Help for new 210 gallon tank please!!

[Clemons123!]

I recently got a 210 tank (7x2x2). I am working on cycling it right now.

I am so confused about wave makers and power heads for this tank. As well as lights? ( I know lights are not cheap, but what would be the most cost effective with starting out and the corals that I am looking at (Soft and LPS- torches, euphilias, zoas, pulsing Xenias, GSP, etc).


We do not have a sump on it yet (working on it) it came with 2 canisters that we are currently using to just start things. So the overflow has the two ( I think powerhead) that come out of it that once the sump is attached I believe will work ( these are on the left side of the tank). And then the person I got the tank from gave us a single wave maker for the other side of the tank.With 2 canisters there are 2 intakes and 2 outtakes currently.

Working on a sump - skimmer and refugium.


Other Information
- I am hoping to keep corals of soft and LPS.
- I have a "hopeful" stocking list of ( if you have other ideas please let me know!!)

• Yellow tang
• Chevron Tang
• Copper band butterfly
• Flame angel or coral beauty
• Fire fish x2-4?
• Blue cleaner wrasse/ goby?
• Clown x2
• Royal gramma
• Dotty backs
• Mandarin goby
• Red ruby dragonet
• Sand sifting goby

 

[BryanM]

Pics of the setup and question areas would probably help this along a great deal.

 

[FUNGI]

Pics of the setup and question areas would probably help this along a great deal.

Maybe it was just a statement...LOL

 

[Clemons123!]

I recently got a 210 tank (7x2x2). I am working on cycling it right now.

I am so confused about wave makers and power heads for this tank. As well as lights? ( I know lights are not cheap, but what would be the most cost effective with starting out and the corals that I am looking at (Soft and LPS- torches, euphilias, zoas, pulsing Xenias, GSP, etc).


We do not have a sump on it yet (working on it) it came with 2 canisters that we are currently using to just start things. So the overflow has the two ( I think powerhead) that come out of it that once the sump is attached I believe will work ( these are on the left side of the tank). And then the person I got the tank from gave us a single wave maker for the other side of the tank.With 2 canisters there are 2 intakes and 2 outtakes currently.

Working on a sump - skimmer and refugium.


Other Information
- I am hoping to keep corals of soft and LPS.
- I have a "hopeful" stocking list of ( if you have other ideas please let me know!!)

• Yellow tang
• Chevron Tang
• Copper band butterfly
• Flame angel or coral beauty
• Fire fish x2-4?
• Blue cleaner wrasse/ goby?
• Clown x2
• Royal gramma
• Dotty backs
• Mandarin goby
• Red ruby dragonet
• Sand sifting goby

 

[FUNGI]

The question is what is your end goal with this tank and work backwards.

 

[Clemons123!]

Pics of the setup and question areas would probably help this along a great deal.

Sorry was working, just was able to get some pictures, not sure what other perspectives would be good.

I am not going to keep the sand that it came with. I ordered and it will be here soon. Got stuff to clean the piping / intakes etc.

 

[FUNGI]

For wave action, in that long tank, you are better off with Gyres....
new: suggest these:

 

[FUNGI]

where in Cali are you located....?
Look for used stuff also....

 

[vabben]

Watching 52 weeks of reefing on the Bulk Reef Supplies YouTube channel may help you along your reefing journey.

Also, Chevron Tangs come out of Hawaii, which they can no longer collect fish from. If you have deep pockets, Marine Collectors currently has one for $4,500.

 

[Clemons123!]

Watching 52 weeks of reefing on the Bulk Reef Supplies YouTube channel may help you along your reefing journey.

Also, Chevron Tangs come out of Hawaii, which they can no longer collect fish from. If you have deep pockets, Marine Collectors currently has one for $4,500.

Thank you for letting me know! I did not know that about the Chevron's, someone had recommended it to me.

I did watch the 5 minute guide but I have not gone for the 52 week guide yet. I know in the 5 minute guide it was based on smaller tanks which was harder for me to compare with.

 

[Clemons123!]

where in Cali are you located....?
Look for used stuff also....

Thank you!

I have been looking on offer up and marketplace. I am southern riverside county, near Menifee.

 

[Clemons123!]

For wave action, in that long tank, you are better off with Gyres....
new: suggest these:

Thank you! I will start looking into this one ASAP

 

[Clemons123!]

The question is what is your end goal with this tank and work backwards.

Sorry, I am not sure what you mean by this ?

 

[FUNGI]

Sorry, I am not sure what you mean by this ?

Are you keeping fish only, fish w/Live Rock, softies, mixed reef, sps only?
You most expensive item will be lights (IMO).....
so, base your equipment purchase based on end goal.....

 

[Clemons123!]

For wave action, in that long tank, you are better off with Gyres....
new: suggest these:

Are you keeping fish only, fish w/Live Rock, softies, mixed reef, sps only?
You most expensive item will be lights (IMO).....
so, base your equipment purchase based on end goal.....

Are you keeping fish only, fish w/Live Rock, softies, mixed reef, sps only?
You most expensive item will be lights (IMO).....
so, base your equipment purchase based on end goal.....

Ohh okay,

Yes I am looking at Fish, Rock, LPS and Softies within the tank.

 

[Clemons123!]

Thank you! I will start looking into this one ASAP

For wave action, in that long tank, you are better off with Gyres....
new: suggest these:

Would this take place of both a wave maker and power head? Or would I need another wave maker in addition to this?

 

[FUNGI]

yeah....these would be your main (maybe only) heads you would need......they will push a huge amount of water...I send you a DM, if you want, you can test drive those. I had them on my 6ft tank at 50%.....and still too much wave action. Placed on each end of tank.

 

[slogan315]

Would this take place of both a wave maker and power head? Or would I need another wave maker in addition to this?

Beautiful tank and stand!

“wave maker” and “powerhead” are effectively the same thing and used interchangeably. Just pumps that move water to imitate waves. Most powerheads are variable speed and ramp up and down constantly. That creates random flow since most powerheads don’t actually change direction. Getting flow “right” is dependent on the corals you plan to keep, rockwork, etc. And it’s something you’ll be tweaking forever. More small powerheads is better than 1 big.

Lighting is another topic with too many options. Key things to look at are strength, coverage, spectrum, and controllability. Your 2’ depth and height are very standard which is good. It means you have tons of options to get the job done. There are lots of brands but the general styles for LED are pucks, panels, and bars. If you’re looking cost effective, this might be good to go lightly used. Or start with lighting one section of the reef and seeing how you like it before biting the bullet on the rest. Worst case is fully lighting a 7’ tank with new lights and realizing it doesn’t do what you want.

 

[Clemons123!]

Beautiful tank and stand!

“wave maker” and “powerhead” are effectively the same thing and used interchangeably. Just pumps that move water to imitate waves. Most powerheads are variable speed and ramp up and down constantly. That creates random flow since most powerheads don’t actually change direction. Getting flow “right” is dependent on the corals you plan to keep, rockwork, etc. And it’s something you’ll be tweaking forever. More small powerheads is better than 1 big.

Lighting is another topic with too many options. Key things to look at are strength, coverage, spectrum, and controllability. Your 2’ depth and height are very standard which is good. It means you have tons of options to get the job done. There are lots of brands but the general styles for LED are pucks, panels, and bars. If you’re looking cost effective, this might be good to go lightly used. Or start with lighting one section of the reef and seeing how you like it before biting the bullet on the rest. Worst case is fully lighting a 7’ tank with new lights and realizing it doesn’t do what you want.

Thank you. I was wondering about the real differences of them. As well as trying to figure out how to keep debris/ waste out of the sides near the overflow due to the spacing on them. So smaller ones could be good there!!

 

[FUNGI]

Both are important imo. A powerhead jist flows in one direction------> this results in detritus settling and getting stuck in places because its like someone pushing you against a wall and not letting go.

With a wavemaker, theres a forward motion -----> then the water reverses <----- this allows detritus to escape from pockets. Its like someone pushing you against a wall, then pusing you against the other wall opposote.

Why is detrtus bad? It breaks down into po4/no3 and this makes algae grow. Thus needing more gfo to remove po4 or other methods.

You can have two powerheads set up like a wavemaker. But they are very different. A wavemaker moves the whole body of water back and forth. A powerhead just moves part of the water. See a tunze wavebox and compare it to a tunze stream or other powerhead.

A wavemaker wont move detrtus up though. Thats why powerheads are needed to move the water around. They move the detrtus up. While wavemakers move it out of pockets.