Sump design

[mr_X]

Bottom line, a skimmer is only as good as it's pump. A maxijet 1200 is not going to provide what you need to make skimmate sufficient for your system.
The general rule is to go with something quality (a good brand name) rated for 1.5 to 2 x your total system volume.
Bubble magus, octopus, seaside aquatics, ASM (only the new designs that are conical), MSX, vertex....

 

[Kitesurfjesus]

So what if I put a bigger pump on the tube itself. Being that I'm limited on space.

 

[mr_X]

I don't think the small reaction chamber will handle a larger pump. It may just constantly fill with water and overflow.

 

[Kitesurfjesus]

Ok. Well for the time being it'll do. I just got the tank filled from my LFS last night. So it'll be a while before I start to stock the tank. I talked with him last night he said it'll do for now with fish but once I start doing corals ill need to upgrade.

 

[mr_X]

No it won't, but good luck just the same.

 

[Kitesurfjesus]

Ok we'll I've got a better skimmer on its way. Now LEDs or t5 lights what's the best? I don't want to do metal hilides.

 

[jwh0818]

Ok we'll I've got a better skimmer on its way. Now LEDs or t5 lights what's the best? I don't want to do metal hilides.

Depends on what you have money for. Led is more expensive

 

[Dav3]

Depends on what you have money for. Led is more expensive

Not really anymore. Chinese led fixtures are pretty inexpensive. And the cost is all upfront where as bulb fixtures you have recurring cost with bulb replacements.

 

[mr_X]

Not really anymore. Chinese led fixtures are pretty inexpensive. And the cost is all upfront where as bulb fixtures you have recurring cost with bulb replacements.

True story.
LED is the way to go. The right LED that is. Not all of them are effective.

 

[Kitesurfjesus]

Ok so what would I be ideally looking for with led lighting?

 

[mr_X]

Well, first you need to figure out your budget. There are basic fixtures with no bells and whistles that work fine for a reasonable price, and then there are highline fixures that do all sorts of extra things for much more money. Both will grow corals fine, and both look nice, but you have to decide what you want.
Once that decision is made, we can direct you to some fixtures.

 

[Kitesurfjesus]

I'm not looking for product direction on that question I'm looking for the comparrison of say a 12000k day light t5 bulb what do I need to look for with LEDs.

 

[mr_X]

There is no comparison to a t5 bulb and LEDs. You would have to mix blue and white until you got your desired color.

 

[Kitesurfjesus]

Then why is it if I look at a t5 bulb and it has a scale of "sunlight" rating of 12000k and also look at a LED with the same scale for "sunlight" and its at 4900k. I guess I answered my original question. And corrected you mr.x.

 

[mr_X]

Huh? 12,000k is not 4900k. You would have to add some blue to that 4900k to make it look like the 12k T5 lamp.

 

[Kitesurfjesus]

The 12000k is the intensity of the the t5 and the 4900k is the intensity of the led (kelvin) heat/sun ratings on bulbs.

 

[mr_X]

It's not the intensity. It's the color temp.

 

[Ingy]

The Kelvin rating is how hot you'd have to heat a black body (with no colour of its own) to to get it to glow a certain colour. A 4700K bulb is the same colour as a black body heated to 4700 degrees Kelvin (8000F) and would be glowing an orangy-white hot. A 12000K bulb or clack body would be more of a bluey-white hot.

A 4700K bulb is better for plant growth while the 12000K is closer to what corals like.

 

[Rmckoy]

This is the skimmer I will be using I bought the whole setup tank stand lights pumps skimmer powerheads heater for 100 $ they utilized everything as a hob but I don't want all the equipment on the tank itself I gutted the stand and got rid of the drawers to put in a sump the before and after on the stand are pictures included also.

What is the make of skimmer ?

 

[Jonnypro]

I have a 135g and I have a bubble mag nac6. That's prob about the size you need. My buddy has a 72g Bow front with a 10g sump with that same hob that you had and he tells me he has to clean the skimmer out every day.