| Big Tank Archive Tips and information on setting up BIG tanks |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
10-25-2003, 04:25 PM
|
#1
|
|
Blacktip Shark
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Middleburg, VA
Posts: 2,113
|
270 gal Reef Setup
Hey everyone! My good friend Justin (thereefer), due to internet trouble, has not been able to access TRT. He wanted me to post this thread.
He's getting ready to build a 7' by 30" by 30" tank with a stand and canopy. I'm not sure if this is 270 gal or what(anybody know?). He would like to know what lighting, skimmer, and other equipment suggestions you all have. He would like to be able to keep a mixed reef, with stony, soft, clams, and an assortment of reef friendly fish. Any ideas? 
|
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
__________________
Austin
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want
He who fears the thorn, should never crave the rose.
-favorite TRT quote
Forecast for tonight: dark, continued dark overnight, widely scattered light by morning
Last edited by Reefdude5; 10-25-2003 at 05:58 PM.
|
|
|
|
10-25-2003, 06:09 PM
|
#2
|
|
Administrator
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 8,762
Reviews: 1
|
__________________
-Greg 
Want to see thousands of reef tank and diving pictures? Visit my website at www.SaltyZoo.com
|
|
|
|
|
10-25-2003, 07:27 PM
|
#3
|
|
Blacktip Shark
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Middleburg, VA
Posts: 2,113
|
Sweet! That's 330 gallons! Awsome! Thanks greg! Any suggestions on equipment?
__________________
Austin
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want
He who fears the thorn, should never crave the rose.
-favorite TRT quote
Forecast for tonight: dark, continued dark overnight, widely scattered light by morning
|
|
|
|
|
10-25-2003, 07:51 PM
|
#4
|
|
Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Loganville Ga.
Posts: 2,520
|
If I may make one suggestion what ever the Mfg. recomendations are on skimmers, filters, reactors Double it.
So you'll need a skimmer rated at 660 gallons..
Mfg. offten hype up the abilitys of their products..
|
|
|
|
|
10-25-2003, 11:26 PM
|
#5
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Bonney Lake, Washington
Posts: 374
|
For what its worth, I would go a foot shorter or one longer. Lights and other things are designed for 6' or 8'.
Our last tank was a 240g. 8'x2'x2'. The new one is in the wall and 330g. 6'x36''x30 tall. I like it much better. More room on the bottom, more room to the top, ane a little less OMG from friends, family, and visitors who see it. The 6' is much more personable.
Just my .02 worth
Chris |
|
|
|
|
10-25-2003, 11:59 PM
|
#6
|
|
http://atlanta-smas.org/
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: auburn
Posts: 1,688
|
if your planning a hood with halides size is really not important you can place the halides in any position you want . i have the same size tank 335 main with 475 total water volume i use a myreef mr2 skimmer that works like a charm also a myreeef reactor. 4 --400 watt halides with 3- 96 watt actinics this has been all the light i need or want. i have around 7000 gph out of 4 pumps its plenty of movement but thats one area i always feel inadequate in..   . i prefer a canopy over a hood i like the open top . specs on mine are 66" x 48" x24" |
|
|
|
|
10-26-2003, 12:29 AM
|
#7
|
|
Blacktip Shark
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Middleburg, VA
Posts: 2,113
|
Great advice! It seems that going with retrofit kits you can place the lights anywhere which makes the length irrelevant! Chris, have you had any trouble with 36" width, is it difficult to work in?
Wasabi, would you suggest 400 watt over 250 watt?
__________________
Austin
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want
He who fears the thorn, should never crave the rose.
-favorite TRT quote
Forecast for tonight: dark, continued dark overnight, widely scattered light by morning
|
|
|
|
|
10-26-2003, 12:30 AM
|
#8
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Bonney Lake, Washington
Posts: 374
|
Wasabi is right on the MH. We run 2x400 watt and 2x175 10K. Where the problem is in the VHO we run. 4 ea. 6' for 660 watts of actinic.
Should have been more clear...........
|
|
|
|
|
10-26-2003, 12:36 AM
|
#9
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Bonney Lake, Washington
Posts: 374
|
36'' wide and 30'' deep is a reach! I do have an advantage though. Since its in the wall, I can get to it from both front and back. Tongs, a couple tools made of 1/2'' pvc scraps for moving things around on hte bottom.
I wouldnt trade it. If I had more wall, I probably would have gone 8' long too. But now that I am done, I really like the 6'. The 240 is sitting beside the garage and it seems so tiny now. Oh, I have the old 135 for the sump w/ LR and other critters banished
Good luck!
Chris |
|
|
|
|
10-26-2003, 12:46 AM
|
#10
|
|
Blacktip Shark
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Middleburg, VA
Posts: 2,113
|
If you could only access it from the front and one side what dimensions would you suggest on a 7' wall? Oh I get it, so for a 7' tank you could only get 6' vhos. Makes sense.
__________________
Austin
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want
He who fears the thorn, should never crave the rose.
-favorite TRT quote
Forecast for tonight: dark, continued dark overnight, widely scattered light by morning
|
|
|
|
|
10-26-2003, 01:01 AM
|
#11
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Bonney Lake, Washington
Posts: 374
|
You could stagger them. I did that with the 6' lights on the 8' tank. I didnt like it though. Made it unbalanced and darker in the corners.
Reefing is a "Whatever works for you" thing. You may be able to keep things with all the wrong light or you may have a total terror fish that nobody else has trouble with. Some people do 30% water changes every 2 weeks. Some have never done one.
But if you can take the experiences of others? This is a great place to get a variety of experiences. I enjoy sharing our trails of the past 3 1/2 years.
Going cheap is not the least expensive way!
Chris
|
|
|
|
|
10-26-2003, 01:09 AM
|
#12
|
|
Blacktip Shark
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Middleburg, VA
Posts: 2,113
|
I like that quote!  What dimensions would you suggest? (And I gotta get to bed and I'm leaving early on sunday morning  but I will check in tomorrow evening! Thanks!
__________________
Austin
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want
He who fears the thorn, should never crave the rose.
-favorite TRT quote
Forecast for tonight: dark, continued dark overnight, widely scattered light by morning
|
|
|
|
|
10-26-2003, 05:51 PM
|
#13
|
|
Blacktip Shark
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Middleburg, VA
Posts: 2,113
|
Any dimension suggestions? Also, what about a pump that would pump water about 18'?
__________________
Austin
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want
He who fears the thorn, should never crave the rose.
-favorite TRT quote
Forecast for tonight: dark, continued dark overnight, widely scattered light by morning
|
|
|
|
|
10-26-2003, 05:59 PM
|
#14
|
|
Ghost of reefers past
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 25,155
|
Chris and Wasabi, can we get pics of the big tank setups. Everyone likes big tanks but I esp like behind the scenes pics showing plumbing and stuff, creative solutions to monster problems. Esp if someone has tapped into Lake Tapps research center for a semi open loop 
__________________
Cowboy is a verb, not a noun
|
|
|
|
10-26-2003, 06:01 PM
|
#15
|
|
Blacktip Shark
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Middleburg, VA
Posts: 2,113
|
Good idea! 
__________________
Austin
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want
He who fears the thorn, should never crave the rose.
-favorite TRT quote
Forecast for tonight: dark, continued dark overnight, widely scattered light by morning
|
|
|
|
|
