Ordered a 20x20x16 cube from glass cages today!

[cbonito]

I currently have a 90 AGA tank set up with very high light species, mainly SPS, and the electric bills, etc. are getting pretty old. lol
No, I have no plans to get out of the hobby or anything because I love it, but "mommy" wants to redo the livingroom and my tank somehow didn;t end up in the new design. Imagine the irony! haha.

Anyway, I had a talk with her and agreed to downsize things so we could save a little money as well as relocate the tank to my office upstairs. My electric bills are huge with 2 400 watt and 2 250 watt bulbs over the tank in addition to all of the pumps etc. I figure with this tank, I can run one 400 watt halide and cut the bill bigtime, as well as end up with a pretty kickass SPS tank, only in miniature.

I am basically starting this thread to ask opinions from people with experience with one of these tanks or something similar in size on what they would recommend as far as sump size, plumbing, filtration, etc. I'd seriously like to set it up the right time the first time!

Parts I am currently planning on using from my old setup are as follows:
1 400 watt halide (20k bulb), 1 mag 36 return, a nice 8 inch diameter by 29 inch tall skimmer powered by a 900 gph pump, and 2 100 watt heaters (yeah overkill).

This is going to be an ALL SPS tank where I will be keeping my prized specimens for this build from my 90 gallon.

So let's hear the opinions of others as far as recommendations regarding any additional filtration, water flow, blah blah whatever.
This is my first acrylic tank too, so I am pretty excited.

I would like to use this thread to track my progress as I have seen others do here. Anyway, lets hear what you have to say.

P.S. I am really interested in the possibility of using the zeovit method or something comparable. I am almost sold on this method. I will get pics of the tank in it's new home in a few days when it arrives here. They said they should have one made up and shipped out tomorrow! Yahoo. lol

Opinions?

 

[cbonito]

Gee, 32 views and no one with any insight or ideas?

Definitely feelin the love! lol

 

[GSMguy]

bare bottom tunze nano streams and lots of rock

 

[cbonito]

Interesting you say the bare bottom. I have been considering this.
But I'm thinking if I go with a zeovit type system it might negate needing to do this. It's 50/50 on that at this point.

for the record I am planning on using a sump too, so there will be capacity for equipment as well as more water.

 

[danmartis]

how much extra is the electric a month from the aquarium?can you pm me please

 

[Rivenjim]

have you heard the reviews on glasscages? i am suprised anyone still takes a chance with then IMO

 

[TXKev]

Wouldn't the Mag 36 be a bit much for a return pump on this? I could see you using it for a closed loop, but that much water running through that size tank seems like it would be way to much. You are talking something like 120x turnover.

Kevin

 

[alien9168]

wow! I mean.... this system is going to be way over the top...
you may wish to consider toning it down a little...

and the lighting on your old 90 was ridiculous...did you have any problems with heat or anything?

 

[mdt178]

Total overkill IMO. If I was interested in a lower bill for the small SPS tank, I would use none of the equip you mentioned. I'd just replace them with 1x250W MH, Eheim 1250 return pump, Tunze nano streams, needlewheel skimmer, 1 heater. Without the heater being on, all those equip draw less wattage than your Mag 36.
I realize you want to keep as much as you can from your previous set up, but it's not going to be efficient.

HTH