How am I doing so far...

[MikeP471612]

Setting up a 190g. First the tank...It is a bit old but the silicone looks and feels to be in good shape. I had it re-braced and re-trimmed. The 'style' of brace is a euro brace. The overflow is in the corner and the drain for the sump is 1.5 inches. The return is also 1.5 inches and is drilled through the back in the opposite corner as the overflow. I will plumb another return over the back (not sure exactly where yet maybe in the other corner by the overflow?). Now for equiptment, some of this I have already and some I intend to buy. The pump is a sequence snapper, skimmer is a CSS 220, power heads are 2 sieo 1500's, sump is 50g (not made yet, just a tank right now), lights are 2 pendant style 175 watt 14k MH's, I plan to add some T5's as well. As far as in the tank I will start with 60 lbs of base rock, another 60 to 80 lbs of LR, I would like to have live sand but I don't know how much. If I can't find any live sand locally I will use some other marine aquarium sand. Tank inhabitants will start out with what I have in my 30g. 2 faulse percula clowns, 1 blue damsel, 1 coral beauty, 1 pseudeocromis, 1 CBS, some snails and feather dusters. Corals are 1 long tentical anemone, 1 leather finger, 1 xenia, some zoos, green star polyps and mushrooms.

So how does this sound? Am I on the right track? Is there any recommendations you have?

Thanks a lot
Mike

 

[TNTREEF]

If your going to have SPS corals you will need at least three 400wt MH depending on how tall and long the tank is. 250's would work but if your planning the long hall get the 400's. As for the sand you only need one or two bags of live sand. It will seed the rest of the sand in time.

 

[Reeling Reefer]

I would use a minimum of 190-220 lbs of live rock, also even though the corals you mentioned are lower light demanding corals, I would go with 3 metal halides on a 190 gallon tank. Also careful with the coral beauty , they can be hit or miss with being coral nippers.

 

[Reeling Reefer]

Watch out when adding xenia, then can spread in a hurry and become a major PITA.

 

[TNTREEF]

I second the xenia. I have a bunch in my little tank, but I sell it monthly to keep it in check(free money for my addiction).

 

[stereomandan]

I wouldn't have your other return line coming out near the overflow. If you do, a lot of the water coming from the sump has the tendancy to just go right back down the overflow instead of having the chance to flow through the tank first.

What are the dimensions of the 190g?

Dan

 

[MikeP471612]

Dimensions are 60Lx24Wx30H.

 

[RichConley]

I love how you guys are reccomending lights wihtout knowing the dimensions of the tank.

190-220lbs of rock is ridiculous, unless is super dense florida rock.

Open rockwork leads to more flow, better circulation, and less nutrients.




MikeP, 2x250w MH in lumenarcs A3s. You'll be able to keep whatver you want. If you want to run 20K bulbs, run 400w'ers.

With your 175s, you'll be able to keep whatever you want in the top half, and have some limited, but not bad, selection at the bottom.... unless you run Iwasaki 15Ks, which you'll be able to keep pretty much anything with.

 

[TNTREEF]

I know, don't you just love it.

 

[MikeP471612]

Thanks so far. So my list of equiptment sounds ok?