New 125 gallon mixed reef setup and questions

[ilikestripes]

Hey guys. This is my first time posting on this forum. I have a couple friends that are really into reefing and I finally have decided to step up and start my own. Originally I had everything I needed to set up a 75 gallon reef but The girlfriend and I have decided to go with a little bit longer tank. A lot of people have told me to stay away from 125 because they are only 18 inches wide like the 75 but we already have a stand for a 125 and she really wanted a rimless tank and I don't have the money to go with something huge so I decided to go with a 125 rimless tank with two overflows on the back glass . The problem is everything I have is for a 75 LOL.

I have a reef octopus 150 INT. Will that be OK for a 125? Or do I need to step it up a notch and try and sell my 150?

I have a Rio 20hf and it says it is 1290 gallons per hour at 1 foot and 990 at 4 feet. Is this a good enough pump for a 125 for a return with dual overflows?

I plan on running to Jebao wave makers on each side of the tank. Right now I have three eBay fixtures, LEDs, that I will him going to run until I can afford three kessils or radions.

I have 120 pounds of dry rock and I have about 135 pounds and of sand

I was planning on either using my 29 gallon tank for a sump or a 30 gallon tank for a sump because it is longer.

 

[ilikestripes]

I also have a reverse osmosis system that I think I should be able to get away with using that I bought for the 75 gallon along with a tunze auto top off

 

[mjstech]

Welcome to the forum!!

I would say your skimmer is fine... Here are ratings I found.
210 Gallon - Light Filtration Demand
150 Gallon – Medium Filtration Demand
120 Gallon – Heavy Filtration Demand

Return pump is fine too... as stated you will have waver makers anyway.

And any RO/DI system that outputs enough 0 TDS water will work, ofcourse if its only 50GPD vs 100GPD it will take longer to fill tank/trashcans for water changes.

The only thing I would be careful about is if a 29g or 30g will be large enough,depending on how you set the baffles to be safe for loss of power drain back into sump.

 

[ilikestripes]

I was debating about throwing a filter sock in the drain and not running baffles. I wasn't going to run a baffle in my 29 for my 75. I know they keep down microbubbles quite a bit.

 

[ilikestripes]

I know my buddy had me get the 150 int so I would have a little bit of overkill for the 75 which is exactly what I was hoping for but this changes things. I guess I just means I would have to do More water changes? I definitely plan on having it stocked both with corals and fish. I would like to have at least one yellow tang, and a cole tang, a few wrasses, A mated pair of clowns , flame angel, and hopefully some more. I will do mostly softies with maybe a few strands of SPS but not many

 

[mjstech]

I think you are going to want to run baffles. Microbubbles from falling water into sump or in sump skimmer drive most people nuts. You should be fine with either the 29g or 30g (36" long). Do a simple over under over baffle. Also don't forget you want your skimmer at a set water depth (recommended is 6-8"). Since you haven't setup the sump yet, think about if you would want to run a fuge. I don't think it's enough space to do one in the 29g, but a 36" long 30g might still be ok... With each chamber about 12".

 

[ilikestripes]

Ah okay. I will probably do an over under than on a 30 unless I can find a nice 55 for cheap

 

[mjstech]

It is always easier/cheaper to go big from the start... a 55G would probably be optimal. As I said a 29g or 30g will work, just plan your chambers/baffles for siphon flow back. But if it was me I would sell the 75 and keep the 29G as a QT/ATO tank an run 55G. Lots of room to have chambers and space for socks/skimmer section, fuge, and return section. PetSmart has the 10g, 20, and 40g on sale for $1 a gallon now, Some stores may let you buy the 55g for $55 also. Or look on craigslist/local group forum section. I would look at other users sump designs to see what you like.

 

[jem454]

I have a 125 as well. 1000 gph return for me,jebao rw 15 on each side on the lowest setting, and a vertex 150 skimmer. Looks like you'll have the same setup as me.

 

[ilikestripes]

Livstock

Livstock

What kind of livestock do you have? Heard you shouldn't mix many tangs in a 125 because it isn't an ideal footprint.

 

[Vapour1ze]

What kind of livestock do you have? Heard you shouldn't mix many tangs in a 125 because it isn't an ideal footprint.

Welcome to the forum! You'll find a lot of individuals start with a 125 and end up hating the footprint. It's simply too narrow of a tank for our Surgeonfish to thrive. Something more wide such as a 180/210/220 is ideal. A 125 will most likely be ok for a single yellow or single kole. But I wouldn't push it. If you aren't doing tangs, or large fish. Then you'll be fine.

Do you have a stock list put together yet? That can help us get an understanding of which way you should go.

Remember: Nothing in this hobby comes easy, patience is this hobby's number 1 payoff.

Welcome to the addiction.
-Luke

 

[mitchb]

Having the RO system is good but you need to add a deionized cartridge to get your TDS down to zero. They're not that expensive. Also, if you are interested in Tunze streams and a 7095 controller for controllable circulation I have a system for sale.

 

[JMorris271]

I have a 120 and it is 24x24x48. Just 5 gals less. You could make up the gallons in your sump. I have a RO 150 and can say if you are going to be using socks, you will need that room in the chamber to work. 40 gal sump will be necessary for that skimmer.
Welcome to RC.