Sm51498
Active Member
I'm getting back into Reefs after a long hiatus. I have a good chunk of what I need and so it won't be horrifically expensive to get back going. However, I do want some new toys and to fulfil my list of desired features.
I've more or less settled on the basic design. I want slow flow through the sump so no need for a massive return pump as my circulation pumps will handle the flow requirements. A decent size refugium in the sump for pod production and nutrient export. I have an eheim canister filter I can use to run media, carbon or floss when I need it.
I have a co2 tank and regulator from my planted tank days and so I will be running a small calcium reactor. This with water changes is my only supplementation plan.
I will be using a diy redundant float switch ATO as they are super simple to build and the comercial ones are either super expensive or unreliable. I will have a built in drain line and a reservoir of premixed saltwater for waterchanges.
For lighting I'm using 2 150 watt metal halides that already have. I prefer an a more sunlight type look to the blue glow and so probaby like a 14k bulb. For my tank depth, they will be fine for just about anything I think. I have an old vho ballast and I think I will be running actinic supplementation with that if tubes can still be had for a decent price. If not, I may be retrofitting some t-5s into my canopy. Though t5s just don't get the same quality actinic that the old vhos do.
For circulation I was thinking a single jebao rw-4 to start. I have some koralia Nanos I can supplement with if need be. I can step it up later with an mp10 or if a like the jebao another one of those. The return pump will be an eheim, I've got a great history with those pumps and see no reason to experiment.
Heating will be a pair of 50w eheims on a controller.
I want the display to be light on rock work and light on stocking. I don't like the jam packed look of heavily stocked tanks with lots of rock. I'm think a few Bengaii cardinals OR a single cherub angel OR a few blue green chromis. No decision on fish yet. Corals will be a mixed reef but avoiding the nuisance species like zoas, mushrooms, gsp and xenia. Pretty if you like them but not my thing and they spread too fast for my liking. Instead I will likely have some sps like bird nest and scrolling montipora. Likely, some frogspawn or torch maybe duncans. And then some leather corals.
So here are my unanswered questions.
Skim or nor to skim? IF I skim I really don't want to spend much more than 150 on a skimmer and it seems like there is no clear winner. I like ease of maintenance and one I don't need to fiddle with too much to get decent skimmate. Any suggestions?
Overflow placement. Corner? Center? I don't think I want to cover the whole back as part of the point of a 40b is that nice depth. Any experience or thoughts? I'm leaning center right now.
Plumbing size. 1 inch is pretty standard but I want to run a full siphon drain with emergency drain. Would a smaller size be more appropriate? Especially since I plan on a low flow sump.
Any opinions on small calcium reactors?
AnY thoughts? Opinions? Epithets?
I've more or less settled on the basic design. I want slow flow through the sump so no need for a massive return pump as my circulation pumps will handle the flow requirements. A decent size refugium in the sump for pod production and nutrient export. I have an eheim canister filter I can use to run media, carbon or floss when I need it.
I have a co2 tank and regulator from my planted tank days and so I will be running a small calcium reactor. This with water changes is my only supplementation plan.
I will be using a diy redundant float switch ATO as they are super simple to build and the comercial ones are either super expensive or unreliable. I will have a built in drain line and a reservoir of premixed saltwater for waterchanges.
For lighting I'm using 2 150 watt metal halides that already have. I prefer an a more sunlight type look to the blue glow and so probaby like a 14k bulb. For my tank depth, they will be fine for just about anything I think. I have an old vho ballast and I think I will be running actinic supplementation with that if tubes can still be had for a decent price. If not, I may be retrofitting some t-5s into my canopy. Though t5s just don't get the same quality actinic that the old vhos do.
For circulation I was thinking a single jebao rw-4 to start. I have some koralia Nanos I can supplement with if need be. I can step it up later with an mp10 or if a like the jebao another one of those. The return pump will be an eheim, I've got a great history with those pumps and see no reason to experiment.
Heating will be a pair of 50w eheims on a controller.
I want the display to be light on rock work and light on stocking. I don't like the jam packed look of heavily stocked tanks with lots of rock. I'm think a few Bengaii cardinals OR a single cherub angel OR a few blue green chromis. No decision on fish yet. Corals will be a mixed reef but avoiding the nuisance species like zoas, mushrooms, gsp and xenia. Pretty if you like them but not my thing and they spread too fast for my liking. Instead I will likely have some sps like bird nest and scrolling montipora. Likely, some frogspawn or torch maybe duncans. And then some leather corals.
So here are my unanswered questions.
Skim or nor to skim? IF I skim I really don't want to spend much more than 150 on a skimmer and it seems like there is no clear winner. I like ease of maintenance and one I don't need to fiddle with too much to get decent skimmate. Any suggestions?
Overflow placement. Corner? Center? I don't think I want to cover the whole back as part of the point of a 40b is that nice depth. Any experience or thoughts? I'm leaning center right now.
Plumbing size. 1 inch is pretty standard but I want to run a full siphon drain with emergency drain. Would a smaller size be more appropriate? Especially since I plan on a low flow sump.
Any opinions on small calcium reactors?
AnY thoughts? Opinions? Epithets?
