New Tank Setup - Salt Newb

[Ram_Puppy]

Ok.. my home account. (Workpuppy happened because I registered Ram_Puppy at work, and the e-mail and password went home! ;)

quick little bump and another question.

What is the best source of fiji, tonga, or nabali live rock in the area or online? Once the tank cycles, I am planning on adding about twenty more pounds of the good stuff.

Thanks for answering my questions guys!

[Tim Marvin]

I can get you a 45-50 lbs box of fresh un-cured for $3. a lbs still in the box. Or $3.50 cured.

[matt]

I'll add my vote for a single de hqi mini pendent. Cheapest I've seen for a 250W is $315 at marine depot, that's with a 10000K ushio de bulb. Trying to light this tank with florescents is a mistake, IMO. Plus, if you get the pendent, you can hang it over your tank some distance from the water, and leave the top open. This will really help with the heat issue. If you want to keep any shallow water photosynthetic animals, I'm pretty certain PCs won't really cut it. You'd have to cram so many in the hood and keep them so close to the water you'd have heat problems anyway. Plus, a hex tank is the right shape for a single pendent.

I'm not familiar with your filtration set up, so i can't comment, other than to say that the vast majority of successful reef tanks use no mechanical filtration other than protein skimmers. The remora pro is probably okay for this size tank, provided you get the mag 3 option. It's pricey, though. Maybe premium has a slightly damaged one on sale, I can't remember.

A couple of things I didn't catch from your post were flow plans and calcium/carbonate replenishing. You'll want to figure out these issues as well. Especially flow; with enough flow and the right bio community, detritus shouldn't be a problem. As long as you're in the spiny mode with the lionfish, I'd suggest a diadema urchin. Excellent grazer, and I don't think the fish can eat one.

Its nice to see a "newbie" who is planning well and thinking about the animals first, then the set-up. Good luck!

Matt

[Tim Marvin]

These halides run very cool underneath also. I can hold my hand just inches from the lense and not get burned. Most of the comes out through the top and can easily be moved away with a fan. Great lights, and they will work wonders on your acropora.

[Work_Puppy]

Ok...

So the general consensus is to slap a metal halide pendant up... I think I can take a hint!

One of the things I have to take into consideration is light blindness, which is a problem in lions exposed to to much light, in this tank, it may not be a bad idea for the lower regions to have a little less light.

But I figure I can accomplish that with overhangs, which lions like to rest upside down under any how. I'll start pricing out metal halid pendants...

question on 20K's... do they offer a harsh blue/white light? If I want a more realistic daylight appearance, do I need to suppliment the light with something else?

Also, Red Dragon offered me a 175watt for a good price, I am guessing if I go with a single pendant, thent his is not powerful enough.

As far as flow is concerned: Initially, I had forgotten about it. however, in the last few days I have come up with a plan of 4 powerheads, in sets of two, on either side of the tanks central rock column, facing out, I found an 'inexpensive' wave timer that is basically a power strip with 3 sockets with built in timers. I may embed a 5th power head in the live rock to puse directly out into the tank.

I am open to powerhead suggestions, as I have not picked a brand, though, I have never had good luck with Rio, and was leaning toward MaxiJets.

The only 'mechanical' filter being considered for the tank is possibly the magnum 350, or a fluval replacement, and this is only because I have heard lions are incredibly messy fish... I am currently planning on leaving such a filter off until I can tell more with first hand.. if it needs polishing every now and agaon, great, if not, great.

BTW, the Eheim 2229 is a wet dry, and it pulses water in and out, simulating wave action. I have heard good things from a lFS employee that runs one, however, this to may wait a while... as therei s easily going to be almsot a hundred pounds of LR in this tank, plus the Remora Pro (without the Magdrive) is rated at 90 plus gallons) (though I am probably getting the magdrive) I think it may be all I need until the lions grow a little.