Re: OK....I am planning a 220 gallon:) The tank is 72"L x 24"W x 29" tall.
The lighting fixture is an Aquatinics Constellation - 72" Long and 14" wide. Up to 14 39W bulbs. Each bulb has an individual reflector. Lights can be turned on/off by pairs of rows. I can turn on as many/few rows as I need depending on the types of plants I guess.
The overflows on the tank have custom standpipes, adjusted so there is no "waterfall effect" through the overflows. THe drain lines get increasingly wider so the flow out at the end is hardly turbulent. It sould be easy enough to make a cover for the sump.
My reef tank was decidedly high-tech, even though I am sure I didn't need some of the stuff. I would like to try to get away from high tech (even though that light fixture definitely qualifies). Maybe Mid-tech? I have been reading the large tank build threads on here and am gathering all the info I can first.
I still have'nt decided on plant types yet. I like everything from Swords to Crypts to Anubias. I definitely would like a nice lush carpet of something in the foreground, large pieces of driftwood with something growing on them. Still looking at books, galleries of member tanks, etc.
I will definitely document the build. Right now, the tank is still a reef. I am in the process of selling the corals,then fish, then live rock, then equipment.
BTW, I have an Oceans Motions Super Squirt on a closed loop right now to provide random water flow in the tank. Basically has four outlets, and it directs water flow out of each outlet sequentially or in pairs. Would this be useful on a planted tank, or do they prefer less current/turbulence in the water. I just thought it might be a nice effect with the longer plants swaying back and forth, like my corals.
Thanks for the input, I will keep you all updated! |