[Pennoyer]

Hello all,

I have decided to upgrade to a larger tank during my upcoming move and would like opinions regarding tank depth. I am going to have the tank custom made by inter-american and have read that the price is the same whether you go with 22", 24" or 27" starphire. I know that I want the tank to be 72"L and 24"W, but I am not sure whether I want a depth of 27" or 24".

Lighting, specs and inhabts.:

The tank will house predominately SPS and clams. Lighting will consist of 2 x 250 10K HQI, 2 X .03 72" uri actinics, and 2 X 72" actinic white uri's. I would like to add a third 250 HQI but I would like a different temp (20k or 65K) than 10K and don't know if this is available. If new bulbs are not available by September (time of the move) I might wait for them and not add the third light or go with a mogul base 250W 6500K or 20K for the center of the tank.
My thoughts are to have the center of the aquascape as an open swim through where most of the clams will be placed due to the slower currents that I can creat there. Return will be from a Mag 18 and 2 X 3/4" sea swirls. Ampmaster 3000 for closed loop. Canopy will be 15" tall with four 4" fans and open back.

Questions:
1)With this plan would you go with the extra depth? (taking into account that the clams will be placed on the sand bed)
2) what would you do about the center light? I am worried about too much heat if I go with anything higher than 250 watt.
3) Any other thoughts would be helpful.

TIA

[scubadude]

Welcome to RL!

You have definately started off on the right foot by getting a nice custom tank! Here are my resolutions

1. You need to think about your stand and canopy design as well and incorporate the heighth of the tank to your convenience of maintenaning, feeding, and easy access to the tank, This would be my first and foremost deciding factor of the heighth of the tank. Also think about the bulb depth penetration. I think I would go with the 24" at deepest and make the stand as short as possible (this mostly evolves around the skimmer height.

2. I have a tank very similiar to what you are talking about 72x30x24 and I am using 3 - 250 HQI 10k bulbs....If I could do it all over again I probably would have gotten a 20k (may still do it) in the middle....so thats my thought there

3. Very interesting layout so far, cant wait to see it put into motion.

[Pennoyer]

Thanks for the reply.

I will be upgrading from a 75 with 4X48 VHO and 2 X 48" NO. I will be selling the 75 and most of the LR and livestock so that way nothing has to be acclimated to the new HQI's nor do I have to worry about everything during the move. (incl. moving all the LR) Basically it will be a fresh start done the way I wish I would have two years ago. I thought about the 20K for the center bulb but was worried about pontential striping effect of the different bulb. What do you think? How much heat do the HQI's give off? Is it a problem?

The canopy is going to be custom made and will have doors in the front (for daily feeding etc.) it will also be hinged at the back wall of the tank so I can raise the entire canopy without having to lift it completly off. This way the entire top of the tank can be accessed for cleaning etc. I am thinking that I want the stand to be about 33" tall. The canopy is going to be 15"

I should start this whole process in September/October when I move to my new place so now its just research, research, research

[Pennoyer]

I forgot to ask what type of pendants are you using and how do you like them? I am thinking about using the pfo mini's what do you think. What about ballast? I would like to use the new Icecaps but have not heard enough about how reliable they are. Hopfully more people will be using them when I am ready to buy. If not I am going with pfo. What do you think?

Sorry so many questions I just don't want to buy something and then regret or want to change it later. I did enough of that with the 75.

Thanks for your time.

[golfish]

I like a wider tank over a taller tank. I would think that most reefers also would preferr a wider tank over a taller tank. A wider tank makes a much better reef, IMO of course

Like Scubadude said, you'll need three bulbs or more to light a 72" long tank

Hey Rocky, I thought you were using 250 watt double ended HQI's? If so, tell me were you have seen 20K bulbs. As far as I know they don't have em here in the US. I sure wish they did. I'm going to swap my 10K's out as soon as I can find some.

[scubadude]

Mark

Im sorry I should have clarified my statement....I would use a 20k bulb in the middle wether it was HQI or not....just for a color enhancement. It would be a mogul based. I Have noticed all the hype on 20ks and definately want to play with them....but as usual I have too much goin on.

Pennoyer

Mark can give you a better judgement on the pendants, I dont use pendants (but from what I have heard the spread sux!) I used all the parts for DIY from www.lampsnow.com (premade HQI is way too expensive for my likings) Are you gonna be building the light/canopy yourself? As far as heat being a problem I suggest being prepared for it being a problem....this is all relative to your situation though....it was a problem with me, but my room that the tank is in is the hottest room in the house and the room is 3/4 filled up w/my tank! so I have a chiller and im venting the light system w/2 RS fans into the attic. I will try and pull up some pics of my DIY hood and HQI lights....but my previous website crashed and I think I lost alot of pics. Just be prepared that one thing effects another and if you truly want to do this right then you will have alot of headaches, and time spent by the time its all over

[Pennoyer]

Thanks for your help. I will look at hellolights to see about the DIY HQI's at least the pendants. Where did you get the UV sheild?

[scubadude]

1/4" tempered glass for UV/splash shield....bought it from a local glass shop.

[golfish]

Rocky,
Yeah, that's about the only problem with the PFO mini pendants. The spread pretty much sucks. I have a thought on that tho. I think since the light is reflected more like flash light it might be a more concentrated light (more PPFD\PAR)

I guess if I didn't have the cross bar and raised the bulbs a bit I could get them to cover the whole tank. The bulbs are only about 5" from the water. I have a 48" long tank but its 30" wide. That's asking a lot from any 250 watt bulb.

I complain about the 10K's a lot but I guess their ok. My SPS and clams love the light. I sometimes think I have too much light. I have bleached a few SPS.

BTW, I also run a 400 watt Iwasaki between the 2 HQI's

[dag]

TIA, will you share what you finally settled on?