Setting up a 180 gallon reef tank

[kscurrr88]

I will be setting up a 180 gallon reef in my moms house and I am looking for some pointers, tips, ideas etc. of what I should do. I have about 5 years exp. with Saltwater but never anything this big. For those of you who have large reefs what are some things you have learned or recommend? what do you find important? Basically, I dont want to learn the hard way.. Let me know what youve got! thanks!
I plan for it to be starphire glass with a sump/fuge and I have a fair amount of $$ to work with

 

[java1]

 

[snakeblitz33]

I don't know if you are around still, but I'll try to help you out if I can.
Large or small, the basics are the same. For a 180g, I recommend using two Mag Drive 12s for return pumps and a 55g sump for the bare minimum. If you are doing a low bioload reef, I recommend using an algae scrubber for your primary filtration, and supplement it with a small protein skimmer.
As for lighting, it's easier to buy three HQI metal halides in the 250 watt range, I'de go for some XM's 20000k and supplement it with a four 48" Actinic T5HOs. Retrofit kits are cheap and easy to DIY.
It's really expensive to buy all liverock for such a large tank, so if I were you, I would buy a minimum of 50% base rock/dry rock and 50% live rock. You could play around with having more base rock than live rock. Just know that the more base rock you have in your system, the more possibility of hair algae problems you may have for a few months while your base rock is culturring.
The thing with a big tank is that you will need a lot of it to be automated. So, put your lights on timers if you don't already do that. Buy an automatic top off kit that you can either use with a large freshwater bin or you could connect it to an RO/DI Unit and just service it every time you maintain your aquarium.
Another really easy thing to do is to put in a drain underneath the tank and have a tap water line so that you can put an RO Unit right underneath the tank. The drain would also be used for easy water changes. To change your water, all you would have to do is figure out how much water to take out of the tank, turn a ball valve and have a pump running to the drain. Then just pump water back into your sump. Should take around 10 to 15 minutes depending on your pump size. Most of the time, if the house is already built then this plan almost becomes impossible. If it's within your budget and your tank is built in wall - it's definitely worth the trouble.
As far as flow goes, I would aim at around 15-25x the amount of water volume your display is, and try to strategically place them so that you don't have any dead spots. Flow is very important in such a large tank. It really just depends on what you want to do with it, there is so many options.
If you haven't already gotten the tank, I would go ahead and set it up on a closed loop system as well. That would eliminate the need for powerheads in your tank. For your size tank, I would say that a Reeflo Dart would be perfect. A Reeflo Dart is rated at 3800gph, I think. That would be at about 21x the internal flow rate which would be perfect. Closed loop systems are the way to go on large tanks. Plumbing it in is pretty easy as well.
I hope some of this helps If you've already set up the system then post some pics!

 

[tangs rule]

+1 on the closed loop thing (and snakes other advice) - I run a reef flo baracuda for my closed loop - of course you'll have to drill some holes in the tank - but it's not too bad to do.

 

[acrylic51]

Some good advice!!!!
Pump wise not a very good choice IMO....2 Mag 12 at 110W/1.5amps each, plus the heat transfer of the pump to the water....Reeflo Snapper/Dart Hybrid would be a better choice. I'll use the Dart figures, and 1 pump at 160W/1.4, and these pumps are more than adequate for the job, and can handle being throttled down and no ill effect on the pump, plus enough juice to spare to power reactors or what not you might want to add on down the road.....Eheim would be another choice over the MagDrive IMO........A little more costly, but again a better pump.
I do agree on a CL, and there are many options or ways to go about it....One way is with a true dedicated CL, and the same can also be accomplished with something on the lines of Tunze or Vortechs. Tunze waveboxes, OceanMotion devices to mention a few.....
I don't agree and never will with ever connecting your RO/DI unit straight to your system. Bottom line that is a disaster waiting to happen. Run the unit to a dedicated storage or top off container.
Automation can be done easily depending how much you want to spend.....The simpler/cheaper route is basic timers, or you can get elaborate with an aquarium controller such as the Profilux, Apex, or ReefKeeper....There are others, but these IMO are some of the better ones out there.....
Lighting is an area to focus on.....What are you plans for stocking the tank....With the statement you made earlier about having $$$ to spend, this is the area, where I'd look at going LEDs.....Either DIY or manufactured......There are several good units on the market, and they aren't cheap, but when you sit and compare the cost of bulb replacements with MH's, T5's etc, the LEDs will pay for themselves along with energy savings as well. Heat generation from your lighting is another issue, and this could also be controlled easily with LEDs....
Filtration.....I guess there's really no right or wrong way.....I'm not a true advocate of really any type at this point, only because I'm still on the fence towards ATS.....I think my biggest issue is I keep hearing it's the "cure all" or "fix", and truly there isn't such a thing.....I don't also believe in the add age of not needing water changes with ATS???? Again debatable, but feel a combination of several filtration methods combined could work well.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Lol! Thanks Shawn, I really appreciate you contributing to the thread. You always have a good eye for different options! I like that.
I like the two mag drive 12s because if one goes out, you still have one to pump while you have the other one on order. Eheims to me are not worth the extra money for what little extra benefit they have. I've never had a tank run hot because of a couple of mag drives, but I guess that's just me...
An ATS is not the be-all-end-all of filtration. On smaller tanks you can use it as your main filter, or if your tank is heavily stocked, use both an ATS and a protein skimmer. Either way an ATS will only benefit your system. I have never said that water changes aren't necessary with an ATS! But, on other tanks that I have had in the past, I didn't do a water change about once every year - and that was without an ATS. lol!! Water changes are great, and should be done! They will balance out your tank and replenish minerals and trace elements that your livestock need, it just depends on your tank parameters and how well your livestock is doing.
Oh, and I've also never had any problems with overflowing a sump with an ATO on an RO/DI Unit. That's because every two weeks to a month I'll check the valve and clean it and make sure it works and stops the flow, and tighten the nut if needed. It just depends on your maintenance and what you look for. I do agree, however, that connecting an ATO to a large freshwater bucket may be the better choice.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/386680/setting-up-a-180-gallon-reef-tank#post_3415175
Lol! Thanks Shawn, I really appreciate you contributing to the thread. You always have a good eye for different options! I like that.
I like the two mag drive 12s because if one goes out, you still have one to pump while you have the other one on order. Eheims to me are not worth the extra money for what little extra benefit they have. I've never had a tank run hot because of a couple of mag drives, but I guess that's just me...
An ATS is not the be-all-end-all of filtration. On smaller tanks you can use it as your main filter, or if your tank is heavily stocked, use both an ATS and a protein skimmer. Either way an ATS will only benefit your system. I have never said that water changes aren't necessary with an ATS! But, on other tanks that I have had in the past, I didn't do a water change about once every year - and that was without an ATS. lol!! Water changes are great, and should be done! They will balance out your tank and replenish minerals and trace elements that your livestock need, it just depends on your tank parameters and how well your livestock is doing.
Oh, and I've also never had any problems with overflowing a sump with an ATO on an RO/DI Unit. That's because every two weeks to a month I'll check the valve and clean it and make sure it works and stops the flow, and tighten the nut if needed. It just depends on your maintenance and what you look for. I do agree, however, that connecting an ATO to a large freshwater bucket may be the better choice.
Thanks Snake!!!!!
Not bashing ATS, but I've been reading, and a lot of what I hear mostly advocates you don't need to do water changes....I just don't understand the concept; when with water changes were replenishing trace elements....Both minor and major. Partly because it's impractical to "say" or "test" for all the elements that should be present IMO.....Again still on the fence, but looking for evidence/proof, that both can be run effectively together.....I mean you can dial the skimmer back as to not pull as hard. I do understand that I wouldn't also get the growth as I would on the "scrubber" if it was run alone, but I like redundancy in a system.
I advise against regardless what your maintenance routine is or might be......"What is an accident? "An act of God"? Something not planned....Do we plan to get sick or have an accident....No these are unforeseen things that occur; not out of poor planning, but just happen when we least expect it..... I'm not saying your thought/theory isn't logical, but what about the guy who replaces his hot water heater a month ago, and unexpectedly the heater starts to leak.....HMMM accidents happen......What if for whatever reason that little 1/4" line somehow gets pinched 2 weeks ago during your last check???? Unseen by you and not on purpose, but for whatever reason that little pinch "bursts" right after you leave the house for work, and runs that RO/DI unit all day, and you come home to gallons on the floor????? Again not wise at all IMO......And as you said an ATO container maybe a better choice.....

 

[acrylic51]

Sorry to sidetrack things a bit, but another option for CL system could be a VFD pump.....If you google it since we can't post links from the other site, I'm pretty sure you can find the info....If not PM me and I'll shoot you a link......Interesting concept though.