Help me build a dream tank

[msmith619]

OK, I set up a 75 gallon at my office and you can see it in the forums as "My Tank". I have since added 12 more corals to it and need to update the pictures. I want to build the ideal reef tank at home, as big as I can go. I am on the second floor of a brand new apartment complex and tank size will be limited by weight. I would love a 180 but may have to settle for a 120. I will have to meet with the management to see what I can do.

Here we go, for the perfect reef tank what would YOU do and why to all the below: I want a BIG mixture of corals, some anemonies, and a few fish. Probably no clams and can do without crustaceans if I keep a few wrasses or an eel.

1. Open top or glass covered? I see both on this site, no jumpers if covered but hard to get into to decorate and move stuff around with a top on. (I found that out on my 75 gallon) Does the glass affect the wavelength of my lights, such as reducing thier effect?
2. Metal Halide or T5 HO? It seems MH gives me more coral options. If I go MH do I add T5 actinics? How hot is my house going to be with MH lights?
3. Refugium or wet/dry. I think I know this one, more weight to deal with if a refugium but lots of macro and coral food can grow in it too. If I go refugium, will do the lights, rock and sand to grow copepods, macro, etc.
4. Protein skimmer? Seems like a gimme to me, but is there a better option?
5. Definately a drilled, reef-ready tank, preferably cross-flow from right to left? Suck water in one side and return on the other? Where do I get the tank? Store stock reef-ready or custom made?
6. I see people talk about calcium reactors, no idea what they are, do I need one, is there more specialized equipment I need?
7. I think glass instead of acrylic for long-term clarity, scratches, etc.
8. Does the brand of salt mix matter? I am using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals and change 10 gallons on my 75 every week. With 90 pounds of live rock and 100 pounds of live sand, that may be a 20% water change. Trying to reduce waste, replace the trace elements, etc.

What am I missing? I want this to be a real show-stopper. I need your input. This is you chance to impress and dazzle us all with your knowledge. :wink_smile:
Mike

[Robb_in_Austin]

I'd be surprised if the complex allows a tank of any significant size on the 2nd floor.

That said, I'll give the other questions a try!
1) Open, or at least screened. Glass tops can decrease gas exchange, get dirty from splashing which will impact how much light gets through.
2) T5, but I am biased. I went with them because I didn't want to need a chiller. Lamps last longer, better color choices. Maybe cheaper.
3) Fuge
4) Cant help
5) Stock will be cheaper. This is your call.
6) Ca reactor only if you have a big demand, ie lots of SPS. Media(Carbon or Phos) reactors would be good to have.
7) Your call
8) Short answer: not really. If you're happy with Reef Crystals, stay with it.

Take it slow, lots of research, look at the tanks you admire, see what they are doing.

[fishypets]

T5 lighting with the correct fixture/reflector will have more "punch" than 400 watters. I've used both and will never go back to M.H. lighting. You can also change the color of your spectrum easier with the switch of one $16.00 bulb vs. a $60-$80 bulb. I also like the look of a rimless tank, but I own one so I'm a little partial. I also like external overflows which you could get with a customer builder. With a 120 gallon one could easily get all the "high end" equipment and spend between 5-8K. Check out AGE tanks if you're looking for a nice custom tank.

[Texreefer]

I got a quote from AGE for my custom 180,,, $4800

[hobogato]

speaking from experience, more than one anemone in a tank can be a push - especially if the tank is only 120 gallons and will have lots of corals. an eel is a big waste producer, so be ready to deal with that if you go that direction.

not trying to sound negative, i am looking forward to seeing what you put together :)


..I want a BIG mixture of corals, some anemonies, and a few fish. Probably no clams and can do without crustaceans if I keep a few wrasses or an eel.....

[msmith619]

OK a follow up.
The apartment complex is brand new and has 12 inch thick cement floors so weight is not an issue. I can get as big an aquarium as I want. So, the limiting factor now is price and how big a tank I want to haul up a flight of stairs.
I am thinking 75-120 gallons, I have room for a 6 foot tank on one wall and it would get a few hours of afternoon shaded sun. I like the idea of a few hours of natural sunlight for the aquarium like on Ace's posts.
I think I will stick to softies, large polyp corals and either a long tentacled or bubble tip anemone.
Fish would be few and small, gobies, fairy wrasses, anthies, clowns, and maybe 1 or 2 tangs.
I think I will stay with T5 lighting if I don't buy any sps corals.
My 75 reef tank in my office has large polyps, zoas, kenya trees, green star polyps, pipe organ coral, 2 types of brain coral, a leather toadstool and 2 sps coral frags. One sps coral was free as it was not doing well in the prior owner's tank and it is bleaching now. The other is glow-in-the-dark neon green and looks very healthy. I just like the anemone-like tentacles on my LPS corals and the looks of the soft/leather corals.
My 75 gallon is now over $3200 and I bought the reef-ready tank, stand, hood, heater, T5 fixture, return pump and wet/dry all used. The protein skimmer is the only new item so, it looks like price will determine how large a tank I get and think it stays affordable until you go over 120 gallons.
Texas Tropical and Marine always has tank/stand/hood combos for 90-150's out front for what look like good prices or maybe I will wait for a MAASTARD to post a system on this site to get my tank.
Mike

[fishypets]

Mike,

You should consider T5's even if you're going to keep sps. I promise you this with T5's as long as your tank is less than 25 inches deep you can keep whatever you want. Check out some of the T5 sps tanks over on Reefcentral. They'll blow your mind.

[Gseclipse02]

OK a follow up.
The apartment complex is brand new and has 12 inch thick cement floors so weight is not an issue. I can get as big an aquarium as I want. So, the limiting factor now is price and how big a tank I want to haul up a flight of stairs.
I am thinking 75-120 gallons, I have room for a 6 foot tank on one wall and it would get a few hours of afternoon shaded sun. I like the idea of a few hours of natural sunlight for the aquarium like on Ace's posts.
I think I will stick to softies, large polyp corals and either a long tentacled or bubble tip anemone.
Fish would be few and small, gobies, fairy wrasses, anthies, clowns, and maybe 1 or 2 tangs.
I think I will stay with T5 lighting if I don't buy any sps corals.
My 75 reef tank in my office has large polyps, zoas, kenya trees, green star polyps, pipe organ coral, 2 types of brain coral, a leather toadstool and 2 sps coral frags. One sps coral was free as it was not doing well in the prior owner's tank and it is bleaching now. The other is glow-in-the-dark neon green and looks very healthy. I just like the anemone-like tentacles on my LPS corals and the looks of the soft/leather corals.
My 75 gallon is now over $3200 and I bought the reef-ready tank, stand, hood, heater, T5 fixture, return pump and wet/dry all used. The protein skimmer is the only new item so, it looks like price will determine how large a tank I get and think it stays affordable until you go over 120 gallons.
Texas Tropical and Marine always has tank/stand/hood combos for 90-150's out front for what look like good prices or maybe I will wait for a MAASTARD to post a system on this site to get my tank.
Mike


to be honest there are so many good deals i have seen on CL i would just buy a whole set up from some one on there....

[Gseclipse02]

and that sunlight is going to be more heat for the tank ....

[Robb_in_Austin]

OK a follow up.
The apartment complex is brand new and has 12 inch thick cement floors so weight is not an issue. I can get as big an aquarium as I want.

Did the apartment manager say this? Very surprising if so.
It's my understanding that they we worried about leaks which is why they never allowed tanks over 10-20g in apartments.

As far as cost goes, this is not the hobby to have if you want to save money. As you well know.
I've not kept up with costs since I started SW, with a 58g, but am doing so for my new 75 build. I guess I am a masochist.

[msmith619]

Quote:
[to be honest there are so many good deals i have seen on CL i would just buy a whole set up from some one on there.... }

OK, what, who, where is CL?

Quote:
[and that sunlight is going to be more heat for the tank .... ]

The aquarium will be 3-4 feet from the window and get filtered sunlight thru an oak tree outside the window that goes to a porch with a 6 foot roof over-hang.

Quote:
[Did the apartment manager say this? Very surprising if so.]

Yes, the apartment manager made some calls and said weight was no problem. They did suggest renter's insurance in case I damaged the walls or floor with spilled water or with spray from the tank.

Quick question about open top tanks. Electricity and salt water are not a good combination. I see the T5 lights have mounting brackets that attach to the side rims of the tank. It seems to me salt spray, or worse, if I bump the light, it may go in the tank, short, electrocute me etc. How do I prevent that without a glass top?
Mike

[Kristy]

CL = Craig's List

www.craigslist.org (http://www.craigslist.org)

[Robb_in_Austin]

Yes, the apartment manager made some calls and said weight was no problem. They did suggest renter's insurance in case I damaged the walls or floor with spilled water or with spray from the tank.

Quick question about open top tanks. Electricity and salt water are not a good combination. I see the T5 lights have mounting brackets that attach to the side rims of the tank. It seems to me salt spray, or worse, if I bump the light, it may go in the tank, short, electrocute me etc. How do I prevent that without a glass top?
Mike[/QUOTE]

Wow, I guess things have changed since I was in an apartment(>10yrs). Cool for you!

If you run a canopy, just retrofit T5's into it. If you run a fixture, you can hang most of them or place on the top. Most(all?) have some type of splash shield to protect the reflectors and electrics. My TX5 has mounting tabs on it that keep it mostly stable on the rim. I can move it back/forth without really worrying about dropping it. I have to take it off to do any real work though. Also, see about swapping to receptacle with a GFCI unit.