New tank, new questions

[J.russell]

I have decided to make a small change with my current set up. I currently have a 125g reef that I will be getting rid of and replacing it with a 95g hex. Mostly doing this for more room in the living room and somthing a little different.

Right now my reef is OK but by no means done right. I have a good DIY skimmer that is working great but is set up as a HOB. I will be making a few changes to it and putting it into a sump/refugium (current tank does not have a sump).

Would a 30-55g sump/refugium be big enough for the new tank?

I currently have a Coralife 4x96 PC light for the 125g but will probally be getting a 250w MH for the new tank.

Is a 250w MH good or should I go up?

I have about 130lbs. of LR in the current tank.

Should I try to fit all that into the new tank and just build it up nice and tall?

Im sure Ill think of more question but lets start with that...lol.

 

[Amoore311]

Would a 30-55g sump/refugium be big enough for the new tank?

Standard 90 Gallon AGA's usually run w/ 30 Gallon Sumps, you should be fine here.

Is a 250w MH good or should I go up?

Need to know how tall your tank is, and what coral you want to keep.

Should I try to fit all that into the new tank and just build it up nice and tall?

This is personal tbh. I would probably put around 80-90 lbs in the display and the rest would go in the sump. I don't like a tank crowded w/ rock.

 

[J.russell]

Thanks man.

Ok so a 30g should be ok. Ill need to look for a 30L I guess inorder to have room for the skimmer and all that other stuff.

I want to keep a mixed reef to get some nice natural color in there.

I wast thinking about some softies LPS and SPS. I dont mind putting the more light requiring corals at the top. I was going to build a pillar in the middle of the tank anyway to maximize swimming area also.

I dont like a crowded tank either

 

[Amoore311]

How tall is your tank?

My 90 is 24" tall and Metal Halide wise, I was told 250 Watt in order to keep everything I could every want.

If your tank is taller than that, and you want SPS anywhere but the top section of the tank, I'd go with a 400 Watt Halide.


I went with T5's for my tank regardless, but that probably isn't an option for a hex tank.

 

[J.russell]

Im going to have to measure it next time im out there. I think its about 36" tall

 

[J.russell]

Here we go, another question

I should be ok having my heater in my sump too right?

Right now its actually in my tank and once I add a sump I would like to get it out of the display for a cleaner look.

 

[saltee dood]

I'd say since the greater majority of tanks I have seen have the heater in sump, you should be fine.

 

[Amoore311]

I have 2 heaters.

1 in my overflow box and 1 in my sump.

I'd run to just in case 1 fails you've got your bases covered. Keeping them in the sump isn't a problem at all.

 

[J.russell]

Well I just got back from my local tank builder and hes drilling it and adding the overfrlow for me. Should be ready in a week