Need help 120 gal reef build

spritzfrizon · 01/15/2012, 11:34 AM

Hello, I just recently bought a 120 gal tank with duel overflows. The tank is 72x18x20 it has a 3 section top. I was wanting everyones input and help putting it together. I have 3 other tanks so its not my first but im trying to take my time getting the right stuff. I have done alot of research and now feel like im going in circles

So on to the questions.

1. What type of sand should i use? I wanted black aragonite but have read mixed reviews on it.
2. What type of salt? I was thinking seachem reef salt
3. Refeugium or sump? I have both but am leaning towards refiugium.
4. What size return pump? I was looking at a mag pump 700 gph plus i have multiple power heads
5. Lighting, I was going to go with a double ended halide fixture 3x250 watt that also have 4x54 watt t5's should i switch to 150watt bulbs or stay 250watt?

Well i guess thats all for now. If anyone has any other suggestions i would appriciate it. I also thank everyone in advance for there help.

Mark Bianco · 01/15/2012, 11:54 AM

IMO The black sand is really cool at first then its a pain in the butt to keep it clean!!! Salt I like Instant Ocean NOT the crystals. If your sump is big enough section off a little section for the refeugium and have both Be carefull when selecting a return pump be sure to to figure in the head caculations. But 700gph should be fine, if anything buy a little larger and on your return/s put a vales so you can adjust the flow. As for lighting it depends on what you are going to keep in the tank. Standard rule of thumb 4 - 5 watts per gallon of tank size. I noticed you did not mention a skimmer? A skimmer is very important especialy if you want to keep corals...

Hope that helps.

Palting · 01/15/2012, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritzfrizon

Hello, I just recently bought a 120 gal tank with duel overflows. The tank is 72x18x20 it has a 3 section top. I was wanting everyones input and help putting it together. I have 3 other tanks so its not my first but im trying to take my time getting the right stuff. I have done alot of research and now feel like im going in circles

So on to the questions.

1. What type of sand should i use? I wanted black aragonite but have read mixed reviews on it.
I have Arag Alive Hawaiian Black medium grain substrate and love it. You don't need live sand, but it was the only black medium grain available. Click on my name on the left panel to get to my build page and see the tank pics. Do not, repeat DO NOT get the black sugar fine substrate. Not only will it get blown all over your coral, but it is also magnetic.

2. What type of salt? I was thinking seachem reef salt
If you are going with reef, and especially if stonies (LPS/SPS/NPS), pick a salt with higher alk and calcium and magnesium numbers and is readily available to you.Seachem reefsalt is one such salt, and go for it if it's readily available to you. I use IO Reef Crystals.

3. Refeugium or sump? I have both but am leaning towards refiugium.
Why not have both? I have a sump plus a remote refugium. If space is an issue and you can have only one, I'd go with the sump. Gives you room for your skimmer, reactors, heaters, etc. You can always have a remote refugium that is display quality so you can have it outside and visible.

4. What size return pump? I was looking at a mag pump 700 gph plus i have multiple power heads
That pump has 700 gph at 0 head but 480 gph with a 4 foot head. A little on the low side. You want one at least 6X tank volume for a sump/skimmer combo, a 750 gph at a 4 foot head pump like a Mag 9.5

5. Lighting, I was going to go with a double ended halide fixture 3x250 watt that also have 4x54 watt t5's should i switch to 150watt bulbs or stay 250watt?
This is where it gets interesting. Almost everyone here at RC told me to get 250 or even 400 watt MH for my 150 gallon. Check out my sig for my light. 150 watts plus actinic T5's would be perfect for you. I am a little concerned about your statement of changing bulbs, though. You need to get a fixture designed for the wattage, and not just change bulbs.

Well i guess thats all for now. If anyone has any other suggestions i would appriciate it. I also thank everyone in advance for there help.
Your tank and mine have the same footprint, mine is just taller. I actually wanted a 125, but they shipped me a 150 by mistake! LOL!!

ejv1013 · 01/15/2012, 12:14 PM

Spritzfrizon Good luck with your tank looking forward to see how it will be developing

Palting Great looking tank as well love too see other fellow reefers builds

spritzfrizon · 01/16/2012, 04:40 PM

thank you everyone for the help. I do have a protein skimmer and i made a hole in my sump and added a hole in my fuge and connected them so now i have a sump then fuge.. Im orderin my halides in a couple days i decided on the 250 halides with the 14k bulbs and the actinic t5's.. also thinking im going to get a mag pump 900 i think or some thing like that.. now my main thing is finding a good bottom for it. i have also been looking at a small (2inch) sand bottom with a medium (3inch) crushed coral bottom.. Anyone have any input on this? Oh and if you have any other ideas they are appriciated

01/15/2012, 11:34 AM	#1
spritzfrizon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 35	Need help 120 gal reef build Hello, I just recently bought a 120 gal tank with duel overflows. The tank is 72x18x20 it has a 3 section top. I was wanting everyones input and help putting it together. I have 3 other tanks so its not my first but im trying to take my time getting the right stuff. I have done alot of research and now feel like im going in circles So on to the questions. 1. What type of sand should i use? I wanted black aragonite but have read mixed reviews on it. 2. What type of salt? I was thinking seachem reef salt 3. Refeugium or sump? I have both but am leaning towards refiugium. 4. What size return pump? I was looking at a mag pump 700 gph plus i have multiple power heads 5. Lighting, I was going to go with a double ended halide fixture 3x250 watt that also have 4x54 watt t5's should i switch to 150watt bulbs or stay 250watt? Well i guess thats all for now. If anyone has any other suggestions i would appriciate it. I also thank everyone in advance for there help.

01/15/2012, 11:54 AM	#2
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	IMO The black sand is really cool at first then its a pain in the butt to keep it clean!!! Salt I like Instant Ocean NOT the crystals. If your sump is big enough section off a little section for the refeugium and have both Be carefull when selecting a return pump be sure to to figure in the head caculations. But 700gph should be fine, if anything buy a little larger and on your return/s put a vales so you can adjust the flow. As for lighting it depends on what you are going to keep in the tank. Standard rule of thumb 4 - 5 watts per gallon of tank size. I noticed you did not mention a skimmer? A skimmer is very important especialy if you want to keep corals... Hope that helps.

01/15/2012, 12:14 PM	#4
ejv1013 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 101	Spritzfrizon Good luck with your tank looking forward to see how it will be developing Palting Great looking tank as well love too see other fellow reefers builds

01/16/2012, 04:40 PM	#5
spritzfrizon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 35	thank you everyone for the help. I do have a protein skimmer and i made a hole in my sump and added a hole in my fuge and connected them so now i have a sump then fuge.. Im orderin my halides in a couple days i decided on the 250 halides with the 14k bulbs and the actinic t5's.. also thinking im going to get a mag pump 900 i think or some thing like that.. now my main thing is finding a good bottom for it. i have also been looking at a small (2inch) sand bottom with a medium (3inch) crushed coral bottom.. Anyone have any input on this? Oh and if you have any other ideas they are appriciated