Would like some input on a soon to be new setup

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got_nailed

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I want to change over one of my 300 gallon tanks to SW. The main 2 things I’m looking at spending about $3,500 and being able to have some kind of life in the tank with in 2 months of starting the change over. I will have about $1,000 for live stock starting out.

This will be my first salt water tank and I want it to start off easy and be able to move in to the softer corals with in a year or so.


As the tank sits right now;
Acrylic 30x 96x 30
Sump #1 130 gallon box 72x24x24
Gravity fed bag filter 1 micron
..1,500 watt heater
..1 50 GPM at 12 foot head pump
..120 watt UV sterilizer (3 40 watt bulbs in series)
Sump #2 130 gallon box 72x24x24
..Gravity fed bag filter 1 micron
..1,500 watt heater
..1 50 GPM at 12 foot head pump
Lighting
..6 48” 110w VHO
..6 48” 96w PC (ah supply) 7500 K

I know I will need a good skimmer, don’t know what brand to get.
I was thinking about using sundown sand, about 250lbs. Should give me about 1 inch layer.
About 200lbs of live rock. Don’t know what kind.
About 150lbs of base rock.
I don’t know if I should go with Kent or Instant Ocean salt. I was planning on using mostly Kent additives.
What brand test kit should I get?
I do have a RODI that puts out about 20 gallons a day and can get a RO unit of a friend that outs out about 20 gallons a day for a week or so.
I have a 1 inch peace of acrylic in the inside bottom on the tank to help spread the weight load.


I would like some input and thoughts on setting this up right form the start.
 
Wow doing good so far, all the advice I can give you is stick to a plan and research both livestock and equipment.

Buying equipment that isn't quite right means you will probably replace! and buying livestock thats not quite right/hardy enough/compatible will probably mean death ! and more expense

You have made a good start though you have a $ budget and a plan. I only have a 40G but i have spent many $$$$ on stuff i dont need or use

Good luck and Enjoy SW
 
You might find this site beneficial, same size tanks, link below.
NOTE: I am referring you to Wayne's FISH system, a giant reef tank would be way too much for a SW novice. You'll find the fish system on the left link column, along with a diagram and the length of time he has had the specimens. You might look into EuroReef skimmers.
http://www.underseadiscovery.net/home.htm
 
I agree, you've done some great homework. Lots of circulation, lots of live rock.

I have been very happy with my Euro-Reef skimmer. Pricey, but consistently skims a lot of dark sludge. Has a good rep on the boards. There's a knock-off that costs quite a bit less but is also rated well, and I'll try to remember the name.

For salt mix, I use Instant Ocean. It has been good to me for years. For additives, you may need to supplement Ca and alkalinity, but water changes and food should cover the rest.

It's hard to beat Salifert test kits. Accurate, easy to use.
 
I was looking at Wayne’s setup and saw he was using a chiller. He must be dealing with the heat off his light set up. My tank sits in a large closet with the front of the tank pitcher framed in to my office. I have not had any problems with heat off my current setup. Do you think I will need a chiller?

It looks like he is running 2 smaller skimmers and one large one. I thought using more than one skimmer would make the smaller one not work.
 
If you aren't using intense light, you can probably get by without a chiller. I use metal halides, and fans have been fine for me. Even during DC summers.

Not sure about using multiple skimmers.
 
I was thinking that the tank I was going to change over was a 300 gallon but it’s a bit bigger, I think it’s about 360 gallons. I have had the tank running for 3 years with fresh water with my lights and not had a heat problem yet so I hope I will not have one now.


For the Ca I’m thinking would be looking into Jetstream 1 about $478.

I have not found any EuroReef skimmers that are rated over 250 gallons. Has any one ever used a Berlin Skimmer? I have heard a lot of good stuff about them. I was thinking about a Berlin Turbo XL rated for 500 gallons $288.

I was looking at some more stuff and found where it was suggested to use a Nitrafilter. What do you’ll think?

How thick of a sand bed should I have?
 
Oops, I guess I hadn't looked beyond 200 gallons on the skimmer. Some day.....

No idea about the reactor. I finally just built my own, partly because I couldn't figure out which was the better commercial unit. The Jetstream looks nice, though. It's definitely worth the added cost of having a pH controller as well. Gives a safety factor, and makes tuning the CO2 input a lot easier.

For a DSB, the minimum is supposedly 3", 4" or deeper is even better. With live rock and a DSB, you may not need the denitrator (I am assuming that's what a Nitrafilter is, I keep getting German descriptions in google). Seems like you can always add it later.

Too bad you're so far south. We've got a club meeting up here at the end of April, and there are several guys with setups on the scale you're looking at.
 
Yes with the lighting it is a lot of heat but it’s been running for 3 years with FW and have not had any heat problems.
I know one day I will need more powerful lighting on the tank but it’s what’s on my current setup and it will get me going for a few months.

I’m thinking on going with the Jetstream and I do have a PH controller on the tank already and it will work with saltwater.

I do not want to go over 3 inches of sand in the front of my tank. But I still think I will go with a Nitrafilter form the start. I have read that if you use a deep sand bed you should change out the sand ever few years. If this is true this would not be fun in a tank this size…
 
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