- Joined
- Jun 5, 2020
- Messages
- 32
- Reaction score
- 7
Planning to acquire a custom long shallow "bookshelf" tank to upgrade from a 3 gallon pico we have been messing around with. While I have been in the hobby a long time, I am new to reefing. Was looking for help with some preliminary questions.
The built-ins the tank is going on are serving depth i.e. not cabinet depth so the surface area for the tank is only 16 3/4" out from the wall, and about 76" long. The tank will be 60" L 14" H, and either 12" W or 14" W. If I plumb the overflow from one of the ends, is there any reason not to leave only 2" wiggle between the wall and the tank, and therefore go to 14" wide? I figure for flow I can run a gyre on the non-drain end and maybe an additional in the middle if necessary. Are there any downsides to running the overflow on an end?
For lighting I was thinking 3 A360Xs as we're really only looking to go with softies given the newbie status. From what I am reading it seems like we will get enough par on a 60" length to make it work. I like the crane arm attached to the glass option as the space above the tank is going to have some artwork and I don't want cables running in front of it for a ceiling installation.
Lastly, I am looking at some of the Trigger sumps because they fit nicely in the cabinet. I am handy (furniture builder in former life), but with 3 kids under 4, time is of the essence, I'd rather buy a manufactured sump, also I like the look. My question here is if I go with a fleece roller is it possible to get by with only a fuge, no skimmer, assuming the roller is pulling most of the waste out of the water before it reaches the skimmer? Maybe this is a try it and see how your results look question, just wondering if that thinking is logical.
The built-ins the tank is going on are serving depth i.e. not cabinet depth so the surface area for the tank is only 16 3/4" out from the wall, and about 76" long. The tank will be 60" L 14" H, and either 12" W or 14" W. If I plumb the overflow from one of the ends, is there any reason not to leave only 2" wiggle between the wall and the tank, and therefore go to 14" wide? I figure for flow I can run a gyre on the non-drain end and maybe an additional in the middle if necessary. Are there any downsides to running the overflow on an end?
For lighting I was thinking 3 A360Xs as we're really only looking to go with softies given the newbie status. From what I am reading it seems like we will get enough par on a 60" length to make it work. I like the crane arm attached to the glass option as the space above the tank is going to have some artwork and I don't want cables running in front of it for a ceiling installation.
Lastly, I am looking at some of the Trigger sumps because they fit nicely in the cabinet. I am handy (furniture builder in former life), but with 3 kids under 4, time is of the essence, I'd rather buy a manufactured sump, also I like the look. My question here is if I go with a fleece roller is it possible to get by with only a fuge, no skimmer, assuming the roller is pulling most of the waste out of the water before it reaches the skimmer? Maybe this is a try it and see how your results look question, just wondering if that thinking is logical.