new 300DD reef, 125 fuge criticism

[Sivarticus]

hello everyone! I am planning a 300DD DT and a 125 Sump built to make part of a wall in my basement. It will be viewable from 3 sides ( 2 long, 1 short side. looking for criticism on the build I made on paint ( please don't criticize my paint skills, they are not so expert haha).

Will this 6 bulb light ( 6x2, 36" bulbs) be adequate for lighting a 36" wide tank?

How high should I suspend the light?

What return pump GPH would be good to aim for?

Will said pump be good enough to use without powerheads provided that the pipes in the tank are positioned properly similar to a closed loop system?

with a total around 400 gallons, what skimmer do you guys recommend that wont break the bank?

will the 4 foot refugium take too much space up for essential equipment?

what kind of equipment are you guys running other than a skimmer in the first compartment? And what else would you recommend in the first compartment?

I am not experienced in setups really at all. this will be my first large tank setup with a sump. I have done quite a bit of research, but every system is different, and would like some professional opinions.

This will be a mixed reef tank

 

[Breadman03]

hello everyone! I am planning a 300DD DT and a 125 Sump built to make part of a wall in my basement. It will be viewable from 3 sides ( 2 long, 1 short side. looking for criticism on the build I made on paint ( please don't criticize my paint skills, they are not so expert haha).

Will this 6 bulb light ( 6x2, 36" bulbs) be adequate for lighting a 36" wide tank?

You don't say what you want to keep-FOWLR, softies, LPS, SPS? The 36" depth makes it difficult to find lights that cover it all. Most lights seem to revolve around multiples of 24".

How high should I suspend the light?

Those usually sit on short legs that rest on the rim of the tank, leaving the light maybe 4" over the water.

What return pump GPH would be good to aim for?

I'd shoot for about 3000 gph after head losses.

Will said pump be good enough to use without powerheads provided that the pipes in the tank are positioned properly similar to a closed loop system?

Typically no. The return pump should only move processed water back to the tank. In-tank powerheads or a separate closed loop should be used for in-tank circulation.

with a total around 400 gallons, what skimmer do you guys recommend that wont break the bank?

Budget is a major factor here, but Lifereef, Deltec and Bubble King are some top brands.

will the 4 foot refugium take too much space up for essential equipment?

I'd probably trim it to about 3 feet. IMO, make sure that your skimmer and return compartments have enough room then determine if the refugium is big enough.

what kind of equipment are you guys running other than a skimmer in the first compartment? And what else would you recommend in the first compartment?

For me, nothing.

I am not experienced in setups really at all. this will be my first large tank setup with a sump. I have done quite a bit of research, but every system is different, and would like some professional opinions.

I'm no pro. I do, however, suggest investing in quality equipment, and that doesn't have to mean expensive.

This will be a mixed reef tank

 

[Beardo]

Looking at your drawing, the first thing that catches my attention is your return piping. When the return pump shuts off, either intentionally or on loss of power, you are going to back siphon almost the entire volume of your tank and end up with a few hundred gallons of water on your floor. Return lines need to be near the top of the tank so only a few inches back siphon and can be contained in your sump. You could add a nozzle near on the one just below the water line to alleviate this as this would suck air once the water drains to that level and break the siphon. Regardless, you are not going to get the needed flow with just the return pump. Better to run just a standard return and use power heads or a true closed loop system to get your flow.

Return pump flow of 3x - 5x system volume is good (make sure you account for headloss)

A 6 bulb fixture will not provide the coverage you need for a mixed reef on a tank of that depth. I have a tank of similar dimensions, just 3 inches shallower, and I run an 8x80 watt sunpower along with LEDs.

I think the 4 foot refugium is taking up too much space in your sump. An internal skimmer for a tank that size is not going to fit in the area you are allowing.

Not a pro here, just sharing from the experience I have.

Good luck with your build, I love the dimensions of the 300DD.