New Large Reef

[thacyko]

I'm not really new to the hobby, but i am new to the large tanks. I just got a 300 Gallon tank, and i'm going to use a 90 gallon tank i have for the sump 48x24x18. Im planning to use the first 8" as the intake to the sump filled with bioballs, than 20" live sand and rocks, 8" bubble trap, and last 12" for return pump.

Does this sound like a good sump??

I know i should have 3-5 watts per gallon for the show tank.

Is it better to go with 2x400w MH lights or 3x250W MH??
Does the amount of light matter more on watts or K's??

I'd also like to add a few 72" florescent light in the show. Is this a Good Idea?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Ty1e]

it depends on the 300gal tanks dimentions, you need penitrating wattage and coverage, example(my 30gal has a 250watt MH 14k pendant) all because i want to grow sps in there, k's are just what appeals to you if you like blue or not. this might have more response in the lighting forums.

 

[Southern Boy]

Lose th bio balls.Put LR rubble.Do you plan on having any type of mechanical filtration?Skimmer,filter sock, etc..The intake or drain section is a good place for a filter sock.You don't really want bio balls in a reef tank.Nitrate factory.3-400's for the MH and t-5's instead of flueresents.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

FWIW, the watts/gallon rule of thumb is garbage. Instead, take in to account:

1) The surface area of your tank. You need bulbs that will spread light evenly across the whole surface. The rule of thumb for MH bulbs is 2'x2' per bulb. For instance, on a standard 180 (6' long, 2' tall, 2' deep) you'd put three bulbs.

2) The depth of the tank and your desired intensity. Here's where wattage comes in to play for choosing MH bulbs. If you want to be able to keep demanding livestock anywhere in the tank and it's much more than 18 - 20" deep, you're going to want to at least consider 400w bulbs. Anything shallower or less demanding and 250w are going to be OK.

You don't mention a skimmer in your sump plan. That's typically a major component in a modern reef tank. In addition, the latest trends have been away from bio balls, as that type of biological media tends to just trap debris and allow it to break down. Hence skimmers have become popular, since they totally remove waste from your system instead of just breaking it down into less harmful waste.

 

[thacyko]

the tank is 8' long 30" tall and 24"deep, so i'll need 4 Mh's

And yea i'm going to put in a skimmer

 

[Teremei]

Can I just say "I'm jealous"? I started with a 55 and upgraded to a 125. Good luck with your set up and have lots of fun!! Sounds like a good plan to me. I managed to fit a 40 gal breeder under my 125 and the bigger the sump the better. Fit the largest one you can under there.

 

[jthao]

well if it helps, I have a 75g sump for my 210, and in the sump it will include the 40g refuge area, and area for my skimmer. I'm not even going to use a lot of lr rubles in the sump/refuge. I'm just going to put a little ls, like 3" and grow some chaeto and mangroves.