New Tank Design

[crypt]

hi i am about to start on the road to a marine tank ive been reading and reading and ive finaly decided what i want to do i have a 4ft long i want to use and am about to start building the stand and here where my questions start i want to have a sump/refuge ive read the threads and other sites about them but what are peoples opinons diy if so how hard is it or should i buy one? and what lighting i want to have a FOWLR tank but i know that ill probaly want to upgrade later on so what do you think i should add lighting wise is their a way i can have some low light demanding soft corals or am i completly heading in the wrong direction thanks for your time

 

[Aquascaper]

DIY the stand and sump

Use T5's for your lighting and you won't go far wrong

 

[maestro]

Lighting wise I would add a couple of t8's, you good keep some low light corals under these.

Id design your own sump and then get it made for you unles syou have experience with tank building

 

[Aquascaper]

Considering Crypt mentioned that he would be upgrading later on I think T8's would be a waste of money, the difference between T8's and T5's is next to nothing when you factor in the cost of upgrading later on. Buy T5's now and they will last you right up until the point where you upgrade the tank to a bigger one

You don't need any experience at all to build a sump, all you need is a bare tank and some sheets of glass or acrylic. As the extra baffles will not be under pressure it doesn't have to be a professional job. As long as you can silicone two things together you can manage it.

 

[crypt]

ok thanks for the info ill keep on reading whilst im building and i should be ok, are their any good sites anyone knows of for already designed sumps that i could just copy i have 4ft under my tank so 3 ft sump/refuge someone told me with live rock and a sump/refuge i wudnt need a skimmer im not sure if this is true tho i dont think i belive it but please correct me?

 

[Aquascaper]

Sump Designs

With a sump you will still need a skimmer for a tank that size as the Live Rock, etc. alone will not remove enough organic wastes and regular water changes is a bit out of the question (unless you like buying salt and mixing it up all the time)

 

[Opcn]

it costs approximately 4 times as much to buy a sump than it does to make one yourself. I agree with the T-5 notion, by 4 foot tank I am assuming you mean a 55 gallon, and when you factor in how a 55 gallon is about as wide as the backside of a flea and on the tallish side you need high intensity lighting to keep moderately needy corals.

 

[crypt]

hi when adding t5s how much space above the tank do they take up? ie how high from the water survace will they need to be thanks

 

[Aquascaper]

As high as any normal light unit in a hood - as long as they're not in the water or in danger of getting splashed constantly they'll be fine. Obviously the lower they are the more intense the light will be in the tank.

 

[crypt]

ok finally getting somewhere, today i started building the stand its looking good but due to me and my mate from college who does carpentry (he does all the work), completly changing our minds on what to do ive run out of wood so tommrow ill be off to get some more so we can finish it all, ill post some pics if anyones intrested and i can keep posting right up till its finished if anyones needs another another diary of progress, cheers for the help so far questions that probaly sounds silly like how high from the water do the lights need to be were causing a complete head ache in planing the stand, so heres my next question i want to have T5s ive read about them i know i can have the kind that sit on the tank or hang above, also that you cant have T5s in the normal T8 starter units, so could i get a T5 starter unit and add the bulbs to that then attach the tubes my self to the wooden beams in my stand just above the tank if so how many bulbs do you guys think id need also are the 120cm T5s the same watage as T8s (38w)? thanks again

 

[Aquascaper]

Could I get a T5 starter unit and add the bulbs to that then attach the tubes myself to the wooden beams in my stand just above the tank

Yes, use tube light clips and reflectors.

How many bulbs do you guys think i'd need

As many as you can fit under the hood
As you're looking to upgrade to a reef one day you'll obviously need as much as possible. For a FOWLR one white and one actinic blue would suffice. If moneys tight mount two tubes but leave room for another 2/4 if possible.

Are the 120cm T5s the same watage as T8s (38w)?

46" (117cm) T5's are rated at 54w and provide a much higher intensity of light than T8's which penetrates a lot deeper into the tank.

 

[crypt]

just a quick one would this

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/HELIOS-T5-PROFESSION...1QQcmdZViewItem

be any good for my lighting?

 

[SkiFletch]

you're on the right track there, but for a 4 foot tank, thats a little light on the lighting

 

[Opcn]

thats exactly the sort of ballast you want IMO

 

[Aquascaper]

I was watching that item too with a view to buying it.