A 20g my 180th tank, lets hope it makes it past the 5 month mark

[nanoreefer22]

As you all know, well most of you guys I just cant seem to make up my damn mind and well I know I said it wouldn't come for a while but yea I'm seriously considering restarting this time with something smaller, but hopefully more well thought out(Geeze-a-loo that was a long sentence). At this point my stands being occupied by stereo speakers and other misc. household items that were moved to bring in my christmas tree. So here is my sad attempt to get feedback before I even buy or do anything.

I'm thinking of doing a 29g with an external overflow(DRZL styled), with a foam background. For a sump I'm going to use a 20g High and make it into a refugium, cause I'm seriously thinking of going to no skimmer route if I can get enough macro growing. Knowing myself I'll probably end up with a skimmer, so we'll have to see how that goes.

I'm definately throwing at least 20lbs of sand into this tank. I want to have one side of the tank a lot more open, which is probably going to be hard because the tank is so small. I was thinking of making a pillar for one side of the tank like Eugene was doing at the Prattreef tank move/build. And with the other side of the tank I would figure it out then, probably using a 1/2inch PVC base to make it a little more open.

For flow probably just 2 seio 1100's in opposing corners or 2 820's plus a light return. Shouldn't be too much cause I know I'm going to some how end up in the SPS game, but that would mean going with a skimmer or would it?

As for lighting its either going to be a single 175watt MH, dual 150 DE MH's, or 4 bulb 24inch tek light. The 150's would probably cost the most to maintain, the 175 would probably be fine over 30inches cause I wouldnt mind slightly duller corners. Plus the tank isn't that deep.

As for a return pump probably going to go with a mag 5 or something similar to it in that GPH range. Drain is going to be a mere 1 inch and the return will be over the top to allow me to move it if I ever want to. Return is going to be 3/4inch.

For live rock not sure what I'm going to go with yet, probably about 30lbs of what ever looks nice.

Damn that wasn't easy on the fingers, but any advice, changes, or anything of that sort to better the plans, PLEASE post it.

-krisEN(Praying he stays before Manhattanreef member hunt him down and shoot him)

PS. Tank's probably not going to be up until the end of January, it's going to be a slow build since I seem to enjoy building the tank much more than maintaining it. :lol_large

 

[fritz]

I would do a 40 breeder if I were you.
Or a 65 maybe.

 

[spykes]

listen kris do it right as what all the reefers should say. Start with something medium like a 65 gallon with a good sump.

 

[nanoreefer22]

listen kris do it right as what all the reefers should say. Start with something medium like a 65 gallon with a good sump.

I would love to, but I know I'm gonna just being digging myself into a hole if I start that big. All the extra costs that come along with it are gonna kill me and if I want to do it right, I'll do it right with a smaller tank. Extra salt, light, water, filtration, flow, sand, rock, it all adds up really fast and thats exactly what I'm trying to avoid by going smaller.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

go for it kris make us proud and stay longer then 5 months this time.... :biggrin: u got my support anything you need jus give me a hollaaaaaa...

 

[prattreef]

Kris,
I think you are thinking this through correctly. Given recent history, you need to go back to the most fundamental questions that beginners need to ask themselves ( I'm not implying you are a beginner).
1) what do you want to accomplish?
2) how much $$$ can you realistically commit?
3) How much time can you dedicate?

Given that you are experienced, you should be able to answer these questions with a reasonable degree of accuracy and these answers should guide the system design etc.

If you do go with the 29g. 1 175W. MH should be fine, I'd suggest the PAR beast Iwasaki 15K lamp. You can go skimmerless if you want to, but you'll need to stay on top of your water changes, have good surface agitation, and run carbon aggressively.

As always, I'll help you out anyway I can, but it doesn't mean I'm not going to slap you upside the head next time I see you

Randy

 

[noodleman]

get a tank already kris!!! and stop changing you mind!!! :smash:

 

[nanoreefer22]

Kris,
I think you are thinking this through correctly. Given recent history, you need to go back to the most fundamental questions that beginners need to ask themselves ( I'm not implying you are a beginner).
1) what do you want to accomplish?
2) how much $$$ can you realistically commit?
3) How much time can you dedicate?

Given that you are experienced, you should be able to answer these questions with a reasonable degree of accuracy and these answers should guide the system design etc.

If you do go with the 29g. 1 175W. MH should be fine, I'd suggest the PAR beast Iwasaki 15K lamp. You can go skimmerless if you want to, but you'll need to stay on top of your water changes, have good surface agitation, and run carbon aggressively.

As always, I'll help you out anyway I can, but it doesn't mean I'm not going to slap you upside the head next time I see you

Randy

Randy,

You do owe me a slap upside the head next time you see me :lol2:. I know you're there for me as is the entire board of friends .

I was actually looking into the 15k Iwasaki and I like what I've read thus far. A skimmer would make the operation a lot easier, but a large fuge and water changes might not be so bad.

To answer your questions, I want to have an SPS dominated tank, mainly milleporas and Montipora caps. I believe as it goes for the first month I can devote $30 a week and after that I can devote $15-$20 a week, most weeks. I can dedicate at least 20minutes each day, seeing as I'm going to have 5 days off again next semester.

If my budget permits I'm going to go with a skimmer, just for the ease of mind that the water will be that much cleaner and carbon won't be as necessary.

-Kris

 

[Dace]

dude it took u forever to write that stuff, as i wanted to be the first one to post on your thread :biggrin: you little white t shirt Biaach... anyway you know you can count on me with any help you need. Just lets last a little longer this time you 5 month brother. but then again, it's better then being a two minute brother. lol
Good luck with your new setup.

 

[fritz]

How about a 40 breeder as your main tank and a 65 as your sump fuge? Section off a small piece for your return pump and leave the rest for rocks fuge. I've been wanting to do a setup like that for awhile, I call it "cheating".

I wanted to do a small display with a HUGE fuge. It seems like an easy and cheap to maintain rig. You should have tons of food swimming around and the cheato should help as well. Definately run serious carbon.

 

[SlamaJama]

Kris,
I think you are thinking this through correctly. Given recent history, you need to go back to the most fundamental questions that beginners need to ask themselves ( I'm not implying you are a beginner).
1) what do you want to accomplish?
2) how much $$$ can you realistically commit?
3) How much time can you dedicate?

Given that you are experienced, you should be able to answer these questions with a reasonable degree of accuracy and these answers should guide the system design etc.

If you do go with the 29g. 1 175W. MH should be fine, I'd suggest the PAR beast Iwasaki 15K lamp. You can go skimmerless if you want to, but you'll need to stay on top of your water changes, have good surface agitation, and run carbon aggressively.

As always, I'll help you out anyway I can, but it doesn't mean I'm not going to slap you upside the head next time I see you

Randy

DOOD, finish school, go out, date (girls, thr the ones with all the sweet bumps on them). u still get to hang with us and get all the drama on RG, why the f$ck do u need a tank for?!? Dont listen to these putzs on tank size and "doing it rite" crap, live and be happy w/o a tank for a time....geezz 18 times....hello, red flag here!

 

[NYreefNoob]

new tank

i have a 29g high that i like and i looked at the big picture, even though id love a 65 or bigger, but i only look to invest x amount. and it's alot easier to fill a 29 than a 65 or bigger. might be a little more work on a 29g than other's but i am happy. i have a few pic's of mine. it's only 2 months old and i am slowly filling it with polyps mushrooms and a few other things

 

[Deanos]

DOOD, finish school, go out, date (girls, thr the ones with all the sweet bumps on them). u still get to hang with us and get all the drama on RG, why the f$ck do u need a tank for?!? Dont listen to these putzs on tank size and "doing it rite" crap, live and be happy w/o a tank for a time....geezz 18 times....hello, red flag here!

:iamwithst

 

[fritz]

Yeah if I could go back to being 18, a reef tank would be the LAST thing on my mind. If I were you I would focus on contracting as many STDs as possible in as funky a way as possible. I mean the kind of stuff you can tell your grandkids, like "oooh man this one time I was with this asian chick, a puerto rican and two midgets. We were all covered in oil and.............."

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Fred penicillin isn't the cure all anymore :lol2:

 

[SlamaJama]

:iamwithst

huh?

 

[DevIouS]

Another Krisen tank thread?



:tired::sigh:

 

[jhale]

DOOD, finish school, go out, date (girls, thr the ones with all the sweet bumps on them). u still get to hang with us and get all the drama on RG, why the f$ck do u need a tank for?!? Dont listen to these putzs on tank size and "doing it rite" crap, live and be happy w/o a tank for a time....geezz 18 times....hello, red flag here!

I'll second that.

here is the next tank you should design :bagfish:

but serious, if your going to set up a tank, make it as idiot proof as possible.
forget the SPS, keep stuff that won't mind if you miss a water change here or there. I'd do tons of zoo's, ric's and acan's. throw some wrasses in and call it a day. :scratch:

 

[nanoreefer22]

I'm still in the thinking stages, haven't made any purchases yet and if I do go through with this first purchase is going to be sometime next month. So I've got some time to think. Errr i'll see...

 

[Deanos]

huh?

It means I agree with you