New Project - Early planning stages

[Sherri]

Chris.... R.Allard is member name located in Kerrville....

[scuba_steveo]

Sounds like the bug has bit you too. I am currently building a fish room. I have converted my garage into a home theater room with an oceanic 215 brace-less built into the wall. Behind the wall in the fish room I am going to have a +100 gallon refugium, 75 gal sump, 75 gallon coral prop tank, and maybe a few 20s plumbed in. So I will not slam you for doing several tanks on the same skimmer and refugium, I think it’s a great idea.

Is using my 48g tall as a refugium a good/bad idea, or should I just get it built into the new massive filter/sump?

Yes, that is a bad idea. Do not have it built into the sump either if you have the space to have one that stands aside. You want the refugium to be higher than the other tanks so that it will gravity drain into them. Have Dan build the refugium. It will be custom and light and just perfect.

How do I reach Dan to build me a custom filter/sump/...?

He just left my house. PM him. He responds quick.

How many gallons of capacity should I target in a sump for a 500-600g system?

Enough to hold all water that will drain to it if the power goes out and then some. Ex: I only need a 58 gallon but I bought a 75.

How do I reach Matt for the "Monster" skimmer I'm gonna need?

It sounds like you have already reached him but the one thing I want to tell you is do not skimp on a skimmer. If you have to cut cost do it somewhere else. IMO a skimmer is the most important piece of hardware you will have.

So far I have survived without a calcium reactor - should I consider this addition? Or anything else?

Have matt build this too. Far better than any you can buy from an LFS.

Is there an alternate Oak stand for a 92C (34.5 x 34.5 x Bow) that wouldn't void the Oceanic warranty?
(Believe it or not - this is the ONLY argument w/my wife regarding taking over the dinning room )

Just have it custom built and do not worry about a warranty. Just make sur it can hold the weight and that it will be level.

No more submersible pumps for me! What's the best external return pump?

I agree with ever one else. I am going to use a dolphin ampmaster.

Will one return pump and SCWD be adequate water movement for a 200g? (Planning one return pump per tank)

I do not know much about SCWD but I have not heard much good about them. I am going to use 2 tunze system 6100’s with multi controller.

Lighting - PCs or MH (Not a question, just a random thought!).
If you do all of this and do not have MH, I will laugh. Go with MH and an actinic support, either T5 or VHO.

Hope this helps. Plan well. And post a drawing of you idea if you can so that we can better visualize it. Well I have to go perform a water change.

[NaCl_H2O]

WHOA I am approaching Reef-Info-Overload! This is all great stuff and I definately have many new ideas! The oceans motions device is worth some serious ($$) consideration.

Looks like I'll be "Planning" for a few more weeks!

One basic plumbing question: In the past (fresh & SW tanks) I have run return plumbing up over the top of the tank and put a small hole in the PVC just below the water line to break the siphon in case of a power outage/mainteance. I plan to run all plumbing up from underneath (driled) on my new tanks. Is there an alternate approach to break the siphon, or do I need to run at least one pipe up high enough to provide a siphon break?

This is GREAT :-D and keeps me from doing the loads of work I brought home for the weekend!

Steve

[NaCl_H2O]

What is your time frame on the stand?

How about this afternoon ;)

Seriously, I am probably 30-60 days away from getting seriously comitted ($), I intend to spend a considerable amount of time with paper & pencil first!