Suggestions for my 150 build

[Sky's Reef]

Well ladies and gents I'm about to start my new build (and build thread). I bought a 48" x 30" x 24" tall glass aquarium. I've also purchased an AA 60 gal 4 chambered sump, complete apex, two mp40s, a bubble magus bm-t01 doser, sro 2000 skimmer, jbj ato, eheim auto feeder, heater, mag 24 return, 48" 6 bulb Hamilton Fiji sun t5 fixture and two brs reactors.

My question is what do you think of this equipment? What else would you recommend I purchase?

I'm building the stand now so not rush. I have another 2 to 3 weeks of work to do on it with my given schedule.


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[Sky's Reef]

I am going to keep a mixture of corals mainly softies and lps with a few easy to keep sps to start. The ultimate goal is to transition to sps over time. The softies and lps placed in the tank will be very carefully selected with the goal of mainly sps in the future. No softies that will over run the tank.

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[Sky's Reef]

I also h ave a 5 lb co2 tank and Milwaukee ma 957 regulator from a planted tank I took down a while ago and have been thinking about getting a calcium reactor. Should i look more into this route or hang with my doser? Convince me one way or another please

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[Sky's Reef]

I'm also on the fence with my light. Is it adequate for sps? A friend of mine has a pair of Vegas for $700 but have been reading a lot of questionable reactions to leds lately...

Also they're pricey and I've thought about pulling the trigger and buying a couple radions. Then it was vegas. Then it was hydras. Reefbreeders. Etc. So hard to choose between all the different leds out there

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[Sky's Reef]

Any questions or additional info needed please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks again

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[Confuse]

Well ladies and gents I'm about to start my new build (and build thread). I bought a 48" x 30" x 24" tall glass aquarium. I've also purchased an AA 60 gal 4 chambered sump, complete apex, two mp40s, a bubble magus bm-t01 doser, sro 2000 skimmer, jbj ato, eheim auto feeder, heater, mag 24 return, 48" 6 bulb Hamilton Fiji sun t5 fixture and two brs reactors.

My question is what do you think of this equipment? What else would you recommend I purchase?

I'm building the stand now so not rush. I have another 2 to 3 weeks of work to do on it with my given schedule.


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Hey! I have your exact same dimensions of a tank! I like your hardware list. Since you have an Apex, I'd look into automating the ATO through it instead of the JBJ. I'd maybe look into another return pump as mag drives run hot. I'm using the Jaebo 12000, but people suggested the Laguna 2400 too. I'm running an ATI T5/LED Hybrid 8 bulb just to cover the 30" depth. I don't know too much about your light, but I'm pretty sure Hamilton doesn't use individual reflectors. If heat wasn't an issue, I'd be running two 250w Radiums. I like the reef octopus skimmer too, many members do as well. I have an RO XS250.

And the calcium reactor....well, since you have a doser, you might as well run that until you start getting more and more into SPS.

 

[Sky's Reef]

I'm still an apex noob. Haven't done much with one. That'll be something I'd like to do eventually.

I ran the mag on my 240 and didn't have heat issues however it was noisy (tho my stand was open) if it's as noisy in my new enclosed stand it'll have to go.

I'm thinking I might cut up my Fiji sun and do a t5 led combo.

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[Sky's Reef]

As far as the apex I bought the complete base unit. Any additional accessories I should buy for it?

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[SchnitzelReef]

If ur goal is to go full SPS, I would def go with a calcium reactor. Big SPS colony's suck up alk and calcium. Even a bunch of small frags will use a lot.

I would def look into an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower. Maybe down the road, u can add a pair of reefbrite LED strips to ur fixture. Heard a lot of good things with that setup.

Def look into switching out that return pump. Mag drives are loud and very inefficient. Look at a Laguna 1500/2400 or the new Fluval Sea pumps.


Hot Dogs are GOOD!

 

[Sky's Reef]

Hey! I have your exact same dimensions of a tank! I like your hardware list. Since you have an Apex, I'd look into automating the ATO through it instead of the JBJ. I'd maybe look into another return pump as mag drives run hot. I'm using the Jaebo 12000, but people suggested the Laguna 2400 too. I'm running an ATI T5/LED Hybrid 8 bulb just to cover the 30" depth. I don't know too much about your light, but I'm pretty sure Hamilton doesn't use individual reflectors. If heat wasn't an issue, I'd be running two 250w Radiums. I like the reef octopus skimmer too, many members do as well. I have an RO XS250.

And the calcium reactor....well, since you have a doser, you might as well run that until you start getting more and more into SPS.

I've read through your build thread and definitely got some pointers through there.

I'm honestly thinking of cutting the Fiji in half and mounting some leds in the center. I have Ai sols on my 60 cube. Looks great but am not getting the growth I did with my t5s.

How do u like ur return? Is it controllable?

Lastly I think I'm gonna sell the sro 2000 and buy a sro 5000. Schnitz suggested it and I think it'd be good in the long run.

Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it.

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[Sky's Reef]

If ur goal is to go full SPS, I would def go with a calcium reactor. Big SPS colony's suck up alk and calcium. Even a bunch of small frags will use a lot.

I would def look into an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower. Maybe down the road, u can add a pair of reefbrite LED strips to ur fixture. Heard a lot of good things with that setup.

Def look into switching out that return pump. Mag drives are loud and very inefficient. Look at a Laguna 1500/2400 or the new Fluval Sea pumps.


Hot Dogs are GOOD!

You have a reactor you'd suggest?

Thanks again for always lending advice man

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[SchnitzelReef]

You have a reactor you'd suggest?

Thanks again for always lending advice man

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Korallin is the brand I use. Very easy to use. Also Geo makes good calcium reactors as well.


Hot Dogs are GOOD!

 

[Sky's Reef]

Right now I have two local used options:

One is an AquaC RX-1 in great condition for $250

The other is a Precision (not Premium) Marine reactor solenoid regulator and 5 lb CO2 tank for $200. I don't know the model of the reactor yet... I do know that I already have the regulator and CO2 tank.

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[pgr11]

I have the sro5000 and its great. I think you'll be happy with it

 

[Confuse]

I'd go with the two popular choices for a calcium reactor.... A koralin or a geo reactor. They're the most popular and more people are going to be able to help you dial it in because of their wide use.

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[Sky's Reef]

I'm going to buy a new reef dynamics ins 180 with eheim pump unless someone has some real negatives to say. Roughly $800

I may even go up to the 250e however that is 1500...

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[LesPaulPlayer73]

This is a pretty **** good skimmer in the same price range. Some would say better......

http://www.socalireefs.com/forums/showthread.php?51390-Atb-skimmer

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I'm going to buy a new reef dynamics ins 180 with eheim pump unless someone has some real negatives to say. Roughly $800

I may even go up to the 250e however that is 1500...

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Idk about reef dynamics. IMO they are over priced. IMO more bang for ur buck with the reef octopus. Maybe go with a xp3000. I'm running the 3000 on my 180g tank, and it works awesome. If I didn't get the vertex for my new tank, I would have gotten another SRO


Hot Dogs are GOOD!

 

[Sky's Reef]

Well I bought the atb 10.5 with swabbie. Hoping its not too much for my tank but excited to get to stock a little heavier.

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[Six2seven]

Well I bought the atb 10.5 with swabbie. Hoping its not too much for my tank but excited to get to stock a little heavier.

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Whoa that's a beast of a skimmer. Looking forward to the build thread.