New 5ft tank progress

[alanseah]

Hi guy,

Finally my turn to upgrade my tank after 3 yrs of waiting...

Here is some of my plan...

planning to get a 5ft(L), 2.5ft(W), 2ft(H) for mix reef

- 2 x 250W MH (6500k)

- 1 x 150W MH (Center) (20000K)

- 3ft, 1.5ft, 1.5ft sump

- Turbo Skimmer By Marine Sources 1000 liters (220gals) (Already got it)

- auto water top up (already have it)

- Chiller still deciding planing a .5HP RR (anyone can help me check if it's enough for my tank?) or 1.25RR depend on price

- not planning to have any actinics lighting cause already have the 1 x 150W MH (Center) (20000K)

- cal reactor planning to get later but not now.

As for sandbed, will be using plenum 1" thick (my favour as it work very well with the combine) with 5" thick sandbed, and a DBS for the sump

O ya one more things. I'm planning to put my chiller in my cabinet (my customer make cabinet will be able to allow it to be sit in)

Thus I require fan will diy,

- 6 fans (2 fan on each MH)

- 2 big fans inside the cabinet to blow alway the hot air.

hmm diagram of my tank have in mind will draw out soon for all to see and comment.

pls comment and advise... thanx alot..

[zephyros]

- not planning to have any actinics lighting cause already have the 1 x 150W MH (Center) (20000K)

If you believe that actinics are important for the growth of corals,

rather than "for the eyes onli", then you should consider getting

FL actinics lighting instead of depending on the 20K MH.

[alanseah]

hmm.. ok.. i do know actinics are gd for the growth of coraline...

then which mean i can take out the 20k MH instead...

anymore ppls can confirm..

[hotsoup]

get the max HP Chiller for yr tank's size. U won't regret. 0.5 is definitely not enough to chill a 5ft

[alanseah]

o ya in that case i'm thinking of getting 3 x 2ft T5

anyone got any idea where sell cheap actinics t5 bulb..

or get FL... since it's actinics anyone can comment t5, FL or PL

is better for actinics lighting..

[alanseah]

get the max HP Chiller for yr tank's size. U won't regret. 0.5 is definitely not enough to chill a 5ft

yup I know.. the max is the best..

for if u got see roidan 6ft, he is using teco 680 which is a 0.5hp only..

and also same go for tanngy...

I will be only setting my tank temperature at 27-28 only..

the 1.25 TR/RR very ex leh..

with that amount of money save I can get more stuff for my new tank..

unless DR Chiller going to give me a 1st timer discount...

or what type of chiller he want i got all the part for him and he just fix for me.. hehehe since my uncle selling air-con

[hotsoup]

My tank's size is 3 x 2.5 x 2 using 0.5hp which I found it's insufficient now and planning for upgeading again. Sigh...shouls have taken the 1.25 to save more on electric $$$

[alanseah]

hmm.. ok..thanx..

the TR going to cost about 2K... faint..mroe ex then the tank..

[alanseah]

Here is a simple diagram for the tank..

[hotsoup]

That's the price to pay to start this expensive hobby

[alanseah]

another the top view..

[Tanggy]

elect is not the problem for 0.5 chiller. that is if it is able to chill your tank. cos unless running 24/7 non stop, it will not use more power than a 1.25 unless it runs for 1/4 the time a 0.5hp runs. but if it cant cool your tank, no point. 440watt versus 1100watt. any way, price diff about 500, can pay difference for at least 2-3 years. by then you upgrade again liaoz!! ke ke.....

But if 0.5hp not enough to cool your tank, also no point.

[alanseah]

well tanggy... i dont think it cant cool the 5ft using .5hp...

well it depend on the kind of w u r using for your mh..

if u r using 400w mh then .5hp confirm out of Q...

but if u r using just 2 x 250w or less why not..

beside u see roidan tank.. he is using his .5hp to cool his 6ft tank and 2ft clam tank and not to forget his 4ft sump tank...

lolz.. that's a huge vol of water to cool u know..

anyway me only target temp to be 27 to 28 degree only.. so dont need that super cooling power..

[Tanggy]

Aiyo... you forgot I also ysing 0.5HP meh.... enough for me (until I change to 400wattMH that is). So long as you remember to try to put the pumps out of the water to reduce heat.

[alanseah]

me did not forget about u using .5hp

me only mention because of his large vol of water...

yup me going for external plump only for the skimmer i can only using internet plump...

[Tanggy]

Actually. a 5x2x2.5 got more water than a 6x2x2ft tank leh. How can you think less of me!!! ha ha ha..... but if you count his clam tank (if connected to same sump then he got more water!) he he...

[alanseah]

yup his clam tank is connect to the same sump..

and dont forget his large sump tank which is 4ft ok..

[alanseah]

o ya me also looking for this book..

Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History

anyone got extra or dont want can sell me...

[alanseah]

hmm after much thinking..

I'm going to use 3 x 2ft T5 actinc and 2 x 250w MH..

but one thing I want to check with you ppls..

since the 250w mh me thinking of geting 6500K, will be 3 x 2ft T5 actinc able to reduce the yellowish lighting of the MH...????

anyone can advise.. thanx

[roidan]

yup his clam tank is connect to the same sump..

and dont forget his large sump tank which is 4ft ok..

er...correction..my sump is about 5 ft odd long...hehe...coz need space for the beams mah...otherwise i will want it 6ft like the main tank...lol

[Tanggy]

For you layout, you sure you got enough space on top?? From the look of it, your top would mostly be covered. very hot leh. Unless you customise a hood that's higher and with some exhaust fans ###### the hot air out, or will load you chiller quite hard. The 250watt housing quite big. you going for the industrial housing rite??

[roidan]

i agree with tanggy..the size of the MHs will be very big...what you agar agar draw in there look more like the size of tunze streams size..hehehe

kidding lah..we get wat you mean..but like tanggy say.....those industrial ones quite big...may almost cover large portions of your top

[alanseah]

hmm interesting.. me never thought of that...

but here the size of Mh me geting..

L:610mm W:320mm D:180mm

L:23.8" W:12.5" D:7"

so i dont think got the space problem like you ppls say..

[Tanggy]

That's the one I am using. Take up lotsa space. If you put 3 T5 plus the reflctor, the space inbetween the MH casing is also covered. Will become a greenhouse. Very hot.

[alanseah]

what kind of T5 reflector u using..??

cause me thinking of geting atman reflector leh for 2 ft T5 one..

I saw it before dont seem to be very width leh..

wait let me cal..