150 gal in the works, need help - Page 2

BoomerD · 11-20-2003, 11:54 PM

Skeletor, welcome aboard! Don't know which part of the bay you're in, but there are a couple of good LFS (Live Fish Stores) in the area. My favorite is Aquatic Gallery in Milpitas. Go in and talk to Dr. Bao Le the owner. Great fellow, very knowledgeable. Not into just selling you whatever is on sale that week. He has an employee who can help with modifying your tank into a sump, or will build you a custom one at a very good price. Nice work he does! Next is Tropical Paradise in San Leandro. Geat staff there too. Many more of course in the greter bay area, but these two are, in my opinion, the best of the best.
You can possibly use the wet-dry as a sump, just remove the bio-balls, as they will become a nitrate factory, and you'll fight that problem as long as they're in your system. Not necessarily a horrible thing with a fish only tank, but an added stress that they don't need. The same for the canister filter, avoid it like the plague, UNLESS you can set it up to run carbon in, and then, only for about a week, then either remove it completely, or change ALL the media inside to avoid it becoming a biological filter.(nitrate factory). For sand, the standard advice is about 5 to 6 inches. For a 150, that will be about 300 to 350 lbs, and unless we can find another sucker (OOPS!) I mean brave soul to import another pallet of Southdown, it can get expensive. There are a couple of reef clubs in the area. Bay Area Reef Enthusiasts
B.A.R.E.
AND
Saltwater Enthusiast Association of the Bay Area
Greeat people in both organizations.
See ya around.

Craig Manoukian · 11-21-2003, 12:06 AM

Hey welcome to the Reefsanctuary. You have gotten great advice here and will continue to receive good information as you progress. Glad you've got time, are researching, and going slow.

A great resource for beginners to salt water can be found in the link in my signature. There is a great beginner's info. in the Three Steps to a Reef section. I am a moderator there as well. Stop by and feel free to come back and ask any questions!

wooddood · 11-22-2003, 06:52 AM

i also agree with dennis7,get your tank drilled before you set it up nows the time to do it.i sure wish i would have.now i have to look at an ugly skimmer box,i hate it.hth. dave.

pista01 · 11-24-2003, 08:43 PM

Lots of great advice here already. I know it has been said before, but it is by far the most important IMHO - research. Read as much as you can and get some good books, such as Natural Reef Aquariums (John Tullock). Also, have lots of patience. Good things in a reef tank happen slow

skeletor121 · 11-24-2003, 08:59 PM

I have posted this type of question in the DIY board, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask again here. Does anyone have a diagram of how many holes and where they should be placed for 2 corner overflows? I would also like some help on how to do this type of thing as a DIY project? I will probably get someone else to drill the holes because I have never done anything like this before. I would like to do the rest myself. Thanks.

wooddood · 11-28-2003, 05:57 AM

all the info you need is right here.i think doing as much diy on your reef is an excellent idea,you will learn alot more from the research you do first on your diy projects and have the gradification of doing it yourself and saving money too.

BoomerD · 11-28-2003, 10:41 AM

Depending on the desired flow rates of course, but 1" bulkheads should get a great flow for the 150. I'm having a 180 built as we "speak", and I'm having dual overflows, with 1" bulkheads in each. 1 side will feed the sump, the other will feed to my closed loop & sea swirls. Now I gotta decide on a good pump for the closed loop. Leaning towards an Ampmaster.

11-21-2003, 12:06 AM	#17 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 18,353 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Hey welcome to the Reefsanctuary. You have gotten great advice here and will continue to receive good information as you progress. Glad you've got time, are researching, and going slow. A great resource for beginners to salt water can be found in the link in my signature. There is a great beginner's info. in the Three Steps to a Reef section. I am a moderator there as well. Stop by and feel free to come back and ask any questions! __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

11-22-2003, 06:52 AM	#18 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	i also agree with dennis7,get your tank drilled before you set it up nows the time to do it.i sure wish i would have.now i have to look at an ugly skimmer box,i hate it.hth. dave. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

11-24-2003, 08:59 PM	#20 (permalink)
skeletor121 Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 60 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have posted this type of question in the DIY board, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask again here. Does anyone have a diagram of how many holes and where they should be placed for 2 corner overflows? I would also like some help on how to do this type of thing as a DIY project? I will probably get someone else to drill the holes because I have never done anything like this before. I would like to do the rest myself. Thanks. __________________ -Scott Don't need no gang to watch my a**, Just loyal friendship and a pint of Bass!. -Dropkick Murphy's

11-28-2003, 05:57 AM	#21 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	all the info you need is right here.i think doing as much diy on your reef is an excellent idea,you will learn alot more from the research you do first on your diy projects and have the gradification of doing it yourself and saving money too. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

11-20-2003, 11:54 PM	#16 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Skeletor, welcome aboard! Don't know which part of the bay you're in, but there are a couple of good LFS (Live Fish Stores) in the area. My favorite is Aquatic Gallery in Milpitas. Go in and talk to Dr. Bao Le the owner. Great fellow, very knowledgeable. Not into just selling you whatever is on sale that week. He has an employee who can help with modifying your tank into a sump, or will build you a custom one at a very good price. Nice work he does! Next is Tropical Paradise in San Leandro. Geat staff there too. Many more of course in the greter bay area, but these two are, in my opinion, the best of the best. You can possibly use the wet-dry as a sump, just remove the bio-balls, as they will become a nitrate factory, and you'll fight that problem as long as they're in your system. Not necessarily a horrible thing with a fish only tank, but an added stress that they don't need. The same for the canister filter, avoid it like the plague, UNLESS you can set it up to run carbon in, and then, only for about a week, then either remove it completely, or change ALL the media inside to avoid it becoming a biological filter.(nitrate factory). For sand, the standard advice is about 5 to 6 inches. For a 150, that will be about 300 to 350 lbs, and unless we can find another sucker (OOPS!) I mean brave soul to import another pallet of Southdown, it can get expensive. There are a couple of reef clubs in the area. Bay Area Reef Enthusiasts B.A.R.E. AND Saltwater Enthusiast Association of the Bay Area Greeat people in both organizations. See ya around.

11-24-2003, 08:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
pista01 Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Taylor, Mi Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment	Lots of great advice here already. I know it has been said before, but it is by far the most important IMHO - research. Read as much as you can and get some good books, such as Natural Reef Aquariums (John Tullock). Also, have lots of patience. Good things in a reef tank happen slow

11-28-2003, 10:41 AM	#22 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Depending on the desired flow rates of course, but 1" bulkheads should get a great flow for the 150. I'm having a 180 built as we "speak", and I'm having dual overflows, with 1" bulkheads in each. 1 side will feed the sump, the other will feed to my closed loop & sea swirls. Now I gotta decide on a good pump for the closed loop. Leaning towards an Ampmaster.

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