96x24x24 240gal assistance please.

[widowmaker]

I have ordered this tank kit from a company that shall remain nameless, and it includes the tank, pre-filter overflows, external wet/dry filters w/ bio material, magnetic drive pumps, and a "deluxe" plumbing packages. What bothers me is that no brands are mentioned, and I'm worried it could be crap. Can any of you lead me down the right path as to what lighting I should look into, and if you notice that anything is missing from this kit I should also pick up. My intentions are to have live sand, 100lb+ live rock, fish, and softies. Assuming that the pumps and filters that come with the kit are decent, is lighting really the only thing left for me to pick up, or am I missing something else.
Thanks in advance to all the SW guru's that are bound to reply with much helpfull information.

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by widowmaker
I have ordered this tank kit from a company that shall remain nameless, and it includes the tank, pre-filter overflows, external wet/dry filters w/ bio material, magnetic drive pumps, and a "deluxe" plumbing packages. What bothers me is that no brands are mentioned, and I'm worried it could be crap. Can any of you lead me down the right path as to what lighting I should look into, and if you notice that anything is missing from this kit I should also pick up. My intentions are to have live sand, 100lb+ live rock, fish, and softies. Assuming that the pumps and filters that come with the kit are decent, is lighting really the only thing left for me to pick up, or am I missing something else.
Thanks in advance to all the SW guru's that are bound to reply with much helpfull information.

first thing i see wrong is only 100# of live rock. that amount of rock will look like almost nothing in a tank that size. we have around 350-400 in our 140 and its only 1/2 full.
IMO for the light you should go with 4x250 MH and 4x110 VHO. if you really want to go all out use 4x400 MH. Dont count on the fact that you will only keep soft corals. It almost NEVER stops there. By good lighting the first time out to save yourself the money and trouble later.
there is another HUGE problem i see. your missing the most important piece of equipment there is. A SKIMMER!! dont go without this and dont skimp on it.
BTW dont spend that much cash on ANYTHING without knowing all there is to know. if it was me i would be demanding every make and model of every piece of equipment i'm getting. there is some really cheap crap out there including tanks. You want to make sure your not throwing away your money

 

[widowmaker]

thanks oceana...i knew there was something missing. i priced the skimmers and made a note to remind myself to order one when the tank comes in, if not before. the lighting advice helped also, even though the prices were more than i thought, but you get what you pay for i always say. i'm also going to have a fuge, and i guess the lighting for it doesn't have to be as dramatic as the main tank's. thanks again, i knew you'd be one of the first to help out.

 

[devaji108]

HI
I just set up the same size of tank! it has been up and running for 5 days now I got it used, save 100gal. of h2o, about 200 # of LR and 1 inch of LS loving it so fair.
like oceana said 100 # of LR will seam like nothing. you could use base rock to help with the coast factor. as fair a lighting goes I just order the same as oceana addvised 4x 250W 14kMH & 4x 110 super blue 03 VHO ( good to know I am on the right path. LOL)
I am useing the kent bio-rocker filter and Kent nautilus skimmer in a 30 gal or so sump. thinking about addin a refug in to the mix some how. I have 2 return pumps a mag18 and a blue line external pump rated foe 1105 GPH.
having some proplems with the mag18 thought.
would love to see pic when you get it up and going!
what fish r u going 2 put in there?
~Deva~

 

[widowmaker]

well deva, i hope you don't mind being added to my buddy list. i think me and you are going to be chatting quite a bit since we have the same set-up. i'm planning on posting pictures as the process goes on. it's an "in-wall" tank in our new house being built. i think you'll be able to help me a good bit in the "do's & don'ts" area.
as far as wildlife goes, i want a shrimp/goby combo, some maroon w/gold striped clowns with a hostable anemone, and as my wife calls it, "some of those bright yellow ones (tang) or maybe even one of those orange and blue ones (flame angle or coral beauty)", but i haven't nailed down any types except the goby and clowns. i like the bubble tips, zoos, and several other "wavy" types of softies. i'm hoping to fine tune my list as the tank delivery date draws near.
thanks again for your help to, and i'll be talking to you soon. :joy:

 

[devaji108]

widowmaker:
for sure you can add me to your budy list.
I will help out as mush as possable only been in the hobby for about 9 months now, but learning so much everyday
Deva