120 setup Thoughts & Ideas

[Mike Murphy]

Getting ready to set up my 120 which is my third tank in the last 2 years. Currently I have 2 tanks...a 55 glass tank with overflow lighted sump, deep sand bed and plennum, skimmer, Compact flurescents, live rock and lots of Caulerpa. The other is a 27 hex with reverse flow UG bed of crushed coral, live rock, metal halide light, skimmer & outside box filter for circulation. The 55 I have to thin out from the continuous luxuriant growth of caulerpa.

So between the two tanks I have different rates of success. For the 120 I'm leaning toward a combination of crushed coral and aragonite in a deep sand bed, skimmer, T5 or metal halide, 1 30 gallon lighted sumps, 1 wet/dry trickle filter, a good bit of live rock and maybe some sort of wave maker.

I see some people here are not big fans of deep sand beds. I have thought about a reverse flow UG setup also.

Interested in some pro and con on this setup.

Thanks

[tashier]

I have a 120 but I can't offer you much advise on the DSB. My SB is ~2". I have dual 400w MH's which I'd recommend going 250's instead.

[Geoff]

a revers UGF is not a good way to go. if the power were to ever go out, all kinds of fun stuff will be had when the power does come on.

G~

[DarthOcellaris]

undergravel filters are a thing of the past for reef tanks. Just a huge nitrate factory. you have to use crushed coral as a substrate because sand is too fine.

I say go BB

[Mike Murphy]

I understand the process of sand and undergravel filter. Leaning toward plennum and sand bed. Could I have a mixture of crushed coral and sand? Maybe increase the depth with the use of the crushed coral which is not as fine which might still give low O2 level.

[Doug1]

Originally Posted by Mike Murphy

I understand the process of sand and undergravel filter. Leaning toward plennum and sand bed. Could I have a mixture of crushed coral and sand? Maybe increase the depth with the use of the crushed coral which is not as fine which might still give low O2 level.

If you are going to use both Crushed Coral and sand in a plenum configuration you will need to seperate the layers with fiberglass screen to keep the sand from sifting down into the CC layer.
Most of the methods you are using or contemplating are Old School, you might want to study the Sand bed vs barebottom threads in The Think Tank forum.
Not to say that you can't have limited success using the methods you are familiar with, but there are other methods out there that might be less hassle and more successful in the long run, FWIW

[crvz]

Originally Posted by Doug1

Most of the methods you are using or contemplating are Old School,

Doug, you say that as if you've been through them in the past.