150w HQI MH vs standard 250w MH advice

[zhenya]

This is going in my gameroom which is in the basement. I have central air and this is the coolest room in the summer and winter.

No windows for reach the tank and I will have complete light control.

I will keep the DT open for the most part and I will be going with the T5 system which is less heat than the 250w MH I was going to go with. I do not want a chiller and will not get a chiller that would suck.

Yeah, I always thought that basements are ideal to house an aquarium due to the fact that temperature is pretty constant in there. Plus you have access to all of the plumbing, including drainage...
Running a chiller becomes pretty expensive in no time at all, I am so happy that I don't need it anymore and am trying to sell both of mine, one is 1/10 hp and one is a 1/4 hp. Paying $500 a month for electricity is no fun, believe me.

[julesjt]

I bought my sump from Marc before, why do you think it is all DIY? Did he stop selling them?

Well he doesnt recommend it to much due to shipping costs. My sump with shipping would end up costing mostly likely 600 bucks.

I am thinking of just buying a 40 gallon long and getting some glass or 1/4" plexy and sectioning it out myself. I would rather not but not sure yet what I am going to do there.

[zhenya]

Well he doesnt recommend it to much due to shipping costs. My sump with shipping would end up costing mostly likely 600 bucks.

I am thinking of just buying a 40 gallon long and getting some glass or 1/4" plexy and sectioning it out myself. I would rather not but not sure yet what I am going to do there.

I see what you mean...
Have you tried looking around other sites? I think I saw nice sump on one of the websites that was little over 200 dollars. If I find it again I'll post a link to it. 40g tank should be plenty for your 180g tank if you portion it off smartly. If your skimmer is in sump model than make sure you have enough room for it to be in the sump, and while at it you can partition a section for fuge as well. ;)

[julesjt]

I see what you mean...
Have you tried looking around other sites? I think I saw nice sump on one of the websites that was little over 200 dollars. If I find it again I'll post a link to it. 40g tank should be plenty for your 180g tank if you portion it off smartly. If your skimmer is in sump model than make sure you have enough room for it to be in the sump, and while at it you can partition a section for fuge as well. ;)

Yeah if you find it again let me know.

the skimmer is sump model and I need room for a small pump for my phosphate reactor canisters.

I believe my measurments should work fine in the 40 long.

I know I need to be patient but I need to get this started. I hate going to my gameroom and seeing my beautiful empty tank

[Parrothead]

Not that I know of, I'm taking mine slow and easy as that's what my budget will allow, I'll be building my own sump out of a 55 but if Jules want's to plug and play he needs to shoot Marc an e-mail...As far as I know he still does that, but there may be a waiting period, bldg. your own is pretty much some plexi glass and some sealant for the baffles, and figuring where you want everything, I'd rather spend say 50 on materials and a Saturday and save a couple hundred. But that's just me

[julesjt]

Not that I know of, I'm taking mine slow and easy as that's what my budget will allow, I'll be building my own sump out of a 55 but if Jules want's to plug and play he needs to shoot Marc an e-mail...As far as I know he still does that, but there may be a waiting period, bldg. your own is pretty much some plexi glass and some sealant for the baffles, and figuring where you want everything, I'd rather spend say 50 on materials and a Saturday and save a couple hundred. But that's just me

no your are right and I already thought about that on the way home in traffic. I am going to do it myself in a 40 long and the reason I am going 40 long is a 55 is too high and would make it impossible to get my skimmer out.

[Parrothead]

Jules,

Check this one out, he used a twenty here, but the concept will work on the 40 long or my 55.

Melevsreef.com - DIY Glass Sump & Refugium