480 gl tank start up

[screwsloose]

i have finally got me a good sized tank and am going to pick it up this coming weekend. heres the specs.

tank 8' L x 4 ' h x 2' w =480 gl acrylic with 20 gl internal overflow
plan on using a 125 gl sump.

now heres what i have currently
2 125 gl tanks with 3" sand bed
approx 300 lbs lr
2 250 w mh's w 20 k bulbs
1 4" pc lighting
currently have zoo's and a couple hard corals

i was thinking of adding 1 400 w mh to the center of the tank for the lps's and using the 250 w's on the sides for softies. will this plan work?

can someone recommend a good skimmer, pumps for flow, reactors for this set up?

this will be my first big set up and i really have no clue as to what the cost on start up will be yet. i am in the process of designing my stand now that i will be building in the next couple of months. thank you in advance for all the help.

 

[Jar*Head]

wow, going to be a very nice setup.

 

[rocknreef]

4 foot high tank?

It will be difficult to get good par reading towards the last foot of the tank without using 400w MH. Even using those the bottom of the tank PAR will be low.

 

[screwsloose]

yes its 4 ' tall. if the consensus is that 1 400w mh in teh center of the 2 250w's would work i was planning on using the bottom for some star pollups or something or maybe using some ho t-5s to help? would this be enough or should i go with 2-3 400 w's and drop the 250's?

 

[jgs107]

i would drop the 250's and go with the 400s,its going to look a lot better with such a deep tank.have fun cleaning the bottom of that thing.

 

[rocknreef]

400's

 

[screwsloose]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13045225#post13045225 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jgs107
i would drop the 250's and go with the 400s,its going to look a lot better with such a deep tank.have fun cleaning the bottom of that thing.

i still havent figured out how thats going to be accomplished yet. if all else fails i have scuba gear i can use . is there a mag float designed for acrylic?

also what kind of pumps are going to be needed to push this guy?i would really like to do a closed loop system.

 

[ricks]

You are going to have one heck of a time getting the rock to the top of the tank...

You will have to secure it with rods or bond it somehow. The rock face will be vertical. I would suggest going with a minimum of 36" deep.. Plus to get to the bottom you will need to stand on your head.

The lighting will only work for softies and even with (3) 400's over 8' is marginal.. I have (6) 400's on my 8' 500 gallon, and it's only 36" high..

I would figure around 1.00 per gallon per month to operate a large reef...

Happy Reefing

 

[screwsloose]

ok i have saved a few pennies and i am ready to get pumps. someone on another thread recommended sequence for a simular sized tank. but im not sure which pump to use. a member of my local reef club is using a hammerhead for his closed lopp and a swimming pool filter/pump for his filtration on his 400 gl fowlr tank. can i use a simular set up as well?

 

[screwsloose]

no suggestions?

 

[kwattz]

IME either Sequence and HH are a good bet. I have both and dont really have a prefrence. I use Sequence in CL and HH on return. I have never had any problems with either.

 

[jgs107]

i have a reeflo baracuda for sale if you would like to get it.om me if interested.i believe they can pump 4500 GPH.