Out of the hobby for 2 years....on my way back.

[PeeJ]

I've been a member of this site for several years, but have been out of the hobby since 2004. I am in the process of planning out the new reef for our apartment.

Here's the deal....

215 gallon tank
3x250 MH
2x110 VHO Actinic
1200GPH return backed by 2x1600GPH Turbelles

My previous tank was a 100 gallon show with 2x250MH and I was able to maintain steady temps around 85 which worked out for me. Keep in mind this was upstairs with sporatic A/C usage.

Given the fact that this tank is more than twice as large as the old and the A/C will be functioning on a regular basis, would I be safe to assume the temp would be lower (mostly due to te increase in volume of water as compared to amount of MH lighting)?

Secondly, if this does not have a great effect on the temperature (i.e. - the tank hangs around 85 during peak summer months), I was entertaining adding a 1/6HP chiller to knock it down about 3 degrees. Is there a chiller that is quiet enough to be used in a living room?

[hobogato]

i have a 240 with 3 single end 250 watt MH and 2 double end MH along with alot of PC actinics and my temp never hits 81. no chiller, just a canopy that is open on the top and three fans in the canopy and one in the stand on the sump. i do go thru about 8 gallons of RO a day to topoff from evaporation tho. we keep our AC set at 74.

[PeeJ]

What part of "northeast" are you in?

That is good to hear. I think I will be okay then. I am not worried about losing water. I have a nice RO/DI with pressure tank in the budget. Should go under the kitchen sink nicely.

[hobogato]

very close to fin addict and madison hs. just inside of 1604 between judson rd and oconnor. come by some time if you would like to talk about design or just see how im doing it. 8466784.

[PeeJ]

That's what I was going to ask. I'm over by 1604/35. I might give you a call this week so I can check out your canopy. Do you have any photos?

[hobogato]

here it is just after i finished building everything - that was back in october.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/tank2.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/tank1.jpg

[PeeJ]

Looks awesome. My tank will be free standing so I will have a little difficulty making the top open. Hmmm...this is going to take a little more though. Perhaps if I install plenty of fans between the bulbs blowing straight up, I will achieve enough circulation to keep it cool.


My last canopy was only 3 sided with a pretty open top. It was low, and I'm 6'4 so I could take it on and off farily simply. This one is going to stay put since it will be well over my head and much heavier.

I'm thinking open back...a fan on each side of the canopy blowing from the outside in and 4 fans on top blowing hot air out.....

[hobogato]

that might be kinda noisy.

[PeeJ]

Most likely.....good reason to upgrade the home theater now. :)

[hobogato]

hmm... are you my long lost twin brother or something?? :lol

[LoneStar]

So is the new tank going to be upstairs again? ;)

[PeeJ]

LOL.....the complex has a rule against water furniture above first floor.

I'm not too worried about it. I think I will be fine.

This is my general direction.... His tank is 4 inches shallower, but that shouldn't be a problem. I can just move all corals up in the tank.

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/images/misc/DSCN3890.jpg

[PeeJ]

hmm... are you my long lost twin brother or something?? :lol

LOL...it's possible....ha.

[matt]

If you're worried about heat consider going open top with pendents. You can get some nice pendents that have T5 or PC actinics. You could also hang a long hood if you're stuck on VHOs.

[PeeJ]

I should be okay I believe. I'm acutally going 240 now since the tank is only 600 dollars. Depending on the circuit situation in the apartment, I will probably go 3x400 with 2x110 VHO and just spring for a 1/3 hp chiller.

[matt]

I have a friend who has 3 400W fixtures over his 240; it looks good. I'm almost certain he's planning on getting a whole new lighting set up (250W DE) so I'm sure he'd sell the stuff he has now at a very reasonable price.

Ace, your tank set up looks amazing.

[hobogato]

thanks matt.

[GaryP]

Personally I would consider adding more actinic to get better pigment development in SPS. I have 2 X 160 watt in my 125 and I wish I had more. IN addition, that is with MH that have a pretty good actinic peak.

BTW, its good to see you back on MAAST PeeJ.

[PeeJ]

Thanks, Gary! It feels good to get back into this. I had to take a break when my ex and I had a big fall out after two years.

I'm going to start purchasing equipment fairly soon. I'm going up to the apartment this afternoon to check on the power situation. I'm hoping to only have the TV, computer, and tank running on two 20 amp circuits.

[ratboy]

Be prepared for some creative equipment placement. I have 2x 400W MH and when plugged in w/ my pumps it was tripping the breaker when MH #2 came on. I ended up running my lights upstairs and dropping the wires thru the ceiling. Granted my home wiring is 20 years old so a newer place may have a higher load capacity, but you are talking alot of juice there!!

[PeeJ]

Well with my last tank, at one point I had two pumps, 5 powerheads, 1000 watts of light chained off of one plug...eek. 40 amps should be plenty to run this thing. Granted, I have to run an extension cord up and over a door....ick.

[PeeJ]

halides 1200
vho 220
heat
chiller pump 98
skimmer pump 140
return pumps 200
tunze 25
chiller 660

These are my figures so far....I left out heater because the heater will probably never kick on with the halides running. That's about 2600 watts on 115 volts or 22 amps.