Ok here's the low down. I have the tank being built by
Glasscages.com - Home and am supposed to meet them for delivery on Saturday Sept 1st (this coming Saturday). It's a 90 long Reef Ready (48" tank) with an included 29g (30x12 1/2 x 17 tall) sump tank.
This will be my first attempt at anything on this scale in a single tank. I'll have to take it slow and research EVERYTHING I need to incorporate into this system. So this will be a slow and ever changing build.
I'm going to start a chronicle here to get ideas and also to be able to look back and see how the finished project compares to what I now have in mind.
I am having a local custom cabinet designer build the stand and attached cabinet for it. It will be an "L" shaped unit with full height cabinets on the left side. He's decided to make it "modular" so that when I build our new home and we move into it the stand unit is modifiable. The cabinet unit is designed in a way that it comes off the left side and can be mounted on the right side if needed. Or it can be taken off completely and not used. He's incorporating removalble trim panels that can either be attached to the cabinet unit or to the sides of the stand. What an awesome idea. He's building the canopy to be modular so that any lighting I decide can be mounted in a number of different ways.
I am planning a sump/fuge in the 29g but I won't be able to make any purchases until I have the tanks in hand and can then see what's needed.
I want a good skimmer and have been reading a lot. I think I will probably go for an Octopus skimmer in the sump. Which one should I get and why?
For lights I am trying to be smart and go ahead and get the lights I want to have long term on this tank. I was thinking of a MH retro kit but then I like the idea of an all inclusive unit and may opt for
Current USA 48 inch 250W HQI Outer Orbit with T5s & 250W HQI Bulbs . I like the idea of being able to house any coral I would like and will possibly have a clam later in the game. Thoughts?
Attached is a pic the cabinet builder just sent me of the cabinet thus far.. it's still in the rough stages but it's a good start...