Medium Size Tank Planning - 55 gal to 225 gal

[DaveK]

There are several good brands of pump out there. My preference is for Iwaki.

On a closed loop plumbed over the top of the tank, both the intake and return are plumbed over the top of the tank. Since it's a sealed system, there is no danger of a flood. It's sort of like a canister filter with out any media in it.

[Edd1967]

As you can see from my sig, I have a 75g which is a throw together with spare parts I still had when I put together my office 55g reef. I decided to set it up the 75g when my wife suggested we put it in the breakfast room instead of the basement where it was. The only condiditon was she wanted fish (especially a lionfish) as she thinks the coral/clams are boring.

Anyway, there is enough room in the area for a 180 gal tank which would be fish/softies/LPS. My wife thinks it is a great idea! (I love my wife.) So, I am looking for a recommendation on what/where to buy. I know I want internal overflows and am leaning to glass, first because of cost and second because of a 2 year old that loves to clean the glass with the magnet. Given his height, the sand usaully ends up behind the magnet and would scratch an acrylic all to heck.

Recommendations?

Thx as always.

[DaveK]

I have merged several recent threads on tank planning together, and made the thread sticky. Much of the information applies to all tanks in these size ranges.

[DaveK]

Edd1967,

I'd go with a glass tank for what you are planning. It's a bit easier to care for.

As for lion fish, I'd forget that. They could be kept in a reef, but they produce a lot of waste, and you always have to worry about getting stung by one. You have a 2 yr old that just might sick his had in, and a lion fish doesn't know the kid just wants to be friends.

For the filter system, I'd use a berlin sump, large powerful skimmer, and an external pump.

For lighting I'd use three 175w or 250w MHs on electronic ballasts, depending on where you wanted to go with the corals in the tank. You could use VHO, PC or T5 lighting, but you'd need a lot of bulbs to light a tank that size.

Optionally, you could consider a refugium.

As always buy quality equipment.

[iain42]

Oooops a setback : (

I was walking by the tank the other day and notice a slight sag in the floor. The house was built in 1890 so I'm not that suprised but now I have to reinforce the floor before I go any further. Its a good thing there wasn't any live rock and sand in the tank : ()

[JTMAC]

Yikes!!!! that could have been really bad. check out this thread out for a little help. And always were here to help if you need it. I hope the link works right
John

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/article...ium_weight.php

[JTMAC]

Ok never mind the page is gone i think i can email you with what i saved to disk on it. let me know if you need it and ill send it to you. there is also a thread here on RAG. search under floor support.

[jcslcsmi]

i just finished setting up my first 55 gal. it seemed like i would buy something then someone would tell me it was junk.take it back and get something diffrent.i ended up with 40#carribsea reef sand,40#fiji pink,50#live rock,excalibur skimmer,fluval404 canister,200 watt submer.,260watt aqualight.any input let me know dave k you sound like you know your stuff.

[brbradle]

What does it mean to make a thread "Sticky"? I see it mentioned in thei thread.

[brbradle]

jcslcsmi- I am also using a Fuval 404 on my 65 gallon reef tank. It is newly set up but right now the water is pristine. All I have in the tank are cleaners, sand and rock. I am adding a 16 gallon refugium (Eco style) and will cycle the tank/ refugium before adding the live stock.

I like the Fuval, we bought it for a fresh water tank but I thought the versitality would make it good for saltwater. I did get a response to one of my threads that it would be a "Nitrate factory". That is where the refugium should help.