YAY New Tank!

AI Nero 5
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I love my Radium bulb! It's the best light I have ever owned. I run mine on an Icecap ballast which runs it at normal wattage. I should be able to get 1yr out of it.

Nice tank by the way! Can't wait to see it up and running.
 
Tidal Gardens
heres a list of PAR/PPFD values to help decide, you are gonna need something with some *umph* to it since the tank is 24" deep. i only listed the ones in the 14k/15k/20k range. obviously most 10k bulbs blow these away in PAR/PPFD

Icecap ballast 250w
aquaconnect 14k = 406 PAR, 83 PPFD (AWESOME bulb/ballast combo)
hamilton 14k = 352 PAR, 69 PPFD (next best thing)
radium 20k = 330 PAR, 66 PPFD
coralvue 20k = 307 PAR, 60 PPFD
XM 20k = 270 PAR, 53 PPFD
coralvue reflux 12k = 51 PPFD

PFO HQI 250w ballast (bulbs dont last long)hamilton 14k = 420 PAR, 99 PPFD (10k look)
radium 20k = 395 PAR, 85 PPFD (14k look)
coralvue 20k = 355 PAR, 91 PPFD (14k look)
XM 20k = 314 PAR, 79 PPFD (14k look)
coralvue reflux 12k = 74 PPFD

M58 250w Magnetic ballast
XM 20k = 73 PPFD
aquaconnect 14k = 62 PPFD
XM 15k = 55 PPFD
hamilton 14k = 53 PPFD
coralvue 20k = 52 PPFD


Icecap ballast 400w
aquaconnect 14k = 143 PPFD
helios 20k = 119 PPFD
coralvue 20k = 112 PPFD
XM 20k = 99 PPFD
hamilton 14k = 80 PPFD
radium 20k = ????

PFO HQI 400w ballast (bulbs dont last long)aquaconnect 14k = 170 PPFD
helios 20k = 149 PPFD
radium 20k = 147 PPFD
hamilton 14k = 140 PPFD
coralvue 20k = 146 PPFD
XM 15k = 114 PPFD
XM 20k = 98 PPFD

M59 400w magnetic ballast
XM 20k = 128 PPFD
coralvue 20k = 110 PPFD
XM 15k = 104 PPFD
hamilton 14k = 96 PPFD
helios 20k = 96 PPFD
radium 20k = 90 PPFD
aquaconnect 14k = 80 PPFD
 
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Avast
Nice score Rev

Is that the canopy with the piano hinge set up so that the front 1/3 flips back? If so, that makes for great access for servicing the inside. Also, Is there no verticle center brace between the doors on the front? We sell that type at The LFS I part time at and it's a great set up! Easy into up top and below! As for the lights... It is a low canopy so heat transfer with ANY MH lights is going to be an issue. Is a chiller planned? If not....start saving those pennies! LOL We are running 1/4 or 1/3 hp chillers on that set up here in Augusta ( It's REAL hot here now!) Over 100 deg. every day! If you wish to stay away from a chiller I would reccommend T-5 lights. They are really becoming popular lately and have heard many success stories of people in your area keeping clams and SPS corals with T-5s. Check with the guys on that ATL site I have seen you lurking about on. There were several there with experience on T-5 and could give you some good, local advice. Wishing now I would have used T5 instead of MH and a chiller on the 220 gal. My power bill has went through the roof since the 220 has been up. Hope some of this ramblig helps. Scott
 
Thanks Al now if I can just understand it! :D
 
Scott I ran (3) 250w se MH's on my 125g inside a canopy about 5 inches off the water. In the summer months I just flipped the top open and didnt have issues. Hopefully this will still be the case.
 
Ok I still need to figure lights out, but I am leaning towards the retros like i got for my 125g from hellolights. I just would like your opinion on what ballast to run. I think I really want to do SE bulbs.

Also return suggestions?

And I want to do (2) Tunze Streams with multicontroller. Will this be sufficient and which model should i go with?
 
revhtree said:
Thanks Al now if I can just understand it! :D
Click to expand...

basically, you just pick the right combination.

look for the highest PAR or ppfd value.

but you gota decide b/w 14k or 20k, and keep in mind the type of ballast will determine whether its 14k or 20k. then also, keep in mind that if you end up not liking a bulb, will have also have to change ballasts to get another bulb you like....

IMO.....going with icecap electronic ballasts is the best choice.....you've got 3 GREAT bulbs to choose from (AC14k, Hamilton 14k, radium 20k). and they should all last a year. the only thing i'm not sure of, is if thats enough light for that size tank.....you may be limited on where you can put sps.
 
So what of the Water flow and return Al?
 
Tidal Gardens
revhtree said:
So what of the Water flow and return Al?
Click to expand...

well, since i'm not very familiar with larger tanks......this is kinda out of my realm.

but i do really like the nano-streams due to their small profile. the big fat tunze streams are kinda an eyesore IMO.

(2) 6055 nanostream with the wavemaker adapter would be AWESOME if you can swallow the expense... ;)

then maybe put 2 more 6025's to take care of some dead flow areas and you are good to go.

as far as a return pump, i can't help ya there....as i've only used mag drive pumps :(

but, if you decide to put in a large return pump, you could split it to the corners and aim them behind the rock work somehow, and then use an ocean motions to have them alternate.....
 
rev! check this out!

hey rev, i just noticed that premium aquatics has some aquaconnect bulbs in stock.

if you are seriously considering going with some icecap electronic ballasts, i'd strongly suggest grabbing these AC14k bulbs while they are still in stock! they are very hard to find, i'm very surprised premium aquatics has them in stock. grab'em while their hot! ;)

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...oduct_Code=14K-250SE-AC&Category_Code=mh-250w


if you can't find them in stock ever again, you can always switch to hamilton 14k or radium and still have some great PAR output.

i think this will work on your tank being a mixed reef tank. not so much an all sps tank though. i think you'll be limited to keeping your sps to the top, maybe the middle. but if a mixed reef is what you are looking at, than this will work. may even be really good for those aussie acans to get them out of the direct light.
 
pump

If you are planning a sump pump then a mag 12 will turn you close to ten times an hour ( minus head loss) Heat will transfer to the tank but you are leaning toward MHs anyway! There are many external pumps that you could use but the sump will need to be drilled.
 
BRS
I just found this thread ;) Nice score Dave!

What makes you say you want an 'SE' bulb? What do those letters mean? I know there is also a 'DE', right?

I am leaning towards T5's for my next setup.:D

Where did you get the tank from? was it a local sale?

You should toss in a few Tunze's and go barebottom!! haha
 
By SE I mean single ended. :D

Hey all updates.....

I just scored a skimmer for the new tank. I got a Deltec AP600!

http://deltecusa.us/proteinskimmers/ap600.php

It will be fed from the overflow of the tank therefore I will have no pump except the the small recirculating pump. (less heat and energy)

I also have a deal going for (2) Tunze 6000 streams with muti-controller.

I am uber excited about this tank! It will be Nov though before it is set up.
 
Things I am still going to need...

100lbs of Liverock. I am going for an open look and will build some rock stands.

I will also need some sand and a return pump.
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
i hope you got a good deal on that used........cuz for the cost of it brand new you could have gotten the H&S A150 which could skim circles around that AP600 ;)
 
I got it for $450 and it's like 4 months old I believe.
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
surfn said:
good deal. but you dont think its a little underpowered for a 120g? add your sump and whatever else, and you are looking at 120g+
Click to expand...

You think??? It's just going to be the tank and sump.

It says for a heavy stocked 130g min and I think 200g lightly stocked.
 
AI Hydra

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