120 gallon build help

[Sgterie076]

Hey guys,

After 10 years I am coming back to the hobby. I recently retired and now have the time. Please give me your thoughts and comments on my planned equipment.

120 gallon Marineland reef ready tank with 2 corner overflows 60 x18
Trigger systems 30E ruby sump
Reef Octopus Extreme 8 Inch XS200 (200 Gallon) In Sump Protein Skimmer
Mag 12 return pump
WP40 wave maker
Reef Angel controller
100lb live sand
100lb live rock
10lb Miricle Mud in refugium

I pick up the tank on Friday.

 

[Imbarrie]

You can get a much more dependable and efficient pump than a mag. Marineland, ehiem, and a few others.
Miracle mud advantages are under debate and you will have to replace it annually.
Live sand is an even hotter debate. You will get more life from cycling rocks and then add dead sand. Much cheaper.
JMO

 

[Adamc1303]

I would rethink the return pump. Go with a dc controllable pump. They are allot more energy efficient. As far as the miracle mud it's a debate and not so popular option however go on you tube and check out mark polleti's tank. He uses miracle mud and he's no newb!

 

[thirty6]

Welcome back, I returned after a long break as well. I felt like everything changed and offered way for options when first got back into it

Your list looks good but I would also rethink the pump. I currently use eheim and I can barely hear it when running. I also used an external reeflo pump for a bit, but had some space issues that I decided to swap it out.

 

[Sgterie076]

How about Eheim Compact+ 5000 Pump?
Unsure about the flow rate with dual overflows

 

[Spsnut]

To start, I would advise thinking again about the mag pump as others have said, but also rethink the turn key sump; building a sump is a rather easy thing. You will also want to get an RO plant. You need to plan, design, make stand room for top off and water change storage reservoirs. I missed what you are planning for lighting. There is soo much to think about. If you and your other will be driven crazy by the noise a tank makes, you will want to locate it where you can easily plumb to a remote closet or basement sump/work space. That is just a few things; it looks like you are eager to get this build up and apart of this next stage of your life, but don't forget to slow down a little once in a while.

 

[thirty6]

spsnut brings up a good point about the noise: i lost the ability to have a remote sump when i moved last summer to a new home. if its possible, it would be a great thing to take advantage of and imo it was easier working on the sump and things inside of it when it was located behind a wall exposed instead of under tank stand

 

[Sgterie076]

Yes, I agree but sump has to be in stand.
Any other thoughts on return pump and skimmer.