300-400 gallon build

[armenkk1]

this will be in the future, but just getting ready I would like to get some help. I'm planning on having a 300-400 gallon reef tank when I move and am wondering what type of skimmer, lighting, filtration, sump, etc. I should get. I would like to get the best quality possible, and money won't be a big issue because I will b saving up just for this. PLEASE HELP. I would like to know how much I will be spending AHEAD of time. thanks

 

[armenkk1]

and right now I have a 150 fowler that is cycling. when it is done I am slowly going to obtain the fish I want for my reef, because I only want the rare of the rare, so I will be searching for the perfect fish. I am advanced with freshwater fish and am tired of most of the drab colors (except for cichlids) and the plants so that is why I'm moving to salt, plus when I was a kid we had huge fish only tanks in my house and was in love with the fish we had I there.

 

[mr_X]

There is no limit to what you can spend. Deltec and Bubble King skimmers are the elite skimmers, but IMO you can do a similar job for MUCH less money.
I would use an Octopus SRO6000 EXT skimmer (about $750.00)

Lighting would probably be Orphek LED units or similar. I don't know how many you'll need because you didn't list the dimensions of the tank, but they are about $750.00 each. I would probably make my own though, and save a ton of money. You could probably make your own fixture for a tank that size for about a grand.

The sump would be a standard 125 gallon tank partitioned for a refugium (about 300-400?)

500 pounds of rock, a couple hundred pounds of dry sand....and that's about it.

 

[armenkk1]

thanks so much... what power heads, and would I need a wave box??

 

[mr_X]

A series of Vortech MP40's or MP60s would do. They are the best. Controllable Hydor koralias are fine though....That's what I use.

 

[armenkk1]

thanks again. I was wondering, what are some good reef safe fish (won't eat the corals) that I could put with some fuzzy dwarf lionfish, bra aisle I love those guys

 

[armenkk1]

cuz I love these guys** haha I dont know what happened there

 

[mr_X]

there are to many to list. I happen to like some of the wrasses that aren't good with inverts. something like this-
Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Banana Wrasse

 

[armenkk1]

Would he hurt the corals? I don't care about shrimp, because I want a fuzzy dwarf lionfish and am not gonna have them.

 

[armenkk1]

and some nice colorful fish that stay around 3 1/2 - 7 inches. money isn't a problem, I want fish not many people have.

 

[mr_X]

No. They aren't known to eat coral.

 

[armenkk1]

ok. what other fish 3 1/2 - 7 inches. and by the way thanks for all the advice/help

 

[mr_X]

As I said, there are too many to list. You should browse a resource like Live Aquaria and read the requirements of each fish you like.

 

[armenkk1]

ok thanks very much.

 

[Mrc8858]

I'd get a marine betta.. id have one now if it wouldn't eat my dartfish lol

 

[armenkk1]

like marine betas I just don't like how all the fins touch. any other fish that loo like groupers or are groupers but stay under 7 inches. I also like scorpion fish

 

[armenkk1]

I don't like the marine betas fins, any other "oddball" fish (not frog fish)