Rate My Fish Tank

Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:11 am GMT   Reply      

The lighting system I am look at is an all-in-one. It is a corallife which I have heard is a good brand to go with. It has 3 x 150 HQI 20,000k, 4 moonlight LED's, and 4 actinics. It gives me options for the 4 actinics bulbs: 96w 10,000k........96w 5,000k..............96w 50/50......96w 6,700k.........96w blue 7,100k..........96w TRU actinic 03. What is a good variation for 4 bulbs with these choices. I like really bright with a blue tint to it. What kind of a protein skimmer does everyone recommend? I have been told Octopus is good, but which one would be the best for a 125 gal reef/fish tank? I want to run 1 pump and split my plumbing to a "Y" running to both drilled holes, what would you recommend for a good pump to be able to handle that? I am also thinking about adding a wavemaker and putting some koralias powerheads in it also....any suggestions?

Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:06 am GMT   Reply      

If your running a sump......which is highly recommended because you can incorporate an auto top easier.......I would use this.

http://www.saltysupply.com/Reef-Octopus-NWB-200-Protein-Skimmer-p/oc3502.htm

I know its rated for 250 gallons......BUT if you ever hold sps you will be glad you got it instead. And its only 50 bucks more.

The lights. I would run the 3 150s......with 10K bulbs...you will get a lot more PAR out of them. And I would run actinics on your other 4 bulbs. Actinics are high in blue and low in everything else. IMO a 20K bulb is actinic basically......I would do the four bulbs with Tru actinic 03. Thats as blue as they get. If you pair the Tru Actinic 03's with 10K halides......your par will be through the roof and you coloration will be perfect! If you were to go from white to blue on a scale from 10-20 those lights would put you at a 14 to 16. Its mid way and its the optimal reef setup. :)

Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:20 am GMT   Reply      

awakii...........is by far IMO the best pump out there..............they are also one of the most expensive...............search for blueline pumps, the lead engineer for awakii left and started designing for blueline, side by side they are almost identical and the cost is almost 1/2 - - i am researching return pumps right now because i have a very tall head {my sumps and fuge are in the basement and the display is on the main floor} im looking at HY-DRIVE pumps and blueline - -i have a blueline 40 now but its no where near big enough at 890 gph for twin returns and an 8 foot head - im looking for 2400gph

Boss

Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:01 am GMT   Reply      

I would actually go with 14k bulbs because the corals look much better. I have a Corallife 2x150 10k with 2x96 watt actinics and 4 LED bulbs in my 95 gallon. The light setup is awesome, but the corals in my 24 gallon with a Sunpod 1x150 14k looks much better. The corals are much more vibrant.

Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:07 am GMT   Reply      

you could also go with the 20k halids mixed in with atinice t5 awsome combo of light and man it blues and reds just explode. 10k's in halide are to yellow for my likeing. but it is up to you and what you want to over all cooler of the tank to be.

Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:19 pm GMT   Reply      

I know I said mix the 10k halide and actnics......but I personally have Current 14K halides....they give a great spectrum and have insane par levels for the color you get. :)