Project 360 - Lighting
Aquarium Lighting
So far most of the decisions in this project have been tough ones to make, lighting was definitely no exception! My current tank setup uses T5 high output fluorescent lighting. The only lighting more efficient right now is LED, which is very new technology, and very costly. Although I did consider metal halide lighting I recently settled on an 8×39w T5 setup by Icecap. Under normal circumstances the lamps are 39 watts each but the Icecap ballasts really get them cooking at 60w each. The Icecap reflectors are among the best made right now, making this a powerful and very efficient setup. Below is a drawing, looking down on the top of the tank, that shows the layout I’m planning to use (click image for more detailed view).
Lighting Arrangement (Click for detailed image)
Project 360 - Protein Skimmer
The Skimmer
Choosing a protein skimmer for this system has probably been the most difficult decision to date. Knowing that this tank is going to be swarming with fish who are constantly eating and pooping, and the skimmer is the primary means for removal of these organics, I realized that I’d need a “good” skimmer. The downside to good skimmers is A) they come with a big price tag and B) they’re primary energy consumers since they run 24/7. So how do you quantify what a “good” skimmer is?
Project 360 - Return Pump
The Return Pump
As usual energy efficiency was a big factor in making a decision on my return pump. I already have a brand new Gorman Rupp model 14520 - which is a great pump, but not very efficient (over 2 amps!) Aside from energy efficiency I wanted between 700 and 1000 GPH moving through the sump. The protein skimmer that I selected (more to come on this later) could pull as much as 700 gph of water flow so I wanted to at least hit this mark. I also factored in some extra flow to run through a fluidized reactor. At the end of the day I decided on a Snapper by Sequence.
Snapper Reeflo Pump
