electrical question and books?

[bfng3569]

So, after a bit of help from people on here i was convinced that a bigger tank is better, and i am going with a 135 gallon tank from glass cages with two built in over flows.

the tank is 72 x 18 x 25 tall.

Big question is:

Electrical requirements? to properly light, filter etc etc a tank this size?

I just moved into a smallish one bedroom condo (ground floor slab on grade) and i have one wall that would be perfect for this, but in that wall currently is one (standard) two plug outlet.

I am assuming this isnt going to be enough? or is it??

I dont want to be the person with two loaded power strips on one outlet and creating any type of electrical/fire hazard.

sooooo. with all the wisdom and knowledge kicking around here, what does it take, electricaly speaking, to run a tank this size?

also, looking for some good, informative, easy to follow and understand books that would cover reef tanks, corals, inverts and different types of biotopes and stuff. Basicly, what mixes with what and what different types if reef set ups there are and stuff....

I am still a little up in the air with what will be in the tank, but it will be based on some type of 'reef' set up?

 

[Flavum]

If your looking for a great reef book you cant go wrong with Eric Bornemans book Corals. its more specialized to the subject of reef tanks but its my fav.

 

[freestone]

I have two dedicated 20amp circuits for my tank. I am considering adding another in the future. I would think you would want at least 3 for a tank that big. The more circuits the better. Not only for fire safety but also for tank safety. I have my circuits split up so if one of them trips it won't crash my tank....don't have all your power heads on the same circuit for instance. Oh yeah, Make them GFCI outlets.

Do a search on here for power centers...that will give you some ideas about how you'll stuff hooked up.

 

[bfng3569]

thanks for the info so far!

i'll be ordering the book, as well as the invert by anthony that came up with it.

and thanks so far for the electrical info.

I was figuring the gfic's for sure, but wasnt sure if i could utilize the wall out let and run an extension cord around the corner to another outlet and be ok.

Not sure how much wiggle room i have in the condo when it comes to upgrading the electrical, but the breaker box is on the adjacent wall, so i am thinking i should be able to manage something.

anybody with electrical info...?

 

[freestone]

Be carefull with extension cords. Even some of the thicker cords only have like 16 gauge wire. Also make sure that the outlet around the corner is not on the same circuit. When you say the breaker box in on the adjacent wall do you mean the wall behind where the tank will go. If so that would be simple to add new circuits... just get some of those old-work electrical boxes and run some new wire down into the wall.

 

[joshkennedy07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12910724#post12910724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bfng3569


I was figuring the gfic's for sure, but wasnt sure if i could utilize the wall out let and run an extension cord around the corner to another outlet and be ok.

Not sure how much wiggle room i have in the condo when it comes to upgrading the electrical, but the breaker box is on the adjacent wall, so i am thinking i should be able to manage something.

anybody with electrical info...?

Dedicated circuits are they way to go. If the box is on the adjacent wall and there is some room for expansion the it would be fairly cheap upgrade. That said, I used the extension cord trick, I rent and the panel is on opposite corner of my tank.

 

[bfng3569]

sounds like i will be looking into adding some dedicated circuits then!