Need advice on new reef tank

[Cpage101]

I was wondering about that. How far off the ground is the bottom of your tank? Being new to the hobby, I’m not sure how often I’ll need to reach the sand bed. I’m a little taller than you, but I think I’d still need a stool if the tank is 30 inches deep and 30+ inches off the ground.

top of my stand is 33” and tank is 24” so standing I can just reach the bottom. I use this when I have to reach anything other than the front part of the tank. my armpit is 56” Above the floor

one other thing I just thought of a standard 150G is 60 x 24 x 24 if you are looking at a 60 x 30 x 30 that is actually about 233G.

 

[this is me]

Dave,
The new location is much much better. Regardless of how often the TV is used, a tank shouldn't be place near it for many reasons. IMO.
1)The fight each other for the point of focus when you look at that side of the room. On top of that, you have a beautiful fireplace that is also in the struggle.
2) Saltwater and electronics doesn't mix very well.
3) Tank maintenance can be messy

Again, always consult with the wife on where to place things in the house. A happy wife is a happy life. Good luck with the tank build.

 

[ChrisV]

Completely agree with Nick on this. Another thing to consider with the tank size is the height of the stand. Although they are harder to work on, I prefer much taller stands. In an ideal world I'd like the tank to be elevated to the point that the center of the tank is close to eye height as is possible for the average viewer. This is tricky to pull off and it is an inconvenience for maintenance, but think of the tank as a nice painting-- you wouldn't hang a painting so low that your eyes land on the frame. My last larger tank was 25 inches tall on a 44 inch tall stand.

 

[Cooper2]

With all due respect I'm going to suggest you pump the brakes on your whole plan. The system you're about to build must be well designed and integrated into your home with as few variables and "I didn't think of that" type of moments as possible. I'd suggest letting Kevin set you up with a quality tank and stand with the sump underneath. Make friends with it and upgrade as your experience and success increases.
I don't mean to rain on your dream, but I fear you might be taking on more than you think.. The system you have described building sounds fantastic, but I see it as a destination and not a starting point. After a year with a 100-180 gallon system, you'll know exactly where you want it, how it should be set up, and what features you "wished" you had. This is when you design your dream system, or begin drilling holes in your home for pipes. You may have heard the saying "Nothing good happens quickly" regarding reef tanks, this holds true for their designs as well. Wishing you happiness and success with your project, but with 3 potential locations for your tank it seems you have critical decisions to be made that are not easily changed if wrong and you have pipes and holes in your walls. Start with a self contained tank and the questions you ask will be answered in due time.

 

[Cpage101]

With all due respect I'm going to suggest you pump the brakes on your whole plan. The system you're about to build must be well designed and integrated into your home with as few variables and "I didn't think of that" type of moments as possible. I'd suggest letting Kevin set you up with a quality tank and stand with the sump underneath. Make friends with it and upgrade as your experience and success increases.
I don't mean to rain on your dream, but I fear you might be taking on more than you think.. The system you have described building sounds fantastic, but I see it as a destination and not a starting point. After a year with a 100-180 gallon system, you'll know exactly where you want it, how it should be set up, and what features you "wished" you had. This is when you design your dream system, or begin drilling holes in your home for pipes. You may have heard the saying "Nothing good happens quickly" regarding reef tanks, this holds true for their designs as well. Wishing you happiness and success with your project, but with 3 potential locations for your tank it seems you have critical decisions to be made that are not easily changed if wrong and you have pipes and holes in your walls. Start with a self contained tank and the questions you ask will be answered in due time.

This is great philosophy. 100% agree with your post.

 

[ChrisV]

This is great philosophy. 100% agree with your post.

Another way to think about this: a build of this scale will take 6 months to a year to pull off correctly.

If you start with a more contained system, you will be able to get it up and running super quickly (by comparison) without waiting for things like fabricating a custom tank. You will learn the ins and outs in more than just the academic sense.

Ultimately this would not at all be time wasted: you could use this more "off the shelf" system to start to grow out some showpiece corals and get your live rock ready for prime time.


Not a bad idea at all.

 

[Dave T]

Kevin and I have been busy planning my reef tank this week, and things are starting together. We have decided on putting a 72x28x28 tank against the outside wall next to the kitchen table, pictures above. There are a few unresolved decisions, that I'd really appreciate input on:

• Algae scrubber vs refugium
  • I've been thinking refugium, but recently started considering an algae scrubber, such as this one. Any thoughts? It's really important to me to avoid algae outbreaks at all costs, so I'm wondering if the algae scrubber would be worth it. The other advantage is that the light is inside the scrubber, so there wouldn't be any light spill into the sump's frag tank, which would happen with a refugium. But that scrubber isn't cheap!
• Calcium reactor vs calcium doser
  • Being a newbie at this, I thought everyone used a calcium reactor as the way to add calcium for coral growth. But now I'm learning about calcium dosers. Any advice for or against either? The doser would be controlled by an Apex.
• LED only vs hybrid T5/LED
  • I've read a lot on this, and I understand the advantages of LEDs. But some people still say T5s are the best for the diffuse light needed for optimal coral growth. So I'm considering a hybrid system. I definitely want things like the shimmer affect you get with LEDs, but if T5s would give superior coral growth, hybrid sounds like a good option.

Thanks!

 

[Zirky]

It’s to bad the Covid situation has limited tank tours. I think the more systems you see in person the better to make an informed decision taylored to your taste. I think this is especially true with lighting. There are a whole lotta options and options. We’re all vaccinated and there are masks and gloves. Let’s get some tank tours going.

 

[ChrisV]

Kevin and I have been busy planning my reef tank this week, and things are starting together. We have decided on putting a 72x28x28 tank against the outside wall next to the kitchen table, pictures above. There are a few unresolved decisions, that I'd really appreciate input on:

• Algae scrubber vs refugium
  • I've been thinking refugium, but recently started considering an algae scrubber, such as this one. Any thoughts? It's really important to me to avoid algae outbreaks at all costs, so I'm wondering if the algae scrubber would be worth it. The other advantage is that the light is inside the scrubber, so there wouldn't be any light spill into the sump's frag tank, which would happen with a refugium. But that scrubber isn't cheap!
• Calcium reactor vs calcium doser
  • Being a newbie at this, I thought everyone used a calcium reactor as the way to add calcium for coral growth. But now I'm learning about calcium dosers. Any advice for or against either? The doser would be controlled by an Apex.
• LED only vs hybrid T5/LED
  • I've read a lot on this, and I understand the advantages of LEDs. But some people still say T5s are the best for the diffuse light needed for optimal coral growth. So I'm considering a hybrid system. I definitely want things like the shimmer affect you get with LEDs, but if T5s would give superior coral growth, hybrid sounds like a good option.

Thanks!

Cool! I think the 28inch depth will make it easier to manage.

I cautious you against the philosophy of "avoid algae outbreaks at all costs." If you're setting up a reef tank, there WILL be algae outbreaks now and again, no matter how fancy the system, or who manages it. That's just the full stop reality.

I like the idea of a refugium because it will serve as a place for beneficial microfauna like pods to multiply. Hopefully others will chime in.

Personally, I like calcium reactors. They do depress pH though. There is more granular control over amounts of supplements dosed if you use a calcium/alk doser. When you end up with a forest of acropora in your tank chances are good that a doser won't be the right tool anymore and will have trouble keeping up with calcium demands. At that point a calcium reactor really is the best way to keep calcium requirements in check.

There are two main styles of aquarium LEDs: densely packed pucks that contain many diodes (e.g. the AI lights, the kessil) and more spread out lights (e.g. the Neptune sky). If you go for any of the puck style lights I think you need some supplemental lighting, like T5 or led bars to give fewer shadows. I'm inclined to agree that T5 supplements are good for almost all lights. I'm also a huge fan of metal halide lights. Go visit Greg hillers tank of you want to see metal halides.

 

[srit1]

Kevin and I have been busy planning my reef tank this week, and things are starting together. We have decided on putting a 72x28x28 tank against the outside wall next to the kitchen table, pictures above. There are a few unresolved decisions, that I'd really appreciate input on:

• Algae scrubber vs refugium
  • I've been thinking refugium, but recently started considering an algae scrubber, such as this one. Any thoughts? It's really important to me to avoid algae outbreaks at all costs, so I'm wondering if the algae scrubber would be worth it. The other advantage is that the light is inside the scrubber, so there wouldn't be any light spill into the sump's frag tank, which would happen with a refugium. But that scrubber isn't cheap!
• Calcium reactor vs calcium doser
  • Being a newbie at this, I thought everyone used a calcium reactor as the way to add calcium for coral growth. But now I'm learning about calcium dosers. Any advice for or against either? The doser would be controlled by an Apex.
• LED only vs hybrid T5/LED
  • I've read a lot on this, and I understand the advantages of LEDs. But some people still say T5s are the best for the diffuse light needed for optimal coral growth. So I'm considering a hybrid system. I definitely want things like the shimmer affect you get with LEDs, but if T5s would give superior coral growth, hybrid sounds like a good option.

Thanks!

Regarding Algae scrubber vs refugium: a refugium is also a place for pods to grow and reproduce so the two are not necessarily one or the other.

Regarding calcium and alk something to consider:

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[Dave T]

Thanks for the responses! I'm just now seeing the posts for the last day and a half, for some reason my forum email notifications stopped working.

I appreciate the advice that I should take it slow and start with a simpler setup. You're probably (definitely) right, but I'm not going to do that. Besides, what have I got to lose but a whole lot of time and money?

Regarding Zirky's suggestion on tank tours, I'm in! If anyone would be up for a visit, let me know.

Regarding copepods, yes, we did plan on having somewhere in the sump for them, algae scrubber or no. It does seem like I should just start with a refugium with some chaeto, and maybe add the algae scrubber later. (There, that's me taking it slow.)

 

[Chris A.]

Copepods will grow regardless of having a refugium or not. They need a safe place like a sump or a pile of ruble, that’s about it.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Thanks for the responses! I'm just now seeing the posts for the last day and a half, for some reason my forum email notifications stopped working.

I appreciate the advice that I should take it slow and start with a simpler setup. You're probably (definitely) right, but I'm not going to do that. Besides, what have I got to lose but a whole lot of time and money?

Regarding Zirky's suggestion on tank tours, I'm in! If anyone would be up for a visit, let me know.

Regarding copepods, yes, we did plan on having somewhere in the sump for them, algae scrubber or no. It does seem like I should just start with a refugium with some chaeto, and maybe add the algae scrubber later. (There, that's me taking it slow.)

I just checked email notifications and I'm getting them so not sure why you're not.

 

[Dave T]

I just checked email notifications and I'm getting them so not sure why you're not.

I am now, but wasn’t earlier. Dunno what happened, but thanks for checking.

 

[Dave T]

@MikeG brought up another issue that could be a big problem for me. (Thanks, Mike!)

My plan has been to have a Bean Animal type overflow configuration. In the plumbing coming out of the tank, there would be a 4-5 foot drop from the overflow box, and another 4-5 foot drop at the sump. With a 60 foot horizontal run between. Has anyone seen a long horizontal run work with the BA? The concern is that it would be difficult to start or maintain the syphon, and/or the low flow rate in the overflow line would lead to growth and gunk in the line.

My goal is a virtually silent drain at the tank (I don't care about noise in the basement), and redundancy/protection against clogs, etc.

 

[srit1]

My vertical drop is the same as yours, my horizontal is ~15 ft, The horizontal lines I made sure always slope towards the sump just so air cannot get trapped anywhere. It has not been a problem.

 

[Dave T]

I don't have the option of sloping the horizontal lines at all. That's the issue. I have a finished basement with a hung ceiling. The lines would be run above the hung ceiling, where they'd barely fit.

 

[ChrisV]

I don't have the option of sloping the horizontal lines at all. That's the issue. I have a finished basement with a hung ceiling. The lines would be run above the hung ceiling, where they'd barely fit.

Not at all as in 6 inches of slope, or not at all as in dead level?

 

[Dave T]

Pretty much dead level. Maybe 2 inches, but maybe not even that. The hung ceiling is very close to the joists above. I can fit plumbing in there, all our existing plumbing runs in there, but there's no room for a drop.

The other issue with the hung ceiling is that we'll need to use flexible PVC.

 

[ChrisV]

Pretty much dead level. Maybe 2 inches, but maybe not even that. The hung ceiling is very close to the joists above. I can fit plumbing in there, all our existing plumbing runs in there, but there's no room for a drop.

The other issue with the hung ceiling is that we'll need to use flexible PVC.

Any options to mod the ceiling? Or may have the long run below the ceiling level outside of the wall? I know it's not ideal, but I'm thinking it's a basement. Or maybe a bulkhead?