Lighting is still up in the air. I want to have a good amount of SPS (whorled monti's & a few choice acros etc) and LPS... I don't want a single wretched mushroom in the tank!!!
I am using all T5's right now on some Ice Cap ballasts and I am very impressed. I just know the coverage over the new tank will require two 8x36" T5's to cover everything and that means 16 bulbs to replace. Or I will go 3 250 watt MH with a small amount of T5's for an early dawn/late dusk effect. I have never used MH's before so I am at a loss for what to plan. A friend just bought a sfigoli fixture and 3 ACLS (or whatever they are called) so I am very curious to see how he likes it. He's also running a bubble master 300 if I am not mistaken, says's it's the best skimmer he's ever ran. I like making things myself and I made my lighting that I have now BUT when I added up the bills I could have purchased an aquactinics solar flare (essentially the same fixture only 48" not 36") for the same price if not a small amount cheaper!!
One thing is I plan to have an offset rockwork scheme to make the most of the space, balancing the negative and positive spaces as well as I can; so I know my lighting requirements will be pretty specific and I don't know if a premade fixture will suit my needs.
On another note Wendy and I have been talking and I think we are going to set up a shallow tank with racking for the corals we have now and then fill the sump with the liverock we have now to try and keep livestock easy to work with instead of in our 30"+ deep tank. Nothing fancy, just about a hopsital tank but not that sterile as we need to host a lot of life in the tanks until the main tank is up and running. Now I think I will start my tank with dry rock in order to avoid unwanted pests (algae, coral predators, etc.) so the tank is going to take a while to get seasoned. Any advice as to how to introduce beneficial bacteria from established systems but to avoid introducing the bad stuff? Maybe toss a couple perferated bags of LR rubble into some sumps of friends tanks then introducing them to my tank (seems risky) or just watch it for a couple months while adding ammonia?
Here is where I am really after RC's brain pool... I am looking for peoples personal experience and preferences so I can try and taylor something that will suit my needs. I am almost 100% sure I am not going to use a probio or zeovit system since I am not home enough to maintain it neither is Wendy.
Looking for experience! Thanks once again everyone for looking and speaking up with questions and potential problems, I really appreciate it!