What do I need for the perfect 30gal?

[KLR]

I will be picking up a marineland 30gal tank today and I want this tank to be the perfect display cube.

What all do I need to have the perfect little tank.

I want it to have sps,alot of acroporas, and alot of LPS,mainly chalices. Possibly some zoas will end up in there,but I dought it...

I can not hang the light from the ceiling so what light fixture would be best for this tank?
Skimmer?
Should I use a canister filter?
or sump?
flow?

This tank will be barebottom. Do I need starboard for a tank this small??

 

[skinz78]

I would go a mixture of T5 and LED lighting on it.

Definitely go with a sump.

I would go with a MP10 for flow.

Definitely need sand IMHO.

 

[KLR]

Ok,any suggestion on a t5 fixtue for this tank?
Would 4 bulb TEK Elite work? Then add leds for color supplement?

For the sump what overflow and return,would work best?

Im going to do BB at first,then if I dont like it I will add sand.

 

[skinz78]

TEK lights are awesome so yeah that should work.

For the overflow I would go with one of these: CS100 Premium Aquatics - CS100 Aquarium Supplies

I would get the 1260 for a return pump, they are awesome pumps! Water Currents and Movement in Aquariums: Eheim Hobby Pumps

 

[KLR]

Ok

My lfs carries pondmaster pumps,if I got close to the same gph pump,would that work fine?

Also what tank would work best as a sump for this tank? or just geta pre-made sump?

 

[m and m]

I would go with ATI its a better fixture and you basicly are asking for the best. Two MP10's dialed down a Quality doser/cal rex a good skimmer and you should be good.

 

[m and m]

There is a world of diffrence between pond master and Ehiem do a little research. Get a custom sump it will be fairly cheap due to size and exacly what you need.

Ok

My lfs carries pondmaster pumps,if I got close to the same gph pump,would that work fine?

Also what tank would work best as a sump for this tank? or just geta pre-made sump?

 

[KLR]

Ok. I will search them.

I have a BM 3-Part doser,that I havent used. I guess I will use it on this tank,since it will have the finicky acroporas.

 

[m and m]

Its also there will be large parameter swings in a well stocked (with sps) 30g. Its not alot of water valume for the corals to pull from (ALK,CAL,MAG) with out it effecting the water.

 

[skinz78]

I would just get a 29g tank and build a sump, you should be able to keep all your stuff in that and plus that almost doubles your water volume.

 

[mallorieGgator]

I like the Aquaticlife fixtures. They work great and have amazing reflectors. I keep SPS under mine. They also have a built in timer that controls the blue lights, white lights, and moonlights. I would go with the bulb combo of:
1 KZ Fiji purple
1 KZ new generation
2 ATI blue plus

I would also go with the MP10 with controller and battery backup. They have the wireless option and the one with a wire.
Go with live sand and skip on the live rock. Maybe seed your tank with sand from someone elses cycled tank. Live rock has too many bad hitch-hikers IME. I would use dry man-made rock. Marco Rocks has some beautiful dry rock.

For a heater, go with one on a controller. Use a metal heater but don't get stainless steel or it'll rust on you.

Go with a 10 or 20 gallon sump and a reef octopus skimmer. I would also build a little refugium into the sump to hold macroalgaes and a deep sand bed for added filtration.

Hope this helps some. Good luck! :)

 

[salmonshutters]

Get a custom sump it will be fairly cheap due to size and exacly what you need.

Where would one find one of these for fairly cheap?