Looking for Equipment Opinions for New Build

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oigimsar

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I am finally getting close to putting my new tank up. I am still undecided on some of my equipment and would love to get some opinions.

The plan is to have a well stocked mixed reef. It will be in our main living area so I am looking for quiet equipment.

Major Items:
Tank:
Lee-Mar: 48 x 18 x 20 - Starfire Glass, Eurobrace (about 75g)

Controller: Apex
Lights: ATI Powermodule 6 x 39

Dosing and Media: (I have not made final decisions on any of these...)

Reactor: Via Aqua Poly Reactor (GFO)
Reactor: Sea Side Aquatics (Carbon)
Sump: 3 chamber with Refugium

Filtration:
Skimmer: Seaside Aquatics CS2Return

Undecided / unpurchased:
Return Pump: Eheim?
Circulation Pump: MP40w or (2) Tunze 6095 or Tunze 6095 and Tunze 6045 or (2) Tunze 6045 or ?
Dosing: 2 Part w/ BRS Dosing Pumps or Kalkwasser or ???
Heater: Ebo Jager (2 x 150w) or Rena Smart Heater or ???
Also looking for a stand builder

Any input or ideas for other things to be considered would be appreciated.



 
get a water balster pump for the return..
mp40's are awesome..
check your locak club. they may have a good recomendation on a stand builder..
 
Thanks for the reply. I will check out the water blaster pumps.

How about dosing? I am looking for as simple of a system as possible?
 
For dosing, I have had great luck with my litermeter III, going strong 5 years now. Requires minimal maintenance, set and adjust monthly based on demand.

I would also highly recommend their ultra-precise auto top-off. Also been running that for 5 years or so. Had to send it in for repair about a year ago, they have a 5 year warranty on everything, they took care of it quickly and free of charge.

The great thing about the litermeter gear is that there they can pump over far distances, you could literally have a remote top-off and dosing chemicals 30 feet away and just run the tubing. Mine go through about 25 feet of tubing, up, over, then down into the sump.
 
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Thanks. I will check out the Litermiter. I have the JBJ ATO now but I like the idea of being able to do something remotely.

Any thoughts on the best dosing method?
 
I did BRS 2 part with dosing pumps timed with my apex. I really liked it, but I switched to a Geo calcium reactor. I like it a lot better. I love the idea of natural coral skeletons being put back into the water column. To me it's as natural as possible. I figure the ocean has it down perfectly:), so I should try to imitate it the best I can. It's very low maintenance and dead on consistent 24 hours a day. Instead of the constant rise and fall you get with dosing. Both are proven methods. I just like the reactor idea better. I also have vortechs and absolutely love them. Plus I run an eheim return pump and love it as well. The eheim pump is dead silent. The vortechs not as much, but the amount of water they push I don't mind:)
 

WHAT’S USUALLY THE FIRST CLUE THAT SOMETHING IS OFF IN YOUR REEF?

  • A fish’s behavior or appetite changes

    Votes: 10 14.3%
  • A coral looks different or stops opening normally

    Votes: 44 62.9%
  • Water clarity or surface appearance changes

    Votes: 10 14.3%
  • Equipment sounds or flow seem different

    Votes: 7 10.0%
  • A test result catches my attention

    Votes: 14 20.0%
  • Algae or other growth starts changing

    Votes: 14 20.0%
  • I usually notice when the problem is already obvious

    Votes: 3 4.3%
  • It depends on what’s going on

    Votes: 13 18.6%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 1 1.4%
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