gonefishingbrb
New member
Hi All,
I have kept freshwater fish for years and years now and had pondered the change to marine for a long time.
I was put off for so long by the costs involved and although I still can't say I'm excited to spend almost 2 grand setting up a tank (before the cost of corals & fish), I have finally decided it is going to be worth the change.
So, here's the story...
Any advice or tips will be greatly appreciated and taken on board.
The tank is a 6ft/2ft/2ft which is drilled with 3 x 25mm bulkheads. (1 input & 2 output).
There is no overflow currently but I plan on putting one in.
The tank is sumped with a 5ft /15in/ 15in and there is a 4,500 lph power returning water to the tank and also excess back into the sump.
(i will be adding pictures so if this isn't making too much sense, hopefully they will provide a bit of clarity).
In the sump is jap mat and noodles.
So I want the tank to be a coral tank with small fish so the coral doesn't get eaten. I was told to use crushed coral as a substrate....
getting back to the overflow... currently my two output bulkheads are over on the left hand side of the tank, close to the surface of the water. I was thinking to increase my output, either to redrill the same holes and put a bigger bulkhead on them or, to drill (& plumb) another 2 x 25mm bulkhead holes. Suggestions here would be greatly appreciated.
If I do increase the output, I can obviously increase the input (as most of it gets cycled back into the start of the sump via T bar plumbing, (see pics)). I currently just have a stainless steel strainer on all three bulkheads but was thinking of using a spray bar for the input.. Does this also mean (if the input is strong enough) that i will not require a wavemaker/pump?
I have been told there is a couple of options with the protein skimmer. external, hang off or internal. My preference is to have the protein skimmer working in the sump. is this an option and which one would be the most suited for my situation. I don't mind having to alter the sump or tank or even replacing the current sump for something more appropriate if that's going to be the best for the tank.
Lighting - Led seems to be the way to go? suggestions on the best suited for a 6ft long 2ft deep tank would also be awesome.
I can fully appreciate the expenses involved and know that it is a lot of work. I am recently single so bring it on. hahaha.
I will make a journal with heaps of piccies for this one as I think it should be helpful for others that are just starting out in marine too.
Thanks in advance for your help guys and as I said any advise to make my system more efficient, no matter the cost would be greatly appreciated.
I should also mention that this is not the exact tank but set up the same way and is now empty. The tank i'm using doesn't have submerged bioballs.
I have kept freshwater fish for years and years now and had pondered the change to marine for a long time.
I was put off for so long by the costs involved and although I still can't say I'm excited to spend almost 2 grand setting up a tank (before the cost of corals & fish), I have finally decided it is going to be worth the change.
So, here's the story...
Any advice or tips will be greatly appreciated and taken on board.
The tank is a 6ft/2ft/2ft which is drilled with 3 x 25mm bulkheads. (1 input & 2 output).
There is no overflow currently but I plan on putting one in.
The tank is sumped with a 5ft /15in/ 15in and there is a 4,500 lph power returning water to the tank and also excess back into the sump.
(i will be adding pictures so if this isn't making too much sense, hopefully they will provide a bit of clarity).
In the sump is jap mat and noodles.
So I want the tank to be a coral tank with small fish so the coral doesn't get eaten. I was told to use crushed coral as a substrate....
getting back to the overflow... currently my two output bulkheads are over on the left hand side of the tank, close to the surface of the water. I was thinking to increase my output, either to redrill the same holes and put a bigger bulkhead on them or, to drill (& plumb) another 2 x 25mm bulkhead holes. Suggestions here would be greatly appreciated.
If I do increase the output, I can obviously increase the input (as most of it gets cycled back into the start of the sump via T bar plumbing, (see pics)). I currently just have a stainless steel strainer on all three bulkheads but was thinking of using a spray bar for the input.. Does this also mean (if the input is strong enough) that i will not require a wavemaker/pump?
I have been told there is a couple of options with the protein skimmer. external, hang off or internal. My preference is to have the protein skimmer working in the sump. is this an option and which one would be the most suited for my situation. I don't mind having to alter the sump or tank or even replacing the current sump for something more appropriate if that's going to be the best for the tank.
Lighting - Led seems to be the way to go? suggestions on the best suited for a 6ft long 2ft deep tank would also be awesome.
I can fully appreciate the expenses involved and know that it is a lot of work. I am recently single so bring it on. hahaha.
I will make a journal with heaps of piccies for this one as I think it should be helpful for others that are just starting out in marine too.
Thanks in advance for your help guys and as I said any advise to make my system more efficient, no matter the cost would be greatly appreciated.
I should also mention that this is not the exact tank but set up the same way and is now empty. The tank i'm using doesn't have submerged bioballs.
