Help plan my new reef set-up

[gibson981]

I am currently deployed overseas with the Indiana National Guard. I am due back in Indiana in a few months. Prior to being activated, I had a 70 corner set-up that I had to sell. None of my family had the time or knowledge to maintain it. So, I will be starting from scratch when I get home. In an effort to not leave anything out, I am starting the planning phase now.

I plan on either a 120g (48Lx24Wx25H) or a 150g (48Lx30Wx25H). For lighting, I was thinking of a 175W halide set up with 2 Iwasaki 15K bulbs. Looking at the ASM G3 skimmer & Korallin C1502 calcium reactor. There will be a sump with fuge. I want good flow, so I am thinking of a closed loop set up. Feel free to suggest changes to any of this or suggest things I haven't mentioned.

Now, for the question of live rock and live sand. How much and in what combination? I was thinking about buying half of the rock as dry lace rock and the rest live. Would that work? For sand, I was thinking all live. What ideas does everyone have for how much sand and rock?

I want a couple of clams, some SPS, and some LPS. My wife wants a hippo tang. I want a yellow tang. Can we have both? I also plan on a mated pair of clowns (just not sure what variety), a lawmower blenny, a good clean-up crew, and possibly some other small fish. I would love a red volitan lion, but that may really be pushing my luck in a reef set-up.

Please feel free to make any suggestions or corrections. I want to get things right.

 

[Young Joe Gibbs]

Yellow and hippo will prolly be good together, but you might want to introduce at the same time! specs seem ok to me, but i would keep the sps and clams towards the top!

 

[gibson981]

I would be willing to go with 250W halides. I have just always heard that the 175W 15K Iwasaki's had better PAR than a lot of the 250W halides out there.

More suggestions welcome. Also, does anyone know where I might be able to get the tank (either the 120 or the 150), reef ready, for any cheaper than glasscages.com? Stand and canopy are a must too.

 

[gibson981]

Any more ideas?

 

[Macimage]

Your plan sounds fine, although I would recommend that you go with the 250 watt mh's. Then you can keep pretty much any type of corals or clams without having to place light loving ones near the top.

If you have the room for the 150 vs. the 120, I would get the larger tank. As they are both 48" long, you wouldn't need any extra lights and the extra size is good as you want two tangs.

I think the lion fish would eat the other small fish you mentioned you may want.

Thank you for your service and please post a build thread when you get home safely.

Joyce

 

[gibson981]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12373114#post12373114 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Macimage
Your plan sounds fine, although I would recommend that you go with the 250 watt mh's. Then you can keep pretty much any type of corals or clams without having to place light loving ones near the top.

If you have the room for the 150 vs. the 120, I would get the larger tank. As they are both 48" long, you wouldn't need any extra lights and the extra size is good as you want two tangs.

I think the lion fish would eat the other small fish you mentioned you may want.

Thank you for your service and please post a build thread when you get home safely.

Joyce

250w mh's it is. As for the 120 or 150, the 150 does sound better to me too. 30 more gallons and only 6 more inches out from the wall than the 120. As for my service, thanks for the kind words. When I get home, I will have a month of leave and I won't have to report to my civilian job for that time. That leaves plenty of time to put my reef together. I will definately do the build thread. Most of my items will be "bought" rather than "built" though. If I do the closed loop, that will be a small build project. I am thinking about "building" the skimmer as well. I have heard of people building 5 feet tall skimmers for longer contact time. I just don't want to do something wrong in the build process and not have a good skimmer. We'll see.

Now, for the dimensions I listed for the 150, how much live sand should I use? I want to have enough, but not too much. same question on the live rock? I have heard some people say the total between live sand and live rock should only be about 2 pounds per gallon. Also, as far as rock, can I get away with half of it being dry lace rock and the rest live?

 

[gibson981]

If anyone knows where I can get any of the things I have listed for a really good price, let me know.