I’m finally getting back in

deaclauderdale

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#21
Perfect location. Are you going to have a 15amp dedicated circuit?

Fortunately this was a recent room additions to this house before we purchased so it already has one.


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Pet world in San Bernardino has one of these for sale?
Looks like I won’t be able to go with this exact sump because it only handles a 160 with heavy bio load.


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deaclauderdale

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#22
I know this post is ogling to be purely subjective but I always welcome tons of input so here goes:

What would you recommend of the products below?

Controller: Apex or Profilux? (traditionally used Apex in the past)

Lights: Radion or Mitras? (ran Radion in the past)

Skimmer: ?

Return pump: Cor or Vectra?

Tester: Tritan/ION Director/KHG? (had KHG testing ALK and going in the past)

Salt: ?

Sand: ?
 
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#23
I know this post is ogling to be purely subjective but I always welcome tons of input so here goes:

What would you recommend of the products below?

Controller: Apex or Profilux? (traditionally used Apex in the past)

Lights: Radion or Mitras? (ran Radion in the past)

Skimmer: ?

Return pump: Cor or Vectra?

Tester: Tritan/ION Director/KHG? (had KHG testing ALK and going in the past)

Salt: ?

Sand: ?
Looks like this will be a fun one! I have some input here since I just set up my tank using a lot of the equipment in question here.

I only have experience with APEX, so I can't really do a comparison, but I know that Reef Automation (Derek Picker) does a great breakdown between the two on his YouTube channel.

I don't think you can go wrong with either... I love Ecotech and the customer service you get with them.

I personally feel like Reef Octopus is one of the most reasonable high-end skimmers out there. I have the Regal 250INT, but Elite has some other features that may be important to you.

I actually have both the Cor and Vectra running on my tank. Having said that, I haven't been running them long enough to give you much insight other than I like them both. If you end up using the APEX, there are some features you can get with the COR that you can't with the Vectra, but for me, the battery back-up capability of the Vectra makes that my choice (unless you want to do a DIY battery back-up for your COR).

You tester will likely depend on who you go with as your Controller, and I haven't even hooked up my Trident yet, so others will have more insight than I do on this.

For salt, I use Brightwell for a number of reasons (availability, decent Alk/Ca/Mg numbers, clean mix, etc.), but I know others swear by other salts. For me, it comes down to a reasonable price, availability, and numbers close to what I'm trying to keep.

I personally have to have sand in my tank... I went with a mix (some crushed coral for the high flow parts, then mostly CaribSea Special Grade and Reefflakes for the rest of the tank).

Good luck!
 

Smite

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#24
If you’re not looking for colored pvc Good Plumbing Supply in Garden Grove has a great selection of unions, ball valves and various fittings. Their prices are pretty good too.
A485BB90-1BDB-49F7-88EB-F57168ACFB63.png

I went schedule 80 and was surprised that that had most everything I needed.
 

deaclauderdale

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#25
Looks like this will be a fun one! I have some input here since I just set up my tank using a lot of the equipment in question here.

I only have experience with APEX, so I can't really do a comparison, but I know that Reef Automation (Derek Picker) does a great breakdown between the two on his YouTube channel.

I don't think you can go wrong with either... I love Ecotech and the customer service you get with them.

I personally feel like Reef Octopus is one of the most reasonable high-end skimmers out there. I have the Regal 250INT, but Elite has some other features that may be important to you.

I actually have both the Cor and Vectra running on my tank. Having said that, I haven't been running them long enough to give you much insight other than I like them both. If you end up using the APEX, there are some features you can get with the COR that you can't with the Vectra, but for me, the battery back-up capability of the Vectra makes that my choice (unless you want to do a DIY battery back-up for your COR).

You tester will likely depend on who you go with as your Controller, and I haven't even hooked up my Trident yet, so others will have more insight than I do on this.

For salt, I use Brightwell for a number of reasons (availability, decent Alk/Ca/Mg numbers, clean mix, etc.), but I know others swear by other salts. For me, it comes down to a reasonable price, availability, and numbers close to what I'm trying to keep.

I personally have to have sand in my tank... I went with a mix (some crushed coral for the high flow parts, then mostly CaribSea Special Grade and Reefflakes for the rest of the tank).

Good luck!
Why did you go with the 250INT over the space saver variant?

If you’re not looking for colored pvc Good Plumbing Supply in Garden Grove has a great selection of unions, ball valves and various fittings. Their prices are pretty good too.
View attachment 83094
I went schedule 80 and was surprised that that had most everything I needed.
I'll check them out. Any particular reason for schedule 80 over 40?
 

Smite

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#26
Why did you go with the 250INT over the space saver variant?



I'll check them out. Any particular reason for schedule 80 over 40?
My Bashsea is grey and lettering is less noticeable. I also feel like the unions, balls and gates are better quality but I have no facts to back that up.

also there is HD grey pvc cement that blends in very well.
 
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#27
Why did you go with the 250INT over the space saver variant?



I'll check them out. Any particular reason for schedule 80 over 40?
I went with the 250INT because: 1) I had the space and 2) I read that having the pump outside of the skimmer utilizes the body of the skimmer more efficiently and, in turn, will more effectively remove excess nutrients. Essentially, you're losing almost have of the bubble surface area with the pump located at the bottom of inside the skimmer (i.e., the space saver version). Not sure if it makes much of a difference, but that was my rationale.
 
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#28
And, as for PVC, you can always go with Schedule 80 fittings, but just use Schedule 40 pipes. That's what I did since I wanted as much flow through the pipes as possible, and the Schedule 80 is not only more expensive, but also have a smaller inner diameter, which results in loss of flow through the pipes.

Just my two cents.
 

deaclauderdale

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#29
So I'm thinking 2 MP40's for the upper water column (high up on glass under overflow), and 2 MP10's for the lower water column right above the sand.

Logic: Create more chaotic and diverse flow with adding pumps to the opposite viewing end of the tank, and 2 10's because who wants to buy 4 MP40's running 2 at 25% :)

Thoughts on this please?

My last setup I ran 2 MP40's QD (high on back wall) and 2 Tunze 6055's (lower 1/3 of tank on back wall)

Also what's a good free software that I can use to mock up the tank, stand etc?
 
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#31
Spears gate for return and drain, spears ball valve for mani, thumb valve for reactor(needle for CaRx). THIS IS THE WAY….

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#33
So I'm thinking 2 MP40's for the upper water column (high up on glass under overflow), and 2 MP10's for the lower water column right above the sand.

Logic: Create more chaotic and diverse flow with adding pumps to the opposite viewing end of the tank, and 2 10's because who wants to buy 4 MP40's running 2 at 25% :)

Thoughts on this please?

My last setup I ran 2 MP40's QD (high on back wall) and 2 Tunze 6055's (lower 1/3 of tank on back wall)

Also what's a good free software that I can use to mock up the tank, stand etc?
Hahaha... I'm the person who apparently wanted to buy 4 MP40's QD running 2 at a lower percent :D. Also, not 100% certain, but I don't think MP10's a strong enough to hold on 1/2" glass.

So far, it is working out pretty well. I also have a Red Sea Reefwave45 on my overflow. Needless to say, I don't think my tank will be lacking flow.
 

deaclauderdale

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#34
Hahaha... I'm the person who apparently wanted to buy 4 MP40's QD running 2 at a lower percent :D. Also, not 100% certain, but I don't think MP10's a strong enough to hold on 1/2" glass.

So far, it is working out pretty well. I also have a Red Sea Reefwave45 on my overflow. Needless to say, I don't think my tank will be lacking flow.
Well I just might be going the same route as you. Guess I'll add an MP10 to the fuge.
 

deaclauderdale

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#36



So while I likely won’t have my tank until March I decided to make sure I could remove the sliding doors in the office on my own just to be sure. Hey why put off to tomorrow what you can do today. Plus I know threads die a slo painful death of you don’t have pics and updates from time to time


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deaclauderdale

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#37
I’ve also decided on a pvc/acrylic hybrid sump combo from Advance Acrylics. Just need to send over done payment and I should get a sketch from them that I’ll share upon receipt.


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#40
Great display center piece! Free hand the personal engraved. Gave it a personal touch. Walnut looks bitchin with some rays on it


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