Help with new setup

[PetePin15]

Hey Everyone,

I will be setting up a 120 gal tank this weekend. The tank is 4x2x2 with a durso style overflow. I don't have a sump yet but am planning on using either a 29 gal or 40 gal breeder. I have 2 lominie s120 lights that I plan to use for the moment but will eventually upgrade. I have a protein skimmer rated for 135 gallons heavy load. 120 lbs. of special grade sand, 120 lbs. of dry rock and two powerheads rated up to 1056 gph. I plan on using Dr. Tims to start the cycle.

Is there anything else I need to properly set up the tank? Is there any equipment I should be considering for down the road?

For background, I had 2 tangs die on me recently and I was informed here that lack of oxygen was most likely the major factor. I want to make sure this setup specifically addresses that. I'm hoping the return, better powerhead placement and addition of a skimmer (which I didn't have) will prevent that from happening again.

Thanks in advance!

 

[edsbeaker]

I think you have a good plan. The power heads plus good flow from a return pump should be enough for now. If you are planning on a reef tank with SPS you are likely to need even more flow, but for the fish this is fine.

 

[Bruttall]

Use the 40g for a sump, or bigger, More Water Volume is good. I have a 125g 6ft tank as a sump for my 300g 8ft tank. Also the breeder is longer so you can fit more equipment into it.

Start saving your money if you want to grow corals, Lights are not cheap.

Don't buy something that "will work for now" spend the extra on the Piece of Equipment you really want/need, doing the "good enough for now" method is just a good way to spend a lot more money.

Do a build thread, sometimes it is fun to go back a year or 2 later and look at what ya did.

Good Luck to you.

 

[PetePin15]

I think you have a good plan. The power heads plus good flow from a return pump should be enough for now. If you are planning on a reef tank with SPS you are likely to need even more flow, but for the fish this is fine.

I’m planning on softies and LPS. If I do SPS it will be way down the road. I’m having trouble with fish and three small frags. A zoa, hammer and frogspawn, so I’m going to keep it simple for a while.

 

[PetePin15]

Use the 40g for a sump, or bigger, More Water Volume is good. I have a 125g 6ft tank as a sump for my 300g 8ft tank. Also the breeder is longer so you can fit more equipment into it.

Start saving your money if you want to grow corals, Lights are not cheap.

Don't buy something that "will work for now" spend the extra on the Piece of Equipment you really want/need, doing the "good enough for now" method is just a good way to spend a lot more money.

Do a build thread, sometimes it is fun to go back a year or 2 later and look at what ya did.

Good Luck to you.

I agree. I wanted kessil a360s, but I already went the cheap route. (Probably part of why I’m having the problems) I’m going to upgrade them but I already have the s120s. I figure I won’t have the lights on much while it’s cycling, so that will give me some time. The kessil’s are coming though!

 

[Bruttall]

I agree. I wanted kessil a360s, but I already went the cheap route. (Probably part of why I’m having the problems) I’m going to upgrade them but I already have the s120s. I figure I won’t have the lights on much while it’s cycling, so that will give me some time. The kessil’s are coming though!

Look at the Reefi Lab uno 2.1. I run 4 of these on top of my 300g. They are about half the price of Kessil or Radion for same coverage, and more power, way more power. Use a par meter to set them up, seriously, I run mine at 110w out of the 270watts available and putting 80 par on my sand in 27 inches of water.

 

[PetePin15]

Look at the Reefi Lab uno 2.1. I run 4 of these on top of my 300g. They are about half the price of Kessil or Radion for same coverage, and more power, way more power. Use a par meter to set them up, seriously, I run mine at 110w out of the 270watts available and putting 80 par on my sand in 27 inches of water.

It looks like I could use 1 duo for the whole tank. That might be a good option. I’ll definitely look into to it. I’ve honestly never heard of that brand. I’ll be honest, I get most of my info from brs so I’m usually limited to what they recommend.

 

[PetePin15]

Look at the Reefi Lab uno 2.1. I run 4 of these on top of my 300g. They are about half the price of Kessil or Radion for same coverage, and more power, way more power. Use a par meter to set them up, seriously, I run mine at 110w out of the 270watts available and putting 80 par on my sand in 27 inches of water.

Hey, I spoke with Dan about how many reefi unos I would need for a tank my size. He recommended 2 unos. I was originally thinking 2 kessil a360s. So, the price is about the same. Would you still recommend the reefi over the kessil? If so can you explain the difference between them? Why do you prefer one over the other? Thanks for your help!