need help planning a 180g

creep · 02/20/2008, 07:04 PM

I am in the planning stages for my 180g setup. Here is what I'm thinking I should get, tell me if I'm wrong.

180gallon AGA tank with 1 center overflow
75gallon tank modified to be a sump. left section is where the overflow will drain, it will also be where my skimmer is, middle is the return, and right side will be my fuge with a 4-6" sandbed, LR rubble and chaeto
ASM G-3 skimmer
72" 14 bulb Aquactinics Constellation T5 lighting unit
Quietone 4000 for return pump
4 Koralia #4's (2 on each side, one on the side in front of the LR about half way down and the other on the back glass pointing towards the front center of the tank.)
2 Koralia @2's ( towards the bottom of the side behind the rocks blowing towards the upper center back of the tank.)
220lbs of LR
200 lbs of LS
10 gallon tank for auto top off system

I plan to keep a variety of corals, SPS on the upper half, and lower light demanding corals towards the lower half.

For fish I plan:
2 tank raised Ocellaris clowns
4 blue/green chromis
1 firefish
1 royal gramma
1 yellow watchman goby
1 powder blue tang
1 yellow tang
1 blue hippo tang
maybe a mandarin goby in a year or so when I have the pod life to support it.

What kind of clean up crew should I get?

What size heater should I get?

How does this sound? I am planning on spending around 5-6K for the tank and everything needed alone, and then spend whatever I need to spend on livestock. Is this reasonable?

enemec1 · 02/20/2008, 07:40 PM

save yourself some money and look at your local reef clubs for used equipment and Live Rock. I have close to 400 pounds of live rock and I never paid more than 3 dollars a pound, plus the tank will cycle in days rather than weeks.
Heater, Get two just in case one fails. 250w each should be fine.
stay away from blue legged hermits. Again look local for all take your time dont rush. I spent 6 months collecting befor my first drop of water. GOOD LUCK.

creep · 02/20/2008, 07:44 PM

Thanks for the advise. I am actually going to be getting a second job to save the money for the tank. I predict between 10-12 months before I ever see a drop of water. I will definately be looking to get some used stuff from local people. My biggest concern is the skimmer. Is a ASM G-3 enough for my setup? Also I have no idea what kind of clean up crew to get. Are there any reef safe crabs? what kinds of snails to get? its all so very confusing at times

Graf-X · 02/20/2008, 08:50 PM

Sounds like a nice build... I agree with enemec, you can find a lot of the items local/used. Heck, I practically gave away my live rock last time I broke down my setup.

For skimming a 180g, Ive heard a lot of nice things about the Reeflo Orca 200.

With that deep sandbed in the fuge are you going to go with a plenum?

creep · 02/20/2008, 09:05 PM

Until now I never heard of a plenum, but after doing a quick search on google, I might have to research it a little more. Thanks for the tip on reeflo Orca.

enemec1 · 02/21/2008, 04:13 PM

I have a sally light foot to take help with the hair algae, 2 emerald crabs in the tank to keep any buble algae in check if it ever comes back

02/20/2008, 07:04 PM	#1
creep Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 331	need help planning a 180g I am in the planning stages for my 180g setup. Here is what I'm thinking I should get, tell me if I'm wrong. 180gallon AGA tank with 1 center overflow 75gallon tank modified to be a sump. left section is where the overflow will drain, it will also be where my skimmer is, middle is the return, and right side will be my fuge with a 4-6" sandbed, LR rubble and chaeto ASM G-3 skimmer 72" 14 bulb Aquactinics Constellation T5 lighting unit Quietone 4000 for return pump 4 Koralia #4's (2 on each side, one on the side in front of the LR about half way down and the other on the back glass pointing towards the front center of the tank.) 2 Koralia @2's ( towards the bottom of the side behind the rocks blowing towards the upper center back of the tank.) 220lbs of LR 200 lbs of LS 10 gallon tank for auto top off system I plan to keep a variety of corals, SPS on the upper half, and lower light demanding corals towards the lower half. For fish I plan: 2 tank raised Ocellaris clowns 4 blue/green chromis 1 firefish 1 royal gramma 1 yellow watchman goby 1 powder blue tang 1 yellow tang 1 blue hippo tang maybe a mandarin goby in a year or so when I have the pod life to support it. What kind of clean up crew should I get? What size heater should I get? How does this sound? I am planning on spending around 5-6K for the tank and everything needed alone, and then spend whatever I need to spend on livestock. Is this reasonable?

02/20/2008, 07:40 PM	#2
enemec1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rydal PA Posts: 904	save yourself some money and look at your local reef clubs for used equipment and Live Rock. I have close to 400 pounds of live rock and I never paid more than 3 dollars a pound, plus the tank will cycle in days rather than weeks. Heater, Get two just in case one fails. 250w each should be fine. stay away from blue legged hermits. Again look local for all take your time dont rush. I spent 6 months collecting befor my first drop of water. GOOD LUCK. __________________ Help my wife is going to kill me, I'm spending my sons college funds. Current Tank Info: 210 AGA RR in wall just built with a 100g sump, &70g fuge

02/21/2008, 04:13 PM	#6
enemec1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rydal PA Posts: 904	I have a sally light foot to take help with the hair algae, 2 emerald crabs in the tank to keep any buble algae in check if it ever comes back __________________ Help my wife is going to kill me, I'm spending my sons college funds. Current Tank Info: 210 AGA RR in wall just built with a 100g sump, &70g fuge

02/20/2008, 07:44 PM	#3
creep Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 331	Thanks for the advise. I am actually going to be getting a second job to save the money for the tank. I predict between 10-12 months before I ever see a drop of water. I will definately be looking to get some used stuff from local people. My biggest concern is the skimmer. Is a ASM G-3 enough for my setup? Also I have no idea what kind of clean up crew to get. Are there any reef safe crabs? what kinds of snails to get? its all so very confusing at times

02/20/2008, 08:50 PM	#4
Graf-X Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 248	Sounds like a nice build... I agree with enemec, you can find a lot of the items local/used. Heck, I practically gave away my live rock last time I broke down my setup. For skimming a 180g, Ive heard a lot of nice things about the Reeflo Orca 200. With that deep sandbed in the fuge are you going to go with a plenum?

02/20/2008, 09:05 PM	#5
creep Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 331	Until now I never heard of a plenum, but after doing a quick search on google, I might have to research it a little more. Thanks for the tip on reeflo Orca.