Considering A New Tank Set-Up..Advise Please !

[Barry]

Hello All,

I have had my eye on a 46 gallon corner tank at my local pet store. I am cosidering purchasing a 250 watt MH retro kit, and maybe a coulbe of power compacts to supplement in a canopy that I am going to build. Any guesses on how much sand and rock I am going to need? I am thinking about 100 lbs of rock, and I have never used sand before so I don't have a clue. I feel that the lighting should be sufficent for hopefully pretty much anything that I want. I will probably get a Remora skimmer.
I am also considering a hangon refugium. It seems many people have them, but I am not sure of the purpose. Could someone tell me why the have them and what the benefits may be ?
I do have a 29 gallon reef, but is just too full, so I think that it may be time !

Thanks for the thoughts !

Barry

 

[Barry]

Anybody else ????

 

[VkeSu]

I don't have one either on my 72 gallon. (and I have cc). I do have 125# lr which I wouldn't do without. If this is the tank you'll be happy with, do it. Go with at least 75# of lr, and I figured I'd need about 200# of sand for my new 55gallon. Haven't put it in yet, so don't hold me to the amount

. The lights should take care of you, they say 1 mh per 2 ft. ..I have vho, but maybe someone else can help out. Good Luck w/new tank!

 

[Larry Grenier]

I have a client that has one of those and although is is attractive, It's difficult to get a sump/refugium of any size in the stand. Just something to think about. If you want a stout small footprint tank, an Oceanic 58 gallon is nice.

Where do you plan on hanging your hang-on refugium?

 

[Barry]

I wasn't going to bother with a sump. I am just not comfortable with the idea of one. Besides I doubt that I could seel the idea of having it in the livingroom with a sump.
I am going to biuld my own canopy to allow hopefully enough room for the hang-on. Like I said I am just considering having the hang-on refugium. I am not sure of the benefits, if any.

Thanks for the question !
Barry

 

[dattack]

Benefits of a refugium
1. Nutrient export via caulerpa/macroalgae growth. You can cut the macroalgae once it grows too much. This in turns get rid of excess nutrients such as nitrates/phosphates. Furthermore, you definitely do not want macroalgae/caulerpa in the main tank because it's hard to get rid of.
2. Pods/worms/stars not attacked by predators. My hole refugium population was wiped out because I inadvertently placed a peppermint shrimp in there. The peppershrimp was actually for the aipstasia in the main tank.

I also have a 45 gallon corner tank and 100 lbs of live rock is too much. I think I have only 60 lb in there. Too much rock and your corals won't have room to grow.

 

[SteveP]

A 4" sand sand bed should provide enough filtration unless you're going to have a lot of fish. You won't need a lot of live rock for filtration; it will serve mainly as a place to mount corals, and as a hiding place for critters. A refugium is a great addition too.

Steve
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[esmithiii]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

am just not comfortable with the idea of one.

Why not? If your stand is enclosed like a cabinet, no one will see it. A sump provides the following benefits:

1. An out of the way place to store unsightly equipment that would have to be in the main tank otherwise
2. Additional volume of water for biological filtration
3. Additional surface area for gas exchange
4. You can design a simple auto-topoff system based on the water level in the sump. This is next to impossible to do in the main tank.
5. Additional area to put liverock, sand, etc for biological filtration
6. It is a good place for a refugium. Refugiums have many benefits, mostly providing a safe breeding ground for the diversity in your sand bed.

Anyway, if you do it right, a sump is fool-proof.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Ernie