REEFLOCO\'S 120 REBUILD

[REEFLOCO]

As some of you know I moved to FL and my old set up (LUIS\'S REEF 120) is no more. I am starting back up little by little because this time i want to do everything right and get what i want as in equipment before i start.

Here are some shots of my aquascaping in the works and would like to get everyones advice or opinions on it.

FTS


LEFT SIDE


RIGHT SIDE


RIGHT FRONT


LEFT FRONT


I still have about 60 lbs left but its mostly base rock and some rubble. Can anybody give suggestions of where to put this at or how to incorporate it into what i have now?

[HENRYSTYLE]

I wouldn\'t pack it up with a bunch of rock.  Remember you have to give your corals space to grow upward and out...
I would put some smaller pieces in front of what you have and call it a day...(kinda like little islands)
You putting sand in?

[stillhere]

I agree with Anthony. Just add a few pieces to the front like little islands. I think you said you were adding sand. The sand will help make it more stable.
Lookin good. Make sure you take more pictures. I am so excited for you. I wish I was getting my tank together...

[REEFLOCO]

I am thinking about going bare bottom this time Anthony and Kristin. I have seen alot of tanks around my area with just a styrofoam board i think on the bottom and the  coraline algae grows on it. But I also like my sand and it makes it very interesting. I think what it all comes down to is flow. With bare bottom I can put flow without worrying about sand kicking up. On the other hand with sand i have to set the powerheads with the sand in mind. And plus with sand you can get all the cool livestock that make there home in it. What should I do guys?

[stillhere]

Ah...Luis,
That is a personal choice. Nobody can decide for you.

I love sand and would never go bare bottom in a reef tank. I love to watch all the cool critters in the sand. Your sand eventually stops moving and settles from the flow. On our 180 gallon, we had 4 korollia 4\'s and a dart return with a sea swirl, we didn\'t have issues with sand movement.

Some people really do not like sand, for many reasons.

Really, you have to decide what you want.

[REEFLOCO]

WOW!!!! Kristin i never knew that you pushed that much flow with your 180, Im for sand really i love it bare bottom is like my last resort, but i can really adapt to sand and push that much flow because if you did it with a 180 I can do it with a 120. I like sand alot and do not want to go without it. I just need to get the right equipment to make it happen. My goal is to make tank of the month on TRL. I think I know enough with my system and think this time is going to be great for everyone to follow, but seriously am going to go down the right path. Just wait and see what I have in mind this tank is going to be awesome and everyone is going to take part in it. Mixed reef SPS dominant is my goal, i also want my LPS and my softies. so whoever wants to respond your more than welcome to give your opinion. It can only help.

[HENRYSTYLE]

Sand is not just for looks bro.  It can actually help keep your tank clean.  I know in my tank if any food falls to the bottom the sand critters quickly make it disappear..  Make it 4-6 inches deep and you will have a deep sand bed....It will remove nitrates from you water....On my next upgrade I\'m doing a DSB for sure....(also helps feed your corals with all the micro fauna larva population it will produce)

[mcrist]

I had a DSB in my tank and I removed it because I could never keep it clean.  Now I did have more sand then most people have but it was a pain.  I love not having any sand in my tank and I don’t think I will go back to sand.  Personally the benefits of sand are overrated but it does look nice but a bare bottom looks great too once everything starts to grow on the bottom of the tank.  The only reason to consider sand would be if you want fish that need it to survive.

[REEFLOCO]

This time its hard to decide because I want to be able to have more flow in my tank with the bare bottom without having to worry about sand kicking up, but I also like to have all the creatures that need sand to live. Its a hard decision. If there is any way that I can have optimum flow with sand I would go that route. I am thinking of changing my 3 return loclines from 1/2" as they are now to 3/4" locline for more flow. Plus I want to purchase 2 Koralia 4\'s One for each side of the tank.

[crabman]

I have to agree with everyone else.  It\'s a personal preference, although the benefits of having a SB should not be ignored.  I have 2 Koralia 3\'s and 2- 2\'s  in my 125 with no issues of kicking up sand.  It\'s all a matter of what you prefer.

[REEFLOCO]

I am going more towards sand. This time I am putting more sand in than before, I only had about 50lbs of sand which was about 1" 1/2. I am going with 2 Koralia 4\'s, it should be plenty of flow for the tank then. I think it would just be a matter of positioning the loclines and the powerheads to where the sand doesnt kick up.

[patryk]

once the dust settles and everything starts to stabilize you wont have any problems i had a k3 in my 40 breeder before it blew last night with the power going out
dsb i believe is the way to go in a reef system

[HENRYSTYLE]

I had a DSB in my tank and I removed it because I could never keep it clean.  Now I did have more sand then most people have but it was a pain.  I love not having any sand in my tank and I don’t think I will go back to sand.  Personally the benefits of sand are overrated but it does look nice but a bare bottom looks great too once everything starts to grow on the bottom of the tank.  The only reason to consider sand would be if you want fish that need it to survive.

I dont know about the overrated thing..DSB have proven themselves time and time again if setup properly...6 inches tops is all you need.  SETUP AFTER THE SKIMMER IS CRUCIAL.
On my next setup I will have one for sure.....I saw a nice thread on reefcentral if anyone is interested....
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1671764
http://www.reef-eden.net/DSBs.htm
http://www.ronshimek.com/deep_sand_beds.html

THOSE ARE SOME GOOD READS ABOVE

[HENRYSTYLE]

FYI- If you want some nice sand, check this out.  I felt this sand at macna.....The smoothest sand I ever felt.  Trust me....Also gonna get some of this for my next tank.....
He has some nice dry rock as well...  Nice natural shape, very porous.....He actually sold out at macna...This would work excellent in dsb. Allows the critters to move through it easily...

http://www.marcorocks.com/index.asp?Pag ... ategory=44

[knockOUT]

I love the look of sand and like Kristin cant live without the critters that make it their home, gobies, wrasses (sleep in it), when I recently redid my tank I removed most of it, mainly because my engineer goby would not leave it alone now its only 3/4" deep.

I would not put a DSB in a display tank... once the bacteria starts building up the look thru the glass is not very appealing and since its purpose is to denitrify you should never move it, it tends to crash in display tanks because of that.

A remote deep sand bed in the other hand I would not run my tanks without, I run a 20g tank pump water thru it off my return pump and back to the sump the DSB is about 8-10" deep and you all have seen how many fish I keep, nitrates dont even register in the Salifert test kit

here is a pic of my current RDSB


this is a pic of a RDSB in a Bucket that I used to run on my 75g reef, drain to the bucket and out to the sump, can be easily done under the cabinet

 
If you start it with your cycle it will be live and well by the time you start stocking your tank with critters.

that conclude my $0.02, cant wait to see the progress pictures... keep posting!