Some large tank questions...

[kkiel02]

I think I finally found a 180 that's in my budget and was wondering about 2 main things-
1. Flow what do y'all use for powerheads and also return... My idea is to get some tunze stream 2s on a controller like the previous owner had but they are pretty expensive.
2. What metal halides do y'all use. The setup I will be getting has two lumenbrights with 20k 250 watt bulbs with two vho super actinics. So if y'all are running something similar could you give me your bulb selection. (if you're happy with it) LOL

Also is anyone running a large reef octopus skimmer? I have one on my 65 and love it but the bigger tanks usually run the more expensive skimmers.

[carlinsa]

i run a 215 with a 6ft current orbit light and it has 3-150mh with 12k reeflux bulbs and 4 96w pc actinics. i have good color and growth. i had 2-250 on my old 125 with 10k xm and 4 5ft vho actinics with GREAT fast growth. but mainly kept sps.
bulb wise you just have to go with what you like. if you like more "blue" get a bulb from the 14-20k. if you are running actinics with it then to 10-14k.
i have 2 vortech mp40s on my tank. makes it great. if you use tunzes find a used set that works well and then dont pay a fortune now save up and pay a fortune later the hit to the pocket book wont be so extreme with new tank stand lights and all the other stuff that goes with it.
skimmer i dont run one at all so i cant give you advice on that

[alton]

I use 3 x 250 MH Reeflux and 160 w VHO Actinic. My tank consist mostly of Frogspawn. I do not have any power heads, just a Pan World 50PXX for a return pump.

[Kristy]

On our 210g we have...

1. Flow: a pair of Vortech mp40s and the return is a mag 12. FYI: we only recently put in the vortechs and before that had about four K4s in there. It worked okay, but never seemed to have quite enough flow and more nuisance algae than we get now.

2. Lighting: We use a pair of 250w MHs (with 12k Reeflux for bulbs) with a 48" set of 6x T5s between them. Have a variety of bulbs in the T5s ranging from super blue to purple, etc. Remember to factor in the center brace if there is one when making lighting decisions. We're very happy with the lighting and get good growth, color without worrying about heat (fans that kick on with the MHs but we don't use a chiller).

3. Skimmer: We use the Octopus 150 for our skimmer and it's worked well for us. Probably could go with a bigger, badder skimmer given our fairly heavy bioload, but so far this has worked well for us and the price is hard to beat.

You are welcome to come look at our setup if that would help your research, decision.

[sampsonndelila]

I run two K-4 powerheads one at each end pointing inward. The return is central in the top and it has a dual spout pushing in each direction.

I have 3- 400w MH, and a 48 inch T5. I like them alright the T5 runs all day and the MH run a couple hours.

I run a large octupus skimmer. It has always worked well for me. I did have to replace an inpeller. That costs about 50 bucks but I did run it dry a couple of times.

[Bill S]

3x400w Helios 20K bulbs
2x72" VHO
2x1250 gph closed loops
1750gph drain & return to sump and fuge
2x2600 gph Seios

I run the VHOs all day, and the MH about 4 hours - no SPS in the tank anymore. I also have a single torpedo Hiatt filter, and a 2/3hp chiller.

You, along with anyone else, is welcome to stop by and see what I've done right, and what I did wrong (lots of that!).

210.663.8079

[BIGBIRD123]

I have a 280g - 72" x 30" x 30" with 2 - 400w with 12K Reeflux in Lumenbrite pendants and no actinics. I have mostly SPS. I have one colony that was yellowish-white when I added these and it is now turning baby blue in less than 30 days. The T5 experiment is over and I now know why I loved MHs.

[z28pwr]

On my fish only tank I run 840 watts of VHO and a 5800 GPH pump with 4 eductors and 2 Koralia 4's which seems to get the job done.

On my wive's 144 half circle we are doing (2) 250 watt metal halides and a 1200 GPH pump.

On my wive's previous 265 gallon tank we had really good luck with a Tunze Wavebox producing a good 3/4" to 1" wave but for some reason the wavebox hasn't worked for others.

[kkiel02]

Ok I have an idea of what I will be doing(gonna reuse the powerheads and skimmer at least through cycle then add powerheads as needed) but would like to swing by bill and kristy's places before I set it up. Thanks for all the help and will try to keep a blog on here so others can learn from my mistakes. LOL

[longhorn_20m]

Hurry up and get this thing started!

[kkiel02]

LOL I can't wait. See you Monday.