New Tank - Critique Please

TheReefGeek · #1 02-16-2006, 09:51 PM

Setting up a 20g bowfront, dimensions 24"x12"x18"

Lighting: 2x75w VHO, 1 10K, 1 actinic
DIY hood - no reflector, just URI internal bulb reflectors + white canopy and a 3" fan and vent hole.
DIY overflow - Corner overflow with Durso standpipe to cut down noise.
Sump: 10g or 20g tank with 3 baffles to fight microbubbles
CPR bakpakII skimmer off 10g sump
DIY auto top off from 5g reservoir
Fuge: Aquaclear 500 off 10g sump if I can find one used
Water flow: Eheim 1250 return pump + small quiet one pump behind rockwork
30lbs live sand for DSB
30bls live rock

Intended inhabitants:
Unknown, depends on what 2x75w VHO can handle in a small tank like this.

Willow · #2 02-17-2006, 01:59 AM

sounds ghetto

TheReefGeek · #3 02-17-2006, 02:23 AM

How so?

It is a 20g tank with a sump, fuge, auto top off, good skimmer......

Anything more constructive for comments?

Willow · #4 02-17-2006, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

How so?

It is a 20g tank with a sump, fuge, auto top off, good skimmer......

Anything more constructive for comments?

ok, how about bailing on vho and getting a small 70 watt hqi mini pendant with a 14k bulb, you wont even need a canopy then. forget about a bakpack and go with an asm mini g, arent you a retailer for asm? for the return try a squd and use hydor rotators on each return and you wont need a powerhead. build your sump larger and make a compartment in it for a fuge, and huck the ac 500 out, you dont need it, it's just more junk hanging off your tank. also bowfronts are a waste of space for reefs, you have a lot less room on the ends to place your coral and rocks and a fat section in the middle that is hard to aquascape. other than that everything else sounds good.

Delphinus · #5 02-17-2006, 02:47 AM

The only thing I can think of, I was running 2x75W actinics over my 20g (as well as a 150W DE 20k), and .. well, they're not really that bright even at VHO levels. They were just my dusk/dawn effect and the halide was the main daylight. I'd probably consider going 2x10000K if it was just the VHO's, or at least 50/50's maybe.

It might make a pretty sweet softies setup though..

Well anyhow the rest sounds like a decent setup.

TheReefGeek · #6 02-17-2006, 03:49 AM

Good info, thanks guys.

I am trying to set this up cheap too, use up some spare equipment and bring a bit of the hobby to work with me.

The 70w mini pendant sounds cool though, any links for me? Would I be able to keep SPS if I went 4x85w VHO, 3x10K 1xactinic?

The squid is a good idea, I usually dont like them because of their limited flow capabilities, but for this small tank might be good. Where can I find the squid and hydor rotators for decent prices? I have only read about hydor rotators, I forgot about them, would be great to test them out and not use a powerhead!

I wish the sump could be bigger, I am limited in my space though. No room for a seperate fuge either, but I can hang the bakpak & Aquaclear 500 off the 10g sump.

And my wife would kill me if I bought a new skimmer when I have one that is just a year old that would work. Being a retailer just means they are a bit cheaper, but especially for the mini-g I pay almost retail, almost no margin in that one. I was really happy with the bakpak on my 50g.