New Marine 4foot X 2 Foot X 2 Foot

[Sunny.C]

Hey guys

Need you advice on if this is a good setup and what i can do to improve it.

Tank 4fx2fx2f
Mini reef 60cm45cmx45cm
Ocean Runner 6500/hr pump
Ocean Runner 2000/hr pump
2 x 150W metal halide lights + 2 x T5 High Output 39W Actinic Floro Globes and
2 x Blue LED Globes (moon lighting)
Live Rock 60kg
50kg White marble
300w heater
etc...

I am think of going for 1 dwarf Lion, 1 flame angel, 1 tang what else can i have in there that is interesting and colourful without over stocking?

What do you guys think?
Am i missing anything or can i improve anything?

 

[Matthew5664]

Skimmer?

 

[Sunny.C]

Yes i have a skimmer also in mind just dont know the model yet, it will be placed in sump.

 

[Matthew5664]

Deltec AP600 would be a good buy for you size tank. and if you go for an 'insump' set-up then this skimmer can be gravity fed fromyour overflow.

 

[ASD]

I assume the OR 6500 will be for the return and the 2000 will be flow? If so you will need more flow for your live rock to become an effective filtration system.

IMO ditch the 'white marble' and just have live rock, 60k will be ok if you are lightly stocking. You can always add more cured at a later date.

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed. Good skimmer, more LR and you'll be in good shape . I'd look into wrasses and anthias for a tank of that size for some color and stocking options. Great reef fish and can really put out some color in a nice big tank

Also, dont know if you can get one where you are, but I'd love to have a Garibaldi Damselfish in a big tank (sadly mines too small ). They're nothing like regular damsels. Very shy and very big. An orange fish with green accents on the body and fins.

 

[Sunny.C]

Thanks for your advice guys.

Yes i will be starting with 60k LR and later adding more.
"I assume the OR 6500 will be for the return and the 2000 will be flow?"
Yes this is correct, what do you guys suggest i do? i already have the pumps.

"IMO ditch the 'white marble' and just have live rock" The White marble i was
going to use as my base, are you guys saying i should use LR as my base or live sand???

 

[ASD]

The OR6500 will be perfect for the return from the sump

For circulation, check out the Seio's or if you are feeling a little flush go for the Tunze Streams. I have the same size tank as you and use Streams for water circulation, you really cannot beat them.

White marble will do nothing in your tank apart from take up valuable water volume, it will never become live due to its density. Just use live rock. If you want to use something for a base rock use reef bones, this will become live over time. Or, a lot of poeple use egg crate to lift the live rock above the sand so the water movement can flow all the way around the rock. The chioce is yours. I just stack the rock on top of the sand.

 

[JJ1234567]

one thing to mention about the garibaldi, is that they are cold water fish, not reef fish. So couldnt do that and a reef.

 

[SkiFletch]

one thing to mention about the garibaldi, is that they are cold water fish, not reef fish. So couldnt do that and a reef.

Thats what I thought too until I met two people who kept them in reefs for 5+ years each

Apparently they can adapt to the higher temps in most reefs

 

[Sunny.C]

So is the OR2500 enough for water movement in tank?
I will change my gravel from white marble to sand, is that a better option??

I am thinking of going for a blue or yellow tang prefer both

Fish: 1 dwarf Lion, 1 flame angel, 1 blue tang and 1 yellow.
Is that to much in the tank?? Will they all get along???

 

[Great Lakes]

I don't think you will be happy with the OR 6500 for a main return.

The Ocean Runner pump ouput starts to drop off quickly with six feet of head.
For a tank this size it is time to really step up to a good quality inline pump.
Take a look at the Dolphin ampmasters and the Gen-x pumps.


GL

 

[ASD]

So is the OR2500 enough for water movement in tank?
I will change my gravel from white marble to sand, is that a better option??

I am thinking of going for a blue or yellow tang prefer both

Fish: 1 dwarf Lion, 1 flame angel, 1 blue tang and 1 yellow.
Is that to much in the tank?? Will they all get along???

The OR 2500 is not enough, 2 possibly with the return from the sump as well. I would consider investing in the 'volume' pumps (Seio's and Streams).

Mixing Tangs is a risky business, sometimes it works, mostly it doesnt unless its a very large tank. If you want to add more than 1 tang, add the least agressive species first then add the second. (The yellow is one of the more least agressive).

There are several 'blue' tangs, the more common are Regal Tangs and Powder Blue Tangs.

 

[Sunny.C]

This is what my supplier has told me to do, please take a look and give me your feedback on it.
Sorry about poor drawing

 

[SkiFletch]

Thats a reasonable drawing. Is he advocating a trickle through the coral rubble and nitrate filter sections, or is he advocating they be fully submerged? Also is he advocating an inline skimmer or in-sump skimmer?

I never reccomend trickle filtration as it can be a HUGE nitrate trap and Im' also not much a fan of using rubble, although in the sump it may be OK.

Since you have tons of room to work with, I'd drain into either your in-line skimmer or into a chamber on the left side of the sump with an in-sump skimmer. Then, I'd overflow into a second chamber in the middle which I would build as a lit refugium housing macro algae (chaetomorpha), sand, and some LR. Then I'd have a bubble wall as depicted into the 3rd chamber for the return pump. Is your LFS advocating a submersible return pump or an external? When you start getting into the 4000L/hr @ ~4-6 feet of head range you're talking a BIG pump. Often times, submersible pumps that large put out a LOT of heat into the water which is great in the winter but horrific in the summer. I'd use an external pump drilled through the wall with WIDE bulkhead fittings