220 Gallon Reef Set-up, any comments.

[sevenkillers]

Hey fellow aquarist.

I have been keeping fish for about 14+ years. However it has been all fresh water.
I finally took a dive into marine aquariums.
Just wanted to hear feed back from the pros. If I need to add anything or any advice is greatly appreciated.

220 Gallon Oceanic Reef Ready Tank with Custom Overflow Boxes

Filtration
1-Pro Clear Aquatic Systems 300 with Pre-filter
1-Protein Skimmer built in sump
1- Supreme Magnetic Drive Pump Model 36
It states 3600 gph max 24 feet of head max

Biological Filtration
180 Lbs Of Atlantic Rocks
135 Lbs Of Fiji Rock
60lbs Dry sand
80lbs Live sand

Water Movement
4 Marinland 1140 Power head
1-4 pump timer
Timer is set-up to alternate 2 pump on 2 pump off.

Lighting
3-250watts 10,000K HQI Bulbs
2-96watts 7,200 k Compact Bulbs
2-96watts Blue Attinic Compact Bulbs
12 Led Lunar Lights

Heating
1-300 Watts Titanium Heater
1-200 Watts Titanium Heater

Sterilization
Turbo Twist 18watts Uv Sterilizer with Rio600 pump
runs while lights are on

Fish
1- 3" Yellow Tang
3- 1" Yellow Fin Damsel
1- 2" Percula Clown
1- 2" Royal Gramma
1- 2" BiColor Blenny
1- 3" White and yellow Goby

Invertabrates
1- bubble tip Anenome
1- Tridacna Clam
1- Mushroom Polyp - Green Ricordea
1- Soft Coral that the ends look like a hammer
1- sand sifting Cucumber
1- Lettuce Nudibranch
2- brittle stars
and assorted pack of snails, and red leg hermit crabs.

 

[HumanIMDB]

Looks like a very good start, most of us only dream about having all that when we start.

I've read a few threads that say "don't worry about live sand because the bacteria in the live rock will migrate to the sand eventually; spend the money elsewhere". I don't have the experience yet to know if that is a sound assessment or not, but it sounds right.

 

[sevenkillers]

Thanks.
I have been purchasing eqiupment for about a year, and about 2 months ago I put it all together. I think the addition of all the live rock has helped my move along pretty fast. I added the last 100 pounds of live rock about 3 weeks ago, and I noticed my nitrites dropped to zero in a matter of days.

 

[HumanIMDB]

Post lots of pics of your start up so the rest of us can enjoy your tank too!

 

[Tiki G.]

Sounds fun. I have someone at work who wants to give me a 220. This could be helpful to me as far as setting it up. Is your tank 30" high?

 

[Shagsbeard]

Show us your plumbing too... having a pro plumber do a tank will be a novelty. I'm really interested to see how to plumb a tank correctly.

 

[grouper25]

Wow, I am in the process of doing exactly the same set-up for a 220.
I am extremely anal and have done tons of due diligence and here is what I have learned.

I have the same Proclear 300. Lose the "built" in Skimmer in the sump. They are not adequate to remove protein from a 220. I purchased a MRC 2 Skimmer and upgraded it with 2 injectors and run by a GEN X pressure pump.

The UV wattage you have selected is way too low for a 220. Depending on flow rate, it may kill algae but never parasite which is what ICH is. Just look at the Aqua website for the efficacy of their products by wattage. I had a 25 watt and returned it for a 40 watt.

Just thought I would send u my due diligence results. Would love to compare notes as I have had fresh forever and am new to salt
John

 

[2swift]

Just a note about the heaters,500 watts is good for up to about
150 gallons of water.
How big is your sump?
Just wondering.

 

[sevenkillers]

I will have pics posted this weekend. Since my mets are out of the playoff. I will have time to psot pics.


Yes the tank is 30" High

As far as plumbing. It is nothing special.But I will show some pics...asap

 

[sevenkillers]

 

[trpigg]

Wow... That coral bundle looks awesome. I may have to cheat and start mine like that. Great job!!!

 

[sevenkillers]

Thanks for the kind words.
I am in the works on adding a 90 gallon refigium to the system

 

[sevenkillers]

Picked up this small coral today

 

[mg426]

Very nice

 

[golf4lyfe]

looking good, how long have you had it set up for?

 

[sevenkillers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8441339#post8441339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by golf4lyfe
looking good, how long have you had it set up for?

It has been up and running since August 2006

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8379052#post8379052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2swift
Just a note about the heaters,500 watts is good for up to about
150 gallons of water.
How big is your sump?
Just wondering.

500 watts should be plenty. You have to take into consideration the heat from the pumps and other equipment.
I have 2- 300 watts in my 240




Sevenkillers,
Beautiful tank!

 

[ERICN]

Looks great man only thing i would do is upgrade the protien skimmer

 

[blackheart]

seven before i say anything i want to tell you that your tank is beautiful after saying that i must warn you that with those yellow polyps you have in the picture up top you are flirting with fire. I have had some of my own and they are real nice till they start killing everything in your tank i am just warning you that these are crazy fast growers and are very poisonous to ALL other coral . Just becareful with them ok because they can really run a muck. very nice looking tank though

 

[thor32766]

looks great!! keep up the good work