Here we go again.

[Reef Junkie]

Well after bailing out of the hobby for a few years I have decided I have been out long enough. It's amazing how much you forget and also how much comes back to you when you start digging again. I have decided to do this process in three different stages (app 3 month period) to make sure I have enough funds to do it right instead of taking shortcuts to get it all done at once (one of the things that I do remember from earlier mistakes ). Here is a breakdown of what I want to accomplish, any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

1st stage.

120 (48x24x24) gallon tank with twin overflows and stand.
30 gallon aquarium used as sump
2 ebo jagar 250 watt heaters
Iwasaki or Sequence external pump w/ a flow rate of around 900 gph at head
4" DSB

Everything will be plumbed and the tank will be filled and cycled via shrimp.

2nd Stage

80 lb's +- live rock uncured (tank will sit another 2+ wks before stocking)
PFO hood with 2 250 watt Iwasaki mh and 2 VHO actinics.

3rd Stage

Euroreef protein skimmer
3 or 4 Maxijet powerheads
Reef Fanatic wavemaker
Start of gradual stocking beginning with snails/crabs and fish. Eventually working up to inverts.

Again, if anyone has a recommendation for different equipment, or order to go about it please chime in. The only thing I might switch is the order of the live rock and lights. I figure a ps is more important than lighting when curing lr. TIA

Travis

[zhenya]

Hi RJ,

Welcome back to the hobby and Reefland, too!

Iwasaki or Sequence external pump w/ a flow rate of around 900 gph at head
4" DSB

I think you meant to say Iwaki pump, Iwasaki would be the light bulbs...
Regardless, though, that should be just fine wich ever one you choose.

80 lb's +- live rock uncured (tank will sit another 2+ wks before stocking)
PFO hood with 2 250 watt Iwasaki mh and 2 VHO actinics.

I think the only problem may be in this stage is your timing on livestock additions( 2+weeks),it would probably be safer to wait 4+ weeks before adding anything, at least. I think the light bulbs are just fine but do look around for some more options. I would upgrade the ballast to the HQI version so that I could use larger variety of bulbs in the future. I use PFO HQI ballast and I can basically run any bulb I want with it. At the moment I use Reeflux bulbs( 250w) and I am very pleased with them.

In stage three...,

Have you given any thoughts for alternatives to powerheads? Like the scwd?
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=Wavemaking

One other thing that I thought would make a world of difference and I should mention it is quarantine tank. I think since you starting anew that part of the hobby should be one of the first priorities before you begin stocking your tank. So many deseases and parasites are floating around that will make your head spin... I thought I would mention this since I didn't see it in your plan.

[Reef Junkie]

[QUOTE=zhenya]Hi RJ,

Welcome back to the hobby and Reefland, too!

I think you meant to say Iwaki pump, Iwasaki would be the light bulbs...
Regardless, though, that should be just fine wich ever one you choose.

Nice catch, I did mean Iwaki, LOL.

I think the only problem may be in this stage is your timing on livestock additions( 2+weeks),it would probably be safer to wait 4+ weeks before adding anything, at least. I think the light bulbs are just fine but do look around for some more options. I would upgrade the ballast to the HQI version so that I could use larger variety of bulbs in the future. I use PFO HQI ballast and I can basically run any bulb I want with it. At the moment I use Reeflux bulbs( 250w) and I am very pleased with them.

2 weeks would have been the soonest. It will probably work out closer to a month. Is it redundant cycling with shrimp and then doing it all over again with lr. Should I just set the tank up and do it all at once with uncured lr? It's been a while since I looked into HQI. They were just becoming popular when I left the hobby. I will certainly look into that option.

In stage three...,

Have you given any thoughts for alternatives to powerheads? Like the scwd?
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=Wavemaking

I haven't really investigated ph's that much. I had Rio's in the past and was happy with their performance. So the scwd replaces your powerheads? That doesn't sound like too bad of an idea, and it looks a little smaller to boot.

One other thing that I thought would make a world of difference and I should mention it is quarantine tank. I think since you starting anew that part of the hobby should be one of the first priorities before you begin stocking your tank. So many deseases and parasites are floating around that will make your head spin... I thought I would mention this since I didn't see it in your plan.

I didn't mention it. I have a 30 gallon long already set up for a quarantine tank. I do agree with their importance. I lost many a fish in the past by trying to skip this process.

[zhenya]

It will probably work out closer to a month. Is it redundant cycling with shrimp and then doing it all over again with lr. Should I just set the tank up and do it all at once with uncured lr? It's been a while since I looked into HQI. They were just becoming popular when I left the hobby. I will certainly look into that option.

Well, I knew you'd get to this without me even mentioning this... Of course, i would just simply put uncured live rock in the tank and cycle it this way. Why bother with the shrimp? ;)
As far as HQI, I only meant the ballast to be HQI, the bulbs can be single ended but driven with the HQI ballast I think they perform at it;s best( at least most of the 10K and 20K bulbs).

I haven't really investigated ph's that much. I had Rio's in the past and was happy with their performance. So the scwd replaces your powerheads? That doesn't sound like too bad of an idea, and it looks a little smaller to boot.

Exactly! The powerheads tend to loose their grip on the glass and fall down breaking your most favorite corals to bits( happened to me so I can speak first hand). The scwd can be plumbed via return lines or as a closed loop( I can provide a link to a DIY closed loop without drilling your tank), nence eliminating the need for the powerheads.

Good luck with everything and please post some images of your progress as you get going. It should be fun to watch it grow and mature. ;)

[Reef Junkie]

Gene,

Thank you for your courteous and helpful insight. I will definitely keep everyone posted as this project progresses. I'm sure by the time it is officially up and going you'll be sick of me picking everyone's brain.

As to the powerheads, would a sea swirl be a better alternative than the scwd?

[zhenya]

I'm sure by the time it is officially up and going you'll be sick of me picking everyone's brain.

Oh no, this is what we here for.

I perconally love to see other peoples tanks progress and how they go about setting things up. When i can help I'm happy to do it. ;)