mcleodm's 120 G Build Thread

[mcleodm]

Hello all

I am getting a new 120 Gallon tank with stand and I wanted to share my build with you and get your opinions as I build it.

My current plans are to put the aquarium upstairs and plumb it to the basement. I haven't seen the tank yet, but I believe it has dual overflows drilled in the bottom.

I get the tank on Saturday, so I can't wait to get started on it. First step will obviously be all the plumbing.

[MizTanks]

Welcome to CR! It's great your sharing your new build with us, as you will see we love watching and sharing a new build

[mcleodm]

I am trying to determine what kind of pump I need.

I used the calculator on reefcentral, and have found that if i use a Mag18, i will get about 900gph.

Is that enough for the tank? Initially, it will have some very basic corals and livestock, but I eventually want to have some moderately difficult corals. So the question is, do I upgrade to a Mag 24?

I could also just get two return pumps, but that is a bit costly.

[Heidi]

Just so we are all clear here do you plan to only be using the Mag & your returns for you tanks flow, or will you have other water movement w/i the display tank itself? I think that Mag24 pump is like 2400gph or something like that am I close?

[Sir Patrick]

Looking forward to watching this tank happen!

[mcleodm]

I will be using other powerheads for flow, this is just for the sump/refugium. The mag24 is 2400gph. I am not sure how much gph it would be after all the movement.

[Sir Patrick]

I would suggest a return pump GPH to match, or be a little less than, the skimmer pumps GPH- to keep the water skimmed most efficiantly, and give dwell time in the refugium for nutrient export.

Too fast can be too fast, depending on the rest of the equipment you will have running, and what you will be keeping in your refugium.

Just some things to think about, while planning your return pump.

[mcleodm]

The skimmer I have runs at about 750 gph, so I think the mag18 (901gph after all the plumbing) would be a good match. The next step down would run at 660gph, so that would be under. If i've learned anything in aquatics, it to go higher rather than lower.

Thanks for the tip!!

[Chris]

actually depending on who u ask the higher is actually better as a skimmer # the a return number

[jimsflies]

I moved your thread over to Member's Reefs since it's more of a reef build than an individual DIY project. If you get to the point where you have a photo, you can edit your first post and attach it to the post. Keeping this updated with the latest will then display on the forum display page.