buying used 120 gal

[ms fishlover]

hi I will be getting a used tank and the dimension are 72x18x24. It has and overflow. I currently have a 29 gal with live sand,25-30 lbs of LR, red sea prizm prtoin skimmer, 304 fluval. it has been set set for about 4-5 months.

My questions are?can I use my current 304 fluval and skimmer?

I would like to make this a reef tank. my fish will be a pair of orange shunk fish
pair of false clowns
scooter benny
pair of watchman yellow gobies
6 chrimos


How much more live rock?


the kind of corals I would like are:
pink& green plate coral
stylophoral cat's paw pink
purple fungia
red chilil cactus soft coral
torch: yellow tip
green rasta/spaghetti leather
orange sun polyp orange tubastrea
ultra green hammer coral
BTA
leather umbrellal toadstool
white polyp tan finger
tonga blue hairy mushroom
orange pacific ricordea

I would like to use pc lighting(afford)

I would like a squamossa claim and it would be place up high

sorry so long and help would be good
thanks

[Prismaco]

On a 120gall tank you need about 120lbs-140lbs of LR. 1lbs per gallon. Some LS, about 1-4 inches. And a good skimmer. My $0.02..




-Paul

[oregon_gorge]

Morning MS.

Glad to see you are getting the ''Bigger'' fever! I was the one that wasnt ready to jump to SW, but I went along for the ride with my wife. Now she is the one holding on for dear life at times. We started out with a 55 and I am working on replacing the 240g with a 350g.

Anyway, as for your situation. We learned the hard way. Dont go cheap with lights or skimmer. We had a Red Sea. As I remember, the RS is only good to 40-50g. Also, if I recall, the Fluvall is a filter? I dont think you need that at all. A deep sand bed and plenty of live rock should be all the filtration you need.

The lights you listed should be fine for the corals you listed. The clam? I dont think so. SOme may get away with it, as with most things reef, rules get bent and broken often. It is what works for you. I wouldnt try PC on a clam though. Too many $ invested.

As for the LR. Is is a matter of taste, beyond having enough for filtration. I keep adding more just to make more places for corals!

Good luck on your venture

Chris

[ms fishlover]

thanks oregon-gorge and prosmcao for the help and keep it com


another question what os and over flow and what it do?

[oregon_gorge]

I am having a brain f**t or is ''os'' a typo?

The overflow is for water to ''overflow and drain to a container in your stand. That container could be anything. You put heaters, return pump, and all the other ugly equipment in there so you dont see it in your tank. The pump in the sump just puts the water back in the tank and causes you water flow needed to keep everything happy


Chris

[Doug1]

Ms Fish Lover , on a 6' tank VHO will be cheaper in long run, and will support the anemals you listed 'cept the clam and LTA.
www.hellolights.com

[grazzit]

hehe and to think you were originally just going to go with a 55 =P. Glad to see you're getting the biggun but I hope you've got a fairly deep pocket book cuz it's going to take quite a bit o cash to get it all set up right. 120 lbs of LR minimum and even if you get a good price on that it's still going to be EXPENSIVE! not to mention the sand, you're going to need over 200lbs of it to get an acceptable sand bed (pray you can find southdown ).

Maybe you can find a local reefer to help you set it all up, that'll make life ALOT easier. Good luck!

[Doug1]

To xplain cost benfits I will quote from the aforementioned source. Not that I promote it, its for reference only. Anyone in the biz that can meet or beat price , so much the better
Anyway a 6 bulb PC setup will cost $595 thats ready to assemble and includes bulbs. They may be extra shipping due to oversized reflector. FWIW replacement bulbs cost $41 for Act 03 $33 for the 71ooK blue $41 for the 50/50 act/10K( I think the 50/50 might be best choice for this size setup)
Pros: comes with bulbs and everything to assemble in one package
Cons: Cost
VHO ballast, 2 bulb setup 440 watt max will handle 2x160 watt(320 total
Kit is $135 each so 2 of them are $270
Bulbs are seperate $34 for 50/50 URI
$33 for URI actinic so the cost of 4 bulbs is $134 for a system cost total of $404 for 640 watts of light
FWIW there is a $25 shipping fee on long flourescent bulbs tho most dealers ship 6 or more free. So you could order an extra 50/50 and actinic and have spares, save the $25 and be into this for a cost of$471 for 640 watts of VHO vs 576 watts of PC for $595,
Pros: you can start with one ballast and bulbs set for half the $ now and add the other later, esp if you can get the bulbs thru a LFS. Also if we accept 12 months as usable lifespan of both PC and VHO bulbs , VHO uses fewer and cost less
As I said I am not recommending this particular supplier, the price structure is pretty consistent everywhere

[ms fishlover]

thanks Doug1,oregor-gorge, grazzit. I understand what an overflow is now. I understand about live rockand the sand. So when I post that I know have tank in the house you guys will look out for me right (hint hint) or some close to me will right other reefers but I'm not understanding about watts and bulbs. sorry kind of slow right now but learning please keep giving info I'm keeping notes on everything..

Thanks

[Doug1]

Well Light output is measure in watts, the trick is to get the most watts for he less $ and have it in a useable form of light

[ms fishlover]

i don't have a canoby. you said vho lights are best for my setup.why

[grazzit]

Hehe I don't know if I'd be any help and... well ... columbus is like 6 hours away! Hehe I'll let doug or someone else explain the lighting but for what it's worth, VHO is cheaper and you don't have to buy all of the lights at once so you don't have to shell out 500 bucks all at once =) Hope that helps hehe and I hope that's the point doug was trying to make

[ms fishlover]

ok gratizz could you tell me what size I need. I haven't bought the tank yet and maybe I can start before I get it.

[grazzit]

Dunno the measurements on how long a 120 is but, bigguns =P My suggestion is goto a LFS and have them recomend something, BUT DON'T BUY IT! come back here and tell us what they suggested and someone more knowledgeable then I will critique the choice. That way you can really get a good idea of exactly what you're dealing with. I think you're going to wind up having to buy/build a hood though, I don't think I've seen a 120 set up without one.

[ms fishlover]

ok I e-mailed hellolights and this is what they said .36 " 2x96w coralife aqualight Cf hood 1xactinic,1x10,000k square pin. Lamps includes built-in electronic ballast, alunium housing,highly polished reflectors,acrylic len cover 2 fans built in on top blowing upwards. price per unit $192.oo not including shipping