[stacef]

Hi everyone!
I recently got a 220 gallon glass aquarium. I am going to be doing FOWLR. I have been researching for a couple of months, and do not understand the mechanics of the tank (for such a large tank). Everything online is not that descriptive on how to piece everything together. I am hoping to get some ideas from you for getting this tank up and running. I will list below the things that I think are needed for my tank, that I can either build or purchase.

Things I THINK I may need (and have no idea where to start!)
Lighting (In which I do have)
Canister filter: Which is good or bad? ---Or another type of filter?
Refugium: I don't understand what it is/does--Let alone how to build/puchase one
Reserve Water Holding Tank
Protein Skimmer
Wave Maker
Sump Pump?--Seems like this can be homemade??
Chiller and controller?
Auto top off
Reverse Osmosis
Anything else?

We will be building this into the wall at our house. Behind the tank is a untility room, giving ample amount of room for any space needed. Also, and sink and drain will be right there too.

I guess what I am asking, is HOW do I do it???? Or do you know any websites that show step by step, not skipping anything? Am I missing anything in the list of stuff that I need?

[emccullough1]

I'm no expert by any means but I will list a few things.
Live rock 1.5 to 2 lb per gal.
Live sand for DBS min. 4" or you could use less in your tank and have a remote DBS
The wave make is a nice option but not needed.
Lighting you say you have but I would suspect it is lacking output for coral's if you decide to add them if you go with t5's you may get away without a chiller.
Here is a good link for a sump / refugium. and how to build it.
Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums
Power heads for circulation you want at least 20 times turn over.
there is more but the experts will go on from where I left off.

[Jareth]

Lighting (In which I do have): all depends on if you want to move to corals. Rock/Sand/Microlife should be OK with freshwater light (I am using that on my FOWLR now) but if you want to move into corals you should think about new lighting
Canister filter: Which is good or bad? ---Or another type of filter? Cannisters, unless they are maintained well, can be nitrate traps. You dont need one if you are using a fuge or healthy amounts of live rock as they will filter your water for you
Refugium: I don't understand what it is/does--Let alone how to build/puchase one
Reserve Water Holding Tank A fuge is basically a sump tank with low water flow. Normally it contains LR, LS, macroalgae, and microlife and they work together as a biological filter, replacing your cannister filter naturally
Protein Skimmer The best filtration for a saltwater tank, however it removes both the good and the bad, so you may need to supplement minerals
Wave Maker Not necessary, but I think it creates fun in the tank. Just a device that either turns on and off powerheads or directs your return water between 2 lines (SCWD)
Sump Pump?--Seems like this can be homemade?? Sump can be homemmade, pumps better off storebought. A sump is a way of adding more water volume to the tank to help keep its parameters steady, as well as a place to hide all your gadgets.
Chiller and controller? Shouldnt need a chiller if you are not using high wattage lights.
Auto top off Not necessary as you can top off yourself. But it does make upkeep easier and can be connected to a reactor (kalk, phosphate, etc)
Reverse Osmosis Water filtration. Same as those machines outside your grocery store. Removes particulate matter to help control bad algae growth and provide the cleanest water for your tank
Anything else? yeah, tons. Keep reading

Like Mccullough I am fairly new, but have been researching. Others may have better ideas.

[stacef]

Thanks so much for your help! I am waiting awhile until I feel completely confidant about setting up this tank. Thanks so much again!

[pete york]

good luck man remember always come to this forum when u have a question these guys know sooo much

[plecosword]

Some thing to saty away from:
BIO BAlls!!
seaclone skimmers/air driven skimmers.
power filters and canisters can cause a nitrite problem too.
choose a good skimmer, it is a very important part

[Jareth]

Pleco can correct me, but I've been reading more on a little on cannister filters. You can use a cannister, but its suggested to remove the filter media and if possible use LR rubble. IIUC this can avoid a cannisters nitrate problem.
But deffinately find a good skimmer.

To add to his list, stay away from crushed coral.

[arctictwist]

I second that! Crushed Coral only ended up being a pain...then i took it out and did live sand so it was double the pain!

[plecosword]

Originally Posted by Jareth

Pleco can correct me, but I've been reading more on a little on cannister filters. You can use a cannister, but its suggested to remove the filter media and if possible use LR rubble. IIUC this can avoid a cannisters nitrate problem.
But deffinately find a good skimmer.

To add to his list, stay away from crushed coral.

OMG thanks i forgot that, I have already experienced it in freshwater. Using PEBLES is just like crushed coral in everyway. You will be better off without anything, trust me and learn from my mistake!. Ohh and it also causes a lot of ick and dead fish.
Pain in the butt!

[Waterlogged]

Originally Posted by stacef

Hi everyone!
I recently got a 220 gallon glass aquarium. I am going to be doing FOWLR. I have been researching for a couple of months, and do not understand the mechanics of the tank (for such a large tank). Everything online is not that descriptive on how to piece everything together. I am hoping to get some ideas from you for getting this tank up and running. I will list below the things that I think are needed for my tank, that I can either build or purchase.

Things I THINK I may need (and have no idea where to start!)
Lighting (In which I do have)
Canister filter: Which is good or bad? ---Or another type of filter?
Refugium: I don't understand what it is/does--Let alone how to build/puchase one
Reserve Water Holding Tank
Protein Skimmer
Wave Maker
Sump Pump?--Seems like this can be homemade??
Chiller and controller?
Auto top off
Reverse Osmosis
Anything else?

We will be building this into the wall at our house. Behind the tank is a untility room, giving ample amount of room for any space needed. Also, and sink and drain will be right there too.

I guess what I am asking, is HOW do I do it???? Or do you know any websites that show step by step, not skipping anything? Am I missing anything in the list of stuff that I need?

Good to have another person from my home state.
This hobby requires patience and a large checkbook.

[stacef]

Thanks everyone for your help..I still have a lot open on what I am doing. If anyone has any other suggestions please leave them, Thanks again!!

[stacef]

Hi everyone, me again. I was just checking out ebay. There is a sump and skimmer on there that may work for me? I just want your opinions on what you think of these items. There is not a description for the skimmer, but is for the sump. Thanks!

Skimmer-- USED 350 GALLON PROTEIN SKIMMER FISH SALTWATER - (eBay item 280177629417 end time Dec-02-07 17:33:16 PST)

Sump-- USED 300 GALLON FILTER SUMP FISH SALTWATER WET DRY - (eBay item 280177637298 end time Dec-02-07 17:56:57 PST)

Thanks again!!

[e_baer]

Lots of LR, lots of LS, good lights, good skimmer, lots of flow (aim for 30x turnover) get good quality items and brands that are well known, TRUST ME!....it will save more money in the long run!

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by stacef

Hi everyone, me again. I was just checking out ebay. There is a sump and skimmer on there that may work for me? I just want your opinions on what you think of these items. There is not a description for the skimmer, but is for the sump. Thanks!

Skimmer-- USED 350 GALLON PROTEIN SKIMMER FISH SALTWATER - (eBay item 280177629417 end time Dec-02-07 17:33:16 PST)

Sump-- USED 300 GALLON FILTER SUMP FISH SALTWATER WET DRY - (eBay item 280177637298 end time Dec-02-07 17:56:57 PST)

Thanks again!!

that skimmer....I dunno about.

Look into a good quality skimmer.

here is an EXAMPLE of a good skimmer.

New EuroReef RS250 Fish Aquarium Protein Skimmer 08723 - (eBay item 130177032458 end time Dec-02-07 18:23:10 PST)

To be honest, with a tank your size, buy an empty tank, and only the tank, and put it under your stand as the sump. The bigger the sump, the better!

All over on this forum there are loads of people who have started threads about building their own sumps and fuge's, including myself.

and for any questions about the equipment, take a look here.

</title><noscript><img src="http://mdmarinedepotcomdev.122.2 O7.net/b/ss/mdmarinedepotcomdev/1/H.2--NS/0" height="1" width="1" border="0" alt="" /></noscript> <script src="https://ssl.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <s

[plecosword]

Originally Posted by e_baer

that skimmer....I dunno about.

Look into a good quality skimmer.

here is an EXAMPLE of a good skimmer.

New EuroReef RS250 Fish Aquarium Protein Skimmer 08723 - (eBay item 130177032458 end time Dec-02-07 18:23:10 PST)

To be honest, with a tank your size, buy an empty tank, and only the tank, and put it under your stand as the sump. The bigger the sump, the better!

All over on this forum there are loads of people who have started threads about building their own sumps and fuge's, including myself.

and for any questions about the equipment, take a look here.

</title><noscript><img src="http://mdmarinedepotcomdev.122.2 O7.net/b/ss/mdmarinedepotcomdev/1/H.2--NS/0" height="1" width="1" border="0" alt="" /></noscript> <script src="https://ssl.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <s

I was just about to say that about the skimmer. I would buy the sump and skimmer seperatly. Good luck with your tank and dont forget about the book, lol

[stephaniesquires]

The problem I see with the sump is the part where it angles down. Mine is like that and it decreases the amount of water it will hold. Dont know why they design them like that.... With a tank your size (like mine) I would go with a big sump, just a plain tank, throw a good skimmer in there and set up a separate refugium. The reason for a separate fuge is that on tanks our size, the water flow through the sump has to be pretty high, a fuge needs to have lower water flow. If you set them up as separate tanks you get high return flow and the benefit of a proper fuge. Mine should be set up in the next week or so (depending on work and this chest cold and cooperation from the saltwater gods) and I will post pictures of the set up and plumbing.
Some other things to think about, you will need lots of water flow, submerged pumps produce a lot of heat, I changed to Ecotech pumps, more expensive, but totally external motors and no heat. (Chillers for our size tanks need to be 1/2 hp = around $1500 ) They can also be moved from the outside of the tank (which reminds me - get a pair of coralife long gloves - very helpful!).
A large trashcan on wheels is great for mixing saltwater, and for water changes, unless you can export water directly into a sink, I use a flexible hose attached to a pool pump hose and run the pool pump hose out the window and into the driveway... Bigger tanks are the same as smaller tanks - just more expensive (much more expensive!!)

[plecosword]

So stephanie, how your tank doing? Added any fish yet?
You have to go to tongs tropical when you have time . They have a ton of stuff and fish. not as many corals though. (714 842-2733 - Fountain Valley, CA) Tong's Tropical Fish Home Page
And maybe seaside. I have been to nearly all the local fish stores here.

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by plecosword

So stephanie, how your tank doing? Added any fish yet?
You have to go to tongs tropical when you have time . They have a ton of stuff and fish. not as many corals though. (714 842-2733 - Fountain Valley, CA) Tong's Tropical Fish Home Page
And maybe seaside. I have been to nearly all the local fish stores here.

No fish yet, I've been out of town and now I have a cold, the fuge still needs to be set up, need to do the plumbing, hopefully this next week or two, then let the fuge settle and cycle, so probably no fish in the dt till after Christmas, I might get some and put them in the qt, ut I have to finalize the fish list first!!

[plecosword]

Ohh ok Ill send you a clownfish for cristmas. lol

[stacef]

Alright guys, I am still confused on some parts. You guys have been more than helpful though! Is RO definately something I would want to look into? Is the RO for just new water coming in, or is it used as a "filter" for existing water?
In reference to e_baer he says I need lots of flow--aim for 30x flow. That is per day? Per hour? Thanks again! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

[Jareth]

ALL water in a reef tank should be RO/DI. The reasons for this is the RO/DI process removes particulate matter from the water that would otherwise be used by various ugly algae. In a reef tank, as I understand it, the most important thing is the quality of your water and RO/DI water is the best quality you can get. All water changes should also be done with RO/DI otherwise you will constantly be fighting ugly algae and may have problems keeping reef life alive.

30x tank volume per hour. This can be done through a mixture of your sump return pumps, fuge returns, and powerheads. Depending on your system the returns from your sump could be 600-1200gph alone.

[e_baer]

well, with a 220, I would aim for two 1200gph return pumps. Then have a few powerheads in the tnak, Koralias or SEIOs are what I would try to get.

[plecosword]

wow 1200gph? i didnt think it would have to be that strong but im not setting up a sump.

[e_baer]

well, on a tank that size, you can have each return split into 3-4 "heads". then you wont have super strong flow coming from one "head" So in total, it could be like 6-8 powerheads, except they are returning the sump water.

[stephaniesquires]

I have 2 return pumps each at 1000gph. Each return pump splits into two, creating 4 returns... Then I have 2 Echotech pumps at 3000 each. Gives me a total of 8000gph or about 33x turnover... Biggest advantage - no added heat from pumps!!!! Elliots suggestion of SEIOS is good also - I had those, good pumps, but I was having trouble with heat.