Da Ultimate Setup

[MikeC]

I am looking to setup a 30 gal reef... and I want to do it RIGHT... At any rate those of u who know me may understand what it means when I say "Cheap Good Quality" Well that is out of the picture... I am going to attempt at building a 30 gal reef that will knock people's socks off... and I know I will not be able to do that without your help... This post is to help me as well as others receive a bit of a “jump start” into reefs... I am looking to form a solid skeleton on which I might begin my setup... (Excluding tank & stand) …and eventually move toward detailing and sharing frags. Thank you all for your time and I am interested to see where this post goes :D

[Ross]

Glad to hear that your gonna do it right the first time. I wish i could have.

I would get the tank drilled. It will be less noticeable than an overflow box. A sump/fuge will be the best.....with a return pump like maybe a mag 7 or 950. That will give you plenty of flow. A good skimmer will help out alot. I know euro-reefs are very good, but there are other good ones also. For lighting...definetly do mh. A single 250 would give you good light, but dual would give better light spread. I hope this helps.....someone else can give you more info.

[TAXMAN]

Well 1st you need to know what you plan on keeping. SPS generally takes more light and flow than softies.

[wkopplin]

Get matt to build you a skimmer.

[alexwolf]

yeah listen to Blake, hes outdone most of us anyways :-D

[PeeJ]

well who is blake???!!! im confused

[SuperXdude]

Da Ultimate Setup?

Upstairs room with spiral staircase in the middle of the room. 28 inch wide, 24 inch high tank around all four walls of room....

That's a tank...


I told wife that was my dream tank and got kicked in the shin!


SuperX

[alexwolf]

Blake=WKopplin, check out his "Construction Finally Started" post, itll make you sick :-D

[PeeJ]

How come I never get to hang out with you cool guys? Are yall ignoring me?

[wkopplin]

Naw, we just don't know where Cibolo is. :D

Who is Zazu?

[alexwolf]

Zazu, lion king? Goofy bird

[MikeC]

Hey Ya'll what happened to the post? :(

[PeeJ]

Cibolo. It's the last city before you hit new Braunfels. Over by Randolph AFB.

[wkopplin]

You've been hijacked by Zazu and Cibolo. PeeJ, you are welcome to hang out anytime.

[MikeC]

My plan is to keep a wide varity of corals hard and soft... Or do you have a different sugestion?

[PeeJ]

Just...buy the best stuff out there and you shouln't have a problem.

[kaiser]

Well, here it goes. If You are really interested in "Da Ultimate Setup", I would use the 30 gallon for a sump/fuge and get a 58gallon for a show tank. 2 x 250W MH 20K w/ 2 x 96W actinic on a 36" parallel reflector, 4" of LS, about 80lbs of LR, MMS (Matt's Monster Skimmer). You can go down to HD or Lowes and have them cut you some pieces of glass for baffles in the sump. Install those with silicone.

[PeeJ]

Kai..just curious. Why would you use actinic Suppliments with the 20k bulbs?

[kaiser]

To promote coral color, at least that's what I understood at the last meeting.

[alexwolf]

i do, i have 2 250w 20,000K XM's and 2 72" Actinic 03 VHO's

[kaiser]

If it is too blue for Your taste then set the PC's on a timer to come on an hour before the MH and turn of about 5min after the MH are on. At night have the PC coming on just as the MH go out. Gives a nie dusk/dawn effect.

[adamRS80]

I think you'll be fine with either at 150 double ended, 175w or 250w socket type. It all depends on the depth of your tank, and what you want to keep. I'd suggest setting up a 175 or 250 MH setup because of simplicity. It can be done fairly cheaply. As many have said in the past go to www.hellolights.com to get an idea. I don't think you need actinic supplementation, plus for such a small tank you could always add a 32w or 55w PC later on. I'm not trying to be rude but I think this topic has been worn out. I think in the small tank like you've mentioned you can set up a very simple setup than would probably work just as well as one that casts a bunch of money. Get the tank, put some live sand in it, a couple of Maxi Jet 900 or 1200 powerheads to get the water going and add a couple of damsels to get it cycling. Your cycle time should be shorter if you use live sand. Add a protein skimmer, I'd get a CPR Bakpak, but you could use an air driven one that will probably be fine if you don't overload your tank. Consider some type of refugium...you could easily build on like the CPR aqua-fuge. You'll be better off using sand, rock and water from an established tank. Again I don't mean to be rude but I think we're beating a dead horse here. Setting up a tank like this doesn't have to be a big ordeal. Go to Garf.org if you want other ideas to setup an inexpensive reef tank.

[RobertG]

If you had Lots of room & A 240 Reef ready, What would you do ?

I have 35 G Sump . Fuge 15G , Cal Reac., Tunze Cal. Dispenser , Tunze Streams W/ multi cont. , )3) HQI Pendants , 4 96 Watt PC attinic, Mag 1200 Return, Dutch Skimmer Lots of Room On new Tank ( Reefroom) :-D

Mike hope u dont mind need suggestions, More brains work great !

[kaiser]

trade the 240 for StephenA 320.

[RobertG]

Acrylic NO Thanks