We are going shopping to possibly purchase our next aquarium. We are looking at 75-100 gallons which will slowly become a fish, LR, and "easy" soft corals set-up.We have planned to upgrade our light system to a four bulb PC from "hello-lights.com. It contains 4 65 watt bulbs, 2x actinic and 2x 10,000K. Will this be okay for the low to medium light requiring corals? We plan on using 2 powerheads. Suggestions for size? We also plan on 2 heaters. Again suggestions for wattage? We also plan on adding 40 lbs of pond cured live rock from "reeftopia.com" The price is half that of our LFS. In our current 46 gallon set-up we also run a Fluval 304 filter. Although I know most find this unnecessary, we feel that it gives us a "little leeway" in error. Since we are new to the hobby and trying very hard to "do it right", might a filter help us out here? We will also add a skimmer to the new set-up, but I understand that this can be done at a later time. We will add additional live rock as the tank cycles. On our 46 gallon the cycling only took three weeks, and our ammonia and nitrite levels never really soared. We use a 2-1 ratio of regular sand to live sand, which we will also do in the new set-up. Any other suggestions will be appreciated.Thanks--Grace
ready to start new 75 gallon-suggestions
- Thread starter g. mcclean
- Start date
IMHO I would make a couple of suggestions to "do it right". I would go with a reef ready (drilled with overflows) tank and a sump. This would give you a few benefits like extra water volume, a place for equipment (heaters, skimmer and no or less powerheads in tank). You could also include a refugium with a DSB and macro algae for nutrient export.
I would also suggest metal halide lighting. I currently run 4 x 96 pc's on a 50 gallon which is a 18" tall tank. While Ilike my set up, sometimes I wish I would have gone with MH. I'm even still contemplating converting at some point. I think the 75 gal tank may be a little too big for the "medium light corals" with the 4 x 65 watt retro kit. If you want to go with the pc's I would suggest 8 x 65. This would at least get you to the point of medium lighting. I know it sounds like a lot of watts but remember that this is PC lighting which loses it's intensity pretty quickly when penetrating water.
Why don't you purchase most of your LR online from the beginning? This way you don't have to worry about mini cycles in the future. I bought my LR from Gulf-View . I would suggest them to anyone looking for florida aquacultured live rock. Dale, the owner, is a good guy who will work with you over the phone to try and satisfy your needs(rock size/shape etc.) Your order will come to your house shipped next day air. I think he is currently charging about $133.00 for 30lbs including the next day shippingto your door. You can also order your live sand there. He scoops it up from the ocean floor about 10 miles off the gulf coast.
Since you live in NJ, you can use mostly southdown sand for your DSB. Just check the outdoor sections at your local HD stores. I would use mostly southdown with 10 - 20 lbs. of live sand from gulf-view.
Lastly I'm sure you have heard it before, but if you use 75 to 125 lbs of live rock and a DSB there is no need for any mechanical filtration other than a skimmer. Especially if you add a refugium. I would also suggest getting a decent skimmer (Euroreef, Aqua C, ETSS,etc.) IMHO trying to save money on a cheap skimmer costs you more in the long run when you have to upgrade. Here I'm speaking from experience.
These are just my thoughts on how I would set up my "dream reef"
Good luck & happy reefing
Brian
I would also suggest metal halide lighting. I currently run 4 x 96 pc's on a 50 gallon which is a 18" tall tank. While Ilike my set up, sometimes I wish I would have gone with MH. I'm even still contemplating converting at some point. I think the 75 gal tank may be a little too big for the "medium light corals" with the 4 x 65 watt retro kit. If you want to go with the pc's I would suggest 8 x 65. This would at least get you to the point of medium lighting. I know it sounds like a lot of watts but remember that this is PC lighting which loses it's intensity pretty quickly when penetrating water.
Why don't you purchase most of your LR online from the beginning? This way you don't have to worry about mini cycles in the future. I bought my LR from Gulf-View . I would suggest them to anyone looking for florida aquacultured live rock. Dale, the owner, is a good guy who will work with you over the phone to try and satisfy your needs(rock size/shape etc.) Your order will come to your house shipped next day air. I think he is currently charging about $133.00 for 30lbs including the next day shippingto your door. You can also order your live sand there. He scoops it up from the ocean floor about 10 miles off the gulf coast.
Since you live in NJ, you can use mostly southdown sand for your DSB. Just check the outdoor sections at your local HD stores. I would use mostly southdown with 10 - 20 lbs. of live sand from gulf-view.
Lastly I'm sure you have heard it before, but if you use 75 to 125 lbs of live rock and a DSB there is no need for any mechanical filtration other than a skimmer. Especially if you add a refugium. I would also suggest getting a decent skimmer (Euroreef, Aqua C, ETSS,etc.) IMHO trying to save money on a cheap skimmer costs you more in the long run when you have to upgrade. Here I'm speaking from experience.
These are just my thoughts on how I would set up my "dream reef"
Good luck & happy reefing
Brian
Last edited:
g. mcclean,
You will find there are many ways to do tanks. I do mine different than Brian.
I do not use overflows or sumps. I use when I can emperor 400 filters (HOB TYPE). I am not a fan of canister filters but they will work.
On lighting: For what you want fish and easy corals the lights you mentioned will work fine over a standard 75. Should work over a 100 also. However if down the road you want more types of corals or clams; you will probably have to upgrade to more light intensity.
On LR there are many ways to go. Aquaculture from WWW.tampabaysaltwater.com or Gulf-view is good live rock. Both are good to deal with. I use Tampa Bay Saltwater. You can also use some base rock fromwww.hirock.com and top it with LR from any of the souces above or the one you mentioned.
If you use the sand and LR from the other tank ( or part of it if you are keeping it) it will help with the cycle. After the cycle seed with Detrivore kits and live sand activators from places like www.ipsf.com inland aquatics and garff. I usually get some from 2 or all three of them. Also if you get aquacultured LR from either place mentioned above get some live sand from them also ( 2-3 pounds is enough.
Do not add ANY FISH until 3 weeks after you put in the live sand, detrivores, and clean up crews.
Best wishes,
Ray
You will find there are many ways to do tanks. I do mine different than Brian.
I do not use overflows or sumps. I use when I can emperor 400 filters (HOB TYPE). I am not a fan of canister filters but they will work.
On lighting: For what you want fish and easy corals the lights you mentioned will work fine over a standard 75. Should work over a 100 also. However if down the road you want more types of corals or clams; you will probably have to upgrade to more light intensity.
On LR there are many ways to go. Aquaculture from WWW.tampabaysaltwater.com or Gulf-view is good live rock. Both are good to deal with. I use Tampa Bay Saltwater. You can also use some base rock fromwww.hirock.com and top it with LR from any of the souces above or the one you mentioned.
If you use the sand and LR from the other tank ( or part of it if you are keeping it) it will help with the cycle. After the cycle seed with Detrivore kits and live sand activators from places like www.ipsf.com inland aquatics and garff. I usually get some from 2 or all three of them. Also if you get aquacultured LR from either place mentioned above get some live sand from them also ( 2-3 pounds is enough.
Do not add ANY FISH until 3 weeks after you put in the live sand, detrivores, and clean up crews.
Best wishes,
Ray
Grace,
forgot to mention skimmers. A skimmer is not essential to a healthy reef IMO. Many people have healthy reefs without a skimmer. If you do go with one I reccomend a Remora-C pro for HOB. I have good reefs with and without a skimmer.
Ray
forgot to mention skimmers. A skimmer is not essential to a healthy reef IMO. Many people have healthy reefs without a skimmer. If you do go with one I reccomend a Remora-C pro for HOB. I have good reefs with and without a skimmer.
Ray