200 Gal. Or Bigger, Questions.....

[widowmaker]

IS THERE ANYONE WITH A 200 GAL REEF TANK (OR BIGGER) SETUP, THAT CAN HELP ME WITH A FEW EQUIPMENT QUESTIONS.
1) THE 240 GAL. TANK I BOUGHT, CAME WITH A WET/DRY 30 GAL TANK. IS THIS OK TO USE IN THE BEGINNING TO CYCLE THE TANK, AND RUN FOR A FEW MONTHS UNTIL I CAN ADD A SUMP INTO THE SYSTEM OF THINGS?
2) I HAVE THE LIGHTING PICKED OUT ALREADY, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT I NEED A HEATER, AND RO UNIT. WHAT SETUPS ARE OUT THERE FOR MY CASE, HEATER WISE, AND WHAT IS A DEPENDABLE UNIT FOR THIS SIZE TANK.
3) ISN'T IT AWSOME BEING ABLE TO PICK OUT FISH WITHOUT CONCERN FOR "MIN. TANK SIZE REQUIRED"......WOOHOO!!!!

DANG.....SORRY FOR THE CAPS.....POSTING AT WORK SHHHH !!

 

[dejaco]

Okay first let me say I have a 210 g reef with a 45 g sump system.
As for your first question - DON'T RUN BIOBALLS IN A WET/DRY FILTER.
In a tank this size you will be hopefully be running live sand(not crushed coral)
and live rock. This type of system will complete the nitrogen cycle, bio-balls on the other hand are so efficient they will elliminate your Ammonia and nitrite
but your nitrates will be on the rise. I think the bio load of even a 240 g would be hard pressed to break down that kind of nitrate production. Suggestions for a sump would include plumbing in a filtering chamber, refugium area, and a return area where you would have submersable pump(s),
protien skimmer, carbon filtration, etc.
As far as heaters go! I run 2 150 watt heaters for at night when the lights are out, during the day with VHO's and MH's running I had to install a 1/3 HP chiller. My tank now stays between 78.5 and 79.5 ' F.
Lastly I would highly recommend you draw up your system on paper, no detail is to minute, redraw, and finally after you research everything draw up a final
schematic. Now design your display tank, draw it out, research who and what you want in it! Everything from snails, corals, inverts, and fish. Not just for compatibility but also for lighting requirement, feeding requirements,
H2O paramenters, etc. Once you have the little ecosystem planned out - STICK WITH YOUR PLAN. You can't see something and buy it on impulse.
Now while you are planning and building keep a Journal! And then continue to update as often as you do anything to the tank. Also jot down your visual perceptions of the tank and it's inhabitants. Then when something changes you can go back and see if you did anything! Good luck
BIG Tanks are FUN!

 

[devaji108]

welcome to the big tank club!!your going to love to watch ppl come over for the frist time!!!
any way I have a 240 W/ 200+# of LR and LS w/ no bio-balls in the sump and all h2o test are fine. I am in the process of making a 55 in a sump refuge. this I the way I would go if I was you.
also put a good skimmer on there!
like a ASM G6 the G 4X might to it to. I just got thr Aqua C ev 400 for mine.
good luck!
and post pics soon

 

[acrylic51]

Can I join in??????

 

[acrylic51]

Can I join the club as well!!!!!!!!

I'd recommend Jalli Titanium heaters with separate temp controllers for controlling the heat issue.....These are really reliable compared to alot of other heaters out there on the market today.......
As far as RO/DI I'd highly recommend AirWaterIce Typhoon III.....$179.00, you can't go wrong with this unit, and won't find a nicer one IMO, and the customer service is unsurpassed.....Walter is a great guy to deal with....
What type of lighting have you picked out or considered?
I would suggest you might want to look at something like the Neptune AquaControllers to handle your tank needs.....they are awesome little units......

 

[widowmaker]

I'm making notes as I read, and thanks for the info so far. I guess I need to figure out how to change that wet/dry system into a refuge. I had looked at the ASM skimmer line, and think I'm going to go that route too. The lighting I'm interested in so far is the Coralife Aqualight Pro (72" model). From what I've read, I think this will work and seems to be a popular, dependable company. I've been following acrlic51's post, and I'm glad I got a reply.
Thanks again....I'm off to spend money.

 

[acrylic51]

Coralife units are nice, but for the money your going to put out on it you can do alot nice lighting with less money IMO......

 

[acrylic51]

Heck IceCap electronic ballast and PFO reflectors would be cheaper and better reliability and customer service as well.....

 

[teen]

ive only got a 30 gallon tank, but for lighting you should do a search on reefstar metal halide pendants. thats what i have on my tank, and i think two or three 250w would do you good.

 

[acrylic51]

Best reflectors on the market are Lumenarc III, but depending on canopy design might make it hard to accomodate.......2 MH's wouldn't provide the coverage on a 6' tank with the typical reflectors such as reefstar or PFO....Lumenarc would cover a 3'x3' area, but if using regular reflectors would need 3 on a 6' tank.....Coverage is each MH will cover a 2' area......

 

[widowmaker]

yea.....my tank is 8' long and is part of my lighting problem. i'll still have about 1' on each end, unlite except for the "cone" from where the 6' stops. i'm going to get pendents later i think, just for total coverage.

 

[fishy7]

Originally Posted by DeJaCo
Okay first let me say I have a 210 g reef with a 45 g sump system.
Now design your display tank, draw it out, research who and what you want in it! Everything from snails, corals, inverts, and fish. Not just for compatibility but also for lighting requirement, feeding requirements,
H2O paramenters, etc. Once you have the little ecosystem planned out - STICK WITH YOUR PLAN. You can't see something and buy it on impulse.
!
This is a very good piece of advice. Get a plan and stick to it. There is a lot of eye candy and the temptations are off the charts. That being said...
Ok..
Pumps: invest in a good sequence pump. You will need to move that water around and this is a great way.
Heaters: invest in 2 and make them titanium. Won brothers work pertty good for me.
Skimmer: make it a good one. I run an Aqua c ev240. Works like a charm.
Have fun planning and building.