Nathan Milender
Active Member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2018
- Messages
- 354
- Reaction score
- 287
I had a few tanks 20 years ago. I did not do coral, but I did do salt and freshwater. Had a lot of fun. My wife decided that she wanted a tank and now I have a new part time job. I am trying to set up a system that is relatively easy to maintain. I am ok with spending more money upfront if it means healthier animals and easier keeping. I bought some used equipment which included a 120 gallon tank with two corner overflows, 40 gallon sump, 200int regal skimmer, vectra L1 return pump, 40 watt uv sterilizer, and 2 maxspect 120 w LED modules. It is not running, it came with a lot of dry rock which is currently curing in a bathtub and a rubbermaid.
I am planning to add an apex el, apex atk, H380 for fuge lighting, thinking about powerheads (it came with two low power cheap ones) considering wave but open to ideas. I am plumbing a manifold for one reactor (likely carbon), and another output for sterilizer which I am unsure if I will use all the time or intermittently.
I have a spare 20gal, 29 gal, and 75 gal with halide/k2 hybride. Considering what to run with this equipment considering quarantine. Will probably consider selling the 75 and the halide/k2 as it is just so massive and heavy and I am not sure I need it. I am also considering running the halide with the led as a hybrid but it really does seem unnecessary.
Sump plan is first chamber has no sock but will have chaeto and the h380. Green aquamesh between 1st and 2nd chamber. Second chamber only holds that massive skimmer which I need to raise 4 inches off the floor. Third chamber for probes, return pump, and atk dump. ATK witll have 10 gallon reservoir.
Space is limited as it is all in a living room and must be in the cabinet or behind the tank. I already raised the stand 5 inches to accommodate the skimmer. Can I use that 4 inches under the skimmer? Could a deep sand bed go here or would it just get sucked into the skimmer? What am I forgetting? What should I consider?
Almost forgot, goal. I am shooting for a tank with more small fish instead of few large. I would like to maximize blennies, gobies, hawks, inverts as possible, shrimp, scallops, clams as able. I have nothing against sps but it would be minimal. I find the larger polyp pulsating and anenome like corals more fun so I plan to gravitate that way. I am not afraid to add a shrimp or copepod farm to one of my smaller tanks if needed. I welcome any ideas as I would rather make adjustments now before water is in the tank.
I am planning to add an apex el, apex atk, H380 for fuge lighting, thinking about powerheads (it came with two low power cheap ones) considering wave but open to ideas. I am plumbing a manifold for one reactor (likely carbon), and another output for sterilizer which I am unsure if I will use all the time or intermittently.
I have a spare 20gal, 29 gal, and 75 gal with halide/k2 hybride. Considering what to run with this equipment considering quarantine. Will probably consider selling the 75 and the halide/k2 as it is just so massive and heavy and I am not sure I need it. I am also considering running the halide with the led as a hybrid but it really does seem unnecessary.
Sump plan is first chamber has no sock but will have chaeto and the h380. Green aquamesh between 1st and 2nd chamber. Second chamber only holds that massive skimmer which I need to raise 4 inches off the floor. Third chamber for probes, return pump, and atk dump. ATK witll have 10 gallon reservoir.
Space is limited as it is all in a living room and must be in the cabinet or behind the tank. I already raised the stand 5 inches to accommodate the skimmer. Can I use that 4 inches under the skimmer? Could a deep sand bed go here or would it just get sucked into the skimmer? What am I forgetting? What should I consider?
Almost forgot, goal. I am shooting for a tank with more small fish instead of few large. I would like to maximize blennies, gobies, hawks, inverts as possible, shrimp, scallops, clams as able. I have nothing against sps but it would be minimal. I find the larger polyp pulsating and anenome like corals more fun so I plan to gravitate that way. I am not afraid to add a shrimp or copepod farm to one of my smaller tanks if needed. I welcome any ideas as I would rather make adjustments now before water is in the tank.
