Introducing myself. Advice welcome!

debraj01 · 11/20/2012, 12:53 PM

Hi! I am re-entering the hobby after many years. I actually worked in the retail and wholesale aquarium industry in the early 70s. Ouch! Things have changed so much technology-wise since then. In those days the filter of choice was strictly and under-gravel filter and protein skimmers had only just appeared on the market with wooden air-stones. Coral was impossible to keep alive and salt-water tanks were stark and unatural. Obviously I have a lot of catching up to do! I tried my hand with a nano reef tank a few years ago and had good success, but had to sell it due to a move across country. I have just acquired a 240 gallon tank that has limited equipment and I need to get it up a running. It was used as a fresh-water tank, but has over-flows at both ends, and adequate pumps (I hope). I am going to be needing lighting, sump sytem, skimmer, whatever else I will need to hopefully set up a beautiful reef tank. The tank is 96" long, 24" wide, and 30" deep. I want to do it right, but am working on a budget, so I am going to take my time to have all the "right stuff" in place before "going live". I am open to suggestions and whatever advice anyone is willing to give. My main concern is adequate lighting that will penetrate a tank that deep. I have been scouring the internet and most of the lighting tech terms are over my head. Hopefully there is a "Reef Lighting for Dummies" out there somewhere!

Glad to have found this forum and am ready for an education!

CRJ · 11/20/2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debraj01

Hi! I am re-entering the hobby after many years. I actually worked in the retail and wholesale aquarium industry in the early 70s. Ouch! Things have changed so much technology-wise since then. In those days the filter of choice was strictly and under-gravel filter and protein skimmers had only just appeared on the market with wooden air-stones. Coral was impossible to keep alive and salt-water tanks were stark and unatural. Obviously I have a lot of catching up to do! I tried my hand with a nano reef tank a few years ago and had good success, but had to sell it due to a move across country. I have just acquired a 240 gallon tank that has limited equipment and I need to get it up a running. It was used as a fresh-water tank, but has over-flows at both ends, and adequate pumps (I hope). I am going to be needing lighting, sump sytem, skimmer, whatever else I will need to hopefully set up a beautiful reef tank. The tank is 96" long, 24" wide, and 30" deep. I want to do it right, but am working on a budget, so I am going to take my time to have all the "right stuff" in place before "going live". I am open to suggestions and whatever advice anyone is willing to give. My main concern is adequate lighting that will penetrate a tank that deep. I have been scouring the internet and most of the lighting tech terms are over my head. Hopefully there is a "Reef Lighting for Dummies" out there somewhere!

Glad to have found this forum and am ready for an education!

Hello! Welcome to RC.

sounds like a fun build! I have had great success with LED lights, and id suggest them as they are the way of the future. I run a Ecotech Radion, and LOVE IT! best thing on the market, and the new radion pro would get down through the depth of water you have, with output at 950 par. I would have a custom sump made to fit your needs, and take a look at reef octopus or bubble magus or SWC for a good skimmer.

Id suggest running 2 separate heaters, a dedicated power line, and a apex reef controller to control the tank when your not home. You can monitor it from the web anywhere which is awesome on vacations.

This place is a mass of knowledge, so take it all in as you grow.

Sk8r · 11/20/2012, 01:06 PM

My blog (blue number under my avatar is the link) may give you some help. I was in the same situation after a 10 year lapse. Things really have changed---no filter at all for a reef; I don't run a filter sock, either. I let the corals do the filtering. Kalk drip is now very easy. Lids are out, autotopoffs are in, and ATOS run the kalk drip. SPS are still bleeding edge, with the exception of pocillopora, which now reproduces faster than some like; some lps such as euphyllia are on their way to being weeds, they grow so fast. Softies can multiply right up your glass. I've found a sand/rock/cheato fuge a major asset, fuge size 1/3 the size of my display tank.

chrisfont23 · 11/20/2012, 01:25 PM

And don't forget LEDs are all the rage now

glweek · 11/20/2012, 01:34 PM

Welcome!

bnumair · 11/20/2012, 02:43 PM

welcome back and also just to make sure ur getting the right equipment rated best for ur tank. a 96x24x30 is NOT a 240 its a 300gal tank. please verify and buy things accordingly.

debraj01 · 11/20/2012, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnumair

welcome back and also just to make sure ur getting the right equipment rated best for ur tank. a 96x24x30 is NOT a 240 its a 300gal tank. please verify and buy things accordingly.

REALLY?!?!?

I guess I'm going to have to rethink a few things!

bnumair · 11/20/2012, 05:08 PM

RECTANGULAR TANK VOLUMES

All dimensions are in inches, volume is U.S. gallons.
Width:24
Length:96
Height:30

Result: 299

Chaotic Reefer4u · 11/20/2012, 06:03 PM

To Reef Central

debraj01 · 11/21/2012, 01:29 PM

I am getting this tank on Friday and will have to measure it myself. The person I'm getting it from has given me 2 different dimensions. Once 30" deep and once 24" deep. Pictures look 30", but I'll just wait and see! I'm just hoping we can round up enough people to move it!

11/20/2012, 12:53 PM	#1
debraj01 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 7	Introducing myself. Advice welcome! Hi! I am re-entering the hobby after many years. I actually worked in the retail and wholesale aquarium industry in the early 70s. Ouch! Things have changed so much technology-wise since then. In those days the filter of choice was strictly and under-gravel filter and protein skimmers had only just appeared on the market with wooden air-stones. Coral was impossible to keep alive and salt-water tanks were stark and unatural. Obviously I have a lot of catching up to do! I tried my hand with a nano reef tank a few years ago and had good success, but had to sell it due to a move across country. I have just acquired a 240 gallon tank that has limited equipment and I need to get it up a running. It was used as a fresh-water tank, but has over-flows at both ends, and adequate pumps (I hope). I am going to be needing lighting, sump sytem, skimmer, whatever else I will need to hopefully set up a beautiful reef tank. The tank is 96" long, 24" wide, and 30" deep. I want to do it right, but am working on a budget, so I am going to take my time to have all the "right stuff" in place before "going live". I am open to suggestions and whatever advice anyone is willing to give. My main concern is adequate lighting that will penetrate a tank that deep. I have been scouring the internet and most of the lighting tech terms are over my head. Hopefully there is a "Reef Lighting for Dummies" out there somewhere! Glad to have found this forum and am ready for an education!

11/20/2012, 01:06 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	My blog (blue number under my avatar is the link) may give you some help. I was in the same situation after a 10 year lapse. Things really have changed---no filter at all for a reef; I don't run a filter sock, either. I let the corals do the filtering. Kalk drip is now very easy. Lids are out, autotopoffs are in, and ATOS run the kalk drip. SPS are still bleeding edge, with the exception of pocillopora, which now reproduces faster than some like; some lps such as euphyllia are on their way to being weeds, they grow so fast. Softies can multiply right up your glass. I've found a sand/rock/cheato fuge a major asset, fuge size 1/3 the size of my display tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/20/2012, 02:43 PM	#6
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	welcome back and also just to make sure ur getting the right equipment rated best for ur tank. a 96x24x30 is NOT a 240 its a 300gal tank. please verify and buy things accordingly. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

11/20/2012, 05:08 PM	#8
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	RECTANGULAR TANK VOLUMES All dimensions are in inches, volume is U.S. gallons. Width:24 Length:96 Height:30 Result: 299 __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

11/20/2012, 06:03 PM	#9
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	*To Reef Central* __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

11/20/2012, 01:25 PM	#4
chrisfont23 Reef Monster Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,343	And don't forget LEDs are all the rage now

11/20/2012, 01:34 PM	#5
glweek Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Ferndale, Wa Posts: 112	Welcome!

11/21/2012, 01:29 PM	#10
debraj01 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 7	I am getting this tank on Friday and will have to measure it myself. The person I'm getting it from has given me 2 different dimensions. Once 30" deep and once 24" deep. Pictures look 30", but I'll just wait and see! I'm just hoping we can round up enough people to move it!