Equipment advice for 135g tank w/50g sump

Hi,

I am setting up a new 135g reef tank. 72x18x24 with a 50g sump. This is my first time setting up a tank this size with a sump so I am not familiar with which brands are better and what equipment works and sucks!

My plan is to purchase:

Eheim compact 3000 - for the return from the sump
two Koralia 750gph circulation pumps for inside the tank
A skimmer (not sure what to get)
two 36" dual T5 lights (to supplement my current LED lights from China)

My questions are.

Will the two 750 GPH circulation pumps be too much flow? I don't want to blow my fish away! (I have two Pinnate Batfish)

Will the Eheim Return be sufficient for the 50g sump? It's 790GPH.
Is it a good pump?

What skimmer should I get?? lol..

What brand of T5 is the best and economical? Current USA, GLO, Coralife???


Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!! Much Thanks in advance!

 

The 2 Koralia’s will be fine – your rock work will offer a lot of protections from the direct flow. Flow is important in your reef and I think you are on the right track here.

The Eheim return might be a little week – you need to calculate head pressure and get the actual gph on the return. Do you have one or two overflows – what is the ghp that they can handle?

I like the coralife skimmers – but there are plenty of decent / affordable skimmers on the market.

I can’t comment on T5’s as its not my thing … but others will be along shortly.

On my main reef tank, 180 – I use a 55 gallon sump located in my basement …. All the mess and noise being in the basement is so ideal !

 

I would look into a stronger return as the pump will probably be 3 or 4 feet under the tank.
I personally like T5 TEK LIGHTS by sunlight supply.
As a skimmer wise look into BashSea, SWC, Reef Octopus.
All three are great brands, the SWC has a better pump per some but the Octopus has a bigger line.

 

Thanks guys, all very helpful info.

 

Look at this skimmer from Reef Octopus. They make good quality skimmers at a low price.

Reef Octopus SUPER SRO 3000INT In-Sump Protein Skimmer - AquaCave

I agree with thepanfish on the Sunlight Supply lighting for T5s. They have reasonably priced fixtures with good quality. For a look at their complete lineup:

Sunlight Supply, Inc - Horticulture, Lighting, and Gardening Wholesale - Fluorescent Lighting

However, you might want to go more than dual bulb fixtures and potentially think twice about two 36" fixtures. Instead look at a single 60" four bulb (or better yet, six bulb) fixture. You still get great coverage over the areas where you will be putting corals - you seldom will put them on the ends of the tank. The cost would be very similar if you compare two 36" dual bulb fixtures vs. a single 4 bulb 60" fixture and you will get much better lighting over the majority of your tank. I would even bet that the ends of the tank would get similar lighting from the wash of four t5s as they would from direct light from two. Better yet, go with a six bulb 60" t5 fixture. With six bulbs over an 18" wide tank you would likely be able to grow just about anything you want.

 

I have this brand fixture, and am very pleased with it. 1 plug, built in fans, all digital timing...set it, and no worries.

AquaticLife 72" T5 HO 8 Lamp Fixture with Lunar Lights