new to hobby. starting 180 gallon reef. need suggestions:)

salmonator2012 · 03/29/2015, 04:05 PM

Hey everybody I just joined the forum today and am asking for a few suggestions for my new tank. It's a reef ready tank and I will be using a 75 gallon sump. Now I just wanted to know what I should use for equipment. Need suggestions on good protein skimmers. Led lights. Water movement. And so on. Would like to keep a soft corals and lps. Tank is a drilled reef ready 180. Bigger the better? Lol. Also. Any suggestions for which corals. And fish would be awesome! I'm not a complete boob in aquariums as I have a 75 gallon with an Oscar and know about the nitrification process. But saltwater. Completely new.. everyone's help would be appreciated!

moondoggy4 · 03/29/2015, 05:12 PM

Welcome to Reef Central!

Budget and what you want to keep will help in determining what lights you will need. Budget brands with lots of good reviews are ReefBreeders and Ocean Revive, moving up the scale Kessil 350 or 360 wide version, then very expensive are Ecotech and AI leds.
Fish room, do you have a basement? How tall is the stand?

salmonator2012 · 03/29/2015, 05:20 PM

I'd most likely keep soft corals and some lps. I like moving corals. It's just going in the basement that's finished. In my room. Stand is about 37 and a half inches tall. I built it myself. So it's all 2 by 8 boards. 23 inch opening. And with budget in mind. I'm willing to pay for the better stuff. maybe not top of the line. But if an item that costs significantly less does the same job or better as something more expensive I'm down. I was actually looking at either two aquaillumination 52s or ecotech pro for the lights.

bayoupr · 03/29/2015, 07:20 PM

Welcome

If you tank is 6' like my 180 was I ran (4) AI Vegas across the top but I was keeping SPS also. For LPS and softies you could get by with three or a nice T5 fixture would also work. I went from LED's back to T5's. I like these better than the LED's (personal preference). As for flow through your sump you want to aim for 3-5 times your tank volume. For your tank flow, Tunze pumps, Vortecs or even the Maspect Gyre are all good pumps for tank flow. Don't include the flow through your sump with your tank flow. Tank flow I would say at least 10x your tank volume for softies and LPS. SPS require a much stronger flow. This is my take on flow anyway. I have leathers, mushrooms and lots of GPS and I might be at 10x my tank volume or at least in that neighborhood. As for skimmers, lots of opinions will come your way. Research, research and research. Use the search buttom at the top skimmers, lighting pumps etc. It can be real helpful with info. Good luck

moondoggy4 · 03/29/2015, 08:22 PM

For inside the tank I would look into the tunze wave box, softies love that movement they do not like being blasted.

If you can find some AL Sol's they still work really good and they they can be had for 200 to 250 each.

PaletteSurgeon · 03/29/2015, 08:35 PM

Blue Hippo Tangs, Yellow Tangs, Blue Powder (From reliable store, not PETCO), Ocellaris or Picasso Clowns, Pajama Cardinals, Benggai Cardinals, Fire Goby. Just my preferences, I like a classic look, I think these fish are awesome, a great mix, and a nice challenge. Add the tangs all together, and any member of the same species. as for corals you should do some hardier ones since its your first time. As for water flow, hydor makes great ones, with 2 or 4 of the bigger ones tangs would love that.

tkeracer619 · 03/29/2015, 08:59 PM

My advice is setup a qt and quarantine everything you put in the tank.

Also go slow, you don't need it all right now.

03/29/2015, 04:05 PM	#1
salmonator2012 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 4	new to hobby. starting 180 gallon reef. need suggestions:) Hey everybody I just joined the forum today and am asking for a few suggestions for my new tank. It's a reef ready tank and I will be using a 75 gallon sump. Now I just wanted to know what I should use for equipment. Need suggestions on good protein skimmers. Led lights. Water movement. And so on. Would like to keep a soft corals and lps. Tank is a drilled reef ready 180. Bigger the better? Lol. Also. Any suggestions for which corals. And fish would be awesome! I'm not a complete boob in aquariums as I have a 75 gallon with an Oscar and know about the nitrification process. But saltwater. Completely new.. everyone's help would be appreciated! Last edited by salmonator2012; 03/29/2015 at 04:26 PM.

03/29/2015, 08:59 PM	#7
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	My advice is setup a qt and quarantine everything you put in the tank. Also go slow, you don't need it all right now. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/29/2015, 05:12 PM	#2
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Welcome to Reef Central! Budget and what you want to keep will help in determining what lights you will need. Budget brands with lots of good reviews are ReefBreeders and Ocean Revive, moving up the scale Kessil 350 or 360 wide version, then very expensive are Ecotech and AI leds. Fish room, do you have a basement? How tall is the stand?

03/29/2015, 05:20 PM	#3
salmonator2012 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 4	I'd most likely keep soft corals and some lps. I like moving corals. It's just going in the basement that's finished. In my room. Stand is about 37 and a half inches tall. I built it myself. So it's all 2 by 8 boards. 23 inch opening. And with budget in mind. I'm willing to pay for the better stuff. maybe not top of the line. But if an item that costs significantly less does the same job or better as something more expensive I'm down. I was actually looking at either two aquaillumination 52s or ecotech pro for the lights.

03/29/2015, 07:20 PM	#4
bayoupr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,308	Welcome If you tank is 6' like my 180 was I ran (4) AI Vegas across the top but I was keeping SPS also. For LPS and softies you could get by with three or a nice T5 fixture would also work. I went from LED's back to T5's. I like these better than the LED's (personal preference). As for flow through your sump you want to aim for 3-5 times your tank volume. For your tank flow, Tunze pumps, Vortecs or even the Maspect Gyre are all good pumps for tank flow. Don't include the flow through your sump with your tank flow. Tank flow I would say at least 10x your tank volume for softies and LPS. SPS require a much stronger flow. This is my take on flow anyway. I have leathers, mushrooms and lots of GPS and I might be at 10x my tank volume or at least in that neighborhood. As for skimmers, lots of opinions will come your way. Research, research and research. Use the search buttom at the top skimmers, lighting pumps etc. It can be real helpful with info. Good luck

03/29/2015, 08:22 PM	#5
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	For inside the tank I would look into the tunze wave box, softies love that movement they do not like being blasted. If you can find some AL Sol's they still work really good and they they can be had for 200 to 250 each.

03/29/2015, 08:35 PM	#6
PaletteSurgeon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: New England Posts: 4	Blue Hippo Tangs, Yellow Tangs, Blue Powder (From reliable store, not PETCO), Ocellaris or Picasso Clowns, Pajama Cardinals, Benggai Cardinals, Fire Goby. Just my preferences, I like a classic look, I think these fish are awesome, a great mix, and a nice challenge. Add the tangs all together, and any member of the same species. as for corals you should do some hardier ones since its your first time. As for water flow, hydor makes great ones, with 2 or 4 of the bigger ones tangs would love that.