Hi all! Glad to join this community and hopefully contribute! I recently acquire a 180g tank and stand, and I'm planning on making it my reef tank when I move. I'm hoping for some advice on what equipment to buy, as I have no friends in the hobby and no LFS within 90 minutes of me. I don't plan on getting this tank up and running until I move, which likely won't be until spring/summer next year. I'm currently spending a few hundred dollars per paycheck to start accumulating my supplies, so it isn't a huge hit all at once.
What I currently have:
180 gallon Oceanic tank 6'x2'x2' with 18" glass brace in the center (unsure if it's starfire or not)
Stand (I will more than likely build a new one on my own)
3x AI Prime 16
Modular Marine 2400gph overflow
Reefbreeder ATO
Some live sand and rock from an existing 40g tank (this whole tank will be moved to the 180g)
2x Jebao OW wavemakers
55 gallon tank which will be converted to a sump
What I know I still need:
Powerheads: thinking of adding an Icecap 4k Gyre for one end of the tank and a Tunze 6105 for the other
Heater: Thinking 2x 300w titanium heaters and controller from BRS
Skimmer: Looking at a lot of options, but I'm a bit lost on which to pick. Thinking RO 202 S8.
Filter Socks
Return pump: Thinking COR 20
My questions now:
-Is that powerhead setup too funky? I haven't been able to find people running one of each kind of pump.
-Is that skimmer the best option? I'm looking at a medium-heavily stocked tank eventually
-Should I add a fourth AI Prime? That center brace is throwing me off for lighting
-What other equipment have I not thought of?
Thanks for any help!
What I currently have:
180 gallon Oceanic tank 6'x2'x2' with 18" glass brace in the center (unsure if it's starfire or not)
Stand (I will more than likely build a new one on my own)
3x AI Prime 16
Modular Marine 2400gph overflow
Reefbreeder ATO
Some live sand and rock from an existing 40g tank (this whole tank will be moved to the 180g)
2x Jebao OW wavemakers
55 gallon tank which will be converted to a sump
What I know I still need:
Powerheads: thinking of adding an Icecap 4k Gyre for one end of the tank and a Tunze 6105 for the other
Heater: Thinking 2x 300w titanium heaters and controller from BRS
Skimmer: Looking at a lot of options, but I'm a bit lost on which to pick. Thinking RO 202 S8.
Filter Socks
Return pump: Thinking COR 20
My questions now:
-Is that powerhead setup too funky? I haven't been able to find people running one of each kind of pump.
-Is that skimmer the best option? I'm looking at a medium-heavily stocked tank eventually
-Should I add a fourth AI Prime? That center brace is throwing me off for lighting
-What other equipment have I not thought of?
Thanks for any help!