bosco0633
Member
Hello everyone, I use to be a member here several years ago, however, due to my expanding family and work I was forced to leave the aquarium world for some time.
A little about me, I have been into aquariums over the past 17 years. I was a cichlid guy forever, breeding them and what not and then switched to salt for approximately 8 years. I had a 75gal bow front reef tank that I loved. Then over the past 5 years I had given up on the hobby.
In December of this year, I purchased a 150gal aqaurium and built my own custom stand and filled it with cichlids. Looking at it, it looked liked a reef tank minus the corals. We wound up deciding to move and I took it down last month. It now sits in my garage and I want to set it back up soon. We just need to do a few more renos in the basement so I should be ready in the next month.
Now, the cichlids just were not doing it for me, and I am finding myself toying with the idea of going back to salt. So just a few thoughts on what I plan on doing. Suggestions welcomed and much appreciated.
I plan on setting up the 150 tank, no sump, I ran a berlin system before and have done very well with it. I will be using a skimmer (I need suggestions on the best unit). I currently have 350lbs of aragonite that I plan on using for the base to assist in the berlin set up. I use to run a HOB Lifeguard fluidized sand bed filter for all bacteria housing, however, I do not believe that they sell them anymore, as well I would like to add an emperor style filter for some mechanical filtration.
I currently have 2.5w per gallon of lighting. I do not plan on adding any hard corals, only soft corals and plan on increasing my lighting with a second canopy shortly.
I have 300lbs of black lava rock. When hit with the lights this looks like live rock. I may add some live rock but use the lava rock as a base. Now in a Berlin system the live rock is a very important aspect, and I do belive that this lava rock will be able to work. I have read alot of mixed reviews on the use of lava rock, however, I am willing to give it a go as it is very close to the live rock.
I have to stage 4 hydor korilla water pumps for circulatoin and to hydor 500w heaters. My lighting system has built in moon ligts as well for my night critters.
I guess, my main concerns, are I use to have great success with a berlin setup on a 75gal, however, with the 150 will I still be ok. I really dont want to add a sump at this point.
Second, best skimmer to recommend??
Third, lava rock in the tank?
And last along with a skimmer, what filtration other than a skimmer. HOB Refugium? perhaps canister, or Aquaclear filled with bioballs and filter media, or a emperor style???
Anyways, thanks for the input, things are always changing and I am just trying to decide if this is the right decision for me at this point and time.
A little about me, I have been into aquariums over the past 17 years. I was a cichlid guy forever, breeding them and what not and then switched to salt for approximately 8 years. I had a 75gal bow front reef tank that I loved. Then over the past 5 years I had given up on the hobby.
In December of this year, I purchased a 150gal aqaurium and built my own custom stand and filled it with cichlids. Looking at it, it looked liked a reef tank minus the corals. We wound up deciding to move and I took it down last month. It now sits in my garage and I want to set it back up soon. We just need to do a few more renos in the basement so I should be ready in the next month.
Now, the cichlids just were not doing it for me, and I am finding myself toying with the idea of going back to salt. So just a few thoughts on what I plan on doing. Suggestions welcomed and much appreciated.
I plan on setting up the 150 tank, no sump, I ran a berlin system before and have done very well with it. I will be using a skimmer (I need suggestions on the best unit). I currently have 350lbs of aragonite that I plan on using for the base to assist in the berlin set up. I use to run a HOB Lifeguard fluidized sand bed filter for all bacteria housing, however, I do not believe that they sell them anymore, as well I would like to add an emperor style filter for some mechanical filtration.
I currently have 2.5w per gallon of lighting. I do not plan on adding any hard corals, only soft corals and plan on increasing my lighting with a second canopy shortly.
I have 300lbs of black lava rock. When hit with the lights this looks like live rock. I may add some live rock but use the lava rock as a base. Now in a Berlin system the live rock is a very important aspect, and I do belive that this lava rock will be able to work. I have read alot of mixed reviews on the use of lava rock, however, I am willing to give it a go as it is very close to the live rock.
I have to stage 4 hydor korilla water pumps for circulatoin and to hydor 500w heaters. My lighting system has built in moon ligts as well for my night critters.
I guess, my main concerns, are I use to have great success with a berlin setup on a 75gal, however, with the 150 will I still be ok. I really dont want to add a sump at this point.
Second, best skimmer to recommend??
Third, lava rock in the tank?
And last along with a skimmer, what filtration other than a skimmer. HOB Refugium? perhaps canister, or Aquaclear filled with bioballs and filter media, or a emperor style???
Anyways, thanks for the input, things are always changing and I am just trying to decide if this is the right decision for me at this point and time.
