planing stage for LPS tank (Help!)

[lubricus]

Well I'm not sure were to start, Ive bin out of the hobby for about 6 years now and it looks like Ive got the itch again I had a nice reef back then, well at one point it was nice, sometimes I'm my own worst enemy, my tank went down hill because I was mixing to-many SPS, LPS, soft-coals, and fish together and plus a few other mistakes I think this time I'm going to go with a 90 diamond (do to space) I want to go with LPS mostly that is if I can get away with adding one or two SPS or a soft coral or two anyway I guess I'm just a newbie after being away from reef-keeping for 6 years. I was hoping to get some advice on how to go about setting this up the right way, after viewing this forum Ive no-tested reef-keeping has come a long-way and I was wondering if some of you could point me in the right direction. I'm looking for info on pretty much everything from lighting to filtration (good links) in other-words how would you set this LPS reef up to get the beast results. Thanks Bill.L

 

[Beal9]

My 135 is LPS dominated and I would recommend PC or VHO lighting for your tank, especially due to size. You can do a retrofit kit of some sort from www.hellolights.com. PC will support most LPS, and even some SPS. If you want more SPS or clams, etc. you should really go the MH route, though heat will be an issue. As for filter, are you thinking hang on the back? or a sump system? Sump is IMO much better, cleaner look. I recommend an ASM skimmer, they are AWESOME! Cheapest place I've found them is at Roes Marine <http://www.roesmarineworld.com>. Good luck!

 

[Jacob D]

There are too many variables to really do a 'how-to'. My piece of advice would be to give yourself a medium height rockwork with a semi-shaded overhang or cave for some of the more sensitive corals such as blastomussa. In general most other LPS will like moderate light and flow. T5 lighting also works well with LPS, and is intense enough to support clams and SPS without a lot of added heat.

 

[lubricus]

Is there such a thing as to much light? I was thinking of going with a 250 MH and some day-light I'm not to sure what MH bulb to go with yet (still learning) I think if I add a large sump it might help cool the tank, maybe something like a basement sump. Do you think that I could get away with adding a few SPS and a softy or two? or am I just asking for trouble.