[Koda12305]

So I am taking two dives at once. I love fish tanks and have had mixed sucess with many failures. I currently have 3 tanks a FOWLR 75 gal. 20 gallon sump. I have two freshwater tanks both 55 gal. One mixed community and one African Cichlid. So I am diving in as a Reefer on my next aquarium setting up a 46 bowfront custom cabinet with either a 20-30 gallon sump. My dilema is the cost to setup the tank. This will be a tank in the second dive which is Fatherhood as my wife just found out she is pregnant this will be the tank for the nursery. Nursery is Themed coral reef.
My dream tank setup will start by drilling the bowfront to have a closed loop an corner overflows, will be doing aragocrete live rock, t-5 lighting, all equipment in a noise dampening cabinet. Any advice on quiet cheap equipment and where the best place is to get it. Also what corals do well under t-5 and is anyone close to Somerset, KY that would like to trade or sell some frags so I can get started. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

 

[joejoe104]

read read read! thats gonna be your biggest money saver..... as far as what corals will do ok under t5, it depends on the fixture, how many bubls, individual reflectors, etc..... id say expect to fork out about a grand, as far as pumps and skimmer for that tank, just look em up on here, they all have reviews and stuff, ive never done a reef that small..... keep in mind, the more water volume you have the easier it is to keep it stable.....

 

[Koda12305]

Odyssea 36" 156W (4x 39W) T5 HO Light Fixture Extendable Series
These are the lights that I am looking at.
Odyssea ProPack Protein Skimmer
This is the Protein Skimmer I am looking at. It is rated for 75 gallons that might not be enough. Also a 300W heater by Odyssea. All the equipment will be stored in the sump.