RE: 300 Gallon Tank

[Goncalo Proenca]

Hi Glen,   300 or 500g, your friend have a LOT of work there to put that tank, FOWLR ( fish only with live rock ) or REEF system into to right track.   First of all get a RO/DI filter. PLEASSE. It would reduce that algae more than half. Get a JUMBO detivore kit, snails, hermits , tiger tails cucumbers, white seastars. Take that water all, empty the tank and fill it with RO/DI water.   Get a skimmer , overflow and sump. Sump size ? Well, the bigger the better, but I think 500g is already big enough, so get a sump that is necessary where to put the heaters and skimmer. As far skimmer goes, I dont like "homemade" skimmers. I once looked ( dont ask why :) ) to a AE Tech ( the makers of ETS skimmers ) blue print, and belive me, a LOT of formulas where there to calculate a lot of things :) Nevertheless, I'd recommend RON SKIMMERS. Why ? Because I've heard they work, they are BIG and ( I never met ron, neither changed an email with him  he can atest that ) Ron seems to me a honest person. He's always helping ppl here in the list, nice to see a merchant that still have time to help future and present customers. Too bad I never will be a Ron customer, I live in europe :)   The purpose of using an overflow its because in marine tanks with no drain system, some grease will accumulate in the water, blocking light and giving a ishhhhh aspect to the water top. Using an overflow will remedy this.   Circulation ? Hum..... 500g is sure big, Id use as return and circulation two big pumps connected to two surge devices one each in the corners of the tank. Place overflow in the center    I woulndt dry out the rock : rinse and scrub it. Buy new rock and use the old one as base rock. Display it as to create as many holes and caves as possible, be sure not to stack it and not create dead spots.   Lights : Well, Id use VHO's if the tank is to be a FO, FOWLR of even to keep some soft corals. For LPS and SPS, clams and such I'd recommend some 400w MH pendants. Compare this both options, maybe 4x400w MH pendents will be cheaper to install and mantain than a VHO setup.   Filtration : remove that cannister filter, they are NO3 factories. Use only LR and maybe a UV ( if the tank is to mantain only fish ) or OZONE injector ( reef system ) WITH DIGITAL CONTROLLER. Dont skip here, OZONE can be deadly if not continious monitored.   As far fish goes, let your imagination go free and wild. I would buy some yellow zebrasomsa, 10 or 12 and put in there. They'll schoal and make a wonderfull tank, and they are the cheaper tangs. Be sure to include other algae eaters, they surelly help. If no corals are mantain, toss some angels. If corals are present, no angels :)     Well, this are 2 cents.. Or should I say my 2 escudos, since I live in Portugal ? :) ehehe   Hope it helps,   Goncalo Proenca     -----Mensagem original----- De: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]Em nome de [EMAIL PROTECTED] Enviada: sábado, 6 de Janeiro de 2001 19:05 Para: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Assunto: 300 Gallon Tank I'm going to try not to make this too long but I need help on this one.  I have a friend that I kinda lost contact with and heard he had opened an outdoor supply store in the area and went in today to check it out.  To my surprise he had a 300 gallon tank built in the wall.  It looks terrible!  I would say about 200 lbs. live (dead) rock,  running two oceanview canister filters,  huge crushed coral for a substrate, and two 72" fluor. not sure if vho or no.  No sump, brown nasty looking algae, I'm sure tap water.  He was busy and basically said he kills everything he puts in there.  Not hard to see why.  He would love to get it right and I would love to help him.  Where do I start?  Not sure of what to use for water movement, lighting, skimmer, should I use ozone,  do I need to take everything out of the ! tank, clean and start over.  What to use for sump, return pump, etc.  He has probably spent enough on dead livestock, etc. to have done it right from the get go but didn't have the help that I have had on mine.  There is room above to hang lights, (maybe pendents).  Sure there is more to consider but this will get me started.  Would love to keep you all posted on the progress and am looking forward to being able to help set it up with someone else's money.  Were do I start? Glen