Ready for Saltwater - What should I do?

T

the_other

AC Members
Jun 15, 2006
10
0
0
Greensboro, NC
I have been reading as many salt water forums as possible over the last few months and have learned ALOT. I've got 8 years of experience with freshwater tanks but REALLY want to convert to FOWLR and slowly merging to reef.

Here is what I have:

80 gallon euro tank (drilled but without the old type of overflows - just 2 pipes on either side)
29 gallon tank
33 gallon long tank
10 gallon tank

Rena Filstar XP2
Tidepool (i know, i know... but it came with the 80euro and I got a heck of a deal on the whole package)

Many standard NO lights

I'm thinking of drilling the 80 and putting in some good overflows and using the 29 as a sump/refugium or the 29 as sump and the 10 as refugium.

I know what equipment (lights/sump/skimmer/...) I will need but I'm wondering if the 80 is the best way to start. Would the 33L be better to start with?

What would you do?

Thanks for any and all input!!!
 
Is the 29 a high or long? With the 33 being a long it would be great for a 3 section sump allowing you to have the overflow dump/skimmer area, a return area and a refugium area.
 
I would suggest the 80 is a good starting block for you...On the sump tank part, i suppose you have to weight up just how much hassle it is to get the 33 in as the sump...it would make an ideal sump/refugium for the 80..

Just my thoughts..

Niko
 
If you are looking for a tank to act as a sump maybe you can trade the 29G with someone who has a tank with more ideal dimensions for a sump tank?

And I agree. The 80G would be great for a starter tank. Just might be a bit costly to start.
 
80 gallon is a great tank size. What kind of stand do you have, or will you make one. If you are going to make one, then hands down I vote for the 33 as a sump - will provide great room to include a fuge. And definitely you need the LR since the Rena Filstar XP2 is only good for up to 75 gallon, which means can't have much of a bioload. You can add the overflows so I can't stress enough how beneficial a sump would be over the Rena.

What are you wanting to keep?

Definitely go for the 80 gallon as the main tank.
 
thanks to everyone!

I really want to setup the 80! The stand and canopy are the cheap-o-s that came with the tank. Im not opposed to builing a new stand and canopy to accomodate MH's.

I haven't learned enough about corals yet which is why I want to start with FOWLR and merge in corals super-slowly. Im sure I will start with some softies and move up to LPS & SPS...

The fish I definately want are:

Clowns - either percula or ocellaris (2)
Blue Green Chromis (4-6) i love these little guys!

Perhaps a Firefish, Royal Gramma, Pseudochromis, Blue Damsel or Kaudern's Cardinalfish (not all together - just like their looks and swimming habits). Tangs are cool but I'm not sure if the 80 will be enough room for a Blue and Yellow together or even just one of them.

Im definately going to have a sump & refugium. I guess I am cursed with too many supplies. Don't want to spend what I dont have to!
 
Well the 29 tall will be harder to fit under the stand than a 33 long unless the 33 is longer than the 80 then you'd be in trouble :D... It is easy enough to hide a side door with some sort of molding around the edge of the door.. I'll find a link on RC that I saw the other day on a build that was great.. All kinds of good ideas for the custom stand maker.

ok went and found that link b/4 I couldn't edit this anymore..

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1213499

If you find the part where he did the top access for his lights, you could do simular on the side of bottom of the stand, mimic it on the other side but in reality hide a door there. That way you get all the bracing and support you'll need for the stand.
 
Not a problem. I'm using his thread to design my own custom cabinet.. He gave me some GREAT ideas. Now that winter is here its time to start those "indoor" projects.
 
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