Planning on ordering an IM 200 EXT this fall and need help with equipment

[Bribo12]

Hello,

I'm currently in the planning stages of my first large reef tank. The largest tank I've ever owned was a 40 breeder with 20 sump for a few years. Due to moving/work/kids I have not been able to setup the large tank I've always dreamed of. However, the wife just oked the 200 and said I can start purchasing equipment over the next 8-10 months before we order the tank setup. So far here's a list of what I'm currently planning on getting.
Tank - IM 200 gallon EXT complete system
Stand - APS stand that comes with tank
Sump - RFS50 Sump
Lights - Unsure maybe AI hydra/T5 combo? Not sure how many I'd need or 32/64? Planning a mixed reef that's a bit heavier on Acros
Powerheads - 2 MP40's and 2 Gyres XF330's
Skimmer - Reef Octo 200 8" (kinda $$$)? A bit unsure here
Controller - Apex w/trident
ATO - Tunze Osmolator 3155
Dosing pumps - No clue lol

I already have hanna testers and salifert kits and a 5 stage 150 gpd rodi. Anything else crucial I seem to be missing? Any help in the areas I'm unsure of would be amazing!

 

[Stevorino]

I have the Reef Octo Regal 200INT 8" in my 280g and am a big fan. It has been really solid for me and easier to dial in than my previous skimmer.

I would recommend using Apex DOS pumps when you need to be able to control it precisely, and just general BRS dosing pumps (that you can plug into the Apex power strip) for things you can run on a timer.

Powerheads seem solid - I have 4 MP40s and am actively looking to add either an AI Orbit (Gyre) or another MP40. For your application I think you will be perfectly fine.

I'd also take a peek at Mega Matrix by Planet Aquarium for the tank/stand. You may have an LFS in your area that you can order it from and they can assist with delivery. Going this route would take out some of the plug and playability of IM, which I know is super valuable to those who don't enjoy DIYing the plumbing.

 

[LiquidSpace]

I’m doing the same thing so I’ll follow along with this. Are you set on the sump? I see a lot of people running this built opt to buy a different one so they can get a filter sock in it.

Pumps look good…I see a lot of recommendations for 4 mp40’s but I’m curious about how your configuration would work out.

I would recommend the Apex DOS too. It’s worked flawlessly for me.

 

[Bribo12]

Thanks both of you guys! Steverino do you think I'd be able to get away with the 6" reef octo on the 200 or just go with the larger 8"? I was thinking the APEX DOS as I'm planning the APEX but just wanted to see if anyone had other options. I'll look at the Mega Matrix but I only have Petsmart, Petco and Pacific East Aquaculture locally and I don't know if any of them would order/deliver. I also am not super diy as I went that route on the 40 and while it worked it was not pretty(lol).

Liquid- I believe I'm gonna go with the sump, from what I was reading I don't think you can really fit a roller in it which some people like but I believe it still can fit filter socks? Maybe? I guess with the 2 mp40s and gyres I can always add another mp40 if flow isn't quite right.

 

[Stevorino]

Thanks both of you guys! Steverino do you think I'd be able to get away with the 6" reef octo on the 200 or just go with the larger 8"? I was thinking the APEX DOS as I'm planning the APEX but just wanted to see if anyone had other options. I'll look at the Mega Matrix but I only have Petsmart, Petco and Pacific East Aquaculture locally and I don't know if any of them would order/deliver. I also am not super diy as I went that route on the 40 and while it worked it was not pretty(lol).

Liquid- I believe I'm gonna go with the sump, from what I was reading I don't think you can really fit a roller in it which some people like but I believe it still can fit filter socks? Maybe? I guess with the 2 mp40s and gyres I can always add another mp40 if flow isn't quite right.

I rely on BulkReefSupply's bioload guidance for skimmers (not saying that's the best to use, just what I have done) and it has the 6" at:

BRS Recommended for tanks up to:

• Heavy Bioload (Most Common) - 100 Gallons
• Medium Bioload - 150 Gallons
• Light Bioload - 210 gallons

I think it depends on how you plan to stock it.... If it were me, I'd probably go up to the 8", if it fits in the sump:

BRS Recommended for tanks up to:

• Heavy Bioload (Most Common) - 175 Gallons
• Medium Bioload - 250 Gallons
• Light Bioload - 400 gallons

Its a couple hundred bucks more, but then you don't have to worry about it again..... ever.

 

[Bribo12]

Yeah if it fits I’ll go with the larger model as I want a relatively heavier stocked tank anyway. And true with not having to worry about it again, thanks!

 

[tritonpower]

I have the IM EXT 200. You can see my build.
-2 MP40s and the 2 gyres work great.
-I am currently using the hydros system and am happy with it. Lots of people like the apex also. Since calcium and mag do not change that much you really only need to check alk regularly so the X10/iV work well for me. The 4th dosing pump on the X10 also serves as your doser for alk which is nice.
-I have a ton of fish and use the reef octopus regal 150 INT. It works for me but I do have it drain into a plastic bin otherwise I would have to drain the cup a couple times a week. I have to dose nitrates and phosphates so seems to be working ok. I suspect as my fish get bigger I may need the 8". May take a couple years though.
-I did recently hook up a reef octopus CO2 scrubber to help with pH. It seemed to work as my alk consumption has really shot up.
-For lights there are lots of options. I am using redsea with reefbrites and my par is a little too high.
-You will be fine with BRS dosers for a while. Problem with 2 part is your salinity will rise. I will be adding a Kalk stirrer this week to help boost pH and add alk/calcium. If I had to do it over again I would consider starting it sooner. The higher pH supposedly increases growth (which is nice when starting out) and limits the salinity rise with 2 part. Wait a while but maybe around the 1 year mark consider it.
-I am using 2 vectra M2s. One for each return line. I like the redundancy. I have one connected to a UV sterilizer.

Ask me any questions you want. I am 8 months in and still loving this tank.

 

[Bribo12]

Thanks triton! Are you using the sump that comes with it or did you do something else? If you do have the sump are you just using filter socks or a roller?

 

[tritonpower]

I am using the sump it came with. Using filter socks. I got tired of washing them on driveway so I got a portable black and decker washer that hooks to sink. Works well. I wash them once a month or so.

 

[Bribo12]

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Ado]

Following! Just started my IM 200 ext recently. Great tank overall

 

[alpenreef]

Following up on this .. i have the 170EXT with the same sump, that means my sump is almost as wide as the stand, wish I had thought this thru a bit more. Instead of storing my electronics inside the stand I am using a controller board which hangs on the wall next to the stand.
Another thing to think about is the width of the tank, 30 inch is really wide lighting wise, so I have 2 reefbreeders side by side. My first choice would have been radions but I don’t see how i could make those work. I am thinking of adding 3 kessils for the extra shimmer.
About the sump, you can’t fit a roller filter into the filter sock compartment without cutting off plastic and then only a small one. If you want a roller mat for instance you have to put it in the skimmer section which will make things very tight with a big skimmer.

 

[Bribo12]

Thanks Allen, I was thinking of maybe using a controller board as well but with the extra foot on the 200 maybe the electronics would fit underneath?

As far as lighting I was thinking either a few hydra 32s with 6-8 t5s or reefbreeders with t5s. I kinda like the kessil idea for the shimmer.

I’ll probably just run socks in the sump. A roller would be nice but I don’t mind socks. Thanks for all the help everyone.

 

[nickng]

Thanks both of you guys! Steverino do you think I'd be able to get away with the 6" reef octo on the 200 or just go with the larger 8"? I was thinking the APEX DOS as I'm planning the APEX but just wanted to see if anyone had other options. I'll look at the Mega Matrix but I only have Petsmart, Petco and Pacific East Aquaculture locally and I don't know if any of them would order/deliver. I also am not super diy as I went that route on the 40 and while it worked it was not pretty(lol).

Liquid- I believe I'm gonna go with the sump, from what I was reading I don't think you can really fit a roller in it which some people like but I believe it still can fit filter socks? Maybe? I guess with the 2 mp40s and gyres I can always add another mp40 if flow isn't quite right.

I think it maybe possible to use the fijicube roller filter. I have the IM EXT100 on the way. Will get some measurements once the tank is here. Else I will have to kludge(DIY) one.
Someone fitted the reefmat 250 in the RFS27 sump. The flow rate is max 900gph though.

Roller for the Innovative Marine RFS 22

@chrisriker: 1) Got my Reefmat 250 in, I notice it seems to be ok over the chamber where you have it, it doesn't fully lock on to the edge though, right?... it stills seems level and ok... 2) ended up buying a new 1" gate valve, gray elbows/unions etc to remake both the Main & E drain...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Krad]

I started mine last week and honestly pretty impressed with the deltec skimmer. I got the 1000i and it’s dead silent and easy to adjust.

Obviously not skimming much yet but the foam already is very frothy and having a dc pump to control the air intake is awesome.

 

[UtahReefer]

Best advice I can give is think ahead when you purchase equipment or you will end up spending more money down the road to upgrade things. I have an IM100 EXT and I'm running the Octo 200 Elite INT and it's great for my system. If I were running a 200 EXT I would look at the 220 series skimmers from Octo.

 

[t5Nitro]

Not sure if this has been mentioned above, but don’t use XF330s unless you’re planning to beef up the magnet strength. I have an IM 170 and the glass is too thick for it.

 

[Krad]

Not sure if this has been mentioned above, but don’t use XF330s unless you’re planning to beef up the magnet strength. I have an IM 170 and the glass is too thick for it.

I got the xf350 and the magnets hold, assuming they are different then. Good to know!

 

[Bruttall]

Tank - IM 200 gallon EXT complete system
Stand - APS stand that comes with tank
Sump - custom
Lights - reefi labs uno 2.1
Powerheads - 2 MP40's and 2 Gyres XF330's
Skimmer - Venturi type
Controller - Apex w/trident

Dosing pumps - No clue lol

I'll just add my 2cents here.
Sump = I do not like PRE MADE. I prefer to custom build my own, check my Build Thread. Ya I got a a lot of space, it helps a lot. I suggest to everyone they run a sump at least 1/3 the volume of DT. I have a 300g DT with a 125g sump running about 45% volume. For this reason I do not like to put sumps under my tank, plus makes cleaning it so much easier if it is not under the DT.

Lights = REEFI LABS UNO 2.1 Hands down IN MY OPINION the best light you can buy right now, longer warranty, more wattage, easy to use interface, HALF THE PRICE OF LEADING BRANDS LIKE Radion, Kessil, Neptune Sky, Orphek!!!
I run 4 of them on my 300g. I love these lights and the customer service that comes with them. Hit the Facebook Page to see the Maker Daniel Lu in action providing support!

ReeFi Uno 2.0 Pro – ReeFi Lab

www.reefi-lab.com

Power Heads = scrap the gyre 330, go to the gyre 350. Better to oversize the wave makers and run at 60% than undersize and run at 100%, plus the 330 magnets are not good enough IMO.

Skimmer = needle wheels are JUNK! end of story, they are under rated and do not flow enough water, you can see this by the tea colored skim mate they produce compared to the dark coffee color of Venturi skimmers. See page 6 of my build thread for the type skimmer I am using, half custom built. Check this web site for more info.

Protein skimmer, ozone, skimmer, venturi, in-sump, hang-on, Euro, stand-alone. downdraft, needle-wheel, protein

www.lifereef.com

Dosing Pumps = Neptune, you're already investing in the apex controller and trident monitor system. The new Quiet Drive pumps are really nice, I have 2 of them.

Do a build thread, I love mine, going back seeing what all I did not know when I started etc. Not to mention the helpful advice and input from a lot of people here!

Good Luck to you and Happy Reefing

 

[Ado]

I got the xf350 and the magnets hold, assuming they are different then. Good to know!

I run one on each side of my 200 ext, magnets hold fine, plenty of flow for now. Will add more flow to the back when coral grows out more. Great thread!