travisc's ultimate new-to-the-hobby newbie build. Dig it!

[gregzz4]

Nice new thread title Keener !!

Lovin' your build size Travis
I see you're already taking all the advice in stride. This is a great attitude to adopt not only for forum advice but on-line stuff too. Good on ya.
Not much in this hobby is cast in concrete.
With that said ...

I like the idea of you adding a second skimmer once you start adding fish/things that produce waste.
As was stated, it will be much easier to sell 2 smaller skimmers down the road over 1 monster 1 that will target a very small market. Plus the cost of 2 big ones is SOOO much less than 1 monster.
And you'll have a nicer time servicing 2 units with an alternating schedule. Fully cleaning a skimmer's neck and cup retards it's ability for up to a few days, so having a pair would be awesome.

I also agree with you not using the canisters. They are pretty costly for what you will use them for - media reactors - and canisters can quickly become nitrate factories.
Regardless of how you re-purpose/sell them, I'll suggest you keep them out of this build.
Find some appropriate reactor units for things such as GFO/BioPellets and Carbon, and with a tank your size I HIGHLY recommend a Calcium reactor.
You really don't want to be messing with dosing Alk and Ca with that volume.
Small tanks like my 100g system are cheap and easy enough to monitor, but if I was to run a system as big as yours I'd go broke dosing, even with bulk 2-part
It costs me upwards of $50/yr for bulk chems. Multiply that by 7 or 8 .....
Calcium reactor media and CO2 is a far cry cheaper and much easier to maintain.

And socks ...
I currently use 3 x 4" felt socks (14" tall). They will plug up after 8-9 days and are swapped out weekly.
The equivalent to my 3 pack is 1 x 7" sock. (math)
I don't currently know my GPH flow through my sump, but math is telling me it's between 665 and "X" GPH.
In my case I've found the sweet spot for my skimmer's flow-through rate with the number being suggested @ 6.1 X total system volume (suggested for skimmer efficiency).

So, with me needing approximately 610ish gallons per hour flow through my sump (100g system x 6.1), 1 x 7" sock can handle it just fine. But it needs a weekly change.
In your case, math tells me you'll need a flow rate of;
650 gallon system just shy of 4,000 GPH
800 gallon system just shy of 4,900 GPH
And this will apply to your return pump selection, plus plumbing sizes.

So if you compare my system to say, your 650 TOTAL gallon system with a suggested proper flow rate of 6.1 times 650, you're looking at just shy of 4,000 GPH.

Your 4,000 GPH divided by my 610 GPH (for 1 sock) could potentially mean you need up to 6-1/2 or even 7 x 7" filter socks to handle the flow recommended for your skimmer(s) to handle your system .......

Once your system is populated, there's a math-based potential suggesting you will need to change your 2 x 7" filter socks every couple of days, so be prepared for it. Spare socks are part of my arsenal.

Keep the pics coming dude, we all thrive on them

[travisc]

Opinions??
[IMG][/IMG]

[gregzz4]

I won't comment on your rock layout because I love lots of open spaces and open sandbed areas.
Rock bommies and such ...

OK, I'll put some input in ...
Now that I've had my tank running for 3 years, I've found that I regret many of my LR position choices.
If I could re-do my stuff, I'd have lots of low rock -midtank- for SPS growth and keep the rock to a minimum as to not affect/restrict flow from returns/powerheads.

My ideal tank/reset my tank will have rock no higher than 1/3rd the height of my tank, and probably not nearly as much poundage as what's recommended as far as pounds/gallon goes.

You have so much room in your tank, but so many flow issues to think about ....

[travisc]

I want to be able to see the fish swim around. I think I have lots of paths for the but also in the left corner some caves for them to hide. Some shelfs for coral. I don't know if I'm completely happy with it. But after 6 hours of climbing in an out of the tank carrying Crunk of live rock each weighing 60 pounds my back says it's good for now lol

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by travisc

I want to be able to see the fish swim around. I think I have lots of paths for the but also in the left corner some caves for them to hide. Some shelfs for coral. I don't know if I'm completely happy with it. But after 6 hours of climbing in an out of the tank carrying Crunk of live rock each weighing 60 pounds my back says it's good for now lol

I hear ya. I pack steel around and know it adds up.
100bs here, 75bs there, it adds up to a sore neck and a bad sleep.

Like I said, keep the swimming areas open for the BIG fish you will eventually buy and all will be good.
I like rock bommies as they encourage grouping/foraging, plus they are good for sandbed spacing. A bommie is a tower and leaves lots of room for a sandbed.

[gregzz4]

I'm all for lots of sandbed, so the less LR the better.
And a natural 'this here and that there' look.

Nothing in a Reef Tank looks worse than a 'fruitstand' layout, with it sloped from the back to the front.

[travisc]

I agree. I do not care for that look as well. But I quest everyone has their own ideas and preferences for aquascaping

[Myka]

Originally Posted by travisc

Opinions??

I think the rock is decent - I like the shelf pieces. I don't like that piece that's at the front near the right side that's sitting all by itself - I'd just remove it and have some nice open sand area. I might even remove the single one behind it too.

[travisc]

I agree. Jim and I moved that piece and a few others around on the right side today. Getting some figi crete off Eli tomorrow and I'll take a photo of the final design incase things get shifted again