180g lps tank- equipment

[bboyin4lyf]

just a run through of my equipment so far: please comment and advise, thx

circulation- 1 tunze stream 6100 + return from sump. enough?
lighting: 3 175w mh
skimmer: what would you recommed, middle to top of range and price..
substrate: dsb made of crushed white marble
liverock: about 45kilos
sump: berlin style ie no wet/dry filled with rock rubble and incorporating a macro algae fuge
return pump: 1 hyper flow.. cant remember specific details- will update

stock:
1 yellow tang
1 bi coloured dwarf angel
either 1 regal angelfish or 1 blue girdled angelfish
1 mandarin fish

corals: LPS and a few softies and mushrooms

thoughts/ opinions?

 

[Len]

Lighting is fine for your intended stocking. The substrate worries me though. It's not just there for aesthetics, but for functionality as well. With that in mind, I'd go with fine aragonite sand instead.

For skimmers, consider Euroreef or Deltec. Both aren't cheap ($500-800), but you said high end, and these will serve you well for years and years. For a cheaper version, try a ASM skimmer. These work like Euroreefs but use cheaper parts.

Circulation is okay, but I'd add another Stream and use a timer. A single stream will mean a very laminar flow in one direction. Two will help you move water around the tank in a far more natural and healthy fashion.

 

[bboyin4lyf]

i turst your judgement just by the sheer number of posts you have :lol: but i was wondering- whats wrong/the proplem with the substrate?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

DSB of crushed white marble has a larger particle size that will allow detritus to fall through it and collect over time, leading to elevated nitrates and a possible tank crash when the build up becomes too much for the biological filtration to keep up with.

Aragonite or oolitic sand is the better choice for a DSB.

 

[fishfanatic2]

Oolite is really fine, I mean really really fine. I think I would go with the aragonite just because it doesn't swish around all the time.

 

[ChrisRD]

FWIW, oolitic refers to the shape of the sand grains (ooliths = rounded, as opposed to jagged/fractured particles). Aragonite is the common carbonate material reef sand often consists of. Both terms can (and often does) apply to the same sand.

 

[bboyin4lyf]

interesting stuff, makes logical sense about the grain size. does the smaller size of aragonite etc have detrimental effects on the fauna such as bristleworms of the live/deep sand bed ?

bad news today- one of two pumps in my 67 g display tank snapped its impeller - dont ask how- so now im stuck with only one pump creating minimal water movement. so im trying to organise this new tank in a hurry! 8O

 

[Anonymous]

Get a couple of maxijet 1200 powerheads. They are not that expensive and would see you through till you transfer the tank.

 

[bboyin4lyf]

ill propably go the maxijet 1200 option just to gimmie some more time to plan- number one best thing in this hobby. i allways sketch my tanks and draw everything to scale to get it all right the first time lol

whats the trend these days with larger tanks and substrates. are people going dsb or bare bottom? i know its a generic question but what would you guyz do given a 6foot tank to play with?

 

[Chubosco]

interesting stuff, makes logical sense about the grain size. does the smaller size of aragonite etc have detrimental effects on the fauna such as bristleworms of the live/deep sand bed ?

I was wondering about this myself, except overall. Does grain size affect bristleworms and plants.