Anyone with a 65??

[nauti2001]

Im thinking about upgrading from a 29 to a 65 to be able to keep bigger fish, more fish, and just have a bigger tank. But im going to need more lights.. A tank.. A stand.. and so forth. I built my stand and canopy for my 29 and it worked good. ANyone have a 65 that could help with what kind of lighting I need... Pics of how they are set up.. Directions for making a nice stand.. pics of your stands. Just anything that has to do with a 65.. and how much I should pay for one. Thanks everyone! Matt

 

[nauti2001]

And also I currently have a 28" power compact with 2-65watt 50/50. The 65 is 18" deep and the lighting I have is only 7"deep... So I should have plenty of room for more lights..

 

[alison]

:happyfish Hi, I have a 60 gal. reef. Oh, and the 65 watt. lighting you have each is probably 55 watts. I read a bunch of articles on how some companies scam people with lighting to make them believe the are buying higher lighting. Anyways, If you haven't bought the tank yet, I would REALLY recommend a 75-80 gal. at least. You then can keep tangs, and the bigger fish. And that's what you said you wanted. SOOO many bigger fish require a minimum of 75 gallons to thrive. So, I would do that if you can. Just a suggestion. If I had to do it over again, that's just what I would do. I know comin from a 30 gal. is a big difference, but trust me on this one. Oh, and about the lights, I have 220 watts runin on my 60 gal., and I need to add another 55 watts soon. Thats just my setup. The higher you go on lights the more harder corals you can get. I can only keep soft corals presently. As for info on the stand and hood. Put out a thread asking" Anyone know how to build a stand?" You will get a boat load of replies for sure. I would just buy a used setup out of your local paper or here online. Never buy retail or from your local lfs, you get ripped, that's just my personal opinion. My brother got a complete 120 gal setup w/fish and live rock with sump, everything for $200. That was a sweet deal, but 400-600 for a used one would still be a sweet deal. Good luck, ali

 

[nauti2001]

I know I should go with a bigger one than a 65. bUt I dont think I have the extra foot of room.. I just saw a 65 the other day and was like "i gotta get that." and I figured I could use my lighting I have and retro fit some other lighting in there under a canopy.. Ali you have any pics of yours you could show me? and If so what about how you have all your lights crammed under there?? It will be a while before I buy one because yes you are right they are way cheaper in the paper.. I'll just have to look around. I saw one in a sote that came with the tank, stand, and just the normal lights for 300. didnt think that was that bad. but the tank only should cost new less that 170. atleast thats what it was at the lfs.. Maybe if they threw in a canopy. But I'll keep looking like you said. thanks! matt

 

[robchuck]

Matt,
I currently run a 65 gallon reef, and am really pleased with the tank. The dimensions are nice, especially the 18" width. My tank (not drilled) plus AGA stand cost about $240, and I've seen the tank for sale at other shops around me for $100-$150.
The one thing I don't like about the tank is the plastic center brace. I wanted to use one MH fixture, but it would have cast an ugly shadow, so instead I mounted 2x175W retros into a DIY canopy. A 96W PC actinic 03 bulb supplements the MH and provides a dawn/dusk simulation.
The tank uses a 800gph CPR overflow to drain water to a 20H sump. It used to have a Euro Reef CS6-1 skimmer, but the pump was fried in an electrical surge, and I'm having a tough time getting a replacement (because I bought the skimmer used and ER doesn't have my info on record and is hesitant to SELL me a replacement pump that I've already paid for through a dealer; but that's a whole different story ). So instead, I'm using an old AquaC Remora I had laying around.
Another option if you're not totally set on the 36"x18" footprint is to have a custom tank built; and it sounds that way because of your desire to DIY a stand. In that case, I would suggest you look into a custom builder like Glasscages. I just went through the process in acquiring a 150, and have to say that it went much smoother, and wasn't nearly as expensive as I thought it would be.
Anyways, here's a 6 month old pic of my 65 (I don't have any recent pics and the canopy in this shot was being test-fit, and has since been finished):

 

[nauti2001]

Thanks Robchuck. If you happen to have pics of your lights would you mind sending them to nauti2001@aol.com.. also what fish do you have in there now. Ive had my tank now for about a year and Im still learning so dont laugh when I ask this but what is a sump? and while we are at it what does a refuge do and a chiller?? just to add to my knowledge. and would I need a sump? protein skimmer? and what kind of filter do you have. I have just two hang ons currently. I know I'll need a canister filter probably and I know I'll need a skimmer.. I have heard you do and dont need skimmers. but what the heck. If im going to go bigger I might as well buy whatever.. sorry for all the questions. thanks a lot! matt

 

[alison]

:happyfish Hey nauti, robchuck's 65 gal. high is nice. My 60 gal is a standard size. I got a standard oak canopy from a major petsore and they had all thier canopy's on clearence for 25$ so I scored on that one. I bought my tank for around 80$ and stand for around 250$ being solid oak. I've had that particle board crap with fish tanks, and they fall apart after like 10 years. I'll email you a cheap cheap place online to order your lights and bulbs, and they are great. You CANNOT tell anyone though! If everyone knows, then prices will go up. They tell you exactly how long everything is. I would suggest going w/ 2 96 watt lights, and put in your 65 watt lights somewhere in there. I just drilled stainless steel screws into the reflector, and attached that to the oak canopy. I put spacers in between the oak and the reflector to prevent scorching of wood. I haven't had any problems for 4 years. Oh, and since you decided the compact light way, you should keep with the longer tanks, instead of taller tanks, due to the lights losing intensity after about 18 inches of depth.
Good luck, ali

 

[alison]

:happyfish Hey nauti, no sweat. A sump is a bilogical filter that is under the main tank. It can contain mud, or sand or bio balls or foam or all of the above and more. Basically the main upper tank has an overflow that typically flows down a foam tube to the sump. Then it tricles down to the collection area and then is pumped up to main tank w/ the aid of a pump. A refugium is typically a hang on the back of the tank type of sump. They can also be under the tank too. Refugiums typically have seaweed and algaes though. Skimmers are either hang on the back or under the tank in the sump. They collect the crap that floats on the surface water and are essential in my book. This is just my opinion, but I would stick with better brands like, remora, or berlin or knop. There are other brands that are great too, but I prefer those. I have a knock off of a knop, and I LOVE it. You can do your hang on the back, but most people will yell at ya for that, I wouldn't though.:happyfish I would do two aquaclear 500's if you choose that method. I would do a canister or sump though. I personally have not had much luck with refugiums though, although many will disagree. Also, do a sand bed, not crushed coral, WAY better I guess. Everyone on this board says so. Definately get a skimmer and if you can't do a sump then do a canister. You can get a canister for cheaper than 2 hang on the back filters. oh, and no question here is too stupid. That is what this is all about. Hope I helped, good luck, and post pics when done. -ali

 

[nauti2001]

Hey Ali.. Some more questions for you.. What is a wet dry filter?? saw one yesterday.. You have a canister filter?? I was looking at the LFS and saw a canister for like $135 but didnt know if it was any good or not. I think it was a fluval.. THis project is going to take me a long time. and I also saw a protein skimmer made by sea clone for $120.. Dont know whats a good one.. I have seen some hang on filters that have the protein skimmers built into them. Also you said the taller aquarium I go with, i need to think about getting more than compacts.. I saw a used retro MH at a LFS and it came with the ballast for 2 32 watt CF for $150.. The MH is a 175.. So I figured if it was still there in a few days I will make an offer on it for like 100 to get it out of the store. but well see. what do you think?? thanks for the advice.. matt

 

[brooklyn johnny]

Hey nauti, this thread on my 65 should help you out a bit... I'm happy to elaborate on anything you see there to help you out...

 

[nauti2001]

Hey Brooklyn Johnny.. Thanks for the thread.. When I was reading your facts on your aquarium I thought i was back in my statistics class on the first day.. j/k.. but Im kinda new at this and im getting better at the lingo.. My friend is telling me to go with a 65 pre drilled to do a wet dry set up.. is yours predrilled?? it might have said it in the thread but I forgot. maybe you could elaborate more on your filter system.. just leave out the fragging tank part.... thanks for your help.. matt

 

[alison]

:happyfish hey nauti, heard a lot of problems w/ seaclone protein skimmers. They are the best of the cheaper ones though. As for the mh deal, yes a fairly good deal. Mh WAY better than compacts. I would go that route. Just make sure they have a low running temp so you don't need a chiller, just a fan. You have the wet/dry question answered, so I won't elaborate. Feel free for more questions, that's what we do to help one another. Good luck, and hope your not too overwhelmed. -ali