just got my new tank!

[tuckerthecat]

I just ordered a 72 gallon Oceanic Systems bow front reef ready tank now I have to decide how to set it up. The tanks is pre-drilled with an internal over flow so a sump set up is in order. Despite reading tons of info on the web ( this site is invaluable btw ) I am too stupid apparently to figure out how a sump system works. This is where I am confused...a pipe runs from the overflow to a sump below the tank ( gravity based I assume ) a protien skimmer is placed in the middle of the sump (? ) with a pump in the sump to return water to the main tank via tubing connected to the pre-drilled hole in the main tank. Does the sump have to have deviders ( like a lifereef custom sump ) between the overflow tube, skimmer, pump & return tube? I was planning on buying a 20gallon long tank for the sump with EuroReef ES-3 ( that has a Sedra3500 pump included with the skimmer ) my question is the Sedra3500 pump a pump just for the skimmer or would that be the pump that returns water to the main tank?? If I need a seperate tank for the pump I was going to get a velocity 3 pump ( rated at 800gph ) to pump water back to the main tank. Would any additional powerheads be needed in the main tank or would this be all the water flow I'd need?? I've also probably decided on lights but a little input from you pro's would be great, I'm more than likely going to get a VHO retro kit from HelloLights.com its an ARO model electric balast with 2 URI 10000k VHO's & 2 URI super antinic VHO's. I ordered the tank with a matching stand & canopy the canopy is 9" high so I'm worried about heat, would a VHO retro like that be ok mounted in a 9" high canopy? Could I even get away with a dual 250w MH retro in a canopy that low to the water? Any tips you guys could give me would be great, I'm new but have been doing lots of research & I'm on a limited budget & dont want to make an mistakes ordering parts.
thanks again
Jay

 

[kinkfish]

What most people have on here is a pprefilter sponge in the overflow chamber that goes to the sump and then they make a spray bar that returns the water to the display tank. Do a search on sump and spraybar.

 

[tuckerthecat]

Well I picked up the tank today & the canopy that I thought was going to be an acrylic canopy is actually just a thin plastic cover! Its 9" high & actually looks good on top of my tank so I'd like to keep it if at all possible. Is there a lighting system that I could mount on top of the tank & place the canopy over the tank & lights? I was thinking of getting one of the ready made kits complete with hood, some of these systems come with legs that are placed on top of the tank suspending the lights over the tank. ( the customsea life PC ABS hood comes to mind )
thanks again,
Jay

 

[shanev]

I have the same tank stand and canopy. I built a square frame out of 2X2's and mounted a VHO retrofit kit to it. It just rests on the lip of the tank. Then I just place the "canopy" over the lighting system. I also made some 3/4" blocks and raised the canopy up just a little. IMO it looks better when the bottom of the canopy is even with the bootom lip of the top rim.

 

[tuckerthecat]

So your lights just rest on the lip of the stand?? Dont you have serious heat issues with the lights being so close to the water? Do you use any kind of ventilation system under your canopy? I dont know if you could post a pic of your lights but if you could that would be fantastic!
thanks,
Jay

 

[shanev]

No,
I built a frame, basically an open square box with 2x2's that I have the retrofit VHO installed onto. This "stand" sits on the lip of the tank and sits right below the top of the "canopy". Ill try to get a pic, but it may be a while.

 

[tuckerthecat]

Btw what VHO light system are you using? 36" or 46 1/2" I was hoping to get the 4 bulb 46 1/2 inch VHO retro kit but it seems like that kit will just barely fit.
Jay