Help with new 125 gal reef

[rnoreef]

I have been crusing this site for the last few weeks gathering info, and now I have my head spinning with all the different ways of keeping reef tanks. I have had FOWLR tanks in the past with some degree of sucess, but i had no idea on what proper filtration or lighting to use. I have a 125 gal AGA tank collecting dust in my garage that I'm currently constructing a new stand and canopy for. I have 2 400W MH sitting around also that I was planning on incorporating into the new hood. The plan was to go with a DSB and live rock, then a hang on back refugium, then possibly a sump ( i have a 75 gallon acrylic tank sitting behind my woodshed collecting dust but I thought that would be overkill for a sump). I collected about 100 lbs. of tufa to use as my base rock and seed it with live rock. I work in the commercial HVAC field as a controls technician, so plumbing and electrical is not really an issue (By the way anyone that has problems related to that feel free to write me). I'm really looking for the best way to setup my filtration system that will be somewhat forgiving if I make a mistake, and fairly low maintaince. I'm not in any real hurry either. I learned previously that paitence is trully a virtue. So I'm not planning on adding any live creatures for months. Just looking for some input from those in the know so maybe I can learn from your mistakes. Thanks everyone.

 

[Anonymous]

If you need some hints as far as plumbing or electrical check this thread out, there is some really good pictures and discussions.

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... hlight=300

What you should think about is what you want to keep in the tank, and go from there in terms of setting it up according to the needs of the inhabitants. I would definitely go with a sump now as it is far easier to do it when you first set things up rather than later. It's also a handy spot for heaters, makeup water containers, skimmers, etc besides the benefits of more water in the system.

 

[Anonymous]

Consider using the 75g as a sump...you can also put a refugium in there.

Overkill? No way! The more water, the better!

 

[rnoreef]

I was looking at keeping some leathers, ricordias, zooanthids, gorgonians, sponges and a few anenomes. I'm only planning on adding a few fish if any. I've had fish before, so I'd like to create a sucessful reef enviornment before even thinking about adding fish to it. Do I really need to add a sump if i'm not going to add alot of fish to the tank? Can't I get away with a large amount of live rock and a good skimmer?

 

[Anonymous]

Can't I get away with a large amount of live rock and a good skimmer?

Yes, I think so...but most HOB skimmers don't perform well on tanks that big, ime. What do you have in mind for a skimmer?

 

[rnoreef]

I was thinking about using a CPR bak-pak Dual pack to start and then eventually adding another as my tank fills with inhabitants. I figured without alot of fish in the tank I don't really want to skim out too much.

 

[Anonymous]

I figured without alot of fish in the tank I don't really want to skim out too much.

You do have a point there, and unless you plan on target feeding your corals that skimmer may work just fine. Traffic will be heavier here tomorrow, and I'm sure others will chime in then.

 

[tetra]

was looking at keeping some leathers, ricordias, zooanthids, gorgonians, sponges and a few anenomes. I'm only planning on adding a few fish if any. I've had fish before, so I'd like to create a sucessful reef enviornment before even thinking about adding fish to it.

in that case, 400w will be over killed for lps and inverts...

 

[rnoreef]

Well Unfortunately right now all I have available to me are 2- 400w metal halides that were free, and a couple of old 4ft flouro's 1 10K and 1 Actinic. I was planning on incorporating them into a custom hood with a custom made cooling system. Is it really possible to have too much light?

 

[tetra]

just lots of wasted electricity, I guess. What you can do is run your MH for ony two hours a day and run the other 8-hrs using your NO. In my current tank, I run 2x250w MH for 5hrs. and 8-hrs. of VHO...

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[rnoreef]

Ok, but I've been gloating all afternoon, and I have to share the news, I just scrapped the plans for the 125 gallon because I just picked up a 300 gallon acrylic tank from a guy that was selling it locally for $100 bucks. I don't really have the room for it in the house, but for that price I couldn't pass it up and I can always make room!!! Anyways, I am going to use an old 75 gallon acrylic tank for a sump and maybe half refugium, but the 300 gallon has no overflows in it yet. Hell it's only a year old. Would it be better to drill the overflows through the back of the tank or through the bottom of it? I'm also going to have to build a stand and conopy for it too. Saving money is always great, but i'll probably cost me a fortune in the long run.