Order of importance...

[bennyd]

Alright guys/gals, I need some help on deciding what the next thing I should focus on getting for my system after I get my truck fixed and the man I got the tank from paid in full...

Here's the current system:

120g Display Tank
40g Sump/Fuge
55-60lbs of Live Sand
70-80lbs of Live Rock
current lighting is 2 VHO super actinics, and a 296 watt power compact light that is just being borrowed from a friend...

Parameters as of yesterday

Salinity 1.026
Temp: 78-79.7
pH: 8.5(should this be lowered? If so, is it possible to do so without water changes?)
NitrAtes: 3
Nitrites: 0
Ammonia: 0
Alkalinity: 150 ppm


Now I know I need more light, I also know I need more rock and sand, I also need a larger clean up crew as I only have what I had ordered for my 55 gallon setup.

What should be the top priority here?

I have been thinking hard about going the Metal Halide direction for my lighting, 2 x 250 watt HQI Catalina Aquarium setup with 20k bulbs, is this over-kill? I don't plan on keeping any SPS but who knows, in the future maybe, but no immediate plans.

 

[Tswifty]

Sand is no biggie. I'm only running about a 1/2"deep sand bed in my new tank, and it's just for aesthetics. You should pick up more Live Rock though... you want to be around the 1 to 1.5 lb/gallon mark for filtration purposes.

Also, what are you using to test for pH? Unless you're dosing something... I highly doubt your pH is 8.5

Order I would go...

1. Live Rock
2. Flow (didn't see anything listed)
3. Lighting

I placed lighting 3rd... because if you're going for softy's off the bat, then you should be ok with that lighting. 250w MH's on a 120 is not overkill IMO since you're talking about a 24" tall tank. Although a decent 4 bulb T5 setup (Retrofit, Tek, ATI) would be more than enough for softies and LPS... probably even some SPS. 6 bulb would be ideal though, and allow you to do just about anything you want in the future.

 

[itZme]

I have a few large show pieces of live rock that are about basketball size or larger and probably weigh 8-12 lbs each with great coralline growth on them. I would like to get $3.50/ lb for them. They are the best pieces that I was saving for myself but I will not be using them now.

I could also hook you up with dual 250w MH or a 4 bulb T5 retro kit with IceCap 660 ballast. I can take one or the other out of my system if you decide what you want let me know.

Two 250w hqi does sound like overkill for softies. I have kept clams and SPS with 2 T5 on a 75g so I would think 4 bulbs on a 120 would be great.

-- Kevin

 

[bennyd]

Flow is currently a modded MJ1200 with the sure flo 2100gph kit, return pump is a sedra 9000, also have an MJ 400 in there just for a little more flow, the return pump is returning on both sides of the tank, it has 2 mega over-flows.


I am currently using this test kit as it was best "all-in-one" i could afford at the time.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+14740&pcatid=14740

 

[bennyd]

Kevin you will have a PM in a few moments.

 

[aerius007]

What about a skimmer? I didnt see one mentioned and if you dont have one that would be towards the top of my list.

 

[Rhodophyta]

If some of your live rock is colonized aragocrete, it could be bumping up the pH because of being moved around. It will stop within a couple weeks if that is the cause of the slightly high pH, and if it's not an artifact of an inaccurate test kit.

 

[Rhodophyta]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14453375#post14453375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aerius007
What about a skimmer? I didnt see one mentioned and if you dont have one that would be towards the top of my list.

yes a skimmer would be good.

 

[bennyd]

Sorry, forgot to mention the skimmer, I have an Aqua C Remora. Not rated for this large of a tank but I have read various things about skimming, under-skimming, and not skimming at all and decided I liked the under skimming method over the not skimming.

The skimmer pulls a collection cup of skimmate every 4-7 days.

 

[Kreeger1]

I would then say...
Skimmer
Flow
rock

 

[bennyd]

I am happy with my current skimming. It gives a really nice dark skimmate, and for the current bio-load on the tank, it's sufficient. And I plan on getting rid of the current fish anyways, they're all damsles and raise hell with one another all the time, it's annoying..

So, I'm happy with my skimmer, and since sand is pretty much just for looks anyways, I don't need anymore I guess...

So I'm still trying to decide, rocks, CUC, or lights. lol
Also Kreeger mentioned flow, I already plan on getting 2 more MJ1200's with mod kits, anyone have any suggestions on which kind or where to get them? The one I currently have is not very good.

 

[Kreeger1]

I like the kit salty critter sells.