Zoo tank buildout critique

[uscgbeachbum]

I'm in the planning stages of a primarily zoo tank with some rics/shrooms/lps and I'd like some critiques on my proposed setup.

Tank size is 36" long x 24" wide x 20" tall with homogenous 3" eurobrace around the top all made of 3/8" acrylic.

Lighting will be 4x39 T5. I may upgrade to 6 if the light doesn't appear strong enough, but with the 3" eurobrace 2 of the bulbs wouldn't even be over open water.

Skimmer will be ASM G2/3 or an Octopuss 200, or equivalent that I find for sale used. I know that softies don't need overskimming, but the idea is to reduce the need for water changes.

Probably mag 5 main pump with 2 eductors. Eductors will be on opposite corners aimed at diagonal corner. Maxijet 1200 on a 5 min on/off timer in the center.

~100-150 lbs of dry base rock. I hate the idea of introducing possible algae.

3" sand bed of aragonite

The concept here is to not need a cooling system (the house will be set at 78 deg) and as little electricity as possible. If necessary I may get a dual stage temp controller, but I'd rather not if at all possible. Of course as cheaply as possible, but I'm not going to cut any corners. Any suggestions?

 

[650-IS350]

You should be able to go with 6 bulbs plus allows for more flexiblity in bulb color choices.

 

[uscgbeachbum]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10119906#post10119906 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by delsol650
You should be able to go with 6 bulbs plus allows for more flexiblity in bulb color choices.

I have this fear of having the bulbs being right over the eurobracing. Plus, even though that the eurobracing will be clear it will attenuate the light from both the front and back bulbs. Also, corals won't be to the front edge of the tank making the front bulb only for brightness and color.

What about 4 overdriven bulbs?

 

[lunker]

im doing the same tank right now, but a 32 gallom, 24" x 18" x 18", single 1" drop line, two 3/4" u - tube returns from a mag 5 in a 22 gallon refugium, filled with ruble rock, live rock, and a basketball size chunk of cheato. I am trying this set up skimmer free for a few months, then I will add my remora for a few months, and see what happens. Lighting consists of 4 t-5 24" bulbs, 2 geissman 11k, 2 geissman pure actinic, no powerheads, a single 200 watt heater. Tank is all zoos and ricordias left over from my recently torn down 150 gallon reef, REALLY simple, REALLY cheap to run, keep me posted on how your tank turns out, thanks, Marc.

 

[ek9vboi]

Back into the Reef keeping game already? lol, I remembered a year ago when you sold everything.

 

[uscgbeachbum]

Thanks for all of the information.

Lunker, it looks like you have a very nicely lit tank. Nice corals, too.

ek9vboi, I was selling everything since I was planning on moving across the US. I had just moved (second move in 3 months) and lost most of my stuff so I couldn't handle doing it all over again. We ended up staying though. Honestly, the tank was my wife's idea. She hates the look of a tv in a living room so she wants something near by to get your interest rather than the tv. She didn't have to say that twice. The catch...I have to buy us a house first (which we are already looking).

 

[Azurel]

Always a catch......

 

[uscgbeachbum]

What about the proposed skimmer and flow?