helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank

swissgaurd · 10-28-2006, 05:26 PM

this may help others as well looking to get into the hobby.

first of all we need to know jrf1175 wall space where he would like the tank to be placed.( i got permission from jrf1175)
the length of a common tank is 4ft as goes for lighting as well this can keep your price down.

first jayme we need to know dimensions of tank you want.

personally i prefer dimensions width and hieght to be the same...example 20 wide by 20 tall.

vic

jrf1175 · 10-28-2006, 05:34 PM

Hey All,

I have 2 photos in my gallery with some positioning options in my suite.

Size wise I have been looking at something around 90 gal 48 x 18 x 25 or so. The 18in depth works best for the location options I have. There are some many options and choices out there, but I guess this is the first one I should tackle. Looking have have all plumbing etc self contained within the stand.

Cheers,
Jayme

TDEVIL · 10-28-2006, 05:43 PM

hello, responded to the other thread

Jay

swissgaurd · 10-28-2006, 05:44 PM

2 holes drilled or one

youll want a stand with more than 24" hieght for a skimmer.

30" high gives plenty of room.

youll need a pump for 1000 gals per hour.

external or submersed your choice.
external preferred.

with a tank that deep i would go with 2 x 250watt metal halides on electronic ballasts.

jrf1175 · 10-28-2006, 05:53 PM

TDEVILs reply from a different post.

Re: Aquariums and Condos
my first question would be, what are you planing on keeping?
a lagonal style or a SPS (high flow reef)?
this will help you decide a little beter, a softy tank wont 'require' as much lighting as a SPS reef so you could save a bit of money on the lighting and go w/ a taller tank like a 90g or even a 110g (same foot print) and if you want more of a SPS tank then you can get a 75g (same foot print) and upgrade the lighting a bit.

imo, a 75 would be better anyways wont be large enough to kill your budget and still small enough that you can handle any issues. even though your area of study will help you a lot, you can/will encounter some issues and if you have to do a good size water change the 75g would be a bit easire on the $$$, lol, and will be large enough to give you some area for some coral/fish growth

and im glad to see you doing some research, this will give you a better start than most of us had

Jay

TDEVIL · 10-28-2006, 05:54 PM

you beat me to it, i was going to do the same thing, lol

Jay

jrf1175 · 10-28-2006, 06:01 PM

I think I would go with the SPS (what does that actually stand for) reef.

I dont have a fixed footprint size or budget decided yet. I definetly want to do this right and am seeing costs continue to rise as I learm more a more. I find that if you set a budget you end up spending more anyways...Cars, TVs ..and now aquariums...you can win really

Logic seems to state that the smaller ank size will save moeny in the long run and for everything else I need. I dont think I would go smaller than 70 though.

Thanks again to everyone for all their help. I will get there and be sure to let everyone see the progress.

TDEVIL · 10-28-2006, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrf1175

I think I would go with the SPS (what does that actually stand for) reef.

sorry SPS= small polyped stony corals
like these

these corals require a bit more lighting than soft corals and like a bit more flow

Quote:

I dont have a fixed footprint size or budget decided yet. I definetly want to do this right and am seeing costs continue to rise as I learm more a more. I find tha tis you set a budget you end up spending more anyways...Cars, TVs ..and now aquariums...you can win really

isnt that the truth, lol

Quote:

Logic seems to state that the smaller ank size will save moeny in the long run and for everything else I need. I dont think I would go smaller than 70 though.

agreed

Quote:

Thanks again to everyone for all their help. I will get there and be sure to let everyone see the progress.

that is what we are here for
dont hesitate to ask any question you want

Jay

lcstorc · 10-29-2006, 08:24 AM

Well I have just made my first attempt to join the sps world after softies and lps for a while. IMO this may not be the best place to start. They tend to be pricey and so far I at least am not having very much luck.
They do require more lighting and flow than other corals and I just increased my flow dramatically so maybe that will help mine.
If I were starting over knowing what I know now I would get mh lights appropriate for sps, anemones, and clams and start with some of the softer and easier corals. Plan for the flow increase when you decide to go sps, but beautiful though they are, I personally would not start there.
JMO

jrf1175 · 10-29-2006, 10:17 PM

Took a trip to a LFS today to get some ideas and actually see some stuff in person rather than online. It was a nice change but makes me want to have things up and running yesterday.

Taking some of the great advice that hase been given here I think I am narrowing down my aquarium. I am thinking about the Oceanic 75 gal 48 x 18 x 21. This should keep some of my costs down on lighting etc.

Regarding lighting there are soooo many options out there. Seems the best thing is MH/T5 combo...but what brand? Moonlighting, yes or no? Pricing can vary quite drastically if that is inlcuded or not.

Another question is powerheads/wave makers. For a 75 gal tank how many and what volume of flow.

Thanks all.
Jayme

swissgaurd · 10-29-2006, 11:26 PM

for your main return pump you want 10x's the flow.

TDEVIL · 10-30-2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swissgaurd

for your main return pump you want 10x's the flow.

actually you would not want 10x for a return pump.
for the return pump you want the same (about) GPH as what the skimmer has.
for the actual flow it is better to have a closed loop or pump/pwr heads in the tank
w/ the flow, it is better to have alternating flow rather than laminar, like an ossilating fan vs a stationary fan (spelling?). this can be done w/ closed loops where the water is taken out of the tank and then put right back in and a SQWD, oceansmotions, motorized ballvalve, etc can be used to alternate the flow. can go into more detail if you need

if pumps or power heads are used then try to have them pointed @ the walls of the tank so the corals dont get blasted, you can also use a stream style pump or even a modified maxijet pump, but for a 75g tank this might be a bit to much. a modified maxijet 900 might work (or not), i havent seen a MJ 900 modified working yet so i dont know exactly how much flow they put out.

i know that Doni (woodstock) was using a modified 1200 and it was a bit to much for her tank and she has or is going to use a 900, maybe she will chime in and let use know how it is doing if she has it running

Jay

10-28-2006, 05:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
swissgaurd Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: mississauga,canada Posts: 422 View Gallery Karma Komment	helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank this may help others as well looking to get into the hobby. first of all we need to know jrf1175 wall space where he would like the tank to be placed.( i got permission from jrf1175) the length of a common tank is 4ft as goes for lighting as well this can keep your price down. first jayme we need to know dimensions of tank you want. personally i prefer dimensions width and hieght to be the same...example 20 wide by 20 tall. vic

10-28-2006, 05:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
jrf1175 Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 296 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank Hey All, I have 2 photos in my gallery with some positioning options in my suite. Size wise I have been looking at something around 90 gal 48 x 18 x 25 or so. The 18in depth works best for the location options I have. There are some many options and choices out there, but I guess this is the first one I should tackle. Looking have have all plumbing etc self contained within the stand. Cheers, Jayme

10-28-2006, 05:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
TDEVIL Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marion, INDIANA Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank hello, responded to the other thread Jay

10-28-2006, 05:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
swissgaurd Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: mississauga,canada Posts: 422 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank 2 holes drilled or one youll want a stand with more than 24" hieght for a skimmer. 30" high gives plenty of room. youll need a pump for 1000 gals per hour. external or submersed your choice. external preferred. with a tank that deep i would go with 2 x 250watt metal halides on electronic ballasts.

10-28-2006, 05:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
jrf1175 Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 296 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank TDEVILs reply from a different post. Re: Aquariums and Condos my first question would be, what are you planing on keeping? a lagonal style or a SPS (high flow reef)? this will help you decide a little beter, a softy tank wont 'require' as much lighting as a SPS reef so you could save a bit of money on the lighting and go w/ a taller tank like a 90g or even a 110g (same foot print) and if you want more of a SPS tank then you can get a 75g (same foot print) and upgrade the lighting a bit. imo, a 75 would be better anyways wont be large enough to kill your budget and still small enough that you can handle any issues. even though your area of study will help you a lot, you can/will encounter some issues and if you have to do a good size water change the 75g would be a bit easire on the $$$, lol, and will be large enough to give you some area for some coral/fish growth and im glad to see you doing some research, this will give you a better start than most of us had Jay

10-28-2006, 05:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
TDEVIL Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marion, INDIANA Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank you beat me to it, i was going to do the same thing, lol Jay

10-28-2006, 06:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
jrf1175 Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 296 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank I think I would go with the SPS (what does that actually stand for) reef. I dont have a fixed footprint size or budget decided yet. I definetly want to do this right and am seeing costs continue to rise as I learm more a more. I find that if you set a budget you end up spending more anyways...Cars, TVs ..and now aquariums...you can win really Logic seems to state that the smaller ank size will save moeny in the long run and for everything else I need. I dont think I would go smaller than 70 though. Thanks again to everyone for all their help. I will get there and be sure to let everyone see the progress. Last edited by jrf1175 : 10-29-2006 at 10:16 PM.

10-29-2006, 08:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 21,928 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank Well I have just made my first attempt to join the sps world after softies and lps for a while. IMO this may not be the best place to start. They tend to be pricey and so far I at least am not having very much luck. They do require more lighting and flow than other corals and I just increased my flow dramatically so maybe that will help mine. If I were starting over knowing what I know now I would get mh lights appropriate for sps, anemones, and clams and start with some of the softer and easier corals. Plan for the flow increase when you decide to go sps, but beautiful though they are, I personally would not start there. JMO __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

10-29-2006, 10:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
jrf1175 Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 296 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank Took a trip to a LFS today to get some ideas and actually see some stuff in person rather than online. It was a nice change but makes me want to have things up and running yesterday. Taking some of the great advice that hase been given here I think I am narrowing down my aquarium. I am thinking about the Oceanic 75 gal 48 x 18 x 21. This should keep some of my costs down on lighting etc. Regarding lighting there are soooo many options out there. Seems the best thing is MH/T5 combo...but what brand? Moonlighting, yes or no? Pricing can vary quite drastically if that is inlcuded or not. Another question is powerheads/wave makers. For a 75 gal tank how many and what volume of flow. Thanks all. Jayme

10-29-2006, 11:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
swissgaurd Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: mississauga,canada Posts: 422 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: helping jrf1175 put togethor a tank for your main return pump you want 10x's the flow.

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