Another Nubi Reefer!

Hello everyone, I am a network engineer in northern california althought you wouldn't know it by the way I type haha. I have had fresh, brackish, and marine fish only tanks for most of my life so i am familiar with the process. I shut them all down after a move several years ago and am now starting up again with the lofty notion of creating my first reef tank. It is very intimidating and the tech has changed a lot. I am still having a hard time wrapping my mind around not having an under gravel filter and a wet/dry filter. anyway i have a 180 long with 2 over flows. I built a sump out of an old 40 and have a 2400 gph pump doing the return duty. I have as big a protien skimmer that will fit in the tank cabinet and a coralife light which has led, flourescent, and metal halide all in one. I also put 2 400 watt heaters in place for temp control. then I put 150 lbs of arogonite fine sand in and 50 lbs of live sand to get me started. its been running about 10 days now all salted up and buffered and im looking at live rock next. I have already found the aquarium store that I DON'T want to do business with. I caught them trying to upsell, bait and switch and flat out lying to me. So i thought a forum such as this might be a better source of information. I have sought out several other aquarium stores and may have found one i can trust although he doesnt have much in the way of variety he was willing to talk with me and for that i dropped a few bucks on him. Anyway just wanted to say hello and I am looking forward to many hours of reading as i research what the heck i have gotten myself in to. See ya!

 

welcome aboard tank mate!


hook it up with some pictures!

 

Where do you live in northern Cali?

One comment is that a 40 gallon sump may be a little small. Have you done a power-off test to see if it can hold all the water?

What do you plan on using for a skimmer?

 

welcome to 3reef

 

Wow i dont think i coupld put much more in the cabinet under the tank. I know i probably should have gone 60 or better but it just isnt possible. yes i have done a power off test. In fact did that first off to set the water levels in the sump. It fills up but im ok. I have the biggest skimmer i could fit under as well. It rated to 150 gallons so again i'm gonna have to get another or go up somehow in the future. I'm into this thing to the tune of 3500 dollars all ready and i havent even put a single fish or a pound of rock in yet. I just have to slow down a bit and conserve.

 

Oh ya. Im a bit west of you in the Valley Springs area. Foot hill territory