Starting a new 16 Bow front

[freerdr17]

Hello everyone,
I have never used this site before, I usually use nano-reef.com But I am serving over in Kuwait right now. And the military server wont let me get on that site. Since I have been here I ordered just about everything to start my tank up when I get home sometime in early june. Here is what I ordered.

AGA 16 gal bow front
16 bow stand (black)
150W 20k New Coralife Clamp-On MH
Skilter 250 ( I now hear that its junk )
Hydro Theo 50W heater
20lbs of Arag-Alive
Coralife digital Thermometer
Microjet 450 Powerhead
Reef Test Kit

I cant really think of anything else that I will need to start this up soon as I get home. If you can help me out in anyway. Or If I forgot to buy something. Please let me know. And Pics will be posted soon as it set up.

Thanks in advance,
Mark

[ErinGoBragh]

You might want to post in the general reefing forum, there are lots of people who would be more than happy to answer questions, and it gets way more traffic.
As far as what you have purchased, and what you need, All I can come up with is LR (when you get back) and a RO-DI filter. Don't listen to your lfs when he says tap water is fine, I had to tear down my tank because of the phosphate problem.

BTW, Welcome to TRT!

[jlscrug]

Welcome to TRT and thanks for serving! I have 2 cousins in Afganistan that sent me pics this morning. Hoo-Ahh!!!

Here's my 16 bowfront set up:

15# fine aragonite
About 40# LR (it is REALLY heavy gulf rock and would probably be only about 25# of some good rock)
20" Orbit PC w/ 2 50/50 bulbs

I let this sit and cycle for about 5 weeks (whenever Ammonia and Nitrite = 0)

I later added a Remora HOB skimmer (after addition of 1st fish)
I have ALOT of flow in this system. The power head to the HOB is a MJ 1200 and I had two additional 200 gph powerheads. (About 675 gph)
I do a 5 gal water change each Sunday

Inhabitants are:
1 percula
1 6 line wrasse
Xenia elongata exploding everywhere
various discosoma
5-6 different colored ricordea
colts
gold crown sarcophyton
hairbrush sarcophyton
short polyped sarcophyton
pom pom xenia
GSP
several various colors of zoanthids
photosynthetic gorgonian
red finger gorgonian
5 different species of snails in various quantities
blue and red leg hermits
some unidentified species of SPS that was on the rock

I have just finished adding a 'sump' to this system it is:
1 proclear overflow box
15 gal long AGA for sump
24" Coralife Lunar Aqualight (1 6700 K bulb and one 50/50)
I siliconed in a lexan dividing wall 8" off one side and drilled 1/2 holes every 1.5" across the top 2 inches of the lexan. Water from the overflow box flows into this compartment. In this compartment I have about 10# of live rock and my HOB skimmer. Water then flows into the next area which is about 12" x 16" and has 15# of fine aragonite. I used a Mag 2 return for the system. I have a 100W heater but since the addition of the sump I probably will get a 150W. Also, have a new Coralife Lunar Aqualight Timer (the new one with two timer dials) that works GREAT for turning both sets of lights on/off at different intervals.

I decided to do the sump to have a place to grow frags for my LFS and as a place to add top off water, additives if they are ever necessary.

[jeepjon]

First off, I assume you're in the service. Thank you for your commitment to our country, your fellow Americans, and liberty. I value what you're doing, and I hope you do too. Those who are free because of you undoubtedly value your service, too.
Anyway...your tank. Lights are great! I would get at least a CPR bak-pak, but would probably lean toward the Remora, as the bakpaks are high maintenance. You want some good quality LR. The more open you build, the less LR you'll use. Try to get creative with your aquascape...it will use less rock and look better (make shelves and arches, caves, etc. Don't just stack it. Additionally, you don't want too much LR. I would say 10-15 pounds of fiji or the like and you would have plenty to work with. The arag-alive will work great and look good, too. I would get another powerhead, just to make sure, but a remora and the powerhead you have might be ok, but with your light I'm assuming you're going to keep SPS/LPS corals, which would need some more current. Anyway, your lights are great, tank choice is great. I would get a good quality reef salt and figure out what you're going to supplement with (calcium wise), or if you're going to try more water changes to keep most levels up!