amay121 September 9, 2008 Share September 9, 2008 (edited) So, I'm in my planning phase with a list of items that I'll need. Tank Dimensions - 72"L x 24"W x 30"D Lighting: Ballast 3 x SLS Galaxy 250W Ballast or 3 x IC 250W Electronic Ballast Bulb 3 x Radium 20K Reflector LumenMax Elite Mogul Lighting Timing: Ballast 1: 8:00pm - 4:00am Ballast 2: 9:00pm - 5:00am Ballast 3: 10:00pm - 6:00am Sump: 100g Rubbermaid Trough (TSC) Refugium: 40g Long (Maybe I'll upgrade this to one of those 150g troughs or whatever the are.) Return Pump: Dart Split two ways to 2 x 1" Sea Swirls Additional Flow: CL with OM-4way on Dart Skimmer: Reeflo Orca 200 Calcium Reactor: Korallin 3002 Controller: Digital Aquatics ReefKeeper Elite ReefType: Mainly SPS Inverts: Clams Shimp (Cleaner, Peppermint) Snails (cerith, astrea, etc). NO HERMIT CRABS Fish: 6 x Lyretail Anthias 3 x False Perc Clowns 6 x Green Chromis Royal Gramma Lawnmower Blenny Scribbled Rabbitfish I'll be picking the tank up this weekend I hope. Anyone see anything else I'm missing? Edited December 31, 2008 by amay121 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterTang September 9, 2008 Share September 9, 2008 T5 has the same 'front end' cost as the MH's, but they run fewer watts, which equals less electricity cost, less cost to cool the tank/room, less cost in evaporation and (potentially) less cost in bulbs. ...but as Mark will undoubtedly point out, you don't get the nifty 'shimmer' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Lazar September 9, 2008 Share September 9, 2008 (edited) What are your plans for filtration and calcium make-up? Are you going with a calcium reactor, kalkreactor, or both? You'll also want to pick out a controller. I don't run ozone or UV, but some do and you'll have to consider whether these are right for you. Jon Anyone see anything else I'm missing? Edited September 9, 2008 by Jon Lazar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDiver September 9, 2008 Share September 9, 2008 what skimmer will you be using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amay121 September 9, 2008 Author Share September 9, 2008 (edited) Do I even need a kalkwasser unit or can I just go straight calcium reactor, or both in conjunction? Added my skimmers. Mr. Tang, I priced it out and all. 16 3ft. T5 = 624 Watts (IC overdrives the bulbs, not sure how much for the 3 fters). 3 250W = 750Watts Cost For Ballast/Reflector/Bulb MH = ~$1150 Cost For Ballast/Reflector/Bulb/etc = ~$1550 Change of bulbs for MH (6-12 Months) = ~$270 Change of bulbs for T5 (6-12 Months) = 16 * $21 = ~$336 So it's almost a wash, not quite but almost. Also, there's the issue of the depth of the tank. 30", that may go barebottom, or SSB Edited September 9, 2008 by amay121 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesbuf September 9, 2008 Share September 9, 2008 Until you have the demands of a Ca reactor, you should just stick with a Kalk stirrer. The higher the pH, the better, and the Kalk stirrer will help raise your pH quite a bit. You'd be surprised at the level of sps you have to get to before a Kalk stirrer won't get the job done. Especially with the amount of top off water you'll have running through the stirrer for a tank that size. In general, the effluect of the Ca reactor lowers most peoples pH in the tank. Forgot to add in, while searching through premiumaquatics "clearance" section, I found this pump: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/m..._Code=Clearance They started with 12 of them about a week ago, and are down to 3 now. I was almost tempted to get one myself at that price, but I have enough crap laying around already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amay121 September 9, 2008 Author Share September 9, 2008 James, I saw that too, but this is a slow build. I'll be acquiring my parts extremely slow hence the 6 months to 12 months. I still have to go and pickup up the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesbuf September 9, 2008 Share September 9, 2008 James, I saw that too, but this is a slow build. I'll be acquiring my parts extremely slow hence the 6 months to 12 months. I still have to go and pickup up the tank. Gotcha. I knew you were trying to move slow, but 3600gph of flow for only $150, I wanted to at least make sure you know about it. Why don't we both get one and split the shipping? Just kidding man......unless your you're serious hahaha. I'm sure you'll have no problem finding a good used pump when time comes. Thats an advantage of picking out pieces over a long time period. Its no problem waiting for the great deals to arrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoutlaw September 12, 2008 Share September 12, 2008 Mr. Tang, I priced it out and all. 16 3ft. T5 = 624 Watts (IC overdrives the bulbs, not sure how much for the 3 fters). 3 250W = 750Watts Cost For Ballast/Reflector/Bulb MH = ~$1150 Cost For Ballast/Reflector/Bulb/etc = ~$1550 Change of bulbs for MH (6-12 Months) = ~$270 Change of bulbs for T5 (6-12 Months) = 16 * $21 = ~$336 Actually, if you just go with the TEK retrofits and don't overdrive the bulbs, you will only have to change the T5s every 15 to 18 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amay121 September 12, 2008 Author Share September 12, 2008 I'll look into things. Not really sure the route, but once I get things going, it'll be nice I hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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