New System Setup and Install today...

Okay,

Well, thanks again for everyone's comments, suggestions, and guffaws. I
purchased my tank and system components yesterday and thought I would
share it he

65g Glass tank - 36x18x24 w/ matching stand and canopy
Terminator II Skimmer for in-sump use
MegaFlow Sump, model 2
Coralife Digital Power Center (dual)
Visi-therm Deluxe Heater (200 watt) x2 (for in sump)
Model 900 Wavemaker System w/
Rio Aqua 2100+ pump (for return from sump)
Continuous Siphon Overflow w/ 1" bulkhead and Aqua Lifter Pump
Aqualight Pro 36" 280watt w/ 2 lunar lamps

I bought the tank from my LFS and the rest from Dr Foster and Smith.
They've got a great sale going on and free shipping (even on heavy stuff
like reef salt). Total cost was just under $900.

I'll post photos to my website as I put everything together.

mark h

Big Mistake.

You should have gotten a tank with a built in overflow,
instead of trying to save money by getting a regular tank,
and ordering the overflow box.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Mark Henry wrote on 12/13/2005 6:45 AM:
Okay,

Well, thanks again for everyone's comments, suggestions, and guffaws. I
purchased my tank and system components yesterday and thought I would
share it he

65g Glass tank - 36x18x24 w/ matching stand and canopy
Terminator II Skimmer for in-sump use
MegaFlow Sump, model 2
Coralife Digital Power Center (dual)
Visi-therm Deluxe Heater (200 watt) x2 (for in sump)
Model 900 Wavemaker System w/
Rio Aqua 2100+ pump (for return from sump)
Continuous Siphon Overflow w/ 1" bulkhead and Aqua Lifter Pump
Aqualight Pro 36" 280watt w/ 2 lunar lamps

I bought the tank from my LFS and the rest from Dr Foster and Smith.
They've got a great sale going on and free shipping (even on heavy stuff
like reef salt). Total cost was just under $900.

I'll post photos to my website as I put everything together.

mark h

Also instead of getting a wet dry filter, you should have
put a sump in there, as a wet dry filter will reduce your
denitrification, and you would have been beter off to have
gotten more lighting over the tank. I would have gone with
a double mh 175 wat giving it a total of 350 wats of light
over 65 gallons being 5.38 wats of light per gallon.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Wayne Sallee wrote on 12/13/2005 10:39 AM:
Big Mistake.

You should have gotten a tank with a built in overflow, instead of
trying to save money by getting a regular tank, and ordering the
overflow box.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Mark Henry wrote on 12/13/2005 6:45 AM:

Okay,

Well, thanks again for everyone's comments, suggestions, and guffaws.
I purchased my tank and system components yesterday and thought I
would share it he

65g Glass tank - 36x18x24 w/ matching stand and canopy
Terminator II Skimmer for in-sump use
MegaFlow Sump, model 2
Coralife Digital Power Center (dual)
Visi-therm Deluxe Heater (200 watt) x2 (for in sump)
Model 900 Wavemaker System w/
Rio Aqua 2100+ pump (for return from sump)
Continuous Siphon Overflow w/ 1" bulkhead and Aqua Lifter Pump
Aqualight Pro 36" 280watt w/ 2 lunar lamps

I bought the tank from my LFS and the rest from Dr Foster and Smith.
They've got a great sale going on and free shipping (even on heavy
stuff like reef salt). Total cost was just under $900.

I'll post photos to my website as I put everything together.

mark h

Wayne Sallee wrote:

Also instead of getting a wet dry filter, you should have put a sump in
there, as a wet dry filter will reduce your denitrification

Again, there's pros and cons to both sides of the wet/dry vs sump
discussion. I bought what I could afford, based on the advice of several
professionals as well as numerous reference materials and will see how
it works.

and you would have been beter off to have gotten more lighting over the tank. I
would have gone with a double mh 175 wat giving it a total of 350 wats
of light over 65 gallons being 5.38 wats of light per gallon.


True, more light is usually better. Unless of course you're shooting for
a deeper water reef as opposed to a shallow water - which is what I'm
attempting to do.

Thanks for your suggestions and commentary.

mark h

You can always take the bioballs out later, but since you
have it now, you might as well use it, as it will make
things more stable in the begining.

Why a deep water reef? What's your plans there?

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Mark Henry wrote on 12/13/2005 11:11 AM:
Wayne Sallee wrote:

Also instead of getting a wet dry filter, you should have put a sump
in there, as a wet dry filter will reduce your denitrification


Again, there's pros and cons to both sides of the wet/dry vs sump
discussion. I bought what I could afford, based on the advice of several
professionals as well as numerous reference materials and will see how
it works.

and you would have been beter off to have gotten more lighting over
the tank. I would have gone with a double mh 175 wat giving it a total
of 350 wats of light over 65 gallons being 5.38 wats of light per gallon.


True, more light is usually better. Unless of course you're shooting for
a deeper water reef as opposed to a shallow water - which is what I'm
attempting to do.

Thanks for your suggestions and commentary.

mark h

Wayne Sallee wrote:

Why a deep water reef? What's your plans there?


Part of it was simply for the ambiance. I wanted a dim[mer] (read, more
"blue") tank than my 55g planted freshwater on the other side of the
room. I'm planning to paint the back wall of the tank a very deep blue
and go with heavy (but slow) water movement to recreate a Fiji reef face
at something around 45-60' in depth.

At least that's the plan.

mark h

Wayne Sallee wrote:

You should have gotten a tank with a built in overflow, instead of
trying to save money by getting a regular tank, and ordering the
overflow box.


The tank, stand, and hood were free. So, the difference would have been
in the range of $500 for another combo setup that was drilled, plus the
cost for the kit. So, what would the great negative be for using an
overflow box that would offset the $500 difference?

mark h

Oh I didn't realize you had the tank given to you. Yea
that does make big difference :-)

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Mark Henry wrote on 12/13/2005 11:02 AM:
Wayne Sallee wrote:


You should have gotten a tank with a built in overflow, instead of
trying to save money by getting a regular tank, and ordering the
overflow box.


The tank, stand, and hood were free. So, the difference would have been
in the range of $500 for another combo setup that was drilled, plus the
cost for the kit. So, what would the great negative be for using an
overflow box that would offset the $500 difference?

mark h

You said in your previous post, that you bought the tank
from your LFS.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Mark Henry wrote on 12/13/2005 11:02 AM:
Wayne Sallee wrote:


You should have gotten a tank with a built in overflow, instead of
trying to save money by getting a regular tank, and ordering the
overflow box.


The tank, stand, and hood were free. So, the difference would have been
in the range of $500 for another combo setup that was drilled, plus the
cost for the kit. So, what would the great negative be for using an
overflow box that would offset the $500 difference?

mark h

Wayne Sallee wrote:

You said in your previous post, that you bought the tank from your LFS.


It was a trade situation. The tank had been special ordered for a
customer who then refused to take it. Rather than ship it back I traded
out some ciclids, BRPs, and a couple choice koi from the pond for the
setup. I think I came out seriously ahead, but then again the guys at
the LFS think they did too. So I guess that makes it a win-win???

mark h