What to do

[4fun]

I just picked up a new tank and I'm not sure what i would need to start this. I have a 125g (72"x18"x21") and a 215g (72"x24"x31") but I'm not sure if I can keep both tanks. I want to install them, one on top of the other, in the wall. Can i use the same sump? refugme? water?
Lots of unknows!

I would like some of you all to give some ideas before i go buy anything (don't want to spend unnessasray money on stuff i really don't need).

The install won't happen till late this year or maybe early next.:at_wits_end: And i want to be ready.

[4fun]

On the 125 I have 2 36" T5s one blue and one white in each. 1 KORAILA2 and 1 KORAILA3 I still don't have lights for the 215. Oh yea this tank is pre drilled with over flows on each side

[Rychek]

Technically you can mount them both in the wall and connect them so they use the same sump/fuge. That would make a very large system and you'd need a VERY stout stand (~1.2 tons of water just in the tanks), but it could look awesome. I would put the 125 on top since it's reef ready (bottom drilled with overflows). Is the 215 drilled?

If you intend to keep corals in the 125 gal, you would benefit from more light and flow. On my 48"x18"x25" 90 gal mixed reef I use 6x overdriven 48" T5s and the same Koralia power heads and it could use more flow.

[4fun]

No the 125 is not reef ready. The 215 is the one that is reef ready. I am wanting to put th 125 on top because of the wieght and the look. If I put the 215 on top you might not be able to see all the way in the back (24").

[4fun]

What i need to know how big of a sump? How big should my pump be? How big should my refugm be? What kind of lights and how many?
Do i need a chiller? UV?

I want to have LPS and fish. I'm not sure if I want SPS.

[Rychek]

Oh, ok. Since the 125 isn't drilled, you might want to use it as the sump/fuge. That way it could be low enough that the 215 will be more visible and having a visible fuge can be very interesting.

[4fun]

I sorry, I was not clear, I am adding an addition (6'x16') to the house just for these tanks,thats why the install won't be done till late this year. So all of the "behind the sences" stuff stays that way. I'm adding an a/c to keep this room cool. But after that i'm not sure.

The possablity are endless I don't even know where to start

[Rychek]

Wow, that opens the options considerably. You might want to checkout a few build threads to get some ideas. I haven't see any that were dual displays, but it shouldn't be too difficult to modify/combine a few to suit your needs.

Here is a thread to get you started:

http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46918

[4fun]

I still need ideas for the equipment

I have nothing but a tank

[stoneroller]

I would keep them separated. One failure and both go down.

[Rychek]

Before too many recommendations are made we need to know if you intend to make both reef tanks, or just one. If only one, which one? Reef/non-reef makes a big difference in lighting and flow costs (reefs require more of both than fish only tanks). The recommendations I make below are based on the assumption that you are building a reef system.

For flow you could get a couple Vortech MP40s, but they are pricey. A much less expensive alternative are Hydor Koralia power heads. They take up more room in the tank, but work well and are fairly easy to maintain.

A protein skimmer sufficient for a system that large would be expensive. Some brands to consider are Euro Reef, Octopus and ASM. They will give you a basic idea of what you expect/look for.

Lighting is going to be expensive for tanks that large no matter how you slice it. For a T5 setup you're looking at a retrofit or prebuilt fixture. A retrofit will need a canopy (or something to mount the endcaps to), ballasts and bulbs/reflectors. Prebuilt fixtures can be found at/ordered from our local sponsors. There are too many to list them all here and the price range can be large. For example, ATI makes very high quality fixtures with very good cooling for a high price whereas Current-USA makes a decent fixture that works/cools well for quite a bit less.

For Metal Halides there are a lot of options, but I don't know enough about MH equipment to give much detail. However, if you run large MH lights, you may need to add a chiller to your tank which is a costly proposition.

That's a start on hardware. One can go absolutely nuts with hardware in this hardware, but those are the main hardware items.

[4fun]

So I need to start with lighting and flow. And as was mention even if i want to display both tank (reef) I should keep them separate systems? Will T5s be eough light in the 31" deep tank?