New 120 g reef tank

[phragman53]

I'm upgrading from a 38g to a 120g reef tank this summer. Things are still in the planning stages and nothing's been purchased - yet. The tank will contain a variety of soft and hard corals, various inverts and some fish. Since I'm new to RC please excuse my lack of acronyms as I'm still learning. It is a custom tank in that I can put the overflows and any number of bulkheads wherever I want.

The set up as I now plan it is

48x24x24 custom glass tank - 3 sides with Starfire glass
Pro Berlin 150 sump with built in refugium (separate feed)
Main pump - Sequence Dart
ASM G2 skimmer
Aquactinics Solar Flare T5
Phosban reactor
ReefKeeper 2

My questions for now mostly involve optimizing water flow.

1. I'm planning two overflow boxes (1 1/2" drains and 1" returns). Does it matter where they go in terms of preventing dead spots? I would rather not have them in the corners as they would be seen when looking in the tank from the end. I notice that the AGA 120s put the overflows centered in each half of the tank. Would you see any problem with the AGA set up?

2. We are also planning a closed loop system for additional water movement with a mag 18 pump feeding two 3/4" bulkheads which again can be placed wherever I want them. Right now they're planned to be 6" from the front and side. I plan to point them backwards toward the rear corners of the tank. Obviously I want to hide them in the LR so this will affect their placement My goal is to have large amount of water movement and provide the three types of movement - surge, laminar and turbulence - with no dead spots and no obvious hardware. Where would I best put them to complement the overflow returns? Any other thoughts on optimizing this setup?

3. Even with the ReefKeeper should I consider a SCWD for the closed loop system?

Your comments are appreciated. I will post pics of the progress once I get going.

 

[Creamhorses]

Great...gonna follow your project. I'm learning all I can before I begin SW. Please eleborate on things that seem rudamental and include pics when you can.
150 gallon sump? Yeah!!!
What is starfirew glass and what's the 4th side?
CH
ps My first post on RC, but I've been purusing this great sight for knowledge.

 

[Nano Chris]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>
Both of you! Read up as much as you can, you will always be learning something.

I have heard the SCWD often gets clogged, and needs to be replaced because it can not be opened and cleaned.

Good luck.

 

[nss9400]

starfire glass has low iron in it making it more clear and very expensive.

 

[phragman53]

Thanks for the reply. The sump isn't 150 g - it's about 30 g. I still think it'll be enough. I have a friend with a 150 g SW tank and a 150 g sump and they are always fighting something. Right now it's algae and flat worms.

 

[Creamhorses]

Oops on the size of your sump....sounded logical to me to be 150.
Would have got it right off if it were called a Berlin Pro 30.
Are you planning on any drains or returns in the bottom?

On the 150sw/150sump and problems.....just finished reading TecCat and his 90g Upgrade [still in progress]. Boy he's had his share of suprises, ups 'n downs, yet has kept his chin up all the wile. It seems that there is a lot of give and take, try this and that in this hobbie. So many variables, where this works for one but not for another.

Hope yours goes smooth and with few hitches. [non horse term]

CH


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[schoch79]

I'm just following this thread a little but why would it be a bad thing to have a large sump? In my experience the more water volume the better.