448 Gallon Softy Reef....What Equipment??

kirkaz · 05/11/2012, 10:42 AM

My wife and I are building a custom home and I'm doing 2 in wall tanks. One will be a continuation of my current FOWLR, only bigger. For the other tank I want to do a primarily Soft Coral Reef. It will be 6x4x2.5. I would like to do some LPS, but primarily I prefer soft corals, I'm not really and SPS guy for whatever reason....Colts, Toadstools, Devil's Hand, Hairy Mushrooms and so on and on. I've been in the hobby for 11 years, but have never set up a tank based primarily on corals so was looking for some help. I have received quotes from 2 companies, one would just do tank and stand (local company), the other is ATM which priced out everything. We don't break ground for about 4 months, but trying to plan ahead and decide which company to go with.

The things I know for sure is I will do a massive skimmer, and a refugium.

What lights would you do?
Should I do....
Ozone?
Calcium Reactor?
Nitrate and Phosphate Reactors?
UV?
Ideal turnover rate?
Anything else?

As far as stocking, I initially plan on keeping the live stock small....Wrasses, Anthias, Clowns, Gobies, would like some Mandarin, lots of shrimp and crustacean, no bigger fish like Tangs at least in the beginning. The other tank is centered around fish.

Thanks!

SilverGTS · 05/15/2012, 04:56 PM

Honestly IME you don't need a crazy skimmer. Softies and LPS do like their water a little dirty unlike SPS. I would do a less aggressive skimmer like a venturi driven (like a Tunze) instead of a needlewheel. I remember back in the 90's seeing 400+gal dutch tanks using nothing more than a moderate sized skimmer and WC's. Lighting you could do either LED's or T5's, Lots of flow, not sure if a calcium reactor would be worth it maybe 2-part. Sure some others can chime in on this. Could try Biopellets since you're not doing SPS (no RTN/ STN risk). I have always just tried to keep it simple.

-Chris

05/11/2012, 10:42 AM	#1
kirkaz Ping Golf Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 1,636	448 Gallon Softy Reef....What Equipment?? My wife and I are building a custom home and I'm doing 2 in wall tanks. One will be a continuation of my current FOWLR, only bigger. For the other tank I want to do a primarily Soft Coral Reef. It will be 6x4x2.5. I would like to do some LPS, but primarily I prefer soft corals, I'm not really and SPS guy for whatever reason....Colts, Toadstools, Devil's Hand, Hairy Mushrooms and so on and on. I've been in the hobby for 11 years, but have never set up a tank based primarily on corals so was looking for some help. I have received quotes from 2 companies, one would just do tank and stand (local company), the other is ATM which priced out everything. We don't break ground for about 4 months, but trying to plan ahead and decide which company to go with. The things I know for sure is I will do a massive skimmer, and a refugium. What lights would you do? Should I do.... Ozone? Calcium Reactor? Nitrate and Phosphate Reactors? UV? Ideal turnover rate? Anything else? As far as stocking, I initially plan on keeping the live stock small....Wrasses, Anthias, Clowns, Gobies, would like some Mandarin, lots of shrimp and crustacean, no bigger fish like Tangs at least in the beginning. The other tank is centered around fish. Thanks! __________________ _______________________________________________________________ Current Tanks-240 Gallon FOWLR, Angels, Triggers, Wrasses and a big Sohal Tang.....28 gallon JBJ Nano reef. Hobby experience-since 2001.

05/15/2012, 04:56 PM	#2
SilverGTS Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 147	Honestly IME you don't need a crazy skimmer. Softies and LPS do like their water a little dirty unlike SPS. I would do a less aggressive skimmer like a venturi driven (like a Tunze) instead of a needlewheel. I remember back in the 90's seeing 400+gal dutch tanks using nothing more than a moderate sized skimmer and WC's. Lighting you could do either LED's or T5's, Lots of flow, not sure if a calcium reactor would be worth it maybe 2-part. Sure some others can chime in on this. Could try Biopellets since you're not doing SPS (no RTN/ STN risk). I have always just tried to keep it simple. -Chris __________________ Oceanic 215 gallon Reef tank- Gone -20H Nano reef- PAR38's-AC70 Refugium-Reef Octopus BH1000-RKL-Tunze ATO-Vortech MP10 Current Tank Info: 20H Nano