120 gal tank set up

[egunman]

I recently purchased a 120 gal rr tank. I have never set up a salt water tank before and was wondering if I could get some ideas on what type of equipment i should be setting it up with (Skimmer, return pumps, lights, etc) I am planning on starting off with a FOWLR and possible moving to a reef tank later. I also have a 29 gal tank to use as a sump. I would appreciate any advice you can give.

Eric

 

[NaH2O]

Do you know what types of corals you want to eventually move into, or how long of a time frame you think you will be FOWLR? There is a section in our library on setting up a reef tank - Startup, tank moving, and general research. Hopefully this will help you out. Personally, I feel skimmers are one of the more essential pieces of equipment, and for pumps - I think it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Is the tank glass or acrylic?

 

[egunman]

Nikki,
i will be keeping a FOWLR until i find a more permanant residence. It could be a couple years. The tank is a IAP Acrylic with center overflow.

 

[Angelscrx]

As far as skimmers go you want to get something that can handle more than what you have. With your set up probably one that can handle about a 200g tank wold wor well. As far as pumps go I think turning a tank's water 4 times per hours as a minimum would be fine for a FOWLR tank. I am not a mathemetician so someone on here can recommend a pump. But I would say at least a 900gph pump for a sump return but that depends on height from the sump too.

 

[NaH2O]

One thing to keep in mind with the FOWLR, since you are planning it to be a reef tank in a couple of years, choose fish that will be compatible with what inverts you would like to keep.....that way you don't have to be concerned with finding new homes for your livestock.

Have you thought about a closed loop on the tank?

 

[johnehr]

If you want a FOWLR and you want nice algae growth, you need to get some good lighting... There are huge debates about lighting, but it mainly depends on what you want in the long run.

I have a flourescent 3.5' retrofit kit at home if you'd want it. I dont know if it would provide enough light for a 120, but since its FOWLR you might be ok. (You'd probably want to get another one of the cheap normal output flourescent bulbs w/ mount and ballast.) That would be the cheapest solution and you could upgrade to exactly the lighting you need when you go for a reef tank.

Just curious, what is the minimal lighting setup that everyone thinks egunman should have?

 

[Angelscrx]

For a tank that size I would either choose the inexpensive PCs or Expensive VHOs. If he wants to upgrade in the future the VHOs in my opinion would be better. No need to get MHs at this point and since he is getting live rock and not base rock I think he needs more light than NO lights put out for coralline growth.

 

[egunman]

I was tinking about using 2 VHO's with a PFO Ballast. Should that be enough light to reach to the bottem of my 24 inch deep tank?

Nikki- I was thinking about doing a closed loop, but i ahve no idea on how to figure out where the intakes and outlets go. I defanily can not afford a closed loop like yours, but I like the idea. Also cutting holes in a tank i have never even put water in makes me a little nervous. Also i will probably be buying all of my fish from kevinpo who usually only sells reef friendly fish.

Does anyony have any ideas of which skimmer would work good? I was thinking a AQUAC-URCHIN Pro or AQUAC-EV180. Anyone have imput on these two or ohters that I should look at?

 

[spooda420]

one piece of advise i can give... buy for what you plan for not what you have now... you'll spend twice the money if you buy for what you have now....

on my 120g I have 2 400 DE lights, recently upgraded from dual 175's

I also upgraded skimmers now i have a aqua c ev400
upgraded pumps, rock, sump, heaters, got a CA reactor, etc... see my point... buy for what you plan for in the long run.

 

[egunman]

spooda420 What skimmer were you using before? Do you think the AQUAC-URCHIN Pro or AQUAC-EV180 will do the job?

 

[NaH2O]

egunman - what is the difference between the 2? I've seen the AC-EV180 on a 120gal and it worked well. Have you looked at any other brand of skimmer?

 

[FinsReef]

The skimmer will be the most important piece of equipment on your set-up. I would choose the best skimmer for your budget and your set-up. Are you wanting to run the skimmer in your sump, or external, what kind of height restrictions do you have?
As far as lighting, Do you have a canopy over your tank to retro light into, or are you wanting a hanging fixture, or a fixture to sit on the tank?
Are you planning on going with bigger more agaggressiveish, or smaller more docile fish?
Sorry for all the questions without answers, but need your anwanswers help you out on your set-up.
Also is you tank a standard 48"x24"x24"?

 

[bri7969]

is your tank a standard 48"x24"x24"? yes it is

 

[egunman]

finsreef- yes my tank is standard 48x24x24 and i think i would like to keep smaller docile fish. The tank right now does not ahve a canopy but i was tinking of making one so i could use a retrofit light system. as far as height restrictions that i have, the sump tank i am planning on using is 18,5" tall and the clearance for the stand is 24". I was kind of thinking a skimmer that sits outside the sump would work good and just plumb it in to the side of the sump.

Eric

 

[FinsReef]

As for lighting, and you want to upgrade to a reef later, I would start with An IceCap 660 Ballast set-up to run 2 54w t-5's with the SLR reflectors. If you want more light can add a total of 4 bulbs. It will be brighter than a 2 bulb vho set-up and produce less heat.I would go with 2 10000k bulbs. You will get ~2years bulb life out of this set-up. When you go full blown reef put 2 250w hqi pendents and split the t-5's, or put 4 more t-5's in if going with lps or soft corals.
As for skimmers, your main problem with running an external skimmer will be the height of the sump without drilling it. If you can have it drilled an external will work great. I will give you both internal skimmer options as well as external. The Urchin will be undersized for your tank even the Pro model.
Internal
Good- ASM G2
Better Schuran JetSkim150
Best H&S 150-f2001
External
Good-AquaC180
Better Grotech HSA150
Best H&S A150-f2001

Any of the exteraal skimmers can be run in sump or external.The Schuran can also be run external, but pump set-up is a little unique. The Grotech and the H&S A150 are recirc skimmers and will be more efficient than the others.
I would run your overflow into a bag holder with a filter sock, skim it, run it over carbon, and pump it back to tank.
I personally would run an Eheim 1262 pump or your return, If you want a cheaper pump look at a Pentair 4000 model, or Mag Drive 950 or 1200.
I hope this helps a some. You are doing the right things about asking questions first.
Just buy good equipment the first time around, and you will save money in fish loss, and not having to replace your system.
I don't think a closed loop in important on a Fish System, and when you turn to reef, Tunze Streams do great about adding flow to a system.

 

[spooda420]

spooda420 What skimmer were you using before? Do you think the AQUAC-URCHIN Pro or AQUAC-EV180 will do the job?

I had the aqua c remora pro... which is WAY to small... which is the HOT of the urchin. right? ev180 is prolly the size you want to go with... minimum. trust mt if youo dig this hobby you'll soon up grade ...better to buy big now than to buy small now then buy again after you upgrade.

besides can you overskim? ...I think not.

take a good look at wetwebmedia.com

C