Upgrading to 200gal. tank-need suggestions

[KanUCme]

my suggestion... sell it and buy beer.
Not really, just coinsider the placement and make sure it's level before you fill it and the floor isn't going to settle too much. Mine is a little off of level but is acrylic so it is a little more forgiving. I believe that the glass tanks if not level will crack the bottom pane and leak all over. Never had a tank that large but I know that I learned a lot from my 125... good luck, post some pics later if you can. Is it going to be an in the wall, room divider, or freestanding?

 

[KanUCme]

Oh, and don't forget to buy a big enough pump for the tank so you have enough current at the other end or the tank... found that one out. Have one half near the return happy and moving, the other algae jungle. I am adding a barbed T fitting next water change so I can split the return.

 

[Reefgal]

The tank will be freestanding, I'm working on coming up with a design for the stand now. This is going to be a HUGE piece of furniture in my living room so it has to look good..

On the return pump I was actually thinking about having two return pumps, one for each side of the tank. I figure I'm going to have to have two overflows since the tank is so darn long. Is is better to have two pumps returning the water, or one large pump split two ways returning the water on each side of the tank?

 

[Reefgal]

I just bought a new (actually its used, but its new to me!) 200 gallon glass tank tonight!

I currently have a 100 gal. reef tank thats been up and running almost 3 years now, and I'm really looking forward to getting the new tank setup.

The tank's dimensions are 7.5' long x 18" wide by 32" high. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions or pictures of their lighting layout with a tank this long?

I currently have 2 - 250w MH along with 4-110w VHO's on my 100gal. Was thinking I should add a 3rd MH to the new 200gal tank, but wasn't sure if it was ok to mount one over the glass center brace?

Also, whats the best way to arrange the VHO's? I'd rather stay with my current 48" bulbs; do I just stagger them to cover the entire tank length?

Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[KanUCme]

I honestly don't know what is better I was using a big pump at one end and trying to make it flow the whole distance... good idea, bad idea, there wasn't enough circulation at the end of the tank so the algae began to grow. I just recently (today during a water change) split the return into two, one at each end. This seems to work best for me. I guess you could go with two, what kind of water holding device are you using for a sump. The overflows, are the build in? bulkheads, standpipe, or slits? or are you using HOT overflow boxes?

 

[esmithiii]

OK, first with a tank that deep, your 250W will not be enough for SPS or clams (IMO) unless they are placed high in the tank, especially since the tank is 7.5' long. MH lamps should be placed every 2'. You will have a heat issue with the center brace if the lamp is directly over it.

E

 

[M.E.Milz]

I use 3x 250watt 6500k MH's and 2x 6' VHO actinics on my 200g tank (7'x2'x2'). I have had no problem keeping sps corals with this lighting set-up. Of course, and as suggested, I keep the sps corals generally in the top half of the tank. I also have a 5" DSB, so the effective depth of the tank is less than 20".