Planing the upgrade...

[Gimpster]

So i have been wanting to upgrade my system, and this time I want to do it right fromt he start. This is what I am thinking right now bot who knows if this will be even close to the final, the wife is still trying to convinve me we need a much larger aquarium to use as a room divider in place of the wall between the living and dining rooms. So opinions are welcome.


Main Reef Aquarium:
Aquariums:
1 58gal Oceanic Reef Ready Aquarium or Acrylic equivalent, 38.5”x18.5”x21”
1 40gal Sump, 36.5”x18.5”x16”
1 20gal Refugium / Planted Invert, 30.5”x12.5”x12.5”
Filtration:
1 Coralife Super Skimmer or ESM of the appropriate size
1 UV Sterilizer (if an aptaisa filter bed is use in sump)
Circulation/Flow:
1 Sump return pump
1 Refugium feed pump
1 Closed loop pump
1 RUGF feed pump (optional)
Lighting:
1 Primary lighting system (LED Solaris, MH, T5 or some combination)
1 Refugium light 36” (single or double T5)
Heating/Cooling:
2 Stealth heaters, temp stepped 2F
1 Heater/Chiller (optional if temp is an issue)
Misc/Optional:
1 Phytoplankton reactor
1 Calcium reactor
1 Phosban reactor


Quarantine Aquariums:
Aquariums:
2 10gal AGA, 20”x10”x12”
Filtration:
2 Large HOB Power Filters filled with LR Rubble
Circulation/Flow:
No additional needed.
Lighting:
1 T5 Single 24” (Fish)
1 T5 Double 24” (Coral/Invert)


Notes:

This reef will be started from dry base rock & GARF Grunge. The display will feature a RUGF and a medium depth sand bed of Red Sea Reef Base. The rock will be moved to the display once seeded and showing life while the Grunge will be moved to the Sump or Refugium/Planted tank as a DSB. The plan is to allow the dry rock to transform in to live rock, then to set up the system and allow if to mature and develop an ecosystem before adding any fish. Coral and inverts will start to be added as soon as the cycle is complete after final setup.

Planed fish are my existing pair of Clown Fish (1 True, 1 False), Yellow Clown Goby, Decorated Goby (sand sifting cave builder) plus the addition of a school of Blue Green Reef Chromis. I think this should be an acceptable fish load on a system with over 100gal of water, but the display may be too small for the school of Chromis, so they may not be added. None of the fish will be added until the reef has matured and the natural food sources are established to lessen the need to supplement with commercial foods.

 

[Krish]

Sounds like you have it all worked out man...Nice plan. I like it! Keep us posted on how things go.

BTW, you are one lucky guy! If only I could hear my wife say this...:doubt:

Previously posted by Gimpster

the wife is still tryign to convinve me we need a much larger aquarium to use as a room divider in place of the wall between the living and dining rooms

 

[Slickdonkey]

I agree with your wife. Bigger is always better. Trust me on this one.

 

[Gimpster]

Bigger also means more $$$ which I have a very limited amount, as it is I will have to save for quite some time to set this one up. I would love a masive tank but would hate the maintance. With the 58g I can probaly get away with still using T5, as the depth is not so bad, with a 120g or larger I would need MH and thats expensive.

All really depends on if I can manage to sell the motorcycle, but I have not had many people call or come to look at it. That would give me the money to get much of the equipment.