ReefHunter006
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2020
- Messages
- 630
- Reaction score
- 404
- What state or country do you live in
- California
I already have a reefer 250 up and running going on a year now. A couple hiccups along the way, but I want to use this chance to keep notes and vet ideas with the community for my dream tank. This probably won't happen for a couple years.
Dream Tank Size: 200+ gallons
Dimensions: Depth is important to me. I really like the dimensions of Andrew's new tank in his home from BRS.
Lighting: I like T5/LED hybrid model. Open to LED strips as fill light, but cost wise seems more expensive for no additional gain.
Aquascape: I would like to consider ideas that make mounting corals accessible, minimize time of hands in tank, and allows to the ability to relocate. I would consider this a low priority over all.
I am still considering whether bare bottom or a sand bed is the way to go. I like how clean the bare bottom is, but I also love the critters a sand bed brings.
Last consideration is DINOS. I would like to find a balance of live rock to dry rock. A strategy I am considering is taking a 50 gallon tote with a cheap light fixture and one or two fish to let the dry rock sit and grow over of the next year or two. In addition, I might add 5ish lbs of live rock to help it along. I would love to hear some thoughts on this from community.
Filtration: I like the idea of a roller mat, but I am not sure how practical they truly are yet. I would aim for a large sump that allows for refugium, skimmer compartment, and at least two additional compartments excluding the sump return area. Possible to use an additional compartment for larger amount of live rock. The way I can scape with dry rock and house a large amount of live rock and sand in the sump.
I would like to add a manifold for at least 4 reactors. I would like to avoid using them if possible, but better to have em and not need them then need them and not have them. If I use bio-pellets, then I need to consider where I am placing the output lines from the reactors as well. I also need to consider if I would separate the reactors at all. For example, I wouldn't run the output line of a GFO reactor into a refugium, but I might with a carbon reactor. Just speculating there, but I would like to avoid GFO where possible.
I would like two smaller tanks to feed off the sump. A small (maybe 20 gallon) frag tank. A second tank that can act as a holding tank.
I need to make considerations for 2 q tanks. One coral and one fish.
Flow I would like to utilize Neros, but ecotechs might be a better solution given the size. Possibly a gyre on the other end. Largely dependent on if I go bare bottom or have a sand bed.
I need to isolate an area in the sump for the Neptune trident feed line to avoid micro bubbles and fauna as much as possible. I need to make considerations for the APEX probes as well, but they are less of a priority.
Thoughts: I would like to optimize water changes given a system on the larger side. However, I am not sure at what point water changes become less practical.
Dosing: I suspect I will need to consider a calcium reactor, since 2 part may become prohibitive at that size. I will leverage the community's opinion here.
I like to maintain PH >8. So a CO2 scrubber is likely unless the refugium will counteract a calcium reactor enough.
More to come as I think of things.
12/30/2020 Update - The Macro Display
Last Post # prior to update: 5
Oversized sump, that includes a personal display for macro and possible predator tank. Thinking 50 gallons that is within the fish room. I could convert the current reefer 250 into it after the upgrade.
Some additional Notes:
- Probably will refrain from another Red Sea tank purchase solely due to the metric plumbing issue. Love the tanks but it hampers customization.
- Aquascaping: I am leaning towards a bare bottom tank for the main display. Things I want to do differently.
1. Do not make the rock work so high. Provide ample area for growth.
2. Create a scape that has depth. Not necessarily negative space type of set up, but fairly open.
3. Ample room from the glass on all sides.
- Make sure there is room to access all sides of the tank.
-Stock list, currently have a deresa clam, but may move that to the macro Tank to open up the stocking list for the main DT. I want to get into Anthias for sure. I need to consider what wrasses, tangs, and clown fish would be a good fit and open to opinions from others. I hear wrasses are not great with clams, hence why I think I would move it as well as some needing a sand bed.
- A 40 gallon nem tank with a harem of clown fish would be cool as well in the fish room. Something I would like to plan for long term. Probably going to need a sizable fish room.
Dream Tank Size: 200+ gallons
Dimensions: Depth is important to me. I really like the dimensions of Andrew's new tank in his home from BRS.
Lighting: I like T5/LED hybrid model. Open to LED strips as fill light, but cost wise seems more expensive for no additional gain.
Aquascape: I would like to consider ideas that make mounting corals accessible, minimize time of hands in tank, and allows to the ability to relocate. I would consider this a low priority over all.
I am still considering whether bare bottom or a sand bed is the way to go. I like how clean the bare bottom is, but I also love the critters a sand bed brings.
Last consideration is DINOS. I would like to find a balance of live rock to dry rock. A strategy I am considering is taking a 50 gallon tote with a cheap light fixture and one or two fish to let the dry rock sit and grow over of the next year or two. In addition, I might add 5ish lbs of live rock to help it along. I would love to hear some thoughts on this from community.
Filtration: I like the idea of a roller mat, but I am not sure how practical they truly are yet. I would aim for a large sump that allows for refugium, skimmer compartment, and at least two additional compartments excluding the sump return area. Possible to use an additional compartment for larger amount of live rock. The way I can scape with dry rock and house a large amount of live rock and sand in the sump.
I would like to add a manifold for at least 4 reactors. I would like to avoid using them if possible, but better to have em and not need them then need them and not have them. If I use bio-pellets, then I need to consider where I am placing the output lines from the reactors as well. I also need to consider if I would separate the reactors at all. For example, I wouldn't run the output line of a GFO reactor into a refugium, but I might with a carbon reactor. Just speculating there, but I would like to avoid GFO where possible.
I would like two smaller tanks to feed off the sump. A small (maybe 20 gallon) frag tank. A second tank that can act as a holding tank.
I need to make considerations for 2 q tanks. One coral and one fish.
Flow I would like to utilize Neros, but ecotechs might be a better solution given the size. Possibly a gyre on the other end. Largely dependent on if I go bare bottom or have a sand bed.
I need to isolate an area in the sump for the Neptune trident feed line to avoid micro bubbles and fauna as much as possible. I need to make considerations for the APEX probes as well, but they are less of a priority.
Thoughts: I would like to optimize water changes given a system on the larger side. However, I am not sure at what point water changes become less practical.
Dosing: I suspect I will need to consider a calcium reactor, since 2 part may become prohibitive at that size. I will leverage the community's opinion here.
I like to maintain PH >8. So a CO2 scrubber is likely unless the refugium will counteract a calcium reactor enough.
More to come as I think of things.
12/30/2020 Update - The Macro Display
Last Post # prior to update: 5
Oversized sump, that includes a personal display for macro and possible predator tank. Thinking 50 gallons that is within the fish room. I could convert the current reefer 250 into it after the upgrade.
Some additional Notes:
- Probably will refrain from another Red Sea tank purchase solely due to the metric plumbing issue. Love the tanks but it hampers customization.
- Aquascaping: I am leaning towards a bare bottom tank for the main display. Things I want to do differently.
1. Do not make the rock work so high. Provide ample area for growth.
2. Create a scape that has depth. Not necessarily negative space type of set up, but fairly open.
3. Ample room from the glass on all sides.
- Make sure there is room to access all sides of the tank.
-Stock list, currently have a deresa clam, but may move that to the macro Tank to open up the stocking list for the main DT. I want to get into Anthias for sure. I need to consider what wrasses, tangs, and clown fish would be a good fit and open to opinions from others. I hear wrasses are not great with clams, hence why I think I would move it as well as some needing a sand bed.
- A 40 gallon nem tank with a harem of clown fish would be cool as well in the fish room. Something I would like to plan for long term. Probably going to need a sizable fish room.
Last edited:
