I Need Big Tank Advice Please!!

[r2odie]

I currently have a heathly, 90 gal. w/ pc lighting, wet/dry, skimmer, phosban reactor. Do weekly water changes & maintainable with not much trouble.
I want to upgrade and am currently looking at a 240, 8' x 2' x 2'. with one center drilled overflow. Is this okay??
I will definately need new lighting. Need to know if I have to go with mh or can I go T5's? would like to be able to keep all corals. Any idea my costs for lighting?
Also I really just want to know what equipment is essential for a tank this size? I think with the tank being 8 ft long flow may be an issue?
Any thoughts, ideas, pros, cons, appreciated. I really want an idea of what I am in for.

 

[dsandfort]

I went from a 90 to a 270. Everything just got bigger/more in proportion. The biggest challenge was getting enough water flow throughout the tank. Ended up with main returns, am OM 4-way and 2 closed loops. Plus some strategic powerheads.

I'm a MH fan. I think you could do it with 3 depending on reflectors. There's been lots of success with T-5 as well but you need others to advise on that. Perhaps 2 MH on one end and fluorescents on the other third, or the other way around.

Look for a bigger capacity skimmer. It's doubtfull the one you are using on the 90 will keep up.

Others will chime in but this will give a starting point.

Good luck, have fun.

 

[BadOleRoss]

I just upgraded from a 90 to a 220. I had 2/250 MHs on the 90 and am going with 3/400s on the 220. I am not sure T-5s will be stong enough for corals in a 200+tank. My tank was pre-driled and I have 2 small holes with 3/4 pvc that serves as my overflows and 2 more the are my returns. they serve the purpose but i wish they were larger and like dsandfort said closed loops would be a nice adition. I paid right at $400 for my lighting set up but that was a retro kit and I will need to construct a hood once they arrive. On an 8' tank I would use 4 MHs.

 

[r2odie]

Thanks for the information so far. Lets keep it coming now, I need advice!!

 

[bcordill]

I just upgraded from 120 to 190. If possible I would go with a wider tank if using a center overflow. I went from 18 inches wide to 28 inches wide on my new tank and am very pleased.

 

[r2odie]

bcordill,
do you have a center overflow? do you think i will have a problem with just a center overflow? thanks.

 

[Theron]

I would also recommend a deeper tank front to back rather than longer. I would do something like a 6' x 3' x 2'. I think you would enjoy the depth of the tank for aquascaping. You could then get by with 2 or 3 MH lamps.

 

[bcordill]

The center overflow will work fine.

My overflow is about 6 inches deep which still gives me 22 inches to work with infront of the overflow. Any less depth and things might get tight.

If the tank is viewed from 3 sides I think the center overflow is the least visable.