Newbie needs some help

[Sparky83]

Hi all,

I'm fairly new to the site, and fairly new to marine keeping. I had a tank a couple of years ago but i really didn't like having a canister filter and wasn't able to install a sump as the base cabinet wouldn't allow it. Anyway, i decided to shut the tank down and wait till i could afford a proper set up.

So that's what i did, now for nearly a year I've been the proud owner of an empty tank, its 4ftx2ftx2ft. I have a 3ft sump under it that is set up for a BSD, i have the sand, return pump, and a twin 250W metal halide fitting, but that is as far as i got, had problems with my job etc and couldn't afford to spend anymore on it so it has just sat there till now.

What i'd like to know from you guys (and girls) is........

1. What do you suggest for circulation? i like the look of the Tunze Nanostream 6055's, want a controller for them too, what do you think??

2. How many do you think i will need in total?

3. What height do you have your MH lights from the top of the water??

4. Anything else you can think of that i'll need to get before or just after i've put water in it??

Cheers in advance,

Shawn

[WaterKeeper]

Hi Shawn

To Reef Central

At it again huh?
[list=1][*]For a 120 gallon I'd say those would be fine at 1200 gph flow[*]I'd say two; one as the return and the other as a closed loop circulation pump. It would give you 20X flow[*]Normal height for an MH is about 8-10" above the water[*]You probably want to look into a good skimmer also.[/list=1]

[beachbumva]

I have a 120 as yours is as well, my mh are 6 inches off the water 10k with 4 actenic 420 and 460, water movement I use 2 quiet one pumps for the returns and a vortech for the tank, keep in mind your mh will heat the water considerably, I use a chiller, all in all it really depends on what you wish to achieve,,fish only ect ect

[WaterKeeper]

The height is more for keeping salt spray off the tubes than for heat effects, although added height help provide more air circulation.

[beachbumva]

agree tom,,started using coralife salt creep e
liminator and found its easy and nice, just use it now as part of normal maintenence and it works great

[Michael]

hi-shawn, nice to see another englishman on here, im not alone


To Reef Central

[stricknine]

I got a 72 starting up and the nanostreams are great.

**nice to see a couple of sparkys on here as well.

[WaterKeeper]

We are being invaded English electrocutioners?

[beachbumva]

lol Tom for the record I am from the UK as well but living in America now.

[WaterKeeper]

Two weeks ago we were invaded by the Irish, not that makes a Murphy mad, and now the bleeding English. I guess next week it will be the Scots.

[Michael]

Originally posted by WaterKeeper
Two weeks ago we were invaded by the Irish, not that makes a Murphy mad, and now the bleeding English. I guess next week it will be the Scots.

could be worse, could be the fr--ch

[beachbumva]

LMAO have to agree with you on the french

[WaterKeeper]

The Germans have you beat-

[Michael]

suprised canada has a small viewer visiting figure, i thought we were very light as the graph shows, but canada, well im suprised there

[WaterKeeper]

That is because all the French hide out there.

[chippy70]

auzzie auzzie auzzie




oi oi oi

[WaterKeeper]

You Down Under folks need to do better. You're behind the Germans and Canadians.

[Michael]

Originally posted by chippy70
auzzie auzzie auzzie




oi oi oi

yep i knew youd have a better viewing figure, 1.2 to our 1.1, you always beat us at vertually everything, im just waiting until the day when we win again, either the ashes or rugby bloody aussies just kidding, well not about the winning