getting back into the hobby

cw3561 · 03/28/2006, 03:04 PM

Hi all. I've been away from the hoby for about 1.5 years now it keeps calling me back. I am in the very early planning stages right now and my wife doesn't even know yey

. I want to keep a mixture of softies and a few sps and a few fish.
My last tank was a 40g reef and I of course want to go bigger this time. I'm considering going with a 120g 48x24x24 acrylic tank and My Reef Creations equipment and sump. Lighting will be a combo of MH and VHO. I've seen threads about different set ups but my question to the masses is, what would you do different or what do you wish you had done?
My hope is to plan the system out as well as possible to help minimize last minute changes and Surprises. Thanks

Ritten · 03/28/2006, 03:19 PM

I regretted the only acrylic tank I owned. It got all scratched up in no time. I also regret my orchid dottyback as I would have liked to have a firefish and some sexy shrimp that I can't have with him.

Craig Lambert · 03/28/2006, 03:21 PM

Going with a 75G over a 120G. More cabinet space would be nice.

MCary · 03/28/2006, 03:37 PM

I love the 120 gallon. I wouldn't get a tank anymore less that 2 feet wide.

55Reef · 03/28/2006, 03:47 PM

Have the tank drilled.

Seriously consider a closed loop for circulation.

cw3561 · 03/28/2006, 04:31 PM

A closed loop is something i'm considering. I havn't really looked at them before but i have heard good things. I'll be looking into that and getting ideas on the best way to set it up. I firmly believe that the better the setup in the beginning the less stress and work there will be in the long run. I think I might even try to make my own sump in order to save some $$. And I think the 120 is a pretty good size with out having to go big on everything else.

REEFKEEPA · 03/28/2006, 04:39 PM

I have ditched the CL on my 215 design due to some flow issues.
It seems that if you check out the DIY forum you can get more flow for less $ from modified powerheads that mock the Tunze Stream. It is also a much more quiet application.

MCary · 03/28/2006, 05:05 PM

I want a closed loop in the new 240 I'm setting up so you won't see the big power heads. But the expense and the power consumption, woof! Tunze's can pump 3200 gph and I have 2 of them, what size pump would you need to pump that much.

REEFKEEPA · 03/28/2006, 05:18 PM

BIG! and loud!

blenny90 · 03/28/2006, 05:28 PM

We're going from a 90 to a 210. No closed loop, just powerheads that are controllable. The big change for is in the bottom end ... auto top off, co2 reactor, Digital Aquatics controller and chiller.

Lights are 3 - Coralvue Reeflux 10K 400watt MH's, two current retros for PC's

REEFKEEPA · 03/28/2006, 06:28 PM

I'm with blenny90,
I've been researching this for a month.
It seems to get a positive review by the DIY crowd.

jobiwan · 03/28/2006, 06:38 PM

I've used acrylic tanks only for 30 years, I still have the 40 I bought in 1976, it has moved all around the country with me. They are easy to buff out if scratched, but with the proper mindset scratches are very uncommon. Glass tanks have their advantages also, the biggest in my mind is being able to use a razor blade to clean them. I love the 120 size, lots of space that you can fit in four feet, I may trade my 60 in on one, good luck, Joe

cw3561 · 03/28/2006, 07:00 PM

Thanks, I've considered glass but I love the way the acrylics look. But then again I do have a 3 year old running around. When I had the 40 she was to small to reach it but that's not the case any more. And I agree that the Tunze's are pretty big and I do Have to consider the noise factor since the tank will be set up in my dining room.

REEFKEEPA · 03/28/2006, 07:04 PM

Check out the Maxijet mods on the DIY forum.
thy are much smaller than the Tunze's and are producing.

cw3561 · 03/28/2006, 10:48 PM

What about a blue back ground vs a black in your aquarium? I've had the black before and really liked it but i'm considering a blue back on the next one.

blenny90 · 03/29/2006, 12:48 AM

I seen some backgrounds that at the top are blue and as you go down they fade to black - very cool

cw3561 · 03/29/2006, 04:35 PM

This is what I'm looking at going with
Aquarium: My Reef Creations 48x24x24 120g
Skimmer: My Reef Creations MR3 with quick release.
Main Return Pump Mag 12 1200gph
Skimmer Pump Mag 24 2400gph
Calcium Reactor: My reef creations- CR2 w spray bar Pkg 4- CO2 Reg, Mag 2, PH controller, 5lb CO2
Lighting: Marine depot
Ice Cap 250w MH Spider reflector & 10k bulbs (3)
Ice Cap VHO 2 actinic 46.5Ã¢â‚¬Â bulbs 110w ea
Smart Light 24Ã¢â‚¬Â 50/50 bulb for sump

or Ice cap 250/400 Double- Ended HQI Pendant (3)
Hamilton 250w HQI double ended bulb Ice Cap 250w Electronic MH HQI Ballast
and the 2 VHO Lamps
What do you think?

RichConley · 03/29/2006, 04:49 PM

Main Return Pump Mag 12 1200gph
Skimmer Pump Mag 24 2400gph

Ditch those two. The big mag pumps are energy hogs, and arent very reliable. You could run both of those off a Sequence Dart, use about 1/3 of the electricity, and get better performance.

I'd also step down on the lights and run 2 250w SEs in Lumenarc A3 reflectors.

REEFKEEPA · 03/29/2006, 04:55 PM

Background is PP. But remember, They are hard to scrape.
I like Black or dark dark dark blue and then let it be encrusted.
Just PP.

03/28/2006, 03:04 PM	#1
cw3561 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California Posts: 98	getting back into the hobby Hi all. I've been away from the hoby for about 1.5 years now it keeps calling me back. I am in the very early planning stages right now and my wife doesn't even know yey . I want to keep a mixture of softies and a few sps and a few fish. My last tank was a 40g reef and I of course want to go bigger this time. I'm considering going with a 120g 48x24x24 acrylic tank and My Reef Creations equipment and sump. Lighting will be a combo of MH and VHO. I've seen threads about different set ups but my question to the masses is, what would you do different or what do you wish you had done? My hope is to plan the system out as well as possible to help minimize last minute changes and Surprises. Thanks

03/28/2006, 03:21 PM	#3
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	Going with a 75G over a 120G. More cabinet space would be nice. __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

03/28/2006, 04:39 PM	#7
REEFKEEPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 494	I have ditched the CL on my 215 design due to some flow issues. It seems that if you check out the DIY forum you can get more flow for less $ from modified powerheads that mock the Tunze Stream. It is also a much more quiet application. __________________ WE ROCK!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 70 Gallon tub drilled, 120Lbs LR, 140Lbs LS, CPR CY194 Sump w/LR trickle, Mag Drive 9.5 return, 2 x Tunze6025 for flow, 2 x Ice Cap 660 running 6 x 95 W lamps

03/28/2006, 05:18 PM	#9
REEFKEEPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 494	BIG! and loud! __________________ WE ROCK!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 70 Gallon tub drilled, 120Lbs LR, 140Lbs LS, CPR CY194 Sump w/LR trickle, Mag Drive 9.5 return, 2 x Tunze6025 for flow, 2 x Ice Cap 660 running 6 x 95 W lamps

03/28/2006, 06:28 PM	#11
REEFKEEPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 494	I'm with blenny90, I've been researching this for a month. It seems to get a positive review by the DIY crowd. __________________ WE ROCK!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 70 Gallon tub drilled, 120Lbs LR, 140Lbs LS, CPR CY194 Sump w/LR trickle, Mag Drive 9.5 return, 2 x Tunze6025 for flow, 2 x Ice Cap 660 running 6 x 95 W lamps

03/28/2006, 03:19 PM	#2
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	I regretted the only acrylic tank I owned. It got all scratched up in no time. I also regret my orchid dottyback as I would have liked to have a firefish and some sexy shrimp that I can't have with him.

03/28/2006, 03:37 PM	#4
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	I love the 120 gallon. I wouldn't get a tank anymore less that 2 feet wide.

03/28/2006, 03:47 PM	#5
55Reef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 779	Have the tank drilled. Seriously consider a closed loop for circulation.

03/28/2006, 04:31 PM	#6
cw3561 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California Posts: 98	A closed loop is something i'm considering. I havn't really looked at them before but i have heard good things. I'll be looking into that and getting ideas on the best way to set it up. I firmly believe that the better the setup in the beginning the less stress and work there will be in the long run. I think I might even try to make my own sump in order to save some $$. And I think the 120 is a pretty good size with out having to go big on everything else.

03/28/2006, 05:05 PM	#8
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	I want a closed loop in the new 240 I'm setting up so you won't see the big power heads. But the expense and the power consumption, woof! Tunze's can pump 3200 gph and I have 2 of them, what size pump would you need to pump that much.

03/28/2006, 05:28 PM	#10
blenny90 Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 270	We're going from a 90 to a 210. No closed loop, just powerheads that are controllable. The big change for is in the bottom end ... auto top off, co2 reactor, Digital Aquatics controller and chiller. Lights are 3 - Coralvue Reeflux 10K 400watt MH's, two current retros for PC's

03/28/2006, 06:38 PM	#12
jobiwan Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Posts: 83	I've used acrylic tanks only for 30 years, I still have the 40 I bought in 1976, it has moved all around the country with me. They are easy to buff out if scratched, but with the proper mindset scratches are very uncommon. Glass tanks have their advantages also, the biggest in my mind is being able to use a razor blade to clean them. I love the 120 size, lots of space that you can fit in four feet, I may trade my 60 in on one, good luck, Joe __________________ "I'm a Pain in the Wrasse" Current Tank Info: 600 SPS & 120 Softie Plex Reefs, 4 fragging tanks

03/28/2006, 07:00 PM	#13
cw3561 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California Posts: 98	Thanks, I've considered glass but I love the way the acrylics look. But then again I do have a 3 year old running around. When I had the 40 she was to small to reach it but that's not the case any more. And I agree that the Tunze's are pretty big and I do Have to consider the noise factor since the tank will be set up in my dining room.

03/28/2006, 07:04 PM	#14
REEFKEEPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 494	Check out the Maxijet mods on the DIY forum. thy are much smaller than the Tunze's and are producing. __________________ WE ROCK!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 70 Gallon tub drilled, 120Lbs LR, 140Lbs LS, CPR CY194 Sump w/LR trickle, Mag Drive 9.5 return, 2 x Tunze6025 for flow, 2 x Ice Cap 660 running 6 x 95 W lamps

03/28/2006, 10:48 PM	#15
cw3561 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California Posts: 98	What about a blue back ground vs a black in your aquarium? I've had the black before and really liked it but i'm considering a blue back on the next one.

03/29/2006, 12:48 AM	#16
blenny90 Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 270	I seen some backgrounds that at the top are blue and as you go down they fade to black - very cool

03/29/2006, 04:35 PM	#17
cw3561 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: California Posts: 98	This is what I'm looking at going with Aquarium: My Reef Creations 48x24x24 120g Skimmer: My Reef Creations MR3 with quick release. Main Return Pump Mag 12 1200gph Skimmer Pump Mag 24 2400gph Calcium Reactor: My reef creations- CR2 w spray bar Pkg 4- CO2 Reg, Mag 2, PH controller, 5lb CO2 Lighting: Marine depot Ice Cap 250w MH Spider reflector & 10k bulbs (3) Ice Cap VHO 2 actinic 46.5Ã¢â‚¬Â bulbs 110w ea Smart Light 24Ã¢â‚¬Â 50/50 bulb for sump or Ice cap 250/400 Double- Ended HQI Pendant (3) Hamilton 250w HQI double ended bulb Ice Cap 250w Electronic MH HQI Ballast and the 2 VHO Lamps What do you think? __________________ Remember , figures don't lie, but liars figure, so go figure.

03/29/2006, 04:49 PM	#18
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	Main Return Pump Mag 12 1200gph Skimmer Pump Mag 24 2400gph Ditch those two. The big mag pumps are energy hogs, and arent very reliable. You could run both of those off a Sequence Dart, use about 1/3 of the electricity, and get better performance. I'd also step down on the lights and run 2 250w SEs in Lumenarc A3 reflectors. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

03/29/2006, 04:55 PM	#19
REEFKEEPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 494	Background is PP. But remember, They are hard to scrape. I like Black or dark dark dark blue and then let it be encrusted. Just PP. __________________ WE ROCK!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 70 Gallon tub drilled, 120Lbs LR, 140Lbs LS, CPR CY194 Sump w/LR trickle, Mag Drive 9.5 return, 2 x Tunze6025 for flow, 2 x Ice Cap 660 running 6 x 95 W lamps