Well I just purchased a new tank to replace my 75gal. It is a 150 gallon marineland deep dimension tank with low-iron glass on the front panel. Some things I have figured out like the skimmer and the placement of the sump. The tank is 3ft by 3ft and is a cube. I am going to have the tank on the 1st floor in the family room and the sump will be located below in the basement. I think I know what pump would be good to get and am working on getting a used one. I am looking at the reeflo taron for the return pump. I need to figure out a sump for the new system. I have a tank to use but it is not drilled so I am thinking about just getting a prefab sump. If anybody knows of a used one, that would be awesome. I also need to figure out what to do about lighting. I currently have a tek t5 fixture and really like it but I also like the shimmer effect from halides. I am looking for some advice on this because of the weird shape of this tank. What I'm thinking right now is one or two 250 watt halides in the middle of the canopy and t5s on the rest of the canopy. I am open to any recommendations however because I have no idea what to do for lighting. I'm sure I am forgetting stuff but any comments would be appreciated.

i would do 2 400w with lumarcs i think that should cover most the tank and have either t5 or vho actinics. I love those tanks wish i had the money for one. as for a sump go to menards and get a rubbermaid alot cheaper. i run my sump baffleless with cheato and liverock in it.

Lumenarcs are suppose to be able to light a 4ft by 4ft area

BOOOOOO!!! You took my tank

everyone is taking your tank gered

Haha Gered. Yeah I've wanted it for a long time too. So you think I would need two lumenarcs and not just one in the middle of the tank then? If two are needed then where would I place them side by side or diagonal or what? And you would go with a 400 watt? I am going to try to keep the temp down so the room doesn't get too hot and I really don't want to have to purchase a chiller. I forgot about using a rubbermaid stock tank for the sump. I even had one a couple years ago when I had my 220 gal tank.

i have 2 400's on my 120 with a plain jane reflector setup and its ok, you can probably get a way with dual 250's pretty well, i just wanted a ton of growth but i may have to much light. as of now i just have a fan setup on my RK2 to keep my temp down, and it works just fine but haven't had this setup in the summer yet so time will tell. but my room does warm up a bit, but i'm running an open top too so that helps with tank heat and room getting heated.

with the lumenar i say 2 because they will light a 4x4 area but not sure the edges with be very powerful light. I had a full size one to try out and the relflector itself was 2x2, they are kinda big haha. if you got the money to buy that tank you can spend about the same amount and make an LED system for it that solves your shimmer and heat issue

I want one! I love those tanks one of my favorites! Good luck with your build. Don't forget to post pics.

I wanted to buy this and get 15 or so PAR38's. Then I woke up from my dream

hmm 15 par38's at 119.00 per light, you better get working to pay for that!

Thanks Austin! Yeah, I really would like to do a led system but I think in the time frame that I want to set this tank up, I could not do all that. What about just doing a lumenarc mini with a 250 watt and a 6 bulb t5 retro for supplemental and actinics?

Was that the tank right in the door, I take it.

Yeah it was the tank that has been sitting right inside the door.

Does anybody have experience in having a remote sump? I am wondering if it will be just as easy as having the sump in the stand or if I am missing something.

That was an awesome looking tank. Bet that was fun to get into the house!

my sump right now is remote kinda, my overflow is plumed through the wall and my sump and everyhting is in my utility room. i love it, you dont have to bend over as much and worry about height or anything. much easier to maintain

The tank is definitely heavier than it looks. I was originally planning on putting it in the basement but we couldn't get it down there so that is why its going to stay in the living room and the sump will be in the basement. Yeah, I think I'm really going to like having everything in the basement. You won't have to worry about all the noise and other issues that come from having it below the stand.

How about LED? Anybody have any idea how many LEDs I would need to light this tank up? If I can figure out how many and estimate cost, I might end up going down that route.

Simply put....a lot! Not sure if the initial price would be worth it for you. In the long run it would be saving money on bulbs, electricity and no need for a chiller. And you would still get the shimmer of MH.

Well after talking to reefgeek and doing some research, I think I am going to go with t5 for the new tank. I think Initially I am going to go with 10 bulbs and once the tank is full and has more rock in it (I will have to buy more rock) then I will probably get a couple more bulbs and over drive them to give some extra light. Becase of the space limitations inside of the canopy and the shape of the tank, I just dont think MH is the way to go.

Okay I really need some help deciding what to do. Haha. Reefspecialty has a great deal on two lumenbright 250 pendant kits for almost half the price of the t5 setup I was looking at doing. How much would these heat up my tank? I am not wanting to have to run a chiller. Also, How would these look if I just either cut a whole in the canopy for the reflectors or took the top of it out completely.

Posted By FlyingMoray on 02/08/2010 04:07 PM
Well after talking to reefgeek and doing some research, I think I am going to go with t5 for the new tank. I think Initially I am going to go with 10 bulbs and once the tank is full and has more rock in it (I will have to buy more rock) then I will probably get a couple more bulbs and over drive them to give some extra light. Becase of the space limitations inside of the canopy and the shape of the tank, I just dont think MH is the way to go.

I agree with this approach.  From what I've read, you don't want to go much more than 4 sq ft with a single MH bulb and the 9 sq ft footprint would almost require 4 bulbs for MH.  If the 36" T5s didn't fit, you could always do a series of 24" T5s front to back along the center, then a extra bulb on each side to get you full coverage.  I've read that one of the biggest mistakes that people make with T5 retro kits is that they don't do enough fans to keep the bulbs cool, so do a little research and make sure to account for that.

Posted By FlyingMoray on 02/09/2010 09:51 AM
Okay I really need some help deciding what to do. Haha. Reefspecialty has a great deal on two lumenbright 250 pendant kits for almost half the price of the t5 setup I was looking at doing. How much would these heat up my tank? I am not wanting to have to run a chiller. Also, How would these look if I just either cut a whole in the canopy for the reflectors or took the top of it out completely.

I would be concerned about dark areas with a two light configuration...and specifically with lumenbrights, they are 20" across...each...I don't know if you could even fit two of them over a 36" x 36" tank.  They would have to be diagonal and I'm sure it would be tight.  Personally, I would go T5 for that size tank.

--AJ