8FEET or 10FEET or MORE? PLS HELP!!!!

[timmy]

Dear ALL EXPERIENCED SHIFU and TEACHERS and GURU

aluable

I am planning to set up a large tank after my decom 8years ago.

Thinking should I ....

1) GO with 8 Feet?

2) 10 Feet?

3) or larger?

I want .....

1) Mix reef with fishes and corals, clams and everything

I might wanna go automated dosing?

Please help to contribute with tank size, the sump size, the equipment...... and shall I go with mangrove planting in the sump??

Your wish is my command and I will try to build my tank around your valuable suggestion

thank you

[tropic]

I'm no guru.. But 2cents from me..

Anything larger than 5/6ft is a Challenge to upkeep and more else if you have a mixed reef. Do consider the numbers and type of lighting that you may need, consideration for water changes, cooling of the tank( definitely advised go for compressor) and also the maintenance upkeep. If cost and space is not an issue , then it's up to anyone imagination.

[timmy]

I'm no guru.. But 2cents from me..

Anything larger than 5/6ft is a Challenge to upkeep and more else if you have a mixed reef. Do consider the numbers and type of lighting that you may need, consideration for water changes, cooling of the tank( definitely advised go for compressor) and also the maintenance upkeep. If cost and space is not an issue , then it's up to anyone imagination.

Hi SIR

thank you for your 1st advise

I am planning to to spend about 8 to 10K on this project and space is not an issue as I am staying in a house and I am planning to install compressor to cool the tank and use LED for lighting

Lighting Issue .....

For I am planning to make deep thank of more than 3Feet is this advisable?, and with deep thank can we still run LED or do I have to go back to Metal Hailide?

maintenance wise, I can water changing is not a problem , and supplements will be dose by controllers

guess after the initial start up cost , I have to pay just for the electric bill for the lighting, compressor, pumps, and water bill

..... please keep your advise and suggestion coming in.....

thank you

[KELVINx3]

just my 2cents. don't think LED can penetrate too deep down if you're thinking of 3ft deep. MH will always be the best

[dnsfpl]

does your budget include the cost of tank? livestock & corals? or just the equipment?

imo 10k a bit tight for 8 footer

[timmy]

Hi AT

I have budgeted 8K to 10K for tank, and equipments, rocks and others,

Price budgeted does not include any live stock

And I am thinking of DIY

What do you think?

thank you

does your budget include the cost of tank? livestock & corals? or just the equipment?

imo 10k a bit tight for 8 footer

[chrislwp]

Even 10k is pretty tight for a 8 footer mainly on equipment alone.

Consider a big skimmer, chiller, lighting, few return pumps, wave maker, reactor and cost of the tank. Probably just nice with proper planning.

[timmy]

Thank you bro AT and Grouper for the costing advise

May I ask for help on the cost break down and how I spend my 10K?

COST approximate

1) 8' x 3' x 3' Tank and over flow and 4' x 3' x 3' dimension in Length X Height X Width

2) Custom Hardwood 8' x 4' x 3' Cabinet

3) ALL valves and tap and piping to run the above setup

4) Compressor Chiller 1.5 or 2 HP?

5) 4 x 4' High Power LED for the TANK?

or

2 x 8'High Power LED Custom

6) ROCKS?

7) HUGE Skimmer

8) Controller for dosing

9) Wave maker

..... anything else to add in please help to add in .....

thank you all for contributing and we hope to accomodate all your ideas in my project

thank you

Even 10k is pretty tight for a 8 footer mainly on equipment alone.

Consider a big skimmer, chiller, lighting, few return pumps, wave maker, reactor and cost of the tank. Probably just nice with proper planning.

[yeo99]

Very interesting, hope to see the pictures of your tank in the forum soon.

[LittleBurger]

Thank you bro AT and Grouper for the costing advise

May I ask for help on the cost break down and how I spend my 10K?

COST approximate

1) 8' x 3' x 3' Tank and over flow and 4' x 3' x 3' dimension in Length X Height X Width

2) Custom Hardwood 8' x 4' x 3' Cabinet

3) ALL valves and tap and piping to run the above setup

4) Compressor Chiller 1.5 or 2 HP?

5) 4 x 4' High Power LED for the TANK?

or

2 x 8'High Power LED Custom

6) ROCKS?

7) HUGE Skimmer

8) Controller for dosing

9) Wave maker

..... anything else to add in please help to add in .....

thank you all for contributing and we hope to accomodate all your ideas in my project

thank you

like wat the reefers said here. 10k budget is quite tight. I think for u to estimate whether yr 10k can support yr needs.

1) tank size of 8ft length n 3ft wide. Better get a est. quote the tank thickness n if crystal glass. 4 by 3 ft by 3ft using 15mm thick glass. u be surprised from 12mm to 15mm jump in thickness, the price jump is quite significant.

2) Such huge tank need lots of LIVEROCKS. if u wan good LR, think coral farm selling $16 per kg. U will need a few hundred kg.

3) since LED is the IN thing now. MH is not So expensive compare to the past. a 8ft tank might need 3mh supplemented by T5.

4) Next is yr wavemaker. Probably u need at least 2x mp 60.

5) chiller compressor u need ask Derek for advice on 1.5 or 2 hp.

6) Skimmer also will take up a chunk of yr budget.

Best is u use the online tools and calculate the total water vol inclusive of tank n sump. from there u will know wat capacity Skimmer, wsvemaker n chiller compressor hp u need.

normally wat I read from reefing forums, for huge tank, u run calcium reactor is much much more cheaper than dosing.

U live in Jiak Hong Chu ah? 8x3x3 tank, yr house must be big n strong.

[Solo77]

Suggest u go to lfs to get quote and do comparison.Going to a shop to do up all maybe cheaper than u source ard.

[serravorte]

Unless use 2nd hand equipment... If not confirm not enough... Tts my 2 cents...

Typically a 6 footer will cost around 10k to setup...

Wats more urs is the super challenging 3ft height...

Mabb u can consult Ching chai from Thailand for advise..

His tank is huge...

[tropic]

Ching chai from Thailand literally has a room for fish and his systems..

[kirbysjb]

Support u bro! Bigger the better =X

[timmy]

like wat the reefers said here. 10k budget is quite tight. I think for u to estimate whether yr 10k can support yr needs.

1) tank size of 8ft length n 3ft wide. Better get a est. quote the tank thickness n if crystal glass. 4 by 3 ft by 3ft using 15mm thick glass. u be surprised from 12mm to 15mm jump in thickness, the price jump is quite significant.

2) Such huge tank need lots of LIVEROCKS. if u wan good LR, think coral farm selling $16 per kg. U will need a few hundred kg.

3) since LED is the IN thing now. MH is not So expensive compare to the past. a 8ft tank might need 3mh supplemented by T5.

4) Next is yr wavemaker. Probably u need at least 2x mp 60.

5) chiller compressor u need ask Derek for advice on 1.5 or 2 hp.

6) Skimmer also will take up a chunk of yr budget.

Best is u use the online tools and calculate the total water vol inclusive of tank n sump. from there u will know wat capacity Skimmer, wsvemaker n chiller compressor hp u need.

normally wat I read from reefing forums, for huge tank, u run calcium reactor is much much more cheaper than dosing.

U live in Jiak Hong Chu ah? 8x3x3 tank, yr house must be big n strong.

THank you bro for your genorous sharing..... pardon my lousy english

will do more research in to your sharing and equipment and good point of using reactor compare to dosing

thank you!!!!

[timmy]

Suggest u go to lfs to get quote and do comparison.Going to a shop to do up all maybe cheaper than u source ard.

Good IDEA bro tuna

thank you will go to Iwarna and AM to check them out , and any other good shop to check?

THANK YOU !

[timmy]

Unless use 2nd hand equipment... If not confirm not enough... Tts my 2 cents...

Typically a 6 footer will cost around 10k to setup...

Wats more urs is the super challenging 3ft height...

Mabb u can consult Ching chai from Thailand for advise..

His tank is huge...

Hi bro Lionfish

Wha cross border learning, I like!

May I have more information on CHing CHai?

But I dont speak Thai....;-)

THANK YOU

[Guest]

Some photo to inspire you new " Large tank " setup ..

You can also find the information of his setup thread in RC . http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1692183&page=1

[Guest]

Good IDEA bro tuna

thank you will go to Iwarna and AM to check them out , and any other good shop to check?

THANK YOU !

you can also go to Fish channel and have a look at their 8 ft FOWLR setup.

[timmy]

Some photo to inspire you new " Large tank " setup ..

You can also find the information of his setup thread in RC . http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1692183&page=1

WHAO!!!! WHAO!!! WHAO!!!!!!!!!

BREATHLESS AND SPEECHLESS!!!!!!!

[solasido]

Hi bro, from what i see, think the main point is not about the amount of life rock,, skimmer, etc, but how much bio load that you are planning for your tank. Bonsai type with aesthetics and less crowded tank will not need as powerful skimmer, dosing, etc as fully loaded tank.

[bellinayu]

3 important things to consider when designing a huge tank size- water change, coral placement and equipment specs.

Water chg- using ro/di or nsw. Make sure it's seamless and hassle free.

Coral placement - tall tanks are nice but make coral placement difficult and need stronger lights for deeper light penetration. Recommend Max ht : 2 ft.

Right specs for impt equipment to support yr livestocks such as chiller, skimmer, lights, return pump. Ca reactor is more efficient as compared to dosing for such a big tank.

Do talk to a few tank makers and reefers when designing yr tank and don't rush.

Have fun designing yr tank. This is the most fun part

[KELVINx3]

3 important things to consider when designing a huge tank size- water change, coral placement and equipment specs.

Water chg- using ro/di or nsw. Make sure it's seamless and hassle free.

Coral placement - tall tanks are nice but make coral placement difficult and need stronger lights for deeper light penetration. Recommend Max ht : 2 ft.

Right specs for impt equipment to support yr livestocks such as chiller, skimmer, lights, return pump. Ca reactor is more efficient as compared to dosing for such a big tank.

Do talk to a few tank makers and reefers when designing yr tank and don't rush.

Have fun designing yr tank. This is the most fun part

agree with belilinayu height too high you'll be like ching chai. half body to full body going down the tank to do maintenance, do more re-search about equipments. get a good skimmer, compressor to chill your water. 2-3 MH at 250w perhaps? wave maker maybe you can try the new abyzz pump they're good for long and big tank i suppose

[jai9prakash@yahoo.com]

A dream tank...just waiting to see your tank picture here. Cost may be a constrain but with good experience, you will soon have a wonderful tank to admire....all the best

[Invy Ng]

A project of this magnitude is definitely worth the anticipation!!! All the best