need help with 125 gal setup

[not_again]

Im buying a 125gallon tank Saturday and need help with a list of inexpensive items ill need for a reef tank. I want to go with a 40 gallon sump and later on down the road use my 65 gallon as a sump. Im just looking for ideas as in. lighting, pumps, how much sand I'd need for 4 inches on bottom, and skimmers. Also would it be possible to use an aqua clear 110 in my sump as a skimmer if I cut the tube and make it shorter? Will 2 aqueon acp 950's work enough for the flow? Can I run hoses over the back of the tank if its tempered or should I skip the sump process and use hobs like ive been doing with my 65 gallon?

Im in dire need of help since im upgrading to almost double the size I have now and ive never used a sump.

 

[Jonnypro]

Im buying a 125gallon tank Saturday and need help with a list of inexpensive items ill need for a reef tank. I want to go with a 40 gallon sump and later on down the road use my 65 gallon as a sump. Im just looking for ideas as in. lighting, pumps, how much sand I'd need for 4 inches on bottom, and skimmers. Also would it be possible to use an aqua clear 110 in my sump as a skimmer if I cut the tube and make it shorter? Will 2 aqueon acp 950's work enough for the flow? Can I run hoses over the back of the tank if its tempered or should I skip the sump process and use hobs like ive been doing with my 65 gallon?

Im in dire need of help since im upgrading to almost double the size I have now and ive never used a sump.

I am in the middle of doing a 135g build. Mine is acrylic with an overflow. I made a custom 45g sump from old acrylic. I have a bubble magus nac6 protein skimmer 1800gph mag drive return pump 2 4x8 filter socks. 2 dimmable full spectrum 120w led lights. Rodi unit. I am going with filter sand to make up a base. Prob around 120lbs + And some reg sand. As far as rock. I have so that I picked up off a beach in Florida. I not using any PVC. In using the flex pipe. Les restriction on your return pump. The elbows in the PVC make the gph go down a lot. Sorry a talked about my tank but thought it could help. Mabe well help each other. Lol.

 

[not_again]

Thanks for the info. I like hearing about other peoples builds. Im thinking of doing 3 sets of leds though. I was thinking about getting some barnacles from the rigs I fish since I have a camp in grand isle, la. They'll make a nice addition to the tank since they are filter feeders. Ill just have to try and clean them because they dont come with a nice smell. I also catch live shrimp and they are nice sand sifters. They burying in the sand until its feeding time then rebury themselves.

 

[saltcreep1025]

Here is a link to a sand bed calculator

Sand Bed Calculator