Patrice's 200 gallon reef (Ho Yeah!)

[Patrice]

Hi,
This won't be my tank . I have been hired to setup and take care of a 200 gallons reef in a school. Yahoo! It won't be my tank but I am the only one allowed to touch it and have total control on almost everything.

It's now time for me to plan what will be in the tank and what equipment I'll use.

This tank will probably cost way too much for a school so I have been looking around for people willing to donate a few things and have been quite lucky at this. Check that out:

-a nice 200g tank with a 50 gallon sump and 2 overflow
-2 protein skimmers (not sure about the models)
-Lights: I have a 3X250W MH without moonlight (really old) and a 2X500 MH with moonlight (6 month old). I am not sure which one I'll use yet.
-I have close to 150 lbs of live rock with over 150 lbs of base rock.
-6 strong power heads (not sure about the model)
-Enough live sand to make a 2 to 3 inch sandbed
-Chiller strong enough for a 150 gallon
-a Calcium reactor
-1 co2 canister with regulator
-1 ph controler
-1 ph monitor
-1 denitrator (not sure what type)
-1 auto top off system
-1 refractometer

And I got a few fish and corals donated (will be added later):
1 yellow tang,
1 fire angel,
2 yellow tail damsel,
1 talbot damsel,
1 snowflake eel (4 foot long, ho yeah!)
a few snails,
1 blue hermit crab,
5 RBTA
1 blue carpet anemone (15 inch wide)
1 large mushroom coral,
1 finger leather
1 clown fish
1 anemone crab (small and cute)
Tons of glass anemone on the live rock ;(

Wow! I think I am gonna open a school

Looks like I have a little of everything. They told me they want a reef tank with lots of coral and nice fish swimming around.

With all that rocks, I am sure we won't see much fish in there unless I add some more.
I am now trying to figure out what I'll do with that and what other fish I could add to this. I will be looking for fish that are not too shy, that like to swim and will use all the open space. Maybe a few surgeonfish? maybe an angel? a few green chromis? I am not sure. Some school fish would be awesome (it will be in a school after all)!

I also have that coral problem. They want a tank full with coral but I know whey can't afford this. So I will be looking for fast growing species and/or species that grow huge. This way I might manage to spend less.

Lots of things to figure out!

I will post some picture of the tank soon. For now, if you have ideas of what I can do with that nice and huge tank, feel free to let me know.

[Keri]

What School? I graduated from SJF - if they still have that area where the turtle pond is you could put a nice tank up there!!

[Patrice]

It's for st-pats. SJF still have a few tanks but I am not sure what they use them for.

[banditpowdercoat]

wow thats alot of donations.. Is there alot of reefers in Yellowknife? whats the population? I want to visit there one day. Presently, im working at Tungsten, on the edge of the Nahanni, and just BEAUTIFUL.

[Patrice]

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

wow thats alot of donations.. Is there alot of reefers in Yellowknife? whats the population? I want to visit there one day. Presently, im working at Tungsten, on the edge of the Nahanni, and just BEAUTIFUL.

The Nahanni is an awesome place! I have to visit that river one day. We are only 20 000 people in Yellowknife. There is not many reefer up here. I know a few but not much.
The tank use to be a fish only tank and most of the live stock and equipment are from an other guy who don't have enough time for it's tank. Few of the fish will be from my tank. I have too much fish and algae are out of control right now. I agree, that's alot of donation.
I think I have enough to make an really nice tank. I just have to figure out what to do with all that.