Everybody - My name is Marianna and I am a fishaholic.

[luckiM]

Now please help me plan my upgrade.

Currently I have a 55 Oceanic with a medium Aquafuge and a RemoraPro.
I have 2 Ocellaris and 1 Pygmy Angel with live rock and some shrooms. I use 2 MJ 1200s for circulation.

I've kept my current tank for about a year, after researching for about 3 months. I'm very proud for having stuck to my plan of using it as a gage of my interest and to learn with and not upgrade until I moved.

I am upgrading to a 140 Oceanic RR when I move in March. I will use the current tank as a fuge with macro and xenia and eventually a mandarin. I'm also thinking I'll section off one end for a prop section. I would like to keep a mix of softies and some lps. I would like to add a whitecheek tang, yw goby, neon gobies and assessors.

My plan so far is dsb, t5s for lighting (thinking 6 bulb right now) and tunze for circulation. I have just enough idea about plumbing to be very dangerous. I want the sump to be large volume, but I don't know if that is necessary since I only want it to function as a sump. I'm thinking since there are dual overflows, I can use one for the sump and the other for the fuge. Does this sound okay?

As you all know, if you do enough research you end up with 20 equally compelling opinions on a subject and no real conclusions. It can be quite confusing and overwhelming. I'm coming to you as a resource that is interested in helping a newbie like me by imparting your wisdom and allowing me to avoid the cost of a lot of trial and error. Please help me.

[Shark_Bait]

Well Welcome to MAAST first off.... I'm by no means one of the better sources of knowledge around here.
But my first thought is that though using the second overflow for the fuge may seem like a simple and efficient idea...... You would have to have to pump the water through the fuge as fast as your return pumps. From the research I have done the flow through your fuge should be considerably slower, so that will probably not work unless there is a way that you could slow the flow down from the overflow.
Again welcome to MAAST and way to jump right in with a charter membeship!!

[technomex]

I think your plan sounds pretty good. Get as big of a sump as you can. Your tank will tend to be more stable with a larger water volume. Also, I have seen a tank having a return going into a fuge and pouring back into the sump, just as long as it does not disturb your DSB should you have one.

[Dozer]

What you are describing is very similar to what I have (125gal. display, old 55 gal. tank underneath for sump/fuge). But, I did a combination sump/fuge. I think it's a much simpler setup to have it all in one. There's plenty of room in a standard 55 for an in-sump skimmer, heater, small fuge area for macro and stuff and then a decent sized return chamber- all separated by baffles. There are likely some advantages/disadvantages to having a separate sump and fuge but since I've never tried it I will let others address that. One thing I will say is that I really prefer to keep the flow rate pretty low through the sump and fuge, and then use another method for flow inside the tank- Tunze, closed loop, etc. It sounds like you're on that track already though.

I went with 2 250W halides instead of T5's, but that's a personal choice you have to make. Both methods of lighting have advantages/disadvantages.

If I could give you (or anyone setting up a new tank- especially one on the larger side) some advice, one important thing would be AUTO TOP-OFF!!. There are many ways to accomplish this and the best way will depend on your setup (will it be in wall, on a stand, near an RO/DI unit, etc). I myself don't have room in the same room as my tank is in so I got creative and put my RO/DI unit in my den (hooked up to an outdoor faucet in the backyard with water line coming through a small hole in the wall from the den to the backyard), then put a big rubbermaid Brute garbage can in the den next to the RO/DI unit. Then I got the Tunze auto top-off solution and hooked it up, running the little water line through the wall from my den, along baseboards behind some furniture in the bedroom and then through the wall and comes out right behind the tank and goes into the tank. I don't expect the description to make it clear to picture, but the point is you can get creative about where to put things like top off reservoirs and reactor equipment (should you decide to get some) and run lines where you need them with pumps and cords and things.

In my opinion, jumping up in size like you are you are really going to want your own RO/DI unit (if you don't already) and your own auto top-off solution. Not only does it save your back (from lugging water from the fish store to your house and from other places in your house to your sump) but it also helps keep your system more in balance.

There are lots of great people here who know way more than me and I'm sure will help you out! Good luck!

[hobogato]

you may want to visit a few tanks and see how they are set up. you are welcome to come by and see my setup, and im sure many other people here would be glad to show you their systems as well. i visited a few people before i did my current system, and it is much easier to maintain than my last one.

[brewercm]

Welcome to MAAST number one.
Sounds like you've done some good research already. I have never used T5 lighting myself so I'm not sure if the number of bulbs is appropriate or not. What are the demensions of the tank and with these 6 bulbs each be the lenght of tank of half of it (i.e. 3 bulbs for each half)? Do you even think that you may want to keep clams or SPS in the future, although with T5's you should have room to add more if needed. We have members that are keeping these under T5 and doing fine. Maybe Donnie will chime in and give more info, he's running all T5's and his tank looks great.

Is the skimmer you have large enough for that size tank or are you going to need larger, if larger is needed if you can get a good quality skimmer from the start.
Of course these are just starters, and one thing to think about

[hammondegge]

Welcome Marianna,
instead of splitting the overflow between the sump and fuge you will have more control over flow through the fuge if you partition it so as to have a constant water level that is higher than the sump water line and overflows into the sump. then fill the fuge by splitting the return line to the display tank. control water to the fuge with a ball valve. g'luck.

[luckiM]

Thanks for all of the great advice already. This tank will not be in-wall. I do plan to build my dream tank eventually when I build my own house. That will be in-wall viewable from both sides. I've been working on plans for that for about 6 months now. Anyway, back on track.

Tank dimensions are roughly 48x24x29 with a corner overflow in each rear corner.

How about something like this

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d20/luckim/sumpfuge.jpg

[hobogato]

i have seen a system (username is jeff - pm him, im sure he would let you come look at it if you are intereste) where both drains combined into one pipe, then, off of that, there were two outlets, one for the fuge and one for the sump with the skimmer. the outlet going to the fuge had a ball valve to controll flow thru the fuge, but anything that drained that didn't go to the fuge went to the sump. that way, no matter how much flow you have thru your fuge, the total flow thru your sump and fuge would always be constant. i think the main advantage is, if the drain in your diagram going to the sump were to get clogged, and you were limitting the flow in the drain going to the fuge, then your return pump may outproduce what the one unclogged drain that is restricted by a valve and you would end up with water on the floor. well, i re read what i just wrote and i dont even know if i follow it. :wacko

[Ram_Puppy]

welcome fellow addict!!!

[Shark_Bait]

Marianna is gonna fit in just fine with her outstanding art work.... Long live paintshop!!!

[luckiM]

hobo
it makes perfect sense. thanks.

I've been thinking about going wih the oceanmotions 4 way rather than the tunze. Would this be overkill since I don't want to keep sps? It just seems like I could direct the flow better than with the tunze.

[Ram_Puppy]

oceans motions rock! it's only overkill if you put to big a pump on it.

[NaCl_H2O]

Welcome to MAAST! I can't add much more than what has already been said - all good advice. The OM units are great, fairly maintenance free and no wires or pumps in the tank, just nozzles :D

Keep the Qs coming, plan know or forever "re-do"

[MikeyBoy]

WELCOME to MAAST TOO!!

I would STRONGLY suggest looking at 5-6 different systems around town.
This is what I did and I tried to take each and everybodys advice and methodolody and came up with my own gameplan based off my learnings and my house plans.

If your concerned about security, I am sure that Sherri or Vkm(Victoria) or C Mydias (Christina) would be more than willing to help with a tank tour..

Consider seeing these tanks: You cant go wrong and youll have a great time.

DON-N-SA
:Pete:
NACL H20
Hobogato, from what I hear(have not seen)
Gary P
Green Mako
Scuba Stevo
Mine!!! hehehehehe



Good luck!!!!