Reef dream tank has begun!! (long way to go, lol!!)

Ok guys, ive found a buyer for my 72 gallon freshwater tank!! Nothing is concrete yet, but i have two buyers lined up. Incase both back out, and your in the toronto area looking for a fully set-up system, the tank is on sale here........

http://techtastic.pricenetwork.ca/forum/showthread.php?threadid=41549

Anyways, today i went and talked to a guy at this awsome LFS store in Brampton, and he says he can get me a 90 gallon solid wood mohagani miracle tank, with solid wood stand, and a solid wood canapy. Now he does custom in wall instalation, so he said he would do all the plumbing and everything else as well.

Basically he quoted me this.......

90 gallon miracle solid wood, mahogany tank with matching wood canapy. 20 gallon sump, with mag 12 (1200gph) return pump, two holes drilled at top corner of tank for overflow box and return. Silencers so the over flow is essentially pitch quite. Also, will put stick on sheet of blue or black film on back of tank (permanent). Finally, will do all the pumping required with upgraded fittings for easy disconnect for cleaning things like pump, skimmer, etc. Labour, equipment, tank, stand and all for $1300 canadian!!

Now ive also got a skimmer lined up. 1.5 years old, and used, but it looks good and should fit nicely into the sump. Hes asking $170 cash. Need opinions though. The skimmer is as follows.....

Aqua Medic Turboflotor 1000 Multi.....

http://www.ereeftank.com/cart/catal...age_1_c_67.html

All i really need now to make this a reef tank is a light. This is where things get tight with money, but i plan on doing things slowly, real slowly. Anyways, here is what im planning. Need opinions, as im not sure 150 watt HQI hilides will be enough to penetrate deep into a 24 inch tank. The light im thinking of is as follows......

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/details/l-mh-esu.php?product_ID=mh-calp48

That light will give me two 150 watt HQI hillides for a total of 300 watts, plus 2, 96 watt acnic PC bulbs for a total of 192 watts. Grand total of 492 watts. Roughly 5.5 watts per gallon. Im not sure this will be sufficient enough for SPS or high end LPS coral, since the tank is fairly deep. Again, opinions would be great.

Basically, that's what im looking to start off with in terms of equipment, but my biggest concern is the lighting, which im fairly confident should be enough. Also not sure how good that skimmer really is.

Pics will come as soon as project get's underway (and of course when i sell my current tank)!!

Swimfins said:

It sounds very good to me. Why don't you keep the freshwater and later convert it to a fowlr for all those un-reefsafe but really cool creatures (like an anglerfish) or a lion? later on. You never get what its worth in a sale

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Because i need the money to start up the 90 reef. :

Pineapple said:

I would try to haggle the price with the guy, but I’m cheap. It may also be the fact that I live close to Mexico and haggling is the only way. The lighting sounds fine. If you want SPS put them closer to the surface. I’m not sure about the skimmer, but it has a decent amount of stars. If you don’t like the skimmer will he give back your money?

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But will that not produce way to much heat??

I plan on placing a few fans in the canapy to release heat, but i don't think it would release enough heat if the lights were that close to the water.

The last thing i need is another expense oh a chiller, lol!!

Well, i was working out some lighting costs last night, and realized i can get two 250 MH pendants, that run on icecap ballast, and 14000K HQI bulbs for about the same price as the coralife pro light. With 250 MH i should easily be able to penetrate deep into a 24 inch deep tank, and easily allow me to do SPS. One question though, may supplement MH's with acnic lighting in the form of VHO or PC, but with a 14000K bulb, that would not be the case right??

Id imagine the 14000K is in between the 10000K white and 20000K blue giving the same look as 10000K + Acnic?? Am i correct??

kcooley said:

if it comes with the plants and fish, what are you going to do with them?

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What comes with plants and fish??

sorry i don't get what your saying??

Edit: I think i get what your saying. That is not the tank im getting, it's the tank i have for sale. Ive had that tank for about a year, but am selling that to get money for a 90 gallon mirracle solidwood mahogany tank, drilled, sump, etc.