New set up. Looking for advice

Laugusto · 01/20/2014, 05:57 AM

Hi, this is my first post on here, but not new to the hobby and was looking for some advice on a possible set up I had in mind. I've I finally purchased my own house and can get a larger tank now that I'm not in a third floor apt. Here's what I was thinking: 120 gallon reef tank, but with a fish room in the basement. I've been looking here for a little while now and havnt really seen too many people with that setup. The tank will be in my living room so id like to avoid as much noise as possible and also reduce the amount of buckets carried through the house. Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

tomreefer · 01/20/2014, 06:11 AM

Are you planning on a sump? If so then suggest drilling or get a reef ready tank. Sump for that tank I would suggest a 40 gallon so a total tank volume would be 160 gallons. You will need roughly 800 gallons of water to go through sump. Total water movement in tank depends on what corals you plan on. Water flow should be 10 - 20 times water volume so roughly 2400 gallons of movement minus the water going through sump. I hope im making sense.

Laugusto · 01/20/2014, 06:28 AM

Yea it will be a reef ready tank with starfire glass. I was thinking possibly two 2" pipes running down into the sump. Will probably need a decent sized return pump to overcome the distance between the tank and the basement. It will be mostly sps with some others. Planning on using a couple vortechs for water movement in the tank.

RedStangGA · 01/20/2014, 06:29 AM

Do a search on basement sumps and you should get plenty of hits for ideas. It's a fairly common setup. Keep in mind you'll need a powerful pump to deal with the head pressure of what will likely be a 10' plus vertical run for the return.

Posted right after you did lol!

Yes, definitely multiple drains.

tomreefer · 01/20/2014, 07:03 AM

Yes big pump and for sure two drains. Determine how much feet. Eheim 1262 pump might be sufficient. Sump really dont need much water going through it. The water movement really should be for the powerheads.

Laugusto · 01/20/2014, 01:51 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. Now just to make the shopping list :-)

mpeaden2 · 01/20/2014, 03:59 PM

you can get fancy and setup a water change system from display down to basement. I've seen several setups like this. Definitely save you a lot of bucket carrying if you're planning on keeping the reservoirs in the basement.

Laugusto · 01/20/2014, 04:04 PM

Planning on putting as much as possible down there. Planning on only the lighting and the tank upstairs. Just need to decide on acrylic or glass. I haveaThree year old so I'm leaning towards acrylic just to be safe, rather than the starfire.

fishroomlady · 01/20/2014, 05:29 PM

with a three year old, I'd suggest glass. Acrylic scratches very easily.

Laugusto · 01/20/2014, 07:39 PM

Glass it is then! Thanks

01/20/2014, 05:57 AM	#1
Laugusto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 32	New set up. Looking for advice Hi, this is my first post on here, but not new to the hobby and was looking for some advice on a possible set up I had in mind. I've I finally purchased my own house and can get a larger tank now that I'm not in a third floor apt. Here's what I was thinking: 120 gallon reef tank, but with a fish room in the basement. I've been looking here for a little while now and havnt really seen too many people with that setup. The tank will be in my living room so id like to avoid as much noise as possible and also reduce the amount of buckets carried through the house. Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

01/20/2014, 06:29 AM	#4
RedStangGA Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 1,052	Do a search on basement sumps and you should get plenty of hits for ideas. It's a fairly common setup. Keep in mind you'll need a powerful pump to deal with the head pressure of what will likely be a 10' plus vertical run for the return. Posted right after you did lol! Yes, definitely multiple drains. __________________ Marineland 220, Marineland 60 Cube

01/20/2014, 03:59 PM	#7
mpeaden2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 70	you can get fancy and setup a water change system from display down to basement. I've seen several setups like this. Definitely save you a lot of bucket carrying if you're planning on keeping the reservoirs in the basement. __________________ 90 gal. \|29 gal sump\|2 x AI SOL Blue\|Apex Neptune\|2 x Sicce Power Heads\|Reef Octopus 150\|MagDrive 12

01/20/2014, 05:29 PM	#9
fishroomlady Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 329	with a three year old, I'd suggest glass. Acrylic scratches very easily. __________________ "You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?" - Talking Heads Current Tank Info: 65 gallon wide reef tank

01/20/2014, 06:11 AM	#2
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	Are you planning on a sump? If so then suggest drilling or get a reef ready tank. Sump for that tank I would suggest a 40 gallon so a total tank volume would be 160 gallons. You will need roughly 800 gallons of water to go through sump. Total water movement in tank depends on what corals you plan on. Water flow should be 10 - 20 times water volume so roughly 2400 gallons of movement minus the water going through sump. I hope im making sense.

01/20/2014, 06:28 AM	#3
Laugusto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 32	Yea it will be a reef ready tank with starfire glass. I was thinking possibly two 2" pipes running down into the sump. Will probably need a decent sized return pump to overcome the distance between the tank and the basement. It will be mostly sps with some others. Planning on using a couple vortechs for water movement in the tank.

01/20/2014, 07:03 AM	#5
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	Yes big pump and for sure two drains. Determine how much feet. Eheim 1262 pump might be sufficient. Sump really dont need much water going through it. The water movement really should be for the powerheads.

01/20/2014, 01:51 PM	#6
Laugusto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 32	Thanks for the suggestions. Now just to make the shopping list :-)

01/20/2014, 04:04 PM	#8
Laugusto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 32	Planning on putting as much as possible down there. Planning on only the lighting and the tank upstairs. Just need to decide on acrylic or glass. I haveaThree year old so I'm leaning towards acrylic just to be safe, rather than the starfire.

01/20/2014, 07:39 PM	#10
Laugusto Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 32	Glass it is then! Thanks