Dream 26 Bow setup

[aaron]

I am thinking of upgrading my 15 Gal Nano to a 26Gal Bowfront.
Does anyone on the forum have a 26 that they are really happy with? If so what is your setup? and what are you keeping?
I am trying to work out what I should do ahead of time instead of the usual trial and error way which always ends up costing a lot more and fills your basement up with useless equipment.
I dont want to have any limitations on what i can and cant keep so lighting suggestions would be good as well as flow etc.
One other thing is that i want this tank to run as quietly as i can get it, as it is in the living room and with my current setup its hard to hear the TV sometimes.
All advise would be welcome
Aaron

 

[Crakeur lost his password]

I have the 26.

get yourself the lifegard plumbing kit (not sure exactly what they call it) and a scwd and set up a nice closed loop system. I can never remember which pump is running the damned thing. I'll try and remember to look. I added a prizm pro deluxe, which I am mostly happy with.

lighting was a twin 150 watt de mh/55 watt actinic power compact hood but only one of the halides works (connection issues) so I either swap cables or leave one side darker (don't swap the cables anymore - lazy)

once my work hell ends I will most likely ditch the lights and get a new set to hang over the tank. most likely go with a single 175 and a pair of powercompacts.

In the tank:
acros, montis, xenia weed, gsp weed, ricordia, anthelia, tons of different zoos, one blue dot squammy, one purple crocea and one black and white maxima.

other critters: various snails. one large sea hare (getting a second), might be some hermits left.
fish:
pair percs
pair pajama cards
black sailfin blenny
until recently one yellow clown goby

adding more livestock in the near future as well.

 

[fishywoo]

Aaron I have been using the GARF bulletproof reef method www.garf.org. This is a very simple system the only noise making devices I have are a skimmer and three power heads. Quite as a churchmouse) I have been using the Garf method for over two years and have never had any problems.

 

[fishywoo]

Aaron I have been using the GARF bulletproof reef method www.garf.org. This is a very simple system the only noise making devices I have are a skimmer and three power heads. Quite as a churchmouse) I have been using the Garf method for over two years and have never had any problems.

 

[aaron]

So Crakeur, how many holes did you drill in the tank and where are they located? Do you have a sump? I am thinking of adding a 10Gal AGA sump so i can put as much equipment out of the main tank as possible.
Does the closed loop mean you have sufficient flow without any extra powerheads?
A

 

[Crakeur lost his password]

no sump, no holes. closed loop.

One pump (forgot to find out which one) sucks water in from two spots in the tank and it pumps it back up thru the scwd and out through a spray bar and a second outflow. I have very little dead spot issues. I opted out of the sump to minimize flood risk. I went with the skimmer and gave my aquafuge away. The one downside to the way I set it up is that there is little room for hang on items. I needed the skimmer so that got the space. The prizm pro deluxe has room for chem bags so I can toss something in when needed.

I learned to stop dosing all the chems but I do toss sea lab blocks in and from time to time add some kalk to the top off (haven't done it in a while but should start up again).

Rarely feed the tank anything other than flake. once a week, the night before cleaning I might throw some cyclop and some liquid foods into the tank but only a drop.

coral growth has been good. Clam growth is insane. Fortunately, the decrease in kalk additions has slowed them down as well.

 

[aaron]

Fishywoo, If you are using the GARF bulletproof reef, have you tried making your own live rock too?
I made some pretty nice pieces last weekend that are currently curing in a garbage can full of brine for the next six weeks. It was actually surprisingly easy.
What lights do you have over the tank?

 

[aaron]

I spent the last week while this site was down scouring reef central for tank ideas and i have come up with this:
26G Bow with internal overflow to 10G sump, return through 3/4" DIY seaswirl. I also plan on having a closed loop to another seaswirl. For lighting i am currently deciding between two fixtures. The new Coralife 150W Aqualight with the clamp mount: http://www.hellolights.com/aqadhatamo.html
Or this 150W MH + actinics: http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=12
The second one is from a bit of a dodgy supplier but you cant beat the price. (has anyone bought this fixture?)
Any comments on this setup? anything that I have overlooked? I want this to be right from the start.
cheers, Aaron