26 Bowfront to 120Gal Build

[reefer.madness]

BIG update for me here. I am picking up the 120Gal from CVC June 29th. I plan to skin and trim it in Cherry. I built a 30gal sump and have a custom skimmer. I will post pic's and update often. Here's a quick pic of the tank and stand now...

[reefer.madness]

[hansmatt]

sweet upgrade! Can't wait to see it in action.

[Timmy]

Yay a new build thread! Don't forget the pictures. Lots and lots of pictures!

[D.J.]

was wondering who was gona buy it.......congrats....cant wait to see it under way........

[reefer.madness]

I've been getting ready for the upgrade for a while now. I got this tank since it was a bit bigger than the 90gal and it is 5ft long. Fits 1 wall in my livingroom perfect. Just getting ready for my sump build on thursday. (my day off) I gotta get this up and rolling. My 26 is packed!! I should get a light in about 2 weeks. Probably a 6X54 T5 or T5/halide combo.(-OTP Matt, yes a new light!! ) I will post LOTS of pics as things progress. I will be in Rhinelander saturday, hope to get lots of good info.

[D.J.]

if its no depper than my 90 than the T5 should be fine....i cant remember how deep it was since i seen it at OTP meeting.....

[hansmatt]

agreed...unless you have a 30" tall tank, t5's will do pretty well for you IMO

[reefer.madness]

Dimensions are:

L 60"
W 18.5"
H 24"

My only issue with the halide is the heat factor. That and the "cone of death"... I have a T5 now and everything seems to be fine. The bowfront is about 4" shorter and my wattage is way less than I have planned for the next light. I'm thinking the Nova Extreme Pro 6X54. 8X54 seems like overkill and why spend more on bulbs than needed. I don't want the full hood with retro kit since the tank is already filling the entire wall and I think it would distract from the beautiful view...
I am also working on my sump. (30Gal) If anyone has suggestions, please feel free to chime in. I am going to use LR. No Bio balls. Bubble traps, skimmer and return pump. I watched you tube vid's of DIY sumps and have a good idea of what I'm doing. Maybe just a bit unsure of myself...but I'll make one hell of an effort!!

[ZMattie]

I love my NEP fixture! But i may be upgrading to 4x54 T5s and 2 halides (either 2x 150W or 2x 250W).

[D.J.]

youll love the nova exreme pro 6x54.......thats the fixtre that myself and zach are running....and im getting KILLER GROWTH.....even on my candycanes,frogspawn,hammers,cactus coral,goniopora and even my clam!!!!!

so they are plenty of light for just about everything.......and only being 24in deep your fine with T5......

i think MH is WAY over rated and WAY over priced.......i mean i know that certain things HAVE to have intense lighting....but most of them look like FUZZY STICKS.......so unless your gona have a "STICK FARM" i dont think youll need the mh setup....

like i said im growin candies,alvepora(sp) and trumpets on the sand bed under my NEP fixture.......and the crocea is only halyway up the tank....

the NEP can be to much for some softies....as im having to move a few things down that are up half and higher and wont open like they do lower....

the one thing i dont like about hte NEP fixture is that the switches and fans are on the side......that kinda suck for the canopy but one can be done....zach has his in one so.....and im building one now for mine.....just waiting on timers........

[firsthesitation]

The only reason I went with the Outer Orbit 2x250 4x54 T5 was because I'm running a "stick farm". You shouldnt really NEED MH lighting unless your intentions are to have primarily SPS corals. There are a lot of guys out there that run a nicely mix reef with T5 lighting too though so I'm sure you'd be ok with that. Either a 4 bulb with individual reflectors or a 6 bulb with a shared reflector.

[reefer.madness]

I don't like the "stick farm" either. I like something to look at. Eye catching motion and color are the things I look for. I picked out the 6X54 NEP months ago and I guess I will stick with my 1st instinct.

[firsthesitation]

haha, you just wait I didn't have any interest in stony corals either even just a year ago. Give it time you'll find it more attractive.

[tangmang23]

my 120 is a mix of SPS lps and softies, gives you the best of all worlds. I run a Retro kit with 7 t-5s on two 660 ballasts and my results are pretty good. I feel they will be better once i get steady calcium