New 150gal build. Equipment advice?

I got my G3 used all modded up for $100. it was drilled for a second sedra 5000 (to make it dual recirculating), all I gotta do is get another pump. asm skimmer mods are really cheap unless you start buying new and extra pumps. I have heard good and bad things about the octopus skimmers, but for 325 I would start looking into the new cone skimmers like i-tech. you always want to try and get the next size up rating wise as most companies over rate their skimmers.

~Will.

 

Look into the Precision Marine Bullet 1 skimmer. You will want the waste collector for it as well. This is what I use, so check it out and read the reviews.

 

I went to the lfs store today and talked with them. They're going to deliver my tank either Thursday or Friday. I'm getting excited about it. I bought my light today. I got a 60" long coralife setup. It has 2x250w MH lights and 4xT5 actinics, and several moonlight leds. I believe it was a great deal at just over $500.

While I was there I measured the usable vertical space inside the stand. I've got about 27". This was very helpful in eliminating some possible skimmer options. As of right now, I think I'm going to get the CoralVue Octopus Extreme 250. I might get the 200 if I don't have enough room for the 250 in my sump. I haven't gotten around to designing the sump quite yet though. I've been focusing on researching all the rest of the equipment.

Now I need to decide on my return pump. Right now I'm thinking of going with the MagDrive 18 for no other reason than I have the MagDrive 7 on my 77gal setup and I'm pretty happy with it. I cracked the NPT fitting on it when I first plumbed it, but I ordered a replacement piece and didn't tighten it down as hard the next time around. I've had no problems with it since. Does anybody have any experiences to share about the MagDrive 18? Or other pumps you think I should look into?

Finally, I'm deciding on my in-tank circulation. I've thrown around the idea of a closed loop system, but I don't think that's the way I want to go this time. I only think that because I have a Neptune AC III and I think it would be better to use it as a wavemaker than it would be to have a steady flow through a closed loop. I've heard that some pumps(such as the maxijet 1200 I believe) can't handle being used on a wavemaker. They don't like constantly being turned off and on. Do any of you out there use your controllers as wavemakers? What kind of powerheads are you using?

Thanks in advance for answering any of these questions and offering your input and experiences.

 

I am also preparing to set up my 150 and am purchasing all of my parts.

I am using the octopus extreme 300.
Reef Octopus Extreme 300 Protein Skimmer by CoralVue* - AquaCave
I had my sump custom built to use all avaliable space under my tank.

As for the pumps for a wavemaker maxi jet's make great wave makers. The Koralia (sp) do not do well with the constant on off of a wave maker set up.

I personally will have 4 maxi jet 1200 that have been modded being used on my 150.
This is the mod i will use:
Aquarium Systems Venturi kit for Maxi-Jet pumps from Salty Critter - Your Saltwater Specialists

As for lights my only issue may be the lenght and using two halides. I decided to go with three 250W halides and two 60" VHO's so that i do not have any dead space .


I too will be using the mag 18 and spent a long time debating between the 18 and the 24.

Hope some of this helps

 

Thank you! That information definitely helps. I couldn't remember if it was the koralias or the maxijets that didn't work, I had them switched in my brain. Thanks for the clarification. I think we're gonna end up with pretty similar setups when we're done as far as equipment is concerned. That maxijet mod seems interesting, I'll probably order one and give it a try. I already have some maxijet 1200s laying around.

I also wondered about how well 2 MH lights would cover the tank but I decided that I would just build up a couple of rock stacks near the lights for the high light demanding organisms and then I'll also have lower-light areas near the outskirts of the tank for those that prefer low-light.

I have also been debating if the magdrive 18 will be enough. I definitely might end up going with the 24. Especially since it seems to be only around $30 difference and head pressure might make the 24 a better option. I don't have my tank drilled for any return lines. I plan to run the plumbing up over the rim of the tank in the back and have it T off and return into the tank in 3-4 spots. I will want to paint the PVC in this area black so it blends in better.

Does anyone out there have ideas on the type of paint I should use for the pvc? Is there something special I should use because it's going to be submerged in saltwater or would regular old krylon spraypaint for plastics work for the job?
Thanks

 

I may have missed it, but why are you painting the PVC? Unless it is for ashetics, you just leave it as is, You can take steel wool and "rub" the lettering off if you want I did and it worked fine.
Sorry if I missed somethig about the painting.
Nother more fun than designing a new set up.
If your pockets can take it check out;
Ecotech Marine VorTech Propeller MP20 Pump
You may want the MP40's, but dont be fooled you want one at each of your tank-1 WONT do!!
Good luck and post some pics as the build develops!!

 

are you doing a HOB overflow also?

 

what do you plan to keep in the tank ?

 

Reefnjunkie: I want to paint the PVC just for aesthetics, no other reason. I like the look of black tubes inside the tank much better than white ones. Black I can live with, white would prolly drive me nuts after a while. My lfs was talking those Vortechs up too. They run them on their display tanks and they seem pretty cool. But are they that much better than just running regular powerheads in a wavemaker setup from my AquaController?

sean_p_f: no, the tank is drilled for the overflow. It's got a 2" drain in the back right corner of the tank.

wastemanagement: I'm not quite sure what I plan to keep yet, but I do know that I want several tangs and wrasses, as well as a lot of corals. At first I'll probably start out with zoas and mushrooms, and xenia and gsp, and other easier type corals. Once the system matures a while I'll probably get a kalk reactor and add some sps. I really like montipora. I'll definitely want a few species of montis. I'll also want to have a few tridachnid clams.

 

It is always a good idea to start the tank up with the equiptment you will need when you have the harder corals so this eliminates buying or upgrading your equiptment. perhaps a closed loop for flow as apposed to powerheads in the tank. RO/DI, Auto topoff, phos reactor are all good things to have from the start too.