theoretical 150 gal build

[AquaMan91]

hey guys this summer im going to do a 150 gal build and i just want any advice and if anyone could give me some diagrams to start with. any help would be welcome thanks

[crvz]

What dimension is the 150 you're considering (there's a couple common sizes), and what do you hope to keep in the tank?

[AquaMan91]

well i want the smallest poss size they got, i am planning on placing a clam in the tank, an anemone, zoos,shrooms, LPS and SPS corals, a tang, i got two clowns, and maybe an eel if possible. i am goin all out on this tank. i want the best skimmer, sump, im doin metal halides. any advice would just be the best.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by AquaMan91

well i want the smallest poss size they got, i am planning on placing a clam in the tank, an anemone, zoos,shrooms, LPS and SPS corals, a tang, i got two clowns, and maybe an eel if possible. i am goin all out on this tank. i want the best skimmer, sump, im doin metal halides. any advice would just be the best.

Smallest size? Are you referring to footprint? You can get a 4' 150 Gallon tank but before you decide you want one, I would suggest you find someone with a 90/120 or a 4' 150 and try to reach the bottom of the tank. The tank is 30" tall and its a major pain trying to reach the bottom. The 90/120'es are 24" tall and at 6' tall I have problems trying to reach the very bottom of the tank.

Before you go any further, you need to decide what size tank you are getting as far as dimensions are concerned. Whether its going to be a 4/5/6 foot tank. The physical size of the tank will tell you what you can/can't fit in the stand. Theres a lot more room under a 6' 150G than there is a 4' 150G and that will also help decide what size sump tank to get to go under it.

[AquaMan91]

well my teacher has a 150 gal tank in his room and i can reach the bottom(i help him wit his corals) and im building the tank stand so spacial issues are not a problem for me. as for the sump im going to do a 20 gal. is that sufficent? im going to place a heater and protein skimmer in it. the overflow box is going to have one or two red mangroves in it for added filtration. i will draw some diagrams and try to put them up. i just need to know something, in all of the big tanks i have seen a big black column thats in the center. what is that!! if yall dont know wat im talkin bout ill see if i can get a pic of it. i migt do a closed loop system for the plumbing. im gonna draw some diagrams okay. also i have an 8 gal biocube and i might turn that into a mini refugium or an additional tank for my sump.

also for metal halides do they sell hoods that can hold them cause i cant drill into my ceiling or anytimg to hold them. i know i will need to put a fan for them. i already have one. also any suggestions on how many powerheads i will need for a tank this big?

sorry for all the questions this is my first time doing saltwater and anything this big. lol.

[AquaMan91]

these are the black things im talking about, they are on the sides of the tanks;

[AquaMan91]

also will i need a chiller for something like that? im going to put a bunch of fans in the top where the metal halides will be placed. also can anyone give me list of what i will need for the setup, nothing for the reefing or anything. Just a list for the tank equipment, excluding PVC piping for the plumbing.

[OneDummHikk]

Ok, thats a 6' 150 and totally different than the 4' 150. Not near as tall.
The "black boxes" are overflow boxes. They have holes drilled in the bottom of the tank for the drain pipe to go through to the sump and some have holes drilled for the return plumbing to come back through.
I wouldn't use a 20, I would use a 33L for the sump.

[OneDummHikk]

Lights: Yes, they sell 6' fixtures that will fit that tank.
Chiller: It depends. Whats in the tank, how well you ventilate the tank, how much equipment (and how much heat they add to the tank).

Equipment: Skimmer and lights. After that it depends on how you set the tank up. Whether you run a CLS, powerheads, a sump, sumpless.

[crvz]

I'd get a 5' 150, I've got a 60x24x24 that I like a lot. As for the sump, a 20 gallon isnt going to cut it if you're going "all-out". Sometime more like a 75 or something custom is better suited. As far as good skimmer, look at the MSX brand, they're about as good as you'll get for the money. And if you're looking for a good light fixture, you can do just a standard fixture that sits on the rim of the tank or build a canopy.

[AquaMan91]

Okay, alright guys thanks for all the help, if there is anymore info you can give im all ears. and onebummhik i am going to be installing 8 fans in the ood to agitate the surface and cool the halides. i might do a chiller but i need to see the prices, ill prolly set up the tank without the chiller, see how hot the water gets and base the decision on that.

Ohh and this may seem like a dumb question but where can i get that large amount of water???? i mean my LFS sells pre made sw but i dont know if its in that quantity. any advice would be great. if anything ill just run a hose into my house to fill it up.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by AquaMan91

Okay, alright guys thanks for all the help, if there is anymore info you can give im all ears. and onebummhik i am going to be installing 8 fans in the ood to agitate the surface and cool the halides. i might do a chiller but i need to see the prices, ill prolly set up the tank without the chiller, see how hot the water gets and base the decision on that.

So I'm a bumm now?

Too many ways to cool a tank and too many people in Florida running larger tanks without chillers. I wouldn't run one unless I absolutely had to. I kept my 90G at 80-81 degrees and never had a chiller on it. I had to run heaters in it to keep it at that temp.

Originally Posted by AquaMan91

Ohh and this may seem like a dumb question but where can i get that large amount of water???? i mean my LFS sells pre made sw but i dont know if its in that quantity. any advice would be great. if anything ill just run a hose into my house to fill it up.

I don't mean this to sound as critical as it might, but, if you are asking that and considering filling it with a hose, you have a lot more research to do. Thats asking for a disaster. So please take it as constructive criticism.

As for how to get that much water, an RO/DI unit. You can get a 150gpd unit for under 100 dollars shipped to your door. Then you mix your own saltwater using the RO/DI water.

[AquaMan91]

Lol sorry for the spellin erorr, the RO/DI unit sounds good im gunna definetly see if i can order one. thanks!

[OneDummHikk]

92.50 including shipping:
http://www.purewaterclub.com/catalog...roducts_id=163

I have been called worse than a bumm

[AquaMan91]

Thats really good, definetly gunna order it. thanks. i think ive seen these at my LFS. Im gonna check it out. if not ill definetly order it.