What equipment to use?

[HTXReefer]

I’m starting a 180 gallon build and looking for suggestions on equipment. The tank is 72”X24”X24” and will be a SPS dominant tank. I’m sorting out the sump but will have somewhere around 40 gallon capacity with a remote Refugium. I am planning on a manifold system to feed the DT, reactors, UV, skimmer and Refugium. I am thinking about the equipment below and appreciate input and suggestions.

2x Hydor - 2400 or 3200 gph return
2x Gyre 330 or 350 wave makers
2x 300w titanium heaters (not sure on brand)
Skimz monzter SM162 Skimmer external recirculating
BRS carbon and GFO reactors
Kalk Reactor
Pentair 40W UV
Aquatic life 6bulb T5-LED Hybrid (2x 36” or 1 61”)

 

[Huff747]

My only 2 suggestions would be:
1 - I'd probably use a separate pump to feed stuff rather than a manifold. Some people love manifolds I guess but I had a difficult time getting the flow I wanted on the individual items. I'd rather have my return be a dedicated return and then I can worry about the other things separately. Adjusting one of those on a manifold may alter my return flow which can lead to noise until I tinker with the drain gate valve.
2 - Based on my experience if you're running a refugium I probably wouldn't buy a GFO reactor, at least not yet. I set up my tank with a scrubber and fuge area and purchased the BRS delux reactor with the silicone tubing upgrade thinking I would run carbon and GFO in it. It's all still in the box ~ 9 months later because the nitrate and phosphate seem to be maintained by the scrubber/fuge, and I occasionally run some carbon in a bag. But if you're heart is set on one I have one new in the box

 

[HTXReefer]

My only 2 suggestions would be:
1 - I'd probably use a separate pump to feed stuff rather than a manifold. Some people love manifolds I guess but I had a difficult time getting the flow I wanted on the individual items. I'd rather have my return be a dedicated return and then I can worry about the other things separately. Adjusting one of those on a manifold may alter my return flow which can lead to noise until I tinker with the drain gate valve.
2 - Based on my experience if you're running a refugium I probably wouldn't buy a GFO reactor, at least not yet. I set up my tank with a scrubber and fuge area and purchased the BRS delux reactor with the silicone tubing upgrade thinking I would run carbon and GFO in it. It's all still in the box ~ 9 months later because the nitrate and phosphate seem to be maintained by the scrubber/fuge, and I occasionally run some carbon in a bag. But if you're heart is set on one I have one new in the box

Thank you for the input. I am not sold on the GFO and to be honest don’t know a whole lot about it. I bought the tank second hand from a local club member and it came with the reactors. I think I’m going to have to run a manifold due to the sump I’m looking at.
It’s an advanced acrylic with remote fuge. I thought about diverting the drain plumbing but my tank has a two-hole overflow that was upgraded to 2” pipe and not sure about f I can with the flow rates needed To quiet the drain. The sump also will only have enough room for both return pumps. I was looking at running both returns for redundancy in the event of a pump failure.

 

[Huff747]

I'm far from an expert but GFO can be used to strip out phosphates. My understanding is that it can work too well and remove them all, which also isn't good. But if you're running a fuge that too will help with some phosphate removal. If it were me I'd probably try to reserve the space for the reactor when I set up the tank but I wouldn't use it until some point in the future where your testing indicates you need some additional means of reducing phosphates. And even then I'd probably personally lean towards using something like Phosphate-E to remove phosphates over GFO.

 

[jda]

Manifolds are a pain. If you use one, do not run the return off of it. If you change one little thing, the rest all get messed up too. I hate them.

1200-1500 GPH of return is enough.

Gyres move a lot of water, but the flow is pretty static. If this is what you are looking for, then cool, otherwise look at other type of flow pumps.

I like Ehiem heaters. No heaters are all that reliable, but these are the best. Be sure and have them on a reliable controller for redundancy... Ranco is the best of breed here and not too expensive.

It is OK to have media recactors in the plan and stuff, but don't use them unless you have an acute need way down the road. GFO can be OK if used in the right situation at the right time, but new tanks are not one of these. It is cool to just let them be empty.