setting up new 180 gal

[army6192plt]

I am in the process of aquiring equiptment for my new 180 gal. So far i have:
tank
stand
hood
2 600 gal overflow boxes
should be recieving my Remora Evo 240 next week
Custom built sump
mag 12 fo the skimmer
2 400W mogel MH fixtures with ballasts installed in hood
4 36W CF with atinic bulbs
300W wan bros titanium heater

my question is what should I be using for a return pump. I was thinking about another mag 12.

Also what ahould I use for PH in the tank how many and where? I am battling green hair alge right now in my other tank I believe from lack of flow in some areas. I just don't want to fight as much with it this time.

I am looking at purchasing abou 250-300 lbs of live rock online to start the tank. Any suggestions as to where i could get a good price on the rock?

Thanks for your help,
Tj

 

[melosu58]

I am looking at purchasing abou 250-300 lbs of live rock online to start the tank. Any suggestions as to where i could get a good price on the rock?

If you are looking to save money I would do a 50/50 split of Live rock and base rock. I think I`ve heard others use a marco rocks. com. I cant remember but they will be on to tell you about it but it is very cheap. Just use the LR to seed the BR.

 

[Ziggy953]

Hmmm... I have a 72g Bow with 1200gph return and 1200gph overflow. Remember that you loose some of your flow when you pump the water up out of your sump. I have 4 Max-jet 1200's the new nano-stream (660gph) and a mag 5 running my closed loop with SCWD. I'm planning on upping my return pump to a 1800. With a tank as large as your you may want to look into doing a Tunze set up with a multi controller. Just my thoughts. Also I would consider maybe a 250MH between those 400s assuming your tank is 72x24x24, again just my thoughts. HTH

 

[austinsdad]

The skimmer specs should tell you what kinda gph you'll need for it. I use a mag 7 on my 155, so a 12 may sound right, not sure though. Check the skimmer specs.

BTW, I use the Tunze w/controller set up. Pricey, but love it. Seio's are better priced and some like'm. You didn't mention any powerheads for curculation above yet. Ideas so far?

 

[army6192plt]

skimmer specs recommend a mag 12 thats why I have chosen that one.

I guess that is what I am asking is what I should use for power heads and such.

Thanks,
tj

 

[roka64]

I ordered 150 Lbs from marcorocks.com and they are great!! I will add about 70-100Lbs of cured rock from my LFS, so I have a little more than 50/50.

 

[army6192plt]

how much flow should I be looking to get with the PH?

ok so it looks like I am going to go with:

SCWD
Seio controller
2 seio 1500 pumps
mag 12 return pump


I was looking at aquatic technology to purchase my live rock. They have great prices that are beating all the others. Anyone use them before?

 

[JM]

I have a Mag 18 pumping water back into my 120g so i would go bigger than that for a 180g. I use Seio PH and i love them. I would get the largest size they make idk if thats the 1500 or not, but they r great.

 

[roka64]

I wouldn't waste my money on the SIEO controller. Just get the titanium, digital heaters and you should be good. I read a few reviews on them and the tend to have problems (the controller). I love my SIEO phs, though!

+++EDIT+++
Sorry, I was thinking of the Finnex controller, not the SEIO controller. Personally, I don't know if I would spend the $150 on the controller, it seems that you are now limiting your phs to a single point of failure (I don't have this product, so I am not totally sure), basically, if the controller fails, will your phs still work....?