New project!! 30 gal mixed reef. Imput plz.

SquidHC · 04/08/2007, 08:13 PM

Alright so Im turning my 75 gal into a FOWLR and getting a new reef tank for my bedroom =D

I plan on this being a mainly SPS/Zoo/Softies tank.

Heres my plan

-30 gallon acrylic tank
-4-36" VHO. 2 actnic and 2 actnic white ran by an Icecap 660 ballast
-2 maxi jet 400's
-40 lbs of fiji rock from my old tank.
-15 lbs tonga branch
-40 lbs ultra fine reef sand. white

Fish/inverts
1 Pair of Black Saddleback clowns
1 Lawnmower Goby
1 Royal Gramma
3 large turbos
1 fire shrimp
1 pepperment shrimp
1 Orange Star
6 hermit crabs
+any hitchhikers

Few questions to start.

1. How do you guys like the Maxi Jet 400's?

2. You think the 4 36" VHO's will be solid for lighting?

3. Do you think the 55lbs of rock will be enough to create a nice full looking reef?

4. Im debating on adding a sump or not. I was initialy going to add a 175watt MH lamp in addition to the VHO but decided it would be just too much light, and figured Id need to add a sump to help with cooling and such. I elected not to go with the MH, so should I still add the sump? Frankly Id prefer not to but if theres a huge reason why I must then I will.

5. The saltwater specialty shop that I go through, and have good faith in, says that he actualy reccomends doing 80% waterchanges monthly as opposed to running a skimmer because of the minimal bio load on the tank. I have a skimmer that I could use temporarily untill I get my FOWLR tank up and running. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance.

SquidHC · 04/08/2007, 08:59 PM

/bump Your imput is greatly appreciated. I dont want to get screwed like I did on my first setup I purchased.

drummereef · 04/08/2007, 09:06 PM

1. I would look into the Tunze Nanostreams for flow in the tank. You are going to need to be in the 30x turnover range if you want to keep SPS. I don't think the mj400's are going to be adequate.

2. Why not do T5 lighing if you are against halides. There are some really nice fixtures out there. Great color selection etc...

3. I think that would be ok for the rock.

4. I would do a sump in this case. That way you can run a nice skimmer in there. A Euro-Reef RS80 would be nice with the extra water volume you'll add with the sump.

5. 80% water changes is ridiculous. Run a skimmer, and do 10% weekly water changes. Smaller more frequent water changes is more beneficial than large (or in this case extra large) change a month.

SquidHC · 04/08/2007, 09:38 PM

My perception was that the VHO T-12's were better than the T-5's. Frankly I dont know anything about lighting so thats why Im asking. Also, I plan on building the lighting into my tanks hood so Im not looking for a premade fixture.

SquidHC · 04/08/2007, 09:42 PM

Oh and I was actualy looking at getting the "Maxi jet wavemaker system" thats 3 Maxi Jet 400's and the switching powerstrip. Thats a 10x turn over. 30x turnover sounds brutal to me, I dont want to over do the flow.

SquidHC · 04/09/2007, 09:08 AM

/bump

04/08/2007, 08:13 PM	#1
SquidHC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 840	New project!! 30 gal mixed reef. Imput plz. Alright so Im turning my 75 gal into a FOWLR and getting a new reef tank for my bedroom =D I plan on this being a mainly SPS/Zoo/Softies tank. Heres my plan -30 gallon acrylic tank -4-36" VHO. 2 actnic and 2 actnic white ran by an Icecap 660 ballast -2 maxi jet 400's -40 lbs of fiji rock from my old tank. -15 lbs tonga branch -40 lbs ultra fine reef sand. white Fish/inverts 1 Pair of Black Saddleback clowns 1 Lawnmower Goby 1 Royal Gramma 3 large turbos 1 fire shrimp 1 pepperment shrimp 1 Orange Star 6 hermit crabs +any hitchhikers Few questions to start. 1. How do you guys like the Maxi Jet 400's? 2. You think the 4 36" VHO's will be solid for lighting? 3. Do you think the 55lbs of rock will be enough to create a nice full looking reef? 4. Im debating on adding a sump or not. I was initialy going to add a 175watt MH lamp in addition to the VHO but decided it would be just too much light, and figured Id need to add a sump to help with cooling and such. I elected not to go with the MH, so should I still add the sump? Frankly Id prefer not to but if theres a huge reason why I must then I will. 5. The saltwater specialty shop that I go through, and have good faith in, says that he actualy reccomends doing 80% waterchanges monthly as opposed to running a skimmer because of the minimal bio load on the tank. I have a skimmer that I could use temporarily untill I get my FOWLR tank up and running. Any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance. __________________ We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. Current Tank Info: 30x30 cube under construction! Last edited by SquidHC; 04/08/2007 at 08:53 PM.

04/08/2007, 08:59 PM	#2
SquidHC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 840	/bump Your imput is greatly appreciated. I dont want to get screwed like I did on my first setup I purchased. __________________ We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. Current Tank Info: 30x30 cube under construction!

04/08/2007, 09:06 PM	#3
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	1. I would look into the Tunze Nanostreams for flow in the tank. You are going to need to be in the 30x turnover range if you want to keep SPS. I don't think the mj400's are going to be adequate. 2. Why not do T5 lighing if you are against halides. There are some really nice fixtures out there. Great color selection etc... 3. I think that would be ok for the rock. 4. I would do a sump in this case. That way you can run a nice skimmer in there. A Euro-Reef RS80 would be nice with the extra water volume you'll add with the sump. 5. 80% water changes is ridiculous. Run a skimmer, and do 10% weekly water changes. Smaller more frequent water changes is more beneficial than large (or in this case extra large) change a month. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/08/2007, 09:38 PM	#4
SquidHC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 840	My perception was that the VHO T-12's were better than the T-5's. Frankly I dont know anything about lighting so thats why Im asking. Also, I plan on building the lighting into my tanks hood so Im not looking for a premade fixture. __________________ We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. Current Tank Info: 30x30 cube under construction! Last edited by SquidHC; 04/08/2007 at 09:48 PM.

04/08/2007, 09:42 PM	#5
SquidHC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 840	Oh and I was actualy looking at getting the "Maxi jet wavemaker system" thats 3 Maxi Jet 400's and the switching powerstrip. Thats a 10x turn over. 30x turnover sounds brutal to me, I dont want to over do the flow. __________________ We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. Current Tank Info: 30x30 cube under construction!

04/09/2007, 09:08 AM	#6
SquidHC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 840	/bump __________________ We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. Current Tank Info: 30x30 cube under construction!