Coming back - basic equipment change of heart?

[Seregus]

Hi everyone,

I'n getting back to the hobby after 6 years and relocation from UK to Italy. I already placed an order on UNS R150 tank and it will be delivered directly to Italy from Ultum Systems (they kindly offered me delivery, because there are no dealerships in Italy). Tank dimensions in CM are L150cm X D60cm X H60cm or in inches: L59.06" X D23.62" X H23.62".

I decided to think about base equipment list and was about to pull a trigger on:
- return pump from Royal Exclusive, but it looks like they have changed a lot and my love to RD3 Speedy might have changed too, I would need to buy Red Dragon 5 ECO 130W (I like to buy oversized and run not at full power).
- lights from EcoTech: Radion XR30 Pro x3
- GHL Profilux 4 with some power bars, sensors and maybe dosing pump right away

However because I'm not in rush, tank probably will get delivered at best next month decided to read and look around.

A few questions come up to me:
1. Why not to take GHL Versia Flow 7 (it's exact same as Sicce Syncra SDS 7) but with full control via Profilux and additional controller instead of Red Dragon 5 without any control?
2. Why not to take Mitras LX7206 or LX7506 instead of Radion to have full control over light remotelly? If I go with it maybe someone can tell me which one?

The idea behind such change is a online fact saying listed above equipment is very close call to each over in performance and reliability, which leaves only comfort of controlling as main priority to choose?

Could anyone who has maybe used some of those talk me out back to my original pproducts or please tell me I'm about to make a right choice?

Thank you!

PS: I'm still big fun of Vortech Pumps so 2xMP40QD will be in the tank, meaning I would have to use their app for control, which makes me thinking - maybe I should just close my eyes on power cords and also get Flow pumps from GHL?

 

[Subsea]

Sergegus,
Not familiar enough with current WiFi network controller compatibility between systems.

In 2015, after 40 yes, I retired as an instrumentation & operations engineer in the deep water drilling marine environment, Subsea Engineer.

I will make one general comment: keep it simple, if you want dependability and ease of diagnostics.

With respect to aversion to control cables, You should be able to hide all of that stuff. I suggest you put ascetics on the low priority list, If you want dependability.

When I do troubleshooting diagnostic for a device, I am not interested in learning the system network interfaces, I want to know if the device in question is getting a signal. With cable management, all I need is a multimeter to verify lose of signal or device failure.

With complex networks, we used a dedicated laptop as a programmed logic controller and designed our own network with “off the self” end devices. Using proprietary networks often limits the diagnostics to vendor technicians. In our application, this was unacceptable 200 miles offshore in 7500’ of water.

 

[Seregus]

I think I’m completely lost with your answer… like I do not understand it at all, except you saying ignore cables in the tank? If you referring to Vortech, well there are no cables in the tank because of magnets rotating wet sides, but I should have included this question maybe later on as its correlates to main question as per below.

My question was about buying Mitras over Radion and Sicce over Red Dragon. Main reason is because I can get them onto GHL Profilux controller.

Before I only used Red Dragon and Radion, so I would love to hear about Sicce and Mitras feedback.

Maybe I’m wrong and quality (performance and reliability) of those items is not as close as I think it is?

 

[Blitheran]

I recently came back to the hobby and decided to stick with brands I’ve known and trusted. I hear a lot of discussion about EcoTech and Neptune Apex people saying to go a different route or that they’ve changed over the years. And sure, things may have evolved, but from a user standpoint, they still work for me, so that’s the direction I went.

If you like Radions and Red Dragon, go with them. They worked for you before, and they’ll work for you again. If you want to venture into something new and try different equipment, that can work too you may just get different results. That’s part of the joy of reef keeping: there’s no single “right” setup, and everything works a little differently

I hope this helps, I can’t speak exactly on those two brands this is just my opinion.

 

[Seregus]

I recently came back to the hobby and decided to stick with brands I’ve known and trusted. I hear a lot of discussion about EcoTech and Neptune Apex people saying to go a different route or that they’ve changed over the years. And sure, things may have evolved, but from a user standpoint, they still work for me, so that’s the direction I went.

If you like Radions and Red Dragon, go with them. They worked for you before, and they’ll work for you again. If you want to venture into something new and try different equipment, that can work too you may just get different results. That’s part of the joy of reef keeping: there’s no single “right” setup, and everything works a little differently

I hope this helps, I can’t speak exactly on those two brands this is just my opinion.

Completely understand now! Thank you.

And this is exactly my dilemma - they worked before but changed so much… ehh I guess I just have to go with my instincts

 

[hatfielj]

I have no experience with GHL, so can't comment there. I am using Hydros for controller and really like it. Their app allows for remote control anywhere you have a cellular signal, which I think beats the pants off Apex if you're looking for this function.
I can't control my Radions remotely, but I don't really need to.
I run a Royal Exclusiv return pump and one of their skimmers. Their controllers are not great, but not bad either, but the pumps are still very high quality and extremely reliable and long lasting. I considered going with Abyzz this time, but can't justify the added cost.

 

[Subsea]

I think I’m completely lost with your answer… like I do not understand it at all, except you saying ignore cables in the tank? If you referring to Vortech, well there are no cables in the tank because of magnets rotating wet sides, but I should have included this question maybe later on as its correlates to main question as per below.

My question was about buying Mitras over Radion and Sicce over Red Dragon. Main reason is because I can get them onto GHL Profilux controller.

Before I only used Red Dragon and Radion, so I would love to hear about Sicce and Mitras feedback.

Maybe I’m wrong and quality (performance and reliability) of those items is not as close as I think it is?

No worries. I do that sometimes. Looks like your specifics were addressed by blithering.

Your tank selection sounds stellar. Have you decided on a stocking list?