say it may not be needed is because a lot of people run tanks successfully without one. It was just a suggestion to maybe save money. Many people say they use them for aereation but I could buy a box of air pumps and stones if all I needed it for was aeration and save a lot of cash. Most people will tell you have to have a skimmer. Mine doesn't pull much of anything, I only empty the cup every couple of weeks and even then it isn't even close to being full. I have forgotten to turn it on before for days with no I'll effects. I have no doubt that my 180 would be fine without one but I already have it and it's in the sump so I run it. If it breaks I won't replace it.

What’s your WC schedule like? How heavily stocked is the tank?

 

[exnisstech]

The 180 has some fairly large tangs 6-7 inches purple, naso, hippo, 2 yellows 4 plus inches, a medium convict, pair of clowns, 2 chromis, 2 blue damsel, six line wrasse. I do daily water changes of 4 gallons.
The reefer 170 is lightly stocked with 5 fish and quite a few sps frags. It's quite a bit different than the larger tank as nutrients tend run very low and sometimes I have to dose nitrates and phosphates to keep them above zero. Thats with chaeto in the sump and 1g a day water changes. No skimmer