ADD, OCD 180 build plannung

[mpderksen]

I tend to over think stuff, and even though the build can't go online for a while, there's no reason I can't work out some things and start building the sump and stand. But I realize I've got some questions as I get started.
The tank will be a 180. 72" X 24" X 24". It will sit on a tile floor on a slab foundation.
Stand question:
Using the RocketEngineer plan, I will make it 40" tall. I can't put the sump on the floor, so I need the extra height (assuming a 20" tall sump). My 75 sits at 30", and frankly it seems short to me. Will this seem disproportionate to a 24" tall tank?
Sump question:
18" X 48" will hold 37 gallons with a 10" depth. That's 20% of the DT. Is that enough?
Dosing:
Never done Kalk. Never planned a Ca reactor. I assume using 2-part would be expensive on a 180 once my SPS really gets going. What are my options?

 

[anbosu]

My stand is 36" with a 24" tank, so I think you'll be fine.

I would make a bigger sump, personally. The bigger the better.

DIY 2 part is really cheap, although nothing is cheaper than a good CaRx over time (years).

 

[thegrun]

My 120 gallon tank (48" x 24" x 24") sits on a 40" tall stand and I really like that height, to me the proportions look good.

 

[mpderksen]

Very nice. Thanks.

I can't imagine a bigger sump footprint, so should I go deeper? I guess I could go 5 foot long, but then I'm using most of the space underneath. Then I'm back to the crowded situation I have now.

 

[outy]

What are my options?

Do you want happiness?


Get the ca reactor and kalk.

I have a 215 with a similar footprint. Did a cal rector for a long time and just added the kalk rector. Should have done the kalk from the start.

. That's 20% of the DT. Is that enough?

why not?


I have a 100g sump because I do 100g water changes.


Every ones sump demands are different. Will you be able to service the skimmer? is it enough room for your water changes? ect ect ect

 

[mpderksen]

Do you want happiness?





Get the ca reactor and kalk.



I have a 215 with a similar footprint. Did a cal rector for a long time and just added the kalk rector. Should have done the kalk from the start.











why not?





I have a 100g sump because I do 100g water changes.





Every ones sump demands are different. Will you be able to service the skimmer? is it enough room for your water changes? ect ect ect

So you have a 100g capacity, or there is 100g at operating level? Got a pic?
And are you saying to start with a Kalk reactor and Ca reactor together? Oof! There a learning curve right there. Whole new world!

 

[Laddy]

So you have a 100g capacity, or there is 100g at operating level? Got a pic?
And are you saying to start with a Kalk reactor and Ca reactor together? Oof! There a learning curve right there. Whole new world!

A 180g well stocked reef tank, believe it or not, could require kalk, a CaRx and two-part....lots of established tanks in that size class are run with these redundancies.

I'm old school, been dripping/top off saturated kalkwasser for many years, and will not set up a tank without it at this point. Coupled with a controller/top off to avoid any calamities it's a point of start you should consider. I've run standalone tanks upwards of 55g filled with softies, LPS and montis with nothing but kalkwasser for years with very good growth.

 

[mpderksen]

Fair enough. If I put it in the top off water, but evaporation is very different between summer and winter, does this require adjustment?
Right now I'm using only 2-part on my 75g mixed and it's fine. However my dosing is really going up as frags start taking off.