60 Gallon Build - Need Advice

I am incredibly excited to get a Reef Savvy 36x24x16 60 gallon rimless tank - peninsula style (thanks FlyingMoray).  I have done freshwater for a number of years and have a 180 built in my basement wall and two 40br at home.  This will be my first step into saltwater, and will be going into my office at work.  Here are some quick questions I have for some down home local advice.
What sump and skimmer would you recommend?  Being quiet and clean/tidy is going to be important since it will be at work.
Any ideas on where one might be able to get a nice 'furniture' grade stand (perhaps in cherry or black to match office decor)
Now for lighting.  I was all set to go with T5HO 6 bulb setup.  Now with the 24" depth, would the 6 bulb setup provide good coverage of the whole tank?
My plan is to do a mixed reef setup and I'm really liking many of the SPS corals.
I just took advantage of some early Black Friday specials and ordered:
Apex Lite
Tunze ATO
Thanks in advance for any insight and advice. 
Jason

 

Hey Jason, 
I thought I would try and answer some of your questions to the best of my abilities. For your 60 gallon main tank's sump I would probably try a 20g long or 20g tall. Smaller tanks may start to run short on space, especially if you plan on using a in sump skimmer. Another thing that I found to be extremely useful would be the addition of a refugium in my sump. It would definitely pay off to save a little space for a refugium area for yours. Also have you decided on whether you want an in sump skimmer or an external skimmer yet?

 

I was planning on a refugium in the sump. I am open to either in sump skimmer or external skimmer.

 

Well, I personally use a Marineland 100 in sump skimmer. I think it is a nice skimmer for what it does, but I was really tight on space so if you plan well ahead of time, I would pull for a external skimmer because I believe they just work better in my opinion.

 

IMO, Coralvue Reef Octopus is a much better skimmer and should be considered.

--AJ

 

IMO, Coralvue Reef Octopus is a much better skimmer and should be considered.

--AJ

 

Jason I to have been in the fresh water for years and made the switch to salt. This form will help you in a lot of ways. It won't be long and that 180 in the basement will be all salt. As for a sump I am running a 40breeder nice size to do what you need to do.
Rod

 

Hey Rod....yep...I know you. We sat next to each other at a fresh water fish auction once. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif

Question for everyone - I am looking for some ideas on lighting the 3'x2'x16" tank. I was initially going to go T5HO...but am considering LED if I can swing it. I don't have a ton of money so I wasn't wanting to go over $400 for the lighting. Also - I really need help with 'haning the light'. Having a hard time wrapping my head around this. The tank is a peninsula style tank. I can't hang the light from ceiling or from mounted brackets from wall since it will be in the office. Any suggestions of products that I can attach to my stand that will secure lighting from the 'short end' of my tank? Hope this makes sense. This is a rimless tank. Worst case scenario, I can just use mounting legs on the tank itself...but suspending it looks better I think on a rimless tank. Thanks in advance for any feedback. I'd like to take advantage of any specials going on right now for holidays.

 

Sounds like a nice setup you plan to do. I to just entered the Saltwater world from fresh water in the past. I started with a 29gal an T5 lighting is great. LED is very pricing and will cost you much for startup. I would buy the same lighting as I did here it is. I got the 24" one for my 29, but here is the 36" http://www.ebay.com/itm/36-Aquarium-T5-HO-Light-39W-x4-LED-Reef-Fish-Tank-CE-/160683964974?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256982ba2e.
To buy a coral life one would cost you like 200.00 new from LFS. I ordered this to get me started and love it.Mine was 70.00 shipped vs 200.00 coralife fixture. Don't get me wrong I am sure Coralife is good stuff, but not when you plan to upgrade to LED. I Would buy another one in a heart beat. I am sure other that have used older models of this light will say it sucks maybe, but this is the 2011 model and it works very well for the price and the reviews are good. Here is what my tank looks like with it on the 2 x10k Daylights on and 2xActinic on. There is LED moon lights on them too. I too will go to LED some time with a DIY kit, but this works great so far.


Speaking from another newbie there is a lot of people on here that know a lot of stuff. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Kyle

 

Man i like that Photo..

 

I am in the process of my stand design. Tank is 36x24x16. Any suggestions on how tall you think I should go. I think right about 32" would put me in the center viewing area of the tank as I sit behind my desk. Also - anything that you 'wish' you could have done different with your stand that I might be able to incorporate into mine. In the grand scheme of things, the stand is pretty simple and minor, but I only get one shot at doing this right...right? Thanks! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif

 

+1 on the stand height. Also, try to get as large of a sump as you can - doesn’t need to be tall, just try to maximize length and depth in the stand. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll fill the sump up. The marineland in sump skimmer that was previously mentioned isn’t a terrible idea. The pump sits directly under the skimmer so it saves a lot of space. The only downside in my experience with those skimmers is they are extremely sensitive to the water level, so you’ll either need baffles in the sump to keep the water level constant or have a well tuned ATO system.

 

i agree with AJ go with an octopus skimmer also i would contact bud (floyd r turbo) about a sump he can custom make you one exactly how you want it