Doing it ALL over again... Rebooting your DREAM system.

[Michael Montgomery]

Now that you have some experience and time under your belt, and HAD to start ALL over again (tank crash, explosion, moving, upgrading, etc)... What would you choose? Obviously there are the All-In-One (AIO) setups available, but it sure seems that most folks end up changing out a piece, or ALL, of the equipment that comes with these options.

For this thread, let's try to keep this discussion right in the "middle" of the playing field for the larger audience. Starting with a 120-ish gallon tank.... You've got a glass box sitting in your garage. Now what? you can drill it wherever you want. Setup a stand however you want...

Build your DREAM TANK!....

What equipment? Pumps, filtration.... Sky is the limit!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Oh boy!
Sky is the limit.....
I'd start with a 125 gallon reef ready tank.
120 pounds of live sand
115-130 pounds of dry rock with 10-20 pounds of live rock.
6 Kessil A360WE's on the Kessil 90 degree mounting arms
An Apex Controller with all the bells and whistles (PH probe, Salinity probe, leak detector, flow meter, dosing pump. the apex would also control the kessils)
4 Vortech MP40 pumps (one on each end and two on the back glass)
A Synergy Reef Sump
Fully stocked refugium lighted by a Kessil H80
Reef Octopus Classic Skimmer
Ecotech Vectra return pump

I'm probably forgetting a ton of stuff, but this is at least a start of what would be my dream tank.


This would be mainly an SPS dominant tank.

 

[dbl]

I take a little a little different approach to this question. Some items can be "added" or "changed" as you progress. Heck, sometimes we change things just because there is something new and we want to give it a try. Just take a look at the sales threads - it's filled with such items. I look at it from what would I do differently that can't really be changed at this point.

For me personally, honestly there are just two things I would do differently. First, I wouldn't have over done my stand. It's completely over built it and it wastes too much internal space. I've since built several others for friends much differently.

The second item is I would have figured out a way to get a drain under the tank, and pre-plumb some lines from my mixing station for water transfers. I'm on a slab so not easy to say the least. But if I ever redo it, I will send my wife to some island for a vacation and do it while she's gone!

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Oh boy!
Sky is the limit.....
I'd start with a 125 gallon reef ready tank.
120 pounds of live sand
115-130 pounds of dry rock with 10-20 pounds of live rock.
6 Kessil A360WE's on the Kessil 90 degree mounting arms
An Apex Controller with all the bells and whistles (PH probe, Salinity probe, leak detector, flow meter, dosing pump. the apex would also control the kessils)
4 Vortech MP40 pumps (one on each end and two on the back glass)
A Synergy Reef Sump
Fully stocked refugium lighted by a Kessil H80
Reef Octopus Classic Skimmer
Ecotech Vectra return pump

I'm probably forgetting a ton of stuff, but this is at least a start of what would be my dream tank.


This would be mainly an SPS dominant tank.

Nice list... Nothing toooo out of 'left field.'
Which "reef ready" builder?
Apex controller with ALL the bells and whistles is probably going to be on everyone's list. LOL
Curious why not go to gyre type pumps in the tank? Opposing ends and modulate the flow that way. Might be more beneficial to SPS. and a little cleaner in the tank?? Just a thought open for discussion.
Cant argue with the Octopus skimmer
Wont argue the light choice either.. WAY too many variables and options to discuss here. LOL.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Nice list... Nothing toooo out of 'left field.'
Which "reef ready" builder?
Apex controller with ALL the bells and whistles is probably going to be on everyone's list. LOL
Curious why not go to gyre type pumps in the tank? Opposing ends and modulate the flow that way. Might be more beneficial to SPS. and a little cleaner in the tank?? Just a thought open for discussion.
Cant argue with the Octopus skimmer
Wont argue the light choice either.. WAY too many variables and options to discuss here. LOL.

I wouldn't be opposed to trying the gyre pumps, I've just always had Vortechs and had good luck with them....stick with what you know kind of scenario

 

[Michael Montgomery]

The second item is I would have figured out a way to get a drain under the tank, and pre-plumb some lines from my mixing station for water transfers. I'm on a slab so not easy to say the least. But if I ever redo it, I will send my wife to some island for a vacation and do it while she's gone!

That better be a two week vacation...with a kitchen remodeling included. LOL... Saw cutting a slab is NOT FUN.