New Tank Setup Advice

N

niteowl03

Ok guys I will be transferring tanks in the next few weeks to ensure I have enough space to house all the stuff im going to buy at Next Wave. I want to ensure that I avoid some of the "mistakes" that I made with my 70 and even some other "mistakes" that you guys have made. Also I would like to add in things that will allow for future expansion...reactors, scrubbers etc.

After some reading I have seen some things like the PVC connection in the top left corner of this picture allowing for 3 lines out for reactors etc
[attachment=0]IMG_1208-1.jpg[/attachment]

So show/tell me things like this that you have done or even things you wish you had done to make your reefing life easier please.
 
I'm a big believer in the simpler the plumbing, the better. People don't care about what's under the tank and after some time and salt creep, neither will you. It's all about what's up top. Concentrate on making the tank as functional as possible. A spot for an auto top off reservoir, a place for a reactor, ease of use when doing water changes.

I like to turn my pump off when I feed, but some don't believe in that. I made it easy to flip the pump off and easy to change the pump in an emergency. Quick disconnects on each side of a ball valve. Controlling flow back to the tank has always been very beneficial to me.

Some of the nicest tanks I've seen have a rubber made tub and a pump as a sump. Heck, check out True Percs filterless tank. Like I said, it's all about the display. I've seen people spend thousands on special plumbing and making it look great. But no one really cares how pretty the plumbing is. Take all that time, money, and effort and put it into making the stuff inside the glass box look unbelievable. Plan carefully when deciding on your rock work, lighting, sand, and animals. Mix in a little time, and you won't be disappointed.
 
What reactors are you/would you run Drew? I have a phosban right now. Are calcium, gfo, and bio-pellets necessary? Should I plumb for the future use? Also what about UV?

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Skip the money on a uv. Setup a qt tank instead. Uv helps, but it's not necessary.

I've never run a phosban reactor, but some people really like them. Just not my cup of tea, and I never felt like I needed it.

I have some other sort of media reactor here, but it hasn't been setup yet. Someday... but again haven't felt like I need it.

As for calcium reactors. Quite possibly the best item but most frustrating piece of reef equipment. They take a while to setup, even longer to dial in, but when they work, they are a huge benefit.
I bought the best used one I could afford over ten years ago, and I still run it to this day. Some have ph controllers, which is a great idea if you keep up with it. As I said earlier, it's one more thing you have to take care of, that's not being shown off in the tank itself. I have to count bubbles on mine to make sure I get it dialed in, but once I get it right, it's good for at least 6 months.

I'm a big believer in skimmers too. Make sure it fits in the sump well and that you can work on it easily.
 
OK Drew I think im going to have to quit procrastinating and come see your tank... Saturday work for you?... Ok good see you at 3!!
 
Mind if I join the tank tour? I should be free Saturday, if my co workers don't screw me....AGAIN!


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Functionality is the game here !! Plan ahead what you'll need. Take your sweet time and try to think of everything. Make it so you can get in and out with ease. My biggest regret at this point is the difficulty I have when having to work in the tank. The whole canopy has to come off, and all lights and fans have to be disconnected !!!!!!!! Should just build myself a taller canopy with piano aperture for ease of entry. It would save me tons of time. Make working in and around your tank easy. This is priority #1 IMHO.
 
Aperture is just a fancy word for opening [smilie=dull.gif] . So basically I meant it opens like a piano .... [smilie=lol.gif] . I'm sure you've seen some canopies that open like this. I need one !!
 
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