ReefNooB
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
When reading this keep in mind im trying to build a mountian sized tank with a mole hill of cash and am trying to keep things as cheap as a can but still get a good setup.
First off this will be my very first saltwater tank ever, and im probably going in way over my head. However i do work at a place that sells show quality koi and fancy goldfish, and i also have my own 55g fancy goldfish tank. so i do have experience. I have heard that if i can do that and with my job experience then i sould manage a reef.
The tank will be approx 420g and i plan on constructing it myself. Tank construction should be relativley easy because i will be having the assistance of my father who has 30+ years of cabinet building under his belt and we will just have to apply his knowledge to acrylic. It will be an "L" shape when viewed from above and will go in a corner. It will be 24" deep 24" wide and have a side 6' long and the other 5' long measuring the inside of the "L" the outside will be 7' x 8'
My filtering will be a DIY wet/dry system with refuguim in the cabinet, and constructed with various plastic containers and will be using foam, poly fiber, possibly carbon, and bioballs. I eventually plan on adding a protein skimmer ?: needed if i have refuguim?) and possibly a UV filter i got for free ?:worth it?) Water will get there by and overflow setup and will be driven by a 1000gph pump ( too big? too small?)
My plan on the lighting is starting with 4x96w PCs half actinic half 10,000k
and starting seeding some limestone with live rock. ?: have read it will work) I was wondering could i seed possibly crushed limestone with some live sand? I would let that do its own thing for a couple months and just let things grow. Then add some fish and anemones etc. Then i plan on adding 2x175w mogul or 2x150w hqi MH blubs ?: too small?) along one side of the tank (probably the short side) and then slowly add corals once i save some money. I would like to add another 2 lights on the long side so i can have lights there too after i save some more cash.
Im sure my plans will get butchered by you guys, but any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Advice that would allow me to save some money would be even more appreciated.
Thanx
First off this will be my very first saltwater tank ever, and im probably going in way over my head. However i do work at a place that sells show quality koi and fancy goldfish, and i also have my own 55g fancy goldfish tank. so i do have experience. I have heard that if i can do that and with my job experience then i sould manage a reef.
The tank will be approx 420g and i plan on constructing it myself. Tank construction should be relativley easy because i will be having the assistance of my father who has 30+ years of cabinet building under his belt and we will just have to apply his knowledge to acrylic. It will be an "L" shape when viewed from above and will go in a corner. It will be 24" deep 24" wide and have a side 6' long and the other 5' long measuring the inside of the "L" the outside will be 7' x 8'
My filtering will be a DIY wet/dry system with refuguim in the cabinet, and constructed with various plastic containers and will be using foam, poly fiber, possibly carbon, and bioballs. I eventually plan on adding a protein skimmer ?: needed if i have refuguim?) and possibly a UV filter i got for free ?:worth it?) Water will get there by and overflow setup and will be driven by a 1000gph pump ( too big? too small?)
My plan on the lighting is starting with 4x96w PCs half actinic half 10,000k
and starting seeding some limestone with live rock. ?: have read it will work) I was wondering could i seed possibly crushed limestone with some live sand? I would let that do its own thing for a couple months and just let things grow. Then add some fish and anemones etc. Then i plan on adding 2x175w mogul or 2x150w hqi MH blubs ?: too small?) along one side of the tank (probably the short side) and then slowly add corals once i save some money. I would like to add another 2 lights on the long side so i can have lights there too after i save some more cash.
Im sure my plans will get butchered by you guys, but any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Advice that would allow me to save some money would be even more appreciated.
Thanx