My husband and I were given a 180g acrylic tank (with stand!)about 3 years ago (its was our FAVORITE wedding gift by far). It's been sitting for a while as we have been very very slowly collecting parts and doing a lot of self-educating.
We are finally going to get it up and cycled, but I would love some feedback on our plan.
Total tank water volume is about 240g. Due to space constraints, we could not do a larger sump under the existing stand with all the other equipment that needs to be stored under there. We are starting off with a Dart pump plumbed into the tank with two returns. For now, we are only using one of the returns (ball valves on the PVC on the return plumbing to shut of flow on either one as needed) connected to a wavesea in the tank. FOr purposes of cycling, that should be sufficient... but I would like to hear any feedback on the wavesea if anyone else has one. We will eventually add a couple tunze 6000.
As far as lighting goes, we are starting off with power compacts and adding MH after cycling and as we add to the tank. I am thinking 3 10k 250w MH halide fixtures, but hav enot decided on the brand yet. It's always hard to compromise quality with price.
THere are two corner overflows- 6 x 6 x 23. I wish we could've done a single central overflow in the tank... but again, it was free so no complaining. We are enlarging the drain holes in the overflows to accomadate 2 inch bulkheads... much better.
We are only starting with the basics... sump with refugium and protein skimmer. Ambient temp on house is about 78 putting the tank water at an estimated 83 or so. We will monitor this, but will add a chiller when it becomes a problem (before adding fish and corals, of course.) The chiller will sit on top of the hood as its big... or we might build a cabinent above the tank to store it (which would be great for storing the CO2 tank). Either way, it will be plumbed above the tank.
We are really undecided onwhich Ca reactor. We are going with either a KNOP or a Korallin. Just the smaller rated models... again, we have space constraints. We will add the calcium reactor later after the cycling process, but we will have space and plumbing ready.
There were 3 2 inch holes drilled in to the back of the tank for a closed loop system. At first, we were going to do the same, but untimately decided just to plug them up. Any thoughts?
For the sump, I really love the design at my LFS. The water drains from the overflows into an initial compartment with live rock set on eggcrate. It then flows under and over baffles into the fuge, through a filter pad to the last compartment with the protein skimmer. Their tanks always have looked amazing and healthy. Plus, I love the noise dampening effects of the live rock and the natural biological filtration it provides (versus bioballs or a filter sock). We are just about to build the acrylic sump after this design, but I would love some feedback about it first.
I was told either no lights during the cycling process or lights opposite of natural daylight cycle. Still not sure which way to go.
ALso, I need some feedback on various probes and monitors. I really want to go with quality on that one... While, daily measurements will be part of the routine, its still nice to have something to just glance at. What brands have proven reliable for pH, calcium, temp, etc.?
I'm sure I've forgotten some details...sorry! As soon as we start building an putting things together in detail, I post pics in the large tanks thread.
Thanks so much for the replies!
We are finally going to get it up and cycled, but I would love some feedback on our plan.
Total tank water volume is about 240g. Due to space constraints, we could not do a larger sump under the existing stand with all the other equipment that needs to be stored under there. We are starting off with a Dart pump plumbed into the tank with two returns. For now, we are only using one of the returns (ball valves on the PVC on the return plumbing to shut of flow on either one as needed) connected to a wavesea in the tank. FOr purposes of cycling, that should be sufficient... but I would like to hear any feedback on the wavesea if anyone else has one. We will eventually add a couple tunze 6000.
As far as lighting goes, we are starting off with power compacts and adding MH after cycling and as we add to the tank. I am thinking 3 10k 250w MH halide fixtures, but hav enot decided on the brand yet. It's always hard to compromise quality with price.
THere are two corner overflows- 6 x 6 x 23. I wish we could've done a single central overflow in the tank... but again, it was free so no complaining. We are enlarging the drain holes in the overflows to accomadate 2 inch bulkheads... much better.
We are only starting with the basics... sump with refugium and protein skimmer. Ambient temp on house is about 78 putting the tank water at an estimated 83 or so. We will monitor this, but will add a chiller when it becomes a problem (before adding fish and corals, of course.) The chiller will sit on top of the hood as its big... or we might build a cabinent above the tank to store it (which would be great for storing the CO2 tank). Either way, it will be plumbed above the tank.
We are really undecided onwhich Ca reactor. We are going with either a KNOP or a Korallin. Just the smaller rated models... again, we have space constraints. We will add the calcium reactor later after the cycling process, but we will have space and plumbing ready.
There were 3 2 inch holes drilled in to the back of the tank for a closed loop system. At first, we were going to do the same, but untimately decided just to plug them up. Any thoughts?
For the sump, I really love the design at my LFS. The water drains from the overflows into an initial compartment with live rock set on eggcrate. It then flows under and over baffles into the fuge, through a filter pad to the last compartment with the protein skimmer. Their tanks always have looked amazing and healthy. Plus, I love the noise dampening effects of the live rock and the natural biological filtration it provides (versus bioballs or a filter sock). We are just about to build the acrylic sump after this design, but I would love some feedback about it first.
I was told either no lights during the cycling process or lights opposite of natural daylight cycle. Still not sure which way to go.
ALso, I need some feedback on various probes and monitors. I really want to go with quality on that one... While, daily measurements will be part of the routine, its still nice to have something to just glance at. What brands have proven reliable for pH, calcium, temp, etc.?
I'm sure I've forgotten some details...sorry! As soon as we start building an putting things together in detail, I post pics in the large tanks thread.
Thanks so much for the replies!
