Well I'm setting it up as a full on reef. I don't want peopple to think i maintain the tanks there because of the horride condition of most. I only maintain the 75gal and will maintain the 240gal once setup. They don't really have to time or exact know how to keep anything really complicated so I will be putting in mostly easy corals with just a few more delicate types. It overflows into a sump on the other side of the wall. The sump/refugium will consist of a 55gal and an oceanic 50gal. I don't have everything exactly hashed out yet but, I'm thinking first 55gal will be a deepsand bed with lots of cheato and extra liverock. It will then overflow into the 50oceanic where chemical media will be and most of the space will be for the overflow during power outages. The ETSS skimmer and retun pump will also occupy this area. I will then build shelves above for storage of tank items. Under the main tank, in the stand I have placed a 4ft 30gal. I will make this the quarantine tank and everthing will go in there first no exceptions.
I placed all the rock so there is basically 3 islands with lots of swimming Space for fish. This will also allow the use of 3 MH, one placed over each island. 400w over the center with 250w on the side. This way I don't have to use 4-6 MH which will require lots of electricity and add tons of heat over the tank.
I mean to keep simple livestock. Easy corals that have lots of movement. Xeinia, kenya, colts, GSP, Zoas, anemones, and as many fish as i can sensibly keep in there. Lets be honest most new hobbiest, and the people that I hope to grab the attention of, will find a large colorful tank full of movment far more interesting than a tank full of sticks (SPS). I myself love SPS but it isn't what gets most people into the hobby. Also SPS are harder to keep and the tank needs to be simple to maintain in the event I bug out and stop helping for some reason.
Now that is the rough plan. So far I have rebuilt the stand, Plugged all the bulkheads for the previous closed loop. I then placed all the rock built the standpipes and plumbed it through the wall.. Saltwater is now in the display area but not so full it goes into the overflow. This was so I can start cycling and other things while I finish the sump.
Still to do:
Finish overflow pluming
Drill three more returns
Plumb returns
Put glass partitions in sump
Plumb skimmer.
Add sand
Build light system
build shelves
complete quarantine system
It isn't being built very quick because they are rationing their funds. Plumbing adds up and I have been the one to purchase all the plumbing so far. I work on the two tanks for exchange of items in the store. I hope to get the returns done next week hopfully. Then since there are plenty of broken tanks in the back I will cut some up for use of the glass to make my sump partitions. I'll get everthing plumbed and running and sit back and let it cycle slowly. Once it is nice and established i'll work on the rest starting with the lights.
Well I have droned on far to long but you asked
As far as help????? I not usually the type of pearson to ever ask for help even when it is needed. This is my flaw!! I also do most of the work between midnight and 4 in the morning. But I will keep you in mind. If your just wanting to hang out and watch and are up that late I'm sure you could come sometime. I only go in for an hour or two at a time since I don't get paid by the hour. I go in get something done and leave.
Hope that gives you some idea of the plan and if interested I suppose I could post pics as i progress.
Later
Mitch
