Seeking advice for new reef tank setup!

Hi all,

I am getting myself ready to setup a new reef tank and I want to do it right this time from the start! My last setup was a 37 Gallon cyano and hair algae breeding ground and I wound up taking my critters back to the LFS.

My current plan is to setup a 90-125 Gallon pre-drilled glass reef tank. I am just going to list my full setup idea and would LOVE any suggestion on how to keep my fishes happy and the algae/cyano away! I know the bigger is better saying generally holds true but will there be any noticeable difference between a 90 and a 125 in terms of maintenance and looks?

So aside from the tank I plan on getting an eshopps R-100 sump/fuge:
ESHOPPS | R-100 <---that one!

and a PSK-100 or 150 respectively:
ESHOPPS | PSK-100 <---that style

Should I get an in tank filter?

What kind of lights do you recommend (brand, t5HO's, LED's, MH's etc.) I would like to stay on the cheaper side with the lights but I don't want crappy ones either!

LR I plan on a lb per gallon

how deep should my sand bed be, I have read shallower sand beds can be easier to manage.

I have never had or used a GFO reactor so any advice on those would be awesome! also is there any other filtration i should consider?

I also have 40lbs. of LR from my old setup and I want to cure it and make sure there is NOTHING on it so the best way you can recommend will also help me greatly!

I have an aquatic Life R/O buddie and plan to get the Di chamber to fill and use the water for top-off!

I plan to stock some softies, a pair of osc. clowns, a blue hippo tang, and anything you suggest that looks neat! lol


SO, That was a lot but I have read and been reading all the needed equipment lists and talked to a couple of people about it but I just want to hear what has worked best for you guys and what you recommend I get/do to keep my tank nice, healthy, and pretty to look at! Thanks for any advice in advance!!!

p.s. I have my 37 gallon setup still and if anyone would like to trade for anything towards my new setup let me know! (end of sales pitch)

 

+ starry blenny to planned stocking list they are just cool!

 

hmm....I'll try to answer what I can. I'd go with the 125 vs. the 90 because it will give you more fish options. I've used phosguard but am using a product that lowers phosphate and it does work.

I find them very confusing (and if you don't) I think you should go with LED's. They are cheaper on electric and have been shown to light beautiful reef tanks. It is also cheaper in terms of bulb replacements.

I like a shallow sand bed. I've never kept a DSB so that's all I've ever kept. In terms of the live rock, and getting rid of anything I know I've seen what people recommend but I've not tried. I'm sure others will chime in.

In terms of livestock, goby/pistol shrimp combo and I haven't found a shrimp goby as cool as a watchman. I love my flame hawkfish. you could get a few beautiful fish in a 125. I never was a wrasse fan until I joined and read 3reef now, they fascinate me. They come in so many brilliant colors and are always active.

ok, I'll stop rambling. I should have posted that in a clearer structure

 

Go slow, let your tank cycle and get its balance with a fish or two, patients most important, read and learn. A reef is a pet that's alive and growing and depends on us to keep it healthy. Your getting ready to start a baby pet just don't ask it to be full grown before its time and you will do fine

 

I always recommend going with a 24" front-back tank. It gives you much more flexibility with aquascaping and looks so much better.

Algae/cyano is almost always the result of high phosphates. I am running a media reactor with GFO.

I would recommend a 120 (48"x24"x24"). It is a great size tank and being only 4' long is easier to light than, say, a 125 which is 6' long.

No

I really like my LEDs. I know they are expensive, but you don't have to worry about changing bulbs and in the long run save you money.

There are lots of videos on GFO reactors. Pretty easy to set up and maintain. As to other "filtration" - you will need something to keep alk and calcium up. I use a DIY Kalk reactor that I'm quite happy with.

 

My current plan is to setup a 90-125 Gallon pre-drilled glass reef tank. I am just going to list my full setup idea and would LOVE any suggestion on how to keep my fishes happy and the algae/cyano away! I know the bigger is better saying generally holds true but will there be any noticeable difference between a 90 and a 125 in terms of maintenance and looks?

I like the 120 4x2x2(may be biased) its much deeper than the 125

So aside from the tank I plan on getting an eshopps R-100 sump/fuge:
ESHOPPS | R-100 <---that one!

and a PSK-100 or 150 respectively:
ESHOPPS | PSK-100 <---that style

Build your own sump and it saves you A LOT of money...simply wait for petco to have a 1$ per gallon sale and pic up a 40g breeder, then get some baffles cut at lowes or home depot....and boom there a sump and/or refugium

Should I get an in tank filter?

No, instead add refugium section into sump

What kind of lights do you recommend (brand, t5HO's, LED's, MH's etc.) I would like to stay on the cheaper side with the lights but I don't want crappy ones either!

I like LEDs they are much much cheaper int he long run and last much longer, If i had to do my tank over again I'd take an extra few weeks researching and build my own, if you dont plan on putting in SPS dont get talked into spending money on top brands there no point IMO

LR I plan on a lb per gallon

would use this amount at the minimum...Currently have 200Lbs of rock in my 120g

how deep should my sand bed be, I have read shallower sand beds can be easier to manage.

2-3 inches is fine, this can become an extremly complex subject. i have 200lbs of sand in my 120g with 40-60 of it being in my fuge having a deeper sandbed

I have never had or used a GFO reactor so any advice on those would be awesome! also is there any other filtration i should consider?

BRS Duel reactor utilizing their high performance GFO and ROX .8 carbon and youll be fine...I have found the high performance GFO is key sicne you dont have to use as much and theres less risk of the reactor getting clogged. I also you a maxijjet 1200 on it which if i had to do over i woulda bought a much more porwerful return pump and branched everything off of it

BRS GFO & Carbon Reactor

I also have 40lbs. of LR from my old setup and I want to cure it and make sure there is NOTHING on it so the best way you can recommend will also help me greatly!

Cooking, i believe is the preferred method

I have an aquatic Life R/O buddie and plan to get the Di chamber to fill and use the water for top-off!

i loose 11/2 to 3 gallons a day depending on season

In addition im using a bubble magus curve 7 for my skimmer and its performing very well, with a med to high bio load it has a very small footprint Comparatively to other equally preforming skimmers. I am also using a Jebao wp40 without issues (linked to my apex). Like i said before i would have gone with a much better return pump...i have a mag9, dont get me wrong its really quiet but just not the powerful for additions i.e the gfo/carbon reactor or UV if i wanted to add one

http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/boomsons-90g-no-wait-120g-build-150028.html heres my orignal build not quite up to date as ive added more lights apex and other goodies....got any questions feel free

 

DO NOT boil rock!

 

Was going to second that do not boil your rocks you can die.

 

Thanks for all the advice all ! I will not boil the rocks but when you say to cook them do you mean throw them in the oven ? or am i taking you to literally ?

I will likely build my sump and go with LED's as suggested but I have one question I left out!

I have an ocean pulse duo wave maker controller but I don't know what pumps to get I tried several different pumps/ flow rates and never got it right on the last tank !

 

I put my rock out side for a month then put it away I am going to get it out scrub it in fresh water then soak in declored water then soak in RO Di water then back in tank