It's time to say Goodbye...

[Trigger Man]

Good to see another one moving over to the SW side, from your list for potential equipment it looks like you are well on your way and have done the research. I will let someone with more knowledge chime in on overflows. For the Mandarin you should wait till the tank is established before putting one in, as it needs it's food source to be thriving in the tank already.

[wickedfrags]

Lots of things to consider when planning a conversion.

I would definitely recommend getting the tank drilled and going with a sump...for many many reasons. Also, plan on getting the best skimmer you can afford, do not skimp on the skimmer as it is essentially the most important piece of equipment you will buy. Good luck and have fun with it.

[hillbillyreefer]

It will be drilled at some point, just no time soon. Layout and space considerations are the reason for the overflow boxes. Someday this tank would make a nice sump for a bbbbiiiiggg tank, but for that to happen the kids would have to move to the barn, the wife says that isn't going to happen!

Most of the system has come together in my head, the only unknown is the overflow boxes. I've never seen them used, or heard much about them for that matter. That has me thinking there is reason why they aren't more common.

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

but for that to happen the kids would have to move to the barn, the wife says that isn't going to happen!

Why what's so wrong with that??

http://coolboom.net/tag/traditional-inspiration/

[trilinearmipmap]

If you do go with an overflow box Lifereef is widely acclaimed to be the best with the lowest failure rate. There is another company in the U.S. that apparently makes Lifereef knockoffs for 1/2 price, I can't recall their name. I don't have any personal experience with this but I read up on it a fair bit planning my own tanks.

[naesco]

I just want to post some general comments based on my experience.
The difference between fresh and marine is that marine is less forgiving. You have to go slow, have patience or problems develope early.

There is no problem with sand. IME a sand bed of 3inches provides various life forms that your future fish and coral relish.

Plan the additions of your fish adding one per month rather than four at the same time.

Add the mandarin 9 months after cycling to give your tank a chance to mature and the critters it needs to survive to flourish.

Start SPS and clams after one year.

Sorry if I posted basic info that you already know.
Good Luck eh and welcome.

[marie]

Originally Posted by naesco

I just want to post some general comments based on my experience.
The difference between fresh and marine is that marine is less forgiving. You have to go slow, have patience or problems develope early.

There is no problem with sand. IME a sand bed of 3inches provides various life forms that your future fish and coral relish.

Plan the additions of your fish adding one per month rather than four at the same time.

Add the mandarin 9 months after cycling to give your tank a chance to mature and the critters it needs to survive to flourish.

Start SPS and clams after one year.

Sorry if I posted basic info that you already know.
Good Luck eh and welcome.

All good info except the start sps after 1 yr comment. If the tank is started with the intention of being an sps tank, it is better to start with pioneer sps corals (montipora ect.) then to start with softies and later move to sps. Softies leave little bits of themselves behind which can plague the tank for years after, they also can release toxins that make it difficult for sps to thrive.
There is no reason why you can't start adding some hardy sps at the 2-3 month mark

[wickedfrags]

While a good product I am sure, never the preferred route when setting up a reef. While they work, the opportunity for "failure" exists on an issue that is easily avoidable with a drilled tank. It is the failures in this hobby, specially early on (particularily in the design stage), that get people frustrated with the hobby.

This being said, they can work flawlessly for long periods of time. I however would never recommend someone go this route.

Originally Posted by trilinearmipmap

If you do go with an overflow box Lifereef is widely acclaimed to be the best with the lowest failure rate. There is another company in the U.S. that apparently makes Lifereef knockoffs for 1/2 price, I can't recall their name. I don't have any personal experience with this but I read up on it a fair bit planning my own tanks.