andywg
Bored into leaving
150 imp gallons is usually 6x2x2. That will need 250W MH for full coral growing abilities. Between 2 and 3 will be necessary. You will probably have to find some way to control the heat from them (I have very tall hoods with fans mounted in them).
You will need about 75kg of LR which will cost a lot (uncured at £200 for 20kg will set you back about £750) but you can do it slowly, or make your own from cement and crushed oyster shell.
I heartily recommend a sump, it gives a lot of flexibility and keeps all the unsightly stuff out of sight. And they are not as hard as some people would have you believe.
Deltec are reverred as good skimmers, though I am drawn to Tunze skimmers. If they can make a skimmer half as good as they make powerheads then it should be great.
On that note, I would definately recommend Tunze powerheads for that tank. They will give a lot of flow for very little power (so while costing a lot at the start, will save money and be cheaper than other powerheads after 2-3 years with running costs added in). Added to this they can be fully controlled (not always blasting full power) and turned down for feeding and will sense when the lights have gone off and slow the flow down.
A cheaper option to the Tunze are the Seio pumps which offer similar flow rates, but are not controllable and use more power to do so. (Tunze can give 24,000LPH for 63W). The downside to Seio is they are made by Rio, and while these are completely different to the old Rio powerheads, the old Rio ones had a habit of failing and leaching all sorts of nastiness in to a tank and nuking it. Most reefers are understandably reluctant to put a product from this firm into their tanks.
I myself would go FOWLR on a 6x2x2. Can do some great stocking then. could have a Harlequin Hind, a porky puffer, a couple of the smaller lionfish (P. antennata or P. radiata) together with a moray and a couple of other nice size fish.
HTH
Andy
You will need about 75kg of LR which will cost a lot (uncured at £200 for 20kg will set you back about £750) but you can do it slowly, or make your own from cement and crushed oyster shell.
I heartily recommend a sump, it gives a lot of flexibility and keeps all the unsightly stuff out of sight. And they are not as hard as some people would have you believe.
Deltec are reverred as good skimmers, though I am drawn to Tunze skimmers. If they can make a skimmer half as good as they make powerheads then it should be great.
On that note, I would definately recommend Tunze powerheads for that tank. They will give a lot of flow for very little power (so while costing a lot at the start, will save money and be cheaper than other powerheads after 2-3 years with running costs added in). Added to this they can be fully controlled (not always blasting full power) and turned down for feeding and will sense when the lights have gone off and slow the flow down.
A cheaper option to the Tunze are the Seio pumps which offer similar flow rates, but are not controllable and use more power to do so. (Tunze can give 24,000LPH for 63W). The downside to Seio is they are made by Rio, and while these are completely different to the old Rio powerheads, the old Rio ones had a habit of failing and leaching all sorts of nastiness in to a tank and nuking it. Most reefers are understandably reluctant to put a product from this firm into their tanks.
I myself would go FOWLR on a 6x2x2. Can do some great stocking then. could have a Harlequin Hind, a porky puffer, a couple of the smaller lionfish (P. antennata or P. radiata) together with a moray and a couple of other nice size fish.
HTH
Andy
. I'd also like to add that for a tank that size, wahts refferred to as a "closed loop" in the reef industry might be inorder for your flowrate. Basically, instead of buying a few smaller pumps, buying one very large pump, and split its outlets up to create flow in the tank. Over here in the states, thats usually way more economical, not too sure about your situation though
