Does anyone think I'm missing anything?

[azonic]

I recently sold my 90 gallon tank with the works after the second tank crash. This time, I plan on doing everything right from the beginning. I've been slowly buying my new equipment for the past few weeks and I'm pretty sure I have most everything now. I'm gonna give a list and if anyone thinks something should be added, removed, or changed please give me your opinions.
110 Custom glass tank w/ stand (5 feet long)
Hamilton 4x96watt PC hood (5 feet long)
200LBS Carib-sea reef sand
100LBS Walt smith premium fiji LR (more added over time)
Marineland S.O.S. overflow/prefilter (600gph i think)
Lifereef CLF-1 sump
Lifereef SVS-24 protein skimmer w/ mag 9.5 pump
Mag 9.5 return
300watt titanium heater
3 MJ1200's in display
I think that's pretty well all of it....opinions?

 

[rook]

Just curious, why PC? You know you are going to want clams, which in a 110 will surely need MH.
Top-off system.
Alk/Calcium/Ph setup, ie. calcium reactor, kalk reactor, kalk drip??

 

[azonic]

Right now I have a PFO dual 400watt halide system sitting here. I can't afford the replacement bulbs right now, or build a new canopy for them.....so I'm doing an equal swap with someone for the hamilton ABS hood with the PC's. It come's with 2 daylight and 2 actinic bulbs. The guy had a dual 250 system retrofitted into the hood before so all I have to do down the road when I can afford them is screw them into the hood....or retrofit the whole system into the canopy as use the PC's for actinic supplements. I won't be wanting any clams or SPS until several months down the road once the tank is established anyway.. This was why I chose the PC's for now.
Also, for top-off, I have an ultralife float switch hooked to a mj1200 thats in a 15 gallon rubbermaid of fresh water next to the sump.
Additives will be added manually. Calcium reactor will be purchased from Lifereef over the summer when Jeff makes his next run of them.

 

[broomer5]

I have a couple concerns.
You may want to consider having this custom 110 tank drilled, instead of going with the SOS overflow.
600 gph is sort of low for a 110 gallon tank in my opinion.
If you don't want to have the tank drilled - talk to Jeff at Lifereef and see about a dual 1" prefilter/overflow.
That would give you the ability to run 1400 gallons per hour through the display.
Plus I'm not a big fan of the Marineland SOS siphons. Seems like a odd design, and several folks have mentioned that they've had problems in the past. I'm sure they work okay - but the LifeReefs are excellent and work great.
You could easily use the Mag9.5 return pump then. I would not use that pump with the SOS though. I smell a wet floor.
Very glad to see you've choosen to use aragonite sand !!!!

 

[azonic]

broomer, Thanks for the reply.
I really wanted to get the tank drilled with dual overflows in the corners, but the tank was built with a tempered bottom so it's not an option. Also, none of the glass stores in my area deal with aquariums so they will not offer any guarantee on work done on them. Some places won't even work on them to begin with.
I thought the SOS was supposed to be decent...and it's CHEAP. I was trying to save a few bucks here since i've spent so much on everything else. Guess I should of known better then that. My original plan was to use 2 of Jeff's single slimlines at 700 gph each and put them on opposite ends of the tank, and use a Mag12 return line. The guy at my LFS said that much circulation wasn't really necessary.....I guess I should go with my original plan then?
Do you think ONE 700gph lifereef overflow would be sufficient? With a slightly less powerful pump? Or do you really think I need to get the water flow up into the 1000gph range.

 

[azonic]

Also, another reason I was thinking of the SOS was because they are apparently dead quiet? I heard Lifereef's were a little noisy?

 

[broomer5]

I should back up here LOL
I've never heard an SOS up close and personal, although I did read their installation/operating manual online.
Cheap as in inexpenisve is one thing.
Cheap as in crappy is another.
I just thought that the design was sort of complicated and offered little advantage over a traditiona U tube overflow.
It has this odd method of priming the siphon. Looked to me like something that could breakdown.
A 110 tank is a nice sized tank.
One 700 gallon per hour overflow is not much.
6 turnover per hour.
You would certainly want to supplement with in-tank powerheads.
I don't like powerheads - for many reasons.
So I like to up the flow through the sump/return/display.
It's a trade off - a little water noise for less maintenance.
This time, I plan on doing everything right from the beginning.
I really admire your plans here, and you're right on track doing the research up front.
What's right for one person doesn't mean it's right for all.
I really like your original plan - dual overflows with larger return pump.
It may be possible to scratch the custom sump - and make one yourself. That may free up some money for the dual overflows and larger return pump ??????
Get the tank up and running with the el cheapo sump, let it cycle and allow the tank to mature some - and then down the road when the wallet is not crying so loud - get the neat sump from Jeff. You may not need the skimmer right away either ?
But water flow is critical in my opinon - from the start.
I know those custom sumps are pretty cool, and I'm not trying to discourage you from buying it or the skimmer - okay

 

[attml]

IMHO - Don't sell the Metal Halide Setup!!!!!!! Your Halides will give you much better lighting than those PC's ever will. You will be a lot more restricted in a 110gal with those PC's than you think!!!! It would really pay to wait and just buy some 20K radium bulbs for the halides and you won't need actenic support!!!. By going with the Hamilton PC's you are more than cutting your lighting capability in half!!!! If you can back out of that deal do it ASAP!!!! Remember, nothing good in this hobby happens quickly! Keep the better lights and save up for the bulbs!!! You will be happy that you did!!

 

[dreeves]

Overflows...
The Tidepool SOS is rated at 600gph...it is dead quiet...and it is very efficient.
The LifeReef single is rated at 700gph and is extremely noisy...it too is very efficient...
Between the two (I use both) I like the SOS due to its size, quietness and the manner in which it works. Their design uses a flat tube type of design, and with lower water pressure (ie..Mag 7), it will trap air bubbles. With the Little Giant 4, it blows the air bubbles right on through. The design could be viewed as complicated, but everything has a purpose and is used. It is really a very simple system. The two boxes (in/out) are both dark which deters algea growth...the LifeReef is clear and grows algea.
As for priming the siphon...you prime it the same way you do the LifeReef..you stick an air hose in it and suck the air out...there is nothing to fail, it maintains its siphon when water level lowers the same manner in which the LifeReef does.
I like both my skimmers. They both do what they were intended to do..and they both do it well.
I have been using the SOS for over a year now without any problems at all, none.

 

[rook]

Is there any reason you cannot drill overflow holes in the back of the tank as opposed to the bottom? If you can do that, your problem would be solved.

 

[azonic]

Originally posted by Azonic
Also, none of the glass stores in my area deal with aquariums so they will not offer any guarantee on work done on them. Some places won't even work on them to begin with.