Tank Upgrade Help!

Babybrown1249 · 03/18/2012, 09:38 PM

Ok I am doing a huge tank upgrade.

300 Gallon in wall tank (96Lx30Wx24H)

I will have a fish room behind the tank so storage will not be an issue. I am trying to get the shopping list together for the tank. Price is not really an issue either. I have started and restarted this list multiple times lol. Right now I have a 90 gallon tank and have had it about 1.5 years but I am moving and want to start this new tank right. The tank I am looking at only has 2 overflows with 2 holes ea. I don't think that is enough. Here is the start of my new list...

Aquarium - 300 gallon; 96Lx30Wx24T ($1,406)
Sump/Ref - 100 Gallon stock tank ($79.99)
1 - Marineland Acrylic Sump Filtration Systems Model 4 ($449.99)
2 - Closed loop system; Mocean 2000 Wave Maker (4000gph)($279.99ea)
1 - Return pump for stocktank; Reeflo Hammerhead Hybrid Pump (4950gph)($389.99ea)

I am obviously missing things on this list...help me fill it in? I want different opinions from everyone...The tank will be used as a mixed reef. Oh and Ill be trading my current tank to a friend of mine who is a fish supplier for LR and sand. Let me know what you think.

Babybrown1249 · 03/18/2012, 09:57 PM

I found the RO unit I want for it too...75 GPD RO/DI 6 Stage *DELUXE* System

fishgate · 03/19/2012, 06:05 AM

Well the biggest and most expensive thing you are missing is lighting! I'd go LED if price was no option. No recommendations as they are out of my price-range!

Palting · 03/19/2012, 06:19 AM

Lights. Onefor DT and one for fuge.
Skimmer.
Powerheads.
ATO.

shaginwagon13 · 03/19/2012, 06:29 AM

Imo the most important things to have are:

-Sump and refiugium
-Strong lights (I would go LED or metal halide)
-Strong return pump (can tee your return line to your reactors, chiller, etc to save on sump space and heat)
-Powerheads for flow inside your tank (Tunze or Ecotech)

shaginwagon13 · 03/19/2012, 06:30 AM

Double post.

Palting · 03/19/2012, 06:51 AM

BTW, if you are going to put the skimmer in that Marineland acrylic sump, your choices are going to be limited since the water level in the skimmer section is only about 5". I have the same sump, and I had to use their Marineland 300 insump skimmer. It's a good skimmer and I highly recommend it, but just saying it's probably also the only skimmer you can use with that sump.

Babybrown1249 · 03/19/2012, 01:16 PM

Imo the most important things to have are:

-Sump and refiugium
-Strong lights (I would go LED or metal halide)I would love LED but I have heard mixed reviews on them and would need some input on others experiences on it. I really like the look of MH with some exotic stunners to add some more color. I have LED on my current tank and love them but they are build for a small scale tank that was Fish Only.
-Strong return pump (can tee your return line to your reactors, chiller, etc to save on sump space and heat) Can you elaborate on what you mean?
-Powerheads for flow inside your tank (Tunze or Ecotech)Do you think that the 2 closed loops are not going to make enough current?

BTW, if you are going to put the skimmer in that Marineland acrylic sump, your choices are going to be limited since the water level in the skimmer section is only about 5". I have the same sump, and I had to use their Marineland 300 insump skimmer. It's a good skimmer and I highly recommend it, but just saying it's probably also the only skimmer you can use with that sump. I will probably put the skimmer in the stock tank or run and external sump. I really like the bubble magnus I have now but wanted others inputs on what they use.

Really I am looking for specifics on suggestions not just catergories I am missing. I have made a bunch of lists with stuff that I know I need but I can never settle on something because I have not had a tank this large before and I know most of the stuff I will be getting will be specialty buys at a lot of stores because of the size. Any information or advice would be awesome.

Babybrown1249 · 03/19/2012, 05:47 PM

Bump

saltysailor2329 · 03/19/2012, 07:25 PM

If you use a larger return, then you can build a manifold with multiple "T's" and run reactors, chillers, etc. off of the return pump without having to add additional pumps into your sump, which will keep the heat down. For example, I have a Mag 24 as my return sending water back through dual returns and I'm going to be running a bio pellet reactor, GFO reactor and carbon reactor all off the return pump vs. a return pump, pump for the bio pellet reactor, pump for the GFO reactor and pump for the Carbon reactor. Hope that makes more sense.

Babybrown1249 · 03/19/2012, 07:45 PM

oh yea that makes sense...so you think I will need a bigger return pump for that? if so what do you recommend?

03/18/2012, 09:38 PM	#1
Babybrown1249 USAF Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Guam Posts: 217	Tank Upgrade Help! Ok I am doing a huge tank upgrade. 300 Gallon in wall tank (96Lx30Wx24H) I will have a fish room behind the tank so storage will not be an issue. I am trying to get the shopping list together for the tank. Price is not really an issue either. I have started and restarted this list multiple times lol. Right now I have a 90 gallon tank and have had it about 1.5 years but I am moving and want to start this new tank right. The tank I am looking at only has 2 overflows with 2 holes ea. I don't think that is enough. Here is the start of my new list... Aquarium - 300 gallon; 96Lx30Wx24T ($1,406) Sump/Ref - 100 Gallon stock tank ($79.99) 1 - Marineland Acrylic Sump Filtration Systems Model 4 ($449.99) 2 - Closed loop system; Mocean 2000 Wave Maker (4000gph)($279.99ea) 1 - Return pump for stocktank; Reeflo Hammerhead Hybrid Pump (4950gph)($389.99ea) I am obviously missing things on this list...help me fill it in? I want different opinions from everyone...The tank will be used as a mixed reef. Oh and Ill be trading my current tank to a friend of mine who is a fish supplier for LR and sand. Let me know what you think.

03/19/2012, 06:05 AM	#3
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	Well the biggest and most expensive thing you are missing is lighting! I'd go LED if price was no option. No recommendations as they are out of my price-range! __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

03/19/2012, 06:19 AM	#4
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Lights. Onefor DT and one for fuge. Skimmer. Powerheads. ATO. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

03/19/2012, 06:29 AM	#5
shaginwagon13 Chartered Accountant Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,219	Imo the most important things to have are: -Sump and refiugium -Strong lights (I would go LED or metal halide) -Strong return pump (can tee your return line to your reactors, chiller, etc to save on sump space and heat) -Powerheads for flow inside your tank (Tunze or Ecotech) __________________ - Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD

03/19/2012, 06:30 AM	#6
shaginwagon13 Chartered Accountant Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,219	Double post. __________________ - Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD

03/18/2012, 09:57 PM	#2
Babybrown1249 USAF Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Guam Posts: 217	I found the RO unit I want for it too...75 GPD RO/DI 6 Stage DELUXE System

03/19/2012, 06:51 AM	#7
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	BTW, if you are going to put the skimmer in that Marineland acrylic sump, your choices are going to be limited since the water level in the skimmer section is only about 5". I have the same sump, and I had to use their Marineland 300 insump skimmer. It's a good skimmer and I highly recommend it, but just saying it's probably also the only skimmer you can use with that sump. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

03/19/2012, 01:16 PM	#8
Babybrown1249 USAF Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Guam Posts: 217	Imo the most important things to have are: -Sump and refiugium -Strong lights (I would go LED or metal halide)I would love LED but I have heard mixed reviews on them and would need some input on others experiences on it. I really like the look of MH with some exotic stunners to add some more color. I have LED on my current tank and love them but they are build for a small scale tank that was Fish Only. -Strong return pump (can tee your return line to your reactors, chiller, etc to save on sump space and heat) Can you elaborate on what you mean? -Powerheads for flow inside your tank (Tunze or Ecotech)Do you think that the 2 closed loops are not going to make enough current? BTW, if you are going to put the skimmer in that Marineland acrylic sump, your choices are going to be limited since the water level in the skimmer section is only about 5". I have the same sump, and I had to use their Marineland 300 insump skimmer. It's a good skimmer and I highly recommend it, but just saying it's probably also the only skimmer you can use with that sump. I will probably put the skimmer in the stock tank or run and external sump. I really like the bubble magnus I have now but wanted others inputs on what they use. Really I am looking for specifics on suggestions not just catergories I am missing. I have made a bunch of lists with stuff that I know I need but I can never settle on something because I have not had a tank this large before and I know most of the stuff I will be getting will be specialty buys at a lot of stores because of the size. Any information or advice would be awesome.

03/19/2012, 05:47 PM	#9
Babybrown1249 USAF Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Guam Posts: 217	Bump __________________ Playing golf is like going to a strip joint. After 18 holes you're tired and most of your balls are missing. -- Tim Allen Current Tank Info: 45 gallon nothing special tank :)

03/19/2012, 07:25 PM	#10
saltysailor2329 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Frederick, CO Posts: 547	If you use a larger return, then you can build a manifold with multiple "T's" and run reactors, chillers, etc. off of the return pump without having to add additional pumps into your sump, which will keep the heat down. For example, I have a Mag 24 as my return sending water back through dual returns and I'm going to be running a bio pellet reactor, GFO reactor and carbon reactor all off the return pump vs. a return pump, pump for the bio pellet reactor, pump for the GFO reactor and pump for the Carbon reactor. Hope that makes more sense. __________________ 200g DD has been wet since March 16, 2013!!!! Running 40g breeder w/20L sump is currently acting as the QT.

03/19/2012, 07:45 PM	#11
Babybrown1249 USAF Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Guam Posts: 217	oh yea that makes sense...so you think I will need a bigger return pump for that? if so what do you recommend? __________________ Playing golf is like going to a strip joint. After 18 holes you're tired and most of your balls are missing. -- Tim Allen Current Tank Info: 45 gallon nothing special tank :)