Now what?

[sharkboy]

Just got this 70 gallon tank..measures 36"x18"x24". Need some input on equipment....it will be an sps tank and I am thinking about going bare bottom....what do I place at the bottom to protect against something falling? Circulation will be taken care of by tunze nanostreams 6055s...i have two of them and already have the 7095 controller..thinking about maybe adding two more since they can all be controlled via the 7095...not too sure about return pump or what type of lighting i should go with...thinking about t5s but open to suggestions...how about skimmer recommendations...
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/sharkchum/DSC01205.jpg
canopy open...this is where lights will go
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/sharkchum/DSC01206.jpg

[ErikH]

Dual 250s and a chiller?? Unless you decide to hang the T5s since they will be what some or most would consider to be too high off the water, if I am not mistaken. 70 gallons would be great with an EuroReef RS135 or RC 135, and you will be able to hae a good fishload and still house a tank with alot of SPS. If you want a tall aquascape, make sure to use the acrylic rod method as found in Lhoy's thread and others. You could starboard it. Alot of ideas to toss around here. All comes down to how awesome you want it, and how much you are willing to spend on it! :D

[RayAllen]

Many barebottom guys go with custom sized plastic cutting boards or starboard. I once had a bare bottom FOWLR in Kansas city and had this company custom make me a 1/2" thick black board that turned out really nice.

http://www.cuttingboardcompany.com/cuttingboards.asp?id=1

You want to make sure to use lots of silicone and put it all over the side going down especially the edges to prevent any detritus from getting underneath. As for lighting I agree on dual 250s. DE pendents would be nice and probably take up less space than a SE reflectors. Id go with the octopus 150 as a skimmer, less money and IMO Octopus skimmers are just as good as some of the bigger names that have been around a while. Have fun!!

[apedroza]

I have the exact same tank and my lighting is 2-250watt SE MH's in lumenarc reflectors, (but they won't fit under your canopy) with 2 36" HO T-5's fro actinic. Iam also running a Euroreef skimmer. 2 seio 1100's, 1 koralia 3, and 1 modded MJ 900 for circulation. Return pump is a Eheim 1262. No chiller needed just yet.

[RayAllen]

The canopy is why I said that 2 DE pendants would be best.

[sharkboy]

Where do you get starboard and is it easy to cut?

How far should the lights be away from the water...

Thanks for the input, I am thinking about having an open aquascape to allow for growout (hopefully)

Anthony,
How are you suspending your lights...

[RayAllen]

All starboard is is a cuttingboard. Go the link I posted above and you can have it custom sized.

[sharkboy]

Thanks for the link...so I guess all i have to do is cut out the area for the overflow...what are other recommendations for a return pump if i don't go with the eheim 1262?

[RayAllen]

Ive Always been a Mag fan. Id go with a mag 9 for a return.

[ErikH]

You have to decide on your overflow type. The popular one lately has been the Calfo. Since most "dirty" water sits on the top 2", the calfo extends the length of the back of the tank to constantly keep this portion of the water column going into the sump to be skimmed/scrubbed by the sump and fuge. Essentially it's just a more efficient style. Ace has been putting them on people's tanks, so contact him for better info! I have heard that the eheim is much quieter than the Mags, but I could not tell you from personal experience.

[Bill S]

I don't own an eheim, but I own several mags. I'd go with the eheim.

[RayAllen]

I agree with Erik on the Calflow overflow. They provide total surface skimming. My current tank has a corner overflow do to already being drilled when I bought it, but if you have the option drill your hole or holes in the center and go calflow.

[brewercm]

For the cutting board you can also check with Regal Plastics.

[sharkboy]

the overflow on this tank is already in place???oh, since the back of the tank is painted black & the overflow is black, it is tough to see..it is the standard type in the back center of the tank...thanks for all of the input...still trying to decide on lighting

[sharkboy]

update....looks like I am going with two 250watt lights...contemplating on flow....presently I have 4 tunze 6100s on other tank with 7095 controller...probably overkill but could possibly dial down....also have two tunze 6055s on another 7095 controller that is not being used...will the two 6055s be sufficient flow? do I add two more 6055s? or use combination (two 6100s and two 6055s)?

[apedroza]

I had 2 seio 1100's a koralia 4 and a modded MJ900. Plus my return pump. Tons of flow. So you should be fine with the 2 tunzes.

[sharkboy]

6100s or will the 6055s be enough?

[LoneStar]

Are you keeping SPS in this tank? I'd go 6000's or 6100's if you got them. Since they are on a multicontroller, one or the other will be running vs both (most of the time).

Heck I'm debating on using 2 6055's on just a 24g!

[sharkboy]

looking at sps exclusively...the other reason I was considering the 6055s was the pump size...they are a lot smaller and wouldn't be as unsightly...