Proposed new setup... thoughts?

I have not had a salt water tank in years, but I have been looking into it over the last year or so. Any ways, I think I have found what will be my new setup. Please send me your thoughts.

Equipment:
-Tank: 72g bow front AG tank
-Top: AG bow glass top
-Light: 4x65w CF Custom SeaLife unit w/moon lighting (2x 10,000K, 2x Actinic)
-Filter/Protein Skimmer: Remora Pro protein skimmer w/MAG 3 drive + Pre-skimmer
-Powerheads/current creators: Rio 600 x2, 3x Rio 1100. With wave timing surge strip (looking for options)
-2-4" Southdown sand w/10lbs live sand worked in
-20lbs of live rock w/20lbs dry rock (hopefully the live rock will spread onto the dry rock)
-Visitherm Dlx 250w heater
-Reef crystals sea salt mix

I am looking for a fish, live rock, soft coral setup- over time obviously. I figured I would 1st fill the tank with sand and mixed water, then seed in live sand. I would install protein skimmer and light assembly and drop in 2-4 raw cocktail shrimp. Week later add live rock and dry rock (possibly in 5-7lb increments every 2 days, unless I can add it all in at once). Leave for 1 week. Testing every few days. Then install cleaner crew (random crabs, stars, etc).

Does this sound about right? Not sure about when I should install/run protein skimmer, add live rock, use lighting, etc. Also I have a very broad idea of how the tank will cycle.

For right now though I need to know I am purchasing the right equipment.

Any help with details I would greatly appreciate it! I plan to use the live sand and rock as my primary filtration, along with the protein skimmer. No canister or dry/wet system now (or in the near seeable future.

[Matt Rogers]

Hi Tom,

For a guy that's been out of the hobby for years, it's obvious you have been doing your homework. Nice job.

Looking at your hardware, the 1st thing I'd change is to use Maxi-Jets instead of Rios. I started with a Rio on my Remora and quickly switched to a Maxi-Jet 1200. The Rio sounded like an electric razor in my tank. The difference is amazing. The Maxi-Jets are much quieter... and safer. Rios are notorious for bad quality control.

The other thing is the light. That's a nice light and will work great for softies - low light/hardy corals like shrooms, leathers, bubbles, etc - which I happen to like a lot, but if you get the SPS hard coral bug, you will quickly be getting a halide or the like.

I have always started the skimmer right away without ill effects but I believe some don't during the cycle although its not clear to me why.

Anyway, sounds good, keep us posted. If you become a member here you can (hopefully, some issue with it lately) receive email notifications when people reply to your threads.

matt

Thanks for the reply!

I opted for the Mag Drive 3 on my Remora Pro (vs the Rio 1400), Mag Drive is not made by Rio is it? I bascially upgraded all that I could- also added the pre-skimmer option.

I am also thinking about using Zoo Med powersweeps. What are your thoughts on these? I like that they will create more random current, and I figured I could setup 2 on a timer, to create a day/night effect. Thought maybe 2 of the largest size units and 1-2 of the smaller units. Then I can possibly work with timers and really setup random flows and/or day night cycles. Thoughts?

You guys are great here, I am learning a LOT!

[Matt Rogers]

No the Mag on the Remora is a good move and Mags are not Rios. I saw Rios listed as your powerheads. That is what I was talking about- ditching those and getting Maxi-Jets.

I have read very little good about the Power Sweeps - nearly everybody has problems with them jamming. If someone gave them to me I would probably put sponge-prefilters on them and hope for the best, but I would not buy them. Too bad. Good concept, I hope they figure the jamming out.

[omard]

Hi Matt & Tom, et. al....

The Zoo-Meds are my first experience with any kind of powerhead...so have little to compare with...

Mine have been running for about 3-weeks now...and have made it through some severe algae blooms with little effect on performance...
Is easy to see how the "sweeping" head may get gummed up over time...they are going to take some routine cleaning to keep in operation - probably more then powerheads that just sit there and push out water...

They come - at least the larger ones with sponge pre-filters for the water intakes...

No complaints so far, but I have a smaller tank and am not asking much of them...

Rgds,

OmarD

[Matt Rogers]

ahh.. omard. i knew somebody had them here recently but i couldn't remember who! please keep us up to date on your experiences with those things.. i'd be interested in knowing more. [smiley=smoke.gif]

[karlas]

i agree with maxi jets and hagens. both are 2 years old and have been going since day one. ive tried other brands but they seem to go kaput after a couple of months