72 bow vs 92 bow

[doh]

I have been lurking around here and RC for a couple of weeks now. I have been out of the hobby for around 7 years. I gave it up because I was moving around so much. I am settled now and do not foresee moving anywhere for a long long time. In any event, my 18 month old daughter just loves fish, especially marine fish so about a 2 months ago, I set up a nano FOWLR tank for her to keep a false perc. and a shrimp. The tank is pretty much settled and "MOMO" (that is what she calls Nemo) is doing fine.

However, I am getting the itch to start a new tank for myself. I want to keep corals so I am starting to plan slowly. If my better half agrees, we will start buying stuff and setting up a tank in the new year. This leads me to my question: Given the footprint of a 72 bow and a 92 bow are the same, with the difference being the extra height on the 92, what are the advantages of one over the other? I am leaning towards the 72 figuring that the shallower tank may be easier to light.

My plan is a 72/92 bow, wet dry trickle filter with very little bio-balls; 1" layer of sand (as opposed to DSB), AM Turboflotor 1000 with the AM pump, Velocity T4 pump, Aquaspacelight (2x250W 10K MH + 2PC actinics). Any one here has experience with the Aquaspacelight?

[afss]

The 72 would definitely require less light. Having said that the extra volume is often nice to have. You can easily light a 92 with the lighting set up you mentioned.

I personally would not use a wet/dry/trickle filter for a reef tank. I would use the one inch you want and then make part of the sump a refugium with a DSB. Even if you don't go the DSB route live rock will do the same job as a trickle filter.

Scott

[bertcmg]

The advantage would be the benefit of additional volume = some stable water chemistry

Alternately you could go for the 72 and add a sump ( I would because the shallower the tank , the better the lighting

Good choice on the pump , I have it and its super quiet

Why do you think you need bioballs ?

2 x 250 is a bit much for 72 probably more than OK for the 92 (others do disagree with me on this )

I feel that two 150's or 175's would do just as good as 2x 250's


I use 2x 250's plus 4 X 40 Watt NO Atinics on a six foot tank with no dark spots due the high and low tide method I have built into my tank. ( Checked with light meter ) I will show Pics showing this as soon as I get my buddy to take the pics while I hold the probe under water

Please note that I do not have any corals in the tank because I am letting it mature



Bert

[doh]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. The trickle filter is something that I am familiar with from the old days. I guess it is just a case of getting an old dog to learn new tricks. In my previous 55 g FOWLR set up ages ago (10 years ago), I ran the tank bare bottom with alot of LR. I also had the trickle filter and some crappy skimmer but the tank was very stable. That said, I was thinking going with a little bit of the bio balls at the outset and get rid of them once the tank stabilizes.

I have been looking into the DSB but it appears that the jury is still out. I have a DSB on the nano tank and will monitor to see how that goes. I just can't come to grips with perhaps having to rip out the DSB in about 5 years time, especially on a 72/92g tank.

As for the sump, I was going to have the trickle filter act as a sump as well with room for the skimmer. I don't think that there is enough room in the stand for a fuge. I am a bit of a nut when it comes to aesthetics and neatness so I can't have things outside of the stand. Besides, the tank is going in our living room.

By the way, any one know where in Canada that I can get the Aquaspacelight at a decent price? Big Al's the only place I have seen it and they want $2300. You can it on-line in the US for US$840. If worse comes to worse, I can get my buddy from NYC to order it and lug it over the next time he comes up.

[MCDAVIES]

Not sure about the best deal on an Aquaspacelight, but you might want to surf / call some of these places:

http://*************.com/chris/lfs.html

Mark

[doh]

Thanks for the link MCDAVIES. When I have a bit of time, I will check out some of those places.

Also, I was planning on going open top with the Aquaspacelight hanging from the ceiling. I hate powerheads with all of the wires etc. As such, I am looking into a closed loop. However, because I don't like the aesthetics of having return lines coming over and back into the tank, I am thinking about having the tanks drilled for ther returns. Is this advisable and what am I looking at in terms of additional costs? If there are good reasons for not doing this, or if the wiring for the Aquaspacelight will make it look unsightly, I will opt for a custom built hood to hide everything, including the MHs.

[Sohal Tang]

Hi Doh,

When you are choosing your substrate you may want to
consider some stuff called FIGI PINK....I am using it and it
looks super in the tank others have told me....
It also comes pre-loaded with live bacteria supposedly..
Not cheap..but great stuff with great results...

For your info...

Good luck,
Tim


p.s. I bought mine up in Sudbury but I THINK ORG carries it