Setting Up New 125G tank

[MikeSheridan]

I have an existing 55 gal reef tank and I am about to set up a 125G in wall reef tank. I want to do it right the first time and I would like some help in deciding which equipment to use.

1) What type and size of Skimmer should I use?
2) What type of lighting and how many lights should I use. I already have two MH 250W 10000K and two 48" VHO lights on my 55G.
3) How big should the pumps be?
4) How big should the chiller be? I have a 1/4 HP now.

TIA

[water8safenomore]

hey there (my writeup is rather lengthy but is all relavant)

1- definately something that's reccommended for 125gall+ i would probably go with something such as a Berlin Protein Skimmer.
if you're going with a 125 gall. though id also say you ought to highly consider a gravity feed sump.

2- if you're going to go reef on a 125 gall. you most likely wanna get some nice lights (which is hurt your wallet hard!) but lighting is one thing thats very important. just be sure to obtain around 600 total watts (3-5watts/gallon of water). i'd say use those to metal halides you got or maybe just 175s would do better so you can also get a VHO actinic or something (to give more of a spectrum of light).

3- dont have all the same strength for pumps. get 2 300gph, 1 250gph, and maybe 1 400gph. i personally have had an awesome experience with MaxiJet powerheads. I also have penguins' and they are almost as bad as the Rios. you can get yourself a sufficient wave timer for around 60 bucks so i'd say splurge and get that so your inhabitants dont have a totally constant flow always.

4- to be honest, i am not sure if you will even NEED a chiller. here's my advice: get your whole setup running and toss only LR and LS in there for a few weeks and see if the temp really changes so durastically that you NEED a chiller because they are a huge waste unless you truly need one. my tank fluxuates about 1.5degrees b/t the day and night (Celcius) but to spend $500+ on a chiller to me simply is NOT worth it. i'd rather have an entire agressive fish tank setup for that! to answer your question though, yes, a .25hp chiller would be great for it. anything more and its overkill - anything less and its not strong enough.

**ALSO** everything i have spoken about can be ordered directly through a Drs Foster Smith catalog. I have have great experiences with this company and only reccommend them because of their fair prices and excellent customer service. www.drsfostersmith.com[/quote]

[MikeSheridan]

Thanks for the help. Tank is on it's way. I think. I ordered it from InterAmerican. I have read that Walt there is slow but good. He quoted me three weeks but I expect it to take six.

I'm going to move my Chiller over to the new tank as well as the VHO actinics (2 48" tubes) and the two MH's. I am thinking of adding an additional MH as well. Can there be too much light?

I have purchased a RO/DI unit and can hardly wait to hook it up. I'm going to put a small electrically activated valve on the supply of the RO/DI unit and have the unit dump into an open top tank. A float switch will turn the RO/DI feed on and off as needed. At least that's my theory.

I've decided on a Euro-reef Skimmer. I'm told it's the best. But I'm sure It's a mater of opinion. I think they all must work or folks wouldn't buy them.

Thanks again for the help and any additional hints that anyone might have are appreciated.

[MikeSheridan]

Tank is doing fine. Here's a pic.
http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v244/mikesheridan/P1010003.jpg