Hello everybody! This is my first post on these forums as well as my first attempt at a reef tank. I would like to get everybody’s input before I dive in too deep (pun intended… I know, booooo!). Below I have posted all the components I plan to use in my setup, along with how I plan to proceed. What I would like from everybody here is for you guys to tear it apart and let me know what or if you would do anything different! I am also open to any criticism on the brand choices I have made. In fact, I’m less confident about manufacturer/brand choices than I am about the general setup I have come up with! I really look forward to everybody’s input!
Tank and Stand:
Deep Sea Aquatics Model 70 aquarium and matching stand. Dimensions are 36.5”w 18.5”d 25”h (It is too late to change this as I have already purchased it) – Anyone familiar with this brand? I can post pics later if people want to check it out. I couldn’t find much info about DSA online… good or bad. I’d be happy to review the tank in the future once I have some experience with it!
Lighting:
I’m leaning toward a Sunlight Supply Maristar 36” fixture with dual 250w hqi metal halides and dual 39w T5 actinics. I plan on getting two 250w IceCap electronic metal halide ballasts to drive the fixture. Sound like a good choice for the size of tank? Enough light to eventually grow clams and sps? At first I was planning on getting a Current Outer Orbit of similar specs but the lfs said to avoid Outer Orbit at all costs. The Outer Orbit is much cheaper so if they are any good I might consider one. Additionally, I would love any suggestions of other brands that make the combo T5 and halide ready to run fixtures. Fixtures with moon lights would be a major plus. I’m not sure how I would modify the maristar to add moonlight leds. (I know about coralife fixtures and they look pretty good but there is no dual hqi mh model that is 36” and they use pcs not T5)
Protein Skimmer:
I like the Euro-Reef RS135. My tank is only 70 gallon but I want to get a skimmer that is a little over-spec so I will have more flexibility in the future.
Return Water Pump:
No idea yet!
Power Heads and Wave Controller:
No idea here either!
Sump Setup:
I’m thinking about a DIY setup using a cheaper glass aquarium from a local big box fish store. The basic design I have in mind is a three chamber sump with bubble traps between the chambers. The first chamber would have the skimmer and sock filters on the incoming water. The second chamber would be a refugium with a deep sand bed, some lighting, and macro algae. The third chamber would hold the return pump, heaters, and other add-on equipment. If I get any replies or interest from anyone, I will post more details about my sump design. Also, I am totally open to buying a pre-made sump/refugium! Any guidance here would be awesome.
Heaters:
No clue!
Chiller:
I’m not planning on getting a chiller to start with. The lfs suggested a small fan blowing air across the sump would probably be sufficient for cooling as long as the ambient temp doesn’t get too high. However if anyone would like to suggest a size and brand of chiller, that would be nice. I was kind of intrigued by the electronic chillers that run on Peltiers. I ran across a company selling models for large tanks but I can’t remember the brand.
Live Rock:
Here is a sticking point for me. Out of all the stuff on this list, rock and livestock concerns me the most. My lfs is a pretty decent store as far as I can tell, but I don’t know if I trust their livestock and live rock. My lfs wants about $9.00 per lb for “fully cured” rock. I’m not so sure of its quality. I have found a place online that claims to sell “prime fully cured” live rock and the price is comparable (including shipping!). Aquariumarts.com is the name of the place I am thinking about buying from but I am really nervous about ordering stuff like this without seeing it. Does anyone have experience with this online retailer? Are they trustworthy, reliable, etc.? Although I understand that some “curing” will occur in my tank and that the tank must cycle, I do NOT want to cure my own “dead live rock”. I’m not impatient or lazy it’s just that I don’t want the house to smell like a dead beached whale for weeks on end while the rocks cure.
Live Sand:
I plan to do a 2” – 3” live sand bed in the main tank. I want to avoid anoxic conditions in the sand of the main tank if possible. (In case fish or inverts decide to start mining for gold
)
Misc:
I haven’t decided what sort of test equipment to get yet (refractometer, test strips, etc.) Also, I haven’t decided on an RO/DI unit. I need one that I can hook up to a kitchen sink faucet or similar. No idea what brand of salt to use.
How I Plan to Proceed:
I am going to start off with inverts and move slowly into polyps and soft corals. After that I will begin to introduce fish and more softies. Eventually when conditions are very stable I will add some LPS and SPS corals followed by an attempt to raise clams! (I know my initial set up is not suited for these yet. If you want to suggest calc reactors or the like, I am certainly open. Keep in mind that LPS, SPS, and clams are a good ways down the road for me!)
Well, if you finished that novel and have any advice then fire away! Thank you all in advance!