Need advice for a newish tank setup

[rambolam]

I have an 240G tank that hasn't been running for a couple of years. When it last ran(and I still have) it had a smallish sump((wet/dry)(22" X 12" X 12") and was powered by a Little giant 4MD. The lighting was just 6 floro's(2 actinic, 4 50/50's).basically the only thing worth a crap on it was a huge skimmer I had built(12" X 12" X 60") powered by another LG pump. This tank was last used for about 6 yrs as a FOWLR, and I always seemed to have problems, and my fish life was always 1/4 to 1/2 of the information I'd be reading.

Well, I've decided to get back into the hobby, and I've been doing some reading(what a concept), and I've come to the conclusion, that there were many hardware flaws, that stacked the deck against me with this tank. (BTW, I've had 3 or 4 other tanks that seemed great and had normal fish lives, before and during the past life of this tank).

I'm leaning towards turning this 240 into a reef tank and custom building a wall around it when it's done. ( this will be my only tank in my house, I swear I won't start adding tanks every 6 monthes when I get bored like last time) and I'd like to try and make some of this gear usefull.

From everything I've been reading lately, I guess I need a flow rate somewhere in the neighbourhood of 2500 GPH, so I'm being steered towards a dolphin pump(please chime in here) and I guess I'll have to build/buy a bigger sump. Any idea's on how best/cheap to handle this new sump.Also, is a refugium a good idea? is it nessecary? or a way to hedge bets?


As for lighting, I'm thinking of 4 HQI 400's and some PC actinic's for dusk/dawn lighting. Again, any suggestions will be much appreicated) and maybe some LEDS for moonlight. Suggestions on a good timers set-up.

My only other questions for now would be do I really need a Kalc reactor with CO2, or a UV? or are these items I can wait an add later if I run into problems?

Thanx for listening to my rambleing,and any setup plans or suggestions are much apreciated.

[scubadude]

Hi rambolam
You have been doing some reading...very good indeed!

From everything I've been reading lately, I guess I need a flow rate somewhere in the neighbourhood of 2500 GPH, so I'm being steered towards a dolphin pump(please chime in here) and I guess I'll have to build/buy a bigger sump. Any idea's on how best/cheap to handle this new sump.Also, is a refugium a good idea? is it nessecary? or a way to hedge bets?


As for lighting, I'm thinking of 4 HQI 400's and some PC actinic's for dusk/dawn lighting. Again, any suggestions will be much appreicated) and maybe some LEDS for moonlight. Suggestions on a good timers set-up.

My only other questions for now would be do I really need a Kalc reactor with CO2, or a UV? or are these items I can wait an add later if I run into problems?

Thanx for listening to my rambleing,and any setup plans or suggestions are much apreciated.

Ok first thing im gonna comment on is your flow rate which you are wanting 2500 GPH which is about 10x's the volume of the tank, I would try and shoot for atleast 15x's especially if you are gonna go for SPS and Clams. From the sounds of it (your lighting choices, and being in the wall) you want to do this the right way first! You can never have too much flow and I think your a little shy on flow.

Ok next thing is your lighting 4-400w HQI and some PC actinics for supplementation?! Whoa....A guy after my own heart...dont get me wrong your tank would love all that light but think of the heating issues you will have...unless you plan on just buying a high dollar hood all preassemblied with the lighting and fans in it...even then you could be dealing with heating issues. Also another thing to conisder is if you get the right bulbs with the right Kelvin rating you may not even want PC actinic supplementation. The varieties for lighting stretch far and wide my freind dont limit yourself in those categories. Also how deep is your tank? HQI's have a great penetration depth but their spread is nothing near the mogul based lighting. My suggestion would be 3 HQI 250w and then utilizing the middle one for a radium if you like alot of blue and using the two on the sides as 10k. This very well may put you into a category where you dont need supplementation, and at the same time lower your elec. consumption from lighting effeciency as well as probably not needing a chiller......this topic we could discuss in great detail but I would suggest that in the lighting forum

Next thing in line would be the sump, which is directly relative to everything else and even moreso the flow. I like the idea of the Dolphin pumps, but thats cuz I like them pumps. I also think the sequence pumps are good too. but more importantly is this tank RR (reef ready) does it have O-flows built in the tank or are you planning to use HOB o-flows? This will definately have some deciding factors in your planning. I would definately ditch the Wet/Dry if you want to do this top of the line then you will want everything to fit effeciently since its all gonnna be in the wall. A good cheap way to build a sump would be out of acrylic, and if your handy we could really discuss this in great detail in the DIY forum I definately think you should make one large sump but incorporate a refugium inside the sump, its not necessary but DEFINATELY a good idea!

As far as a need for a CA reac....that depends on what you want in your tank...do you want a good amount of SPS/Clams? If so definately go with a CA reac! UV sterilizer will make your tank SOOO much better but I would make it to where your tank doesnt have to be run 24/7 w/ a UV sterilzier on it....just make it simple to where you could flick a switch and it automitcally is sterilizing if you need it.

And last but not least....listening to your ramblings...ramble on my freind how else would we get anything else done if we didnt ramble

[scubadude]

I forgot to mention....The most important thing you should involve your whole setup around what you want in your tank!....hehe I get carried away sometimes :P

So why dont you give us an idea of what you want in your tank...fish, lps, sps, softies, DSB, etc etc...ya know the drill