some questions before i get started

[DripN.Wet]

I'm currently preparing my home for a 300 gallon reef tank, and just wanted some opinions about the system. I purchased the acrylic tank in June and its been sitting in storage. I am wanting to used a 75 gallon sump, which I have on my 125 now, will that be big enough? I also have an asm-g4 skimmer. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

the key here is 1) figuring out what equipment you will have in there and if you have enough room to fit everything in the sump and also to do maint on it and 2) Figure out how much water will flow into the sump when you cut the power. I am putting an 80 gal sump on a 220 but I will only have my skimmer and 1 reactor to put in it. I will not have a fuge in mine either.

 

[hybridazn]

I would go alittle bigger on the sump. The 125 would make an awesome sump for that tank. A g4 is a nice size skimmer, what are ur plans for the tank? Bioload wise?

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[DripN.Wet]

Im going toward a mixed reef...LPS,softies, inverts, & fish. The problem with using the 125 is, it is suposed to become a discus tank for the better-half. That was the compromise for the 300.

 

[hybridazn]

I have a 125 layin around that is sump ready if ur interested. Pm me if u are

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[brettnleslie]

I have an ASM G4X on my system that is 380 gallons and it works great. I agree, make sure you have room to work on everything and that the water level for the protein skimmer is constant.

 

[DripN.Wet]

For lighting I am shooting for 3 250w 14,000kMH and vho actinics for supliments. Any input on that, should I use a 4th? Reason for 3, is so there is a MH over each opening.

 

[hybridazn]

What are the dimensions of the tank? I would think 3 is plenty. But depending on the height of the tank I would think 400 watt mh's would be the way to go

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[cloakerpoked]

I agree with hybrid. I'd like to see those bump up to 400w halides, but it does depend on the dimensions of the tank I suppose. I guess since you're not doing SPS, 250's SHOULD be ok...as long as you aren't married to being able to keep any coral in any location in the tank.

 

[DripN.Wet]

The tank is 30 inches deep.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

What kind of reflectors are you using? I am going with lumenbrights and 250W MH and my tank is 30" tall. I will be keeping clams on the sand also. How long is that tank. I am using 3 over a 6ft 220 that has 3 openings. If its an 8 foot tank you can raise the lights higher to get a wider spread and only use 3 but you would probably want to to use 400w then.

 

[DripN.Wet]

It's an 8ft tank. ROFL you guys are trying to get me thrown out. So I guess now I need 3 400 watt MH lights. But I will have to use the fixture I have for now unless someone has some 400's in their garage sale stuff for cheap. I know when I say hey babe I need to upgrade lights, the reply will be......why a fish tank that big won't fit in the dog house. LOL

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

Honestly if you're not going to have any sps or just a couple, the 250w will be fine. The general rule of thumb is MH reflector for every 24" X 24" area. There are some reflectors like the Lumenmax elite that will cover up to 36" X 36". Its just with an 8 ft tank and using 3 regular reflectors you make have some dark spots. Marc has some good info on his site that show par readings at different depths. www.melevsreef.com/par_readings.html The thing is what bulbs,reflectors and ballast you use make a huge difference. I upgraded to the lumenbright reflectors and lumatek ballast (switchable between 250w/400w) so I could use 250W over my tank (Thanks to Dave's Aquastock....:lol2::thumbsup IMO with softies and LPS you'll be fine with 250w.

 

[BBoley24]

I definitely think you should go with 400s... 250 was great over a 25" tank for me... but that 30" mark... it's time for a boost. Plus my lights were less than a foot from the water. Im not sure where you'res will be but I recommend 400w. Oddly enough I have a 400w MH ballast laying around. But its magnetic...

 

[DripN.Wet]

Is magnetic bad? I guess I should not have just jumped to buying a tank that size without doing my homework.

 

[hybridazn]

30" is deep. Too deep imo for 250 watt mh's. Unless of course you don't plan on keeping anything on the sandbed and most corals up high. If it were me with this tank I would rock 4 400watt mh's and know I can pretty much keep anything I want.

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[NaClH2Opgh]

30" is deep. Too deep imo for 250 watt mh's. Unless of course you don't plan on keeping anything on the sandbed and most corals up high.

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Not 100% true. It depends. Generic reflectors and crappy bulbs I agree. Look at the link I posted. 200 par and 42" between bulb and sand. That is why I got the setup I did since I will have clams on the bed of my 220. I have already experimented with my temp setup and raised the reflectors and was getting the same readings with the par meter. I guarantee you I will be able to keep anything under 250w.

 

[DripN.Wet]

Well the reason for 3 bulbs was to avoid bulbs over the acrylic as much as possible. I was told at a lfs that the MH bulbs would damage the tank over time.

 

[BBoley24]

That's what re-bracing is for... it's a simple procedure that you won't have to worry about for a long time. Acrylic will bow after a while just like glass will but no worries. On an 8 foot tank... You may get away with 3x lights but there will most likely be shadows on your ends and a little in the middle. If you don't mind the shadow you'll be ok.

 

[DripN.Wet]

I don't mind some shadows...gives me a place to put sun coral it other non photosynthetic corals.