Proposed layout for a 55G

[Diver4Life]

I am setting up a 55G reef tank for a friend of mine. He currently has a 20G that we will be replacing. I need to make this setup as easy as possible to maintain. I will be over once in awhile but he is a novice with reef tanks. All of the corals placed in the tank will be soft and LPS.

Some details.. We are building a non-supporting wall to divide 2 rooms. The 55G tank will be set inside the wall and will have access doors only on 1 side of the wall.

Lighting: 2x96W PC 10k
1x96W PC Actinic

CS50 CPR External Overflow

Sump (To be determined, Suggestions?)

MAG 12 Return Pump to SCWD. I was then going to run a flexible hose to the Right/Left side of the tank to a 90/90/90. Do you think only 2 outputs are enough? I have a sea swirl that I am not using also.

Red Sea Berlin Skimmer (Mag 7 with Kent Venturi) (I already have this)

The show side of the wall will face the living room. The back side of the wall will face the den. The den side will have louvered doors on the right, left, and the top. There will be cabinet doors under the tank.

Any thoughts on this setup?

Thanks,

Will..

 

[ChrisRD]

My first thought is that it will be difficult to aquascape a 12" wide tank for viewing on both sides. Any chance of an upgrade to a 75 gallon (18" wide) or 120 gallon (24" wide)?

I would plan on having more circulation than the return pump + SCWD. Maybe a closed loop with that leftover Sea-Swirl on the outlet or maybe just a few powerheads.

Just a couple of things that immediately came to mind...

 

[Diver4Life]

He already bought the 55G tank, but could probably return it. I had a 55G for a few years and the rock placement is really difficult.

I thought about more flow also. I am not a fan of power heads. I really liked my sea swirl, but I just started a 30G Cube with the SCWD. I like the wave flow of the SCWD vs the sea swirl.

 

[Entacmaea]

I agree the Chris about the larger tank, if it is at all possible.

I also don't like powerheads, but if you have the sea swirl laying around, you might as well use it! YOu'll need more flow than the retunr on the squid or sea swirl. Alternatively, you can set up four Maxi-Jet 1200's on a wave maker- you can mount these above the water line so they are not in the tank, just plumb the intake and output just below the surface and start the siphon with some airline (or install an airline nozzle in the plimbing)- this creates a mini closed loop for the MJ which gets them out of the tank (less heat too). The intake and nozzle are far less noticable, and the MJ's will operate as normal with the wavemaker...

 

[Diver4Life]

Interesting idea about the Maxijet 1200's. How woild the siphon get restarted if the power goes out?

 

[Entacmaea]

the siphon wouldn't break in the event of a power outage- the intake-MJ-output loop is airtight, so it would start right up again. I had this set up in my last tank and it works great...

 

[Diver4Life]

Thanks everyone for the great input.

I am going with 3x96W CF lights. I was thinking of mounting the lights 6" about the top of the tank inside the wall. The hood would sit on wood rails. There would be electrical quick disconnects that would allow me slide out the light hood.

Does this sound like a good idea? I am have never built a tank within a wall so any input here would be appreciated.

Thanks, Will