A bunch of questions....

[barbarella_81]

I am looking to increase the flow in my 36x18x24 tank. It has softies & LPS, about 55lbs live rock. I currently have a maxi jet 1200 and 2 powersweep 226 (I think). The powersweeps do not impress me...I was looking into getting some tunze and do not know which ones. I would like to replace the powersweeps. Any suggestions?

I am also looking to upgrade my skimmer and would like it to be something that I could use on a 135gallon if I choose to upgrade. Does anyone have any luck with a certain skimmer? I was looking at the Tunze DOC 9010. My sump space for a skimmer is 12"x9 1/2".

One more question...would 2 150W metal halides or 6 T5 be better for 24" depth? I would like to have an open brain on the sand if possible.

Thanks!

[Wiskey]

With what you want to keep both lighting options are good ones,.. personally I would go with a fixture that has 2*150W plus some T5 atinics, just because I like the glitter lines.

If I were you I would look into the nano streems by Tunze,.. they have some coming out soon that are controllable, and can put out up to something like 1500 GPH. These would be really cool on a multi controller.

I am not sure what skimmers are available to you in Canada,.. but I am a huge fan of the ASM "G" series of skimmers,.. there cheap and work very well, can you get them?

Whiskey

[pyron88]

I'll throw my two cents in on stuff I think. I'm looking at increased flow also. Looks like to me that the way to get it is with a CLS instead of powerheads. With CLS you don't have all that extra crap in the tank. It is all outside. You are only getting one pump so it is cheaper in the long run.
Skimmers is something else. Everyone has a fav skimmer. I think geoff put it like this,"Everyone likes their stuff the best." Lighting is always the question and some dat I hope to find the guy or gal who says,"This is the one answer." I bought PC's. Now i would like to do other things but I need more light. My PC's cost $325. MH for my tank 55g, willcost about $700. If I would have bought MH to start with, I would have saved 325.

[hng]

Look at the Seio super flow pumps as an alternative to the Tunze. They provide lots of diffuse flow for a fraction of the cost. I plan on using them for my 75 (when I get it set up).

[barbarella_81]

With what you want to keep both lighting options are good ones,.. personally I would go with a fixture that has 2*150W plus some T5 atinics, just because I like the glitter lines.

If I were you I would look into the nano streems by Tunze,.. they have some coming out soon that are controllable, and can put out up to something like 1500 GPH. These would be really cool on a multi controller.

I am not sure what skimmers are available to you in Canada,.. but I am a huge fan of the ASM "G" series of skimmers,.. there cheap and work very well, can you get them?

Whiskey

I can get ASM's here, I was looking at a G3 but the footprint is too big for my sump. I found a good deal on a mh fixture with 2 150w and moonlights but does not have any actnics. does the actnics help that much? I could see if both my PC fixture and the MH one fit on my tank....

Look at the Seio super flow pumps as an alternative to the Tunze. They provide lots of diffuse flow for a fraction of the cost. I plan on using them for my 75 (when I get it set up).

It is harder to find these here. Anyone have any experience with them?

[hng]

Seios are widely used with a good reputation. Check out mail order from this place (I buy stuff from them all the time).

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod...GroupKey=11473

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by barbarella_81

I can get ASM's here, I was looking at a G3 but the footprint is too big for my sump. I found a good deal on a mh fixture with 2 150w and moonlights but does not have any actnics. does the actnics help that much? I could see if both my PC fixture and the MH one fit on my tank....

You don't need the atinics,.. but most people love the blue look, so with the atinics you can run 10K bulbs in your MH, and still have the blue sheen from the atinics.

Personally over my 125 SPS tank I run only XM10K bulbs, because I'm not a big fan of the super blue look.

I don't think you need a G3,.. It's a great skimmer, but major overkill for your tank, rated at something like 300 gallons,.. Would something like a G1 fit?

It is harder to find these here. Anyone have any experience with them?

I used Seio's for a long time before I upgraded to Tunze,.. I was quite happy with them, they did there job very well.

Whiskey

[barbarella_81]

Thanks for the link....my next question is which one (s) would be best. I am not sure how much is enough or too much flow....

[Wiskey]

For Softy or LPS tanks I normally reccomend something in the range of 20-30X in tank turnover. If you have allot of rock you want slightly more,.. if you have little rock you can do just fine with less.

Is this a BB tank BTW? Because that makes a difference too.

Whiskey

[barbarella_81]

no not a BB. has anywhere between 3\4" and 2 1/2" depending on the spot you measure.
So would two 820gph or two 1100gph or one 1500 be better?
Do you have any likes/dislikes for either the seio or the tunze? Do you get what you pay for?

[hng]

Originally Posted by barbarella_81

Thanks for the link....my next question is which one (s) would be best. I am not sure how much is enough or too much flow....

Like whiskey said, it depends.... For a softie tank, I would do one of the 620's, or two if that's the only flow in the tank (if you get rid of the maxijet and powersweeps).

[Wiskey]

Eeh,.. I upgraded to the Tunze,.. they cost me nearly a grand, but I'm glad I did in my case.

I never had any problems with the Sieos,.. but the Tunze put out double the flow for each pump, and I am keeping a SPS tank,.. plus the Tunze have the wave controller which is very cool.

What is this,.. like a 58 galon tank?

Whiskey

[barbarella_81]

it is a 65 gallon. I currently have zoas, shrooms, frogspawn, hammer, xenia, gsp and candycane. here is a fts I just took, the tank needs to be cleaned and please excuse the bryopsis!
I am not looking to spend even close to a grand on water movement, but do not want to upgrade again in the next year.

[crvz]

I have a Tunze 6100 in my 58 gallon. The tank is predominantly stony corals without a sand bed, so I can get away with more flow, but this pump is by far the best I've used for creating flow (after trying maxijet mods, seio's, etc). I'd recommend them in a heart beat if you can spare the cash, and on a controller I'm sure you'd find the sweet spot for your tank.

[Wiskey]

If I were you I would probably go with 2 Seio 820's,.. though I've heard good things about the Hydor Koralin propellor powerheads too.

Nice tank!
Whiskey