New Tank Setup Questions

[SarlinDescent]

After great success with my Nuvo 10, I am looking for something a little larger. I was planning on a 40b with 40b sump, but after doing the exact layout of the stand to add other components, I have decided to do a 75 with 40b sump and cut up the other 40 for baffles...Cost of baffles around here is WAY too high ($35/baffle of 1/4 inch glass).

 

Tank will be a mixed reef. I am receiving the rock today, but planning on a duel large island setup slightly offset. And some mini islands around them to isolate some long sweeper corals.

 

Question 1:

I will be running a beananimal drain on the tank. I have always see it where the restriction gate on the full siphon line is always right at the top. Do this have to be there, or can I move it down into the tank.

 

Question 2:

I was planning on 2 Kessil A160 driven lighting with either 2 T5s in the back to supplement. Will I be able to run the same setup, and just add 2 more T5s to the front? Do I need to do 360s instead?

 

Question 3: When running a canopy with front and rear T5s, do I need fans? I have quite a few spare 120mm and 140mm fans from a PC build. Can I mount these to the back of the canopy? Do I need them on the sides...Do I need one by each front and back...Is a cross flow in/out better?....

 

I may have more questions, but my notes didn't save . Thank you for any help you can provide.

[seabass]

Sorry, I'm not an expert on any of these topics, but feel you deserve a response.

 

1) I'm not sure that it matters. You are just restricting the flow to fill the drain with water (eliminating air in the line). That said, I like to try and replicate successful setups when possible.

 

2) What kind of mixed reef are you planning to keep? Four high output T5s are plenty by themselves for most soft coral and LPS. However, if you plan on keeping lots of SPS, you might be more successful with more powerful LED pendants. I'd contact Kessil and ask them what they think.

 

3) If the canopy is not vented, you'll need something. Cross ventilation is probably best, but might not be required. However you could probably achieve it by blowing air in one side and exhausting it out the other side.

[GMay]

What seabass said, but I would add that you might consider just LED lighting. The Kessil AP700, while expensive, might be a better choice and give you better coverage.

[Clown79]

I had a 55g with 4 t5 ho's. I loved my t5's, great colour and growth in corals. I even had a gorgeous clam(at the time ppl advised on metal halides for clams as t5's were just becoming the light to use)

 

They do get warm! I had a fixture with 2 fans built in which really helped keep my temp stable.

[SarlinDescent]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I have been planning out the reef a bit more. This is the stocking list I intend to go with atm (over the course of a WHILE):

 

75/40b Stocking

Fish:

 

Moving from the Nuvo:

2 Grade A Piccasso Clownfish Pair
1 Randall's Goby/Candycane Pistol Pair (ideally under 1 island)

 

Looking to get:
1 Hi-Fin Goby/Tiger Pistol Pair (ideally under the other island)
1 Indigo Dottyback
1 Copper Banded Butterfly
3 Bluegreen Chromis
2 Firefish

 

Inverts:
1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Have)
2 Show Clams

 

CUC:
15 Trochus Snails
5 Scarlet Hermits
1 Fighting Conch
5 Narrarius Snails
5 Dwarf Cerith
1 Emerald Crab

 

Corals:
Hammers
Torches
Frogspawn (Octo/Grape)
Acans
Acro
Birds Nest
Plate
Duncan
Favia
Lobo
Elegance
Plating Monti
Blastos
Scoly
Bubble

 

 

 

Intended Stocking order:

 

2 Firefish

1 Randall's Goby/Candycane Pistol Pair (ideally under 1 island)
1 Hi-Fin Goby/Tiger Pistol Pair (ideally under the other island)

2 Grade A Piccasso Clownfish Pair

3 Bluegreen Chromis
1 Indigo Dottyback
3 Bluegreen Chromis

1 Copper Banded Butterfly

[Hammerstone]

How do you know which goby will pair with which shrimp? Well I reread this and I guess the one pair already know each other so they would likely not switch shrimp? I'm still clueless lol.

[Clown79]

Copper banded butterfly is very difficult to keep. They are delicate eaters.

 

They need very large system with peaceful tank mates.

 

They are also cautioned for reef systems as they are known to go after invertebrates, feather dusters, and corals.

[SarlinDescent]

How do you know which goby will pair with which shrimp? Well I reread this and I guess the one pair already know each other so they would likely not switch shrimp? I'm still clueless lol.

The one set is already paired. I plan to put both new ones down a tube at the second island with a premade tunnel start. I am hoping this will keep them together and on that island.