Hi all I'm new to reef central but have been reading for 6 or so months and had a small tank for 4. I am starting a new tank in about a week probably and looking to get it fully set up and cycling by the end of the month if possible.
So I'v had a 8G custom tank I built myself with a 150w 14k phoenix(yea overkill) set up for a little over 4 months and after learning a lot about what it takes to have a well running tank and I'm itching for a substantial upgrade. Luckily the only problems I have had are a fire fish dying a few days after i bought him and a flat worm problem that I ended up useing flatworm exit on as a last resort. On top of that everything has been growing quite well however I feel that it could probably be better. My one inch acro frag has a 2" disk holding it to the rock work (yes i got it too early and too small of a tank but it was a trial) and my plate coral which i got at about 1/8", I thought it was a cool bright green zoa, is about 1 1/2+" . Also my zoanthids ranging from one 30 polyp colony that was initialy 3 and my mowhawk paly from 1 to about 30, to some which have grown only one aditional polyp.
The tank
What I'm looking at setting up is either a 40 breeder, 36x18x16h, or a 70 custom, 48x18or20x18h mostly depending on the price of the custom tank. It will be a mixed reef with zoanthids and acan's/micro's dominated with some SPS in the back and probably an anemone or clam under the metal halide. For lighting I plan on useing the 150w MH and getting an ARO VHO retro kit and building my own hood. Most likely puting an actinic up front and a 50/50 bulb in the back with the MH sandwiched between, so for my first question with the custom 48L tank would I get enough light in the front corners for zoa's and possibly acan's to grow decently? Or would it end up way too blue?
Circulation in the tank will be from 2 or 3 koralis on oposite sides of the tank for a good flow and atleast 25x turnover.
For Filtration I was planing on either a built in overflow if its custom or a U overflow if I get the 40B and either a 30 or 20G sump with a mag 7 or 9.5 return pump. Also depending on how things fit I may try to put in a refugium or DSB, more like a refugium with a skimmer than a sump. For the skimmer I haven't decided yet on what the cost benifit would be on getting a recirculating one like a euro reef or octopus DNW, or a single pass like an octopus needle wheel, aqua c or euro reef. This is where I'm looking for any input on how well they operate and especialy noise because I want this tank as quiet as possible. Im most likely not going to get a euro reef RC because they are just too expensive but anyone have a good or bad experience with the octopus RC?
I will also have a phosphate reactor and in the future possibly a calcuim reactor and my fish load will be moderate to below heavy. I would love a tang but only a yellow would fit in the 70 and i think that would be pushing it for the tang's comfort so I will probably end up with a pair of onyx clowns(prob only if i do 70), a goby/shrimp pair and assorted gobies or other small fish.
For the stand I dont have anything elegant planed, either a store bought one or a 1/2' plywood box with some 2x2's reinforcing the corners, hopefully no center brace in the front to keep it accesible and some trim to look nice.
So thats all I have thought of so far, anyone see any problems with what I have planed so far or if there are any recomendations on equipment, set up or filtration methods I would greatly apreciate it. Also I am curious if anyone has something to recomend about club reef on e-bay, I was going to get their 2x 2 bulb ARO VHO kit and possibly use one for the fuge if I go that way.
Thanks,
Mark
So I'v had a 8G custom tank I built myself with a 150w 14k phoenix(yea overkill) set up for a little over 4 months and after learning a lot about what it takes to have a well running tank and I'm itching for a substantial upgrade. Luckily the only problems I have had are a fire fish dying a few days after i bought him and a flat worm problem that I ended up useing flatworm exit on as a last resort. On top of that everything has been growing quite well however I feel that it could probably be better. My one inch acro frag has a 2" disk holding it to the rock work (yes i got it too early and too small of a tank but it was a trial) and my plate coral which i got at about 1/8", I thought it was a cool bright green zoa, is about 1 1/2+" . Also my zoanthids ranging from one 30 polyp colony that was initialy 3 and my mowhawk paly from 1 to about 30, to some which have grown only one aditional polyp.
The tank
What I'm looking at setting up is either a 40 breeder, 36x18x16h, or a 70 custom, 48x18or20x18h mostly depending on the price of the custom tank. It will be a mixed reef with zoanthids and acan's/micro's dominated with some SPS in the back and probably an anemone or clam under the metal halide. For lighting I plan on useing the 150w MH and getting an ARO VHO retro kit and building my own hood. Most likely puting an actinic up front and a 50/50 bulb in the back with the MH sandwiched between, so for my first question with the custom 48L tank would I get enough light in the front corners for zoa's and possibly acan's to grow decently? Or would it end up way too blue?
Circulation in the tank will be from 2 or 3 koralis on oposite sides of the tank for a good flow and atleast 25x turnover.
For Filtration I was planing on either a built in overflow if its custom or a U overflow if I get the 40B and either a 30 or 20G sump with a mag 7 or 9.5 return pump. Also depending on how things fit I may try to put in a refugium or DSB, more like a refugium with a skimmer than a sump. For the skimmer I haven't decided yet on what the cost benifit would be on getting a recirculating one like a euro reef or octopus DNW, or a single pass like an octopus needle wheel, aqua c or euro reef. This is where I'm looking for any input on how well they operate and especialy noise because I want this tank as quiet as possible. Im most likely not going to get a euro reef RC because they are just too expensive but anyone have a good or bad experience with the octopus RC?
I will also have a phosphate reactor and in the future possibly a calcuim reactor and my fish load will be moderate to below heavy. I would love a tang but only a yellow would fit in the 70 and i think that would be pushing it for the tang's comfort so I will probably end up with a pair of onyx clowns(prob only if i do 70), a goby/shrimp pair and assorted gobies or other small fish.
For the stand I dont have anything elegant planed, either a store bought one or a 1/2' plywood box with some 2x2's reinforcing the corners, hopefully no center brace in the front to keep it accesible and some trim to look nice.
So thats all I have thought of so far, anyone see any problems with what I have planed so far or if there are any recomendations on equipment, set up or filtration methods I would greatly apreciate it. Also I am curious if anyone has something to recomend about club reef on e-bay, I was going to get their 2x 2 bulb ARO VHO kit and possibly use one for the fuge if I go that way.
Thanks,
Mark
