90 or 120 Gallon

M

msujohn

New member
I'm still debating between getting either a 90 or 120. This will be my first salt water tank. I have a couple of questions.

- Will the Reef Octupus 150 be a good enough skimmer?
- How much GPH do I need for the return pump in the sump? Would a mag 9.5 work? What else would be a good quite pump? I've heard good things about eheims? Which one should I look at?
- For wavemakers, I was thinking of getting 2 1500 Hydor Evolution's.
- I'm really not sure about reactors (for GFO and/or Carbon), what do you recommend?
 
Go as large as you can afford and take care of. Remember, the larger the tank, the more it cost to maintain., Bigger is not always better though. Think about what will work and look best in the space you have to place it..
For a skimmer, size it for 2 times your tanks volume. NWB 150 is marginal for the 120 gal which is what I have.
The 1150 power head is not enough movement for the tank you want.. Shoot for 30-40 times your tank size for total water movement. turnover rate through the sump is 5-7 times your tanks volume.
GFO is something you can hold off on for a while. Wait and see if you have a PO4 problem that you cant manage without one. BRS makes a nice one if you have to have one in single or double carterage
JM2C
 
Last edited:
So, if I did the 90 gallon tank (with a 40 gallon sump). I would need the following flow:

Wavemakers (between 3900 and 5200 GPH) and return pump (between 650 and 910 GPH). The is more flow than I realized I would need. Should I target getting in between these flow rates? Could I get to much flow? Or should I target the higher #'s?

Would the NWB150 be good in the 90? Or would you recommend something else?

What about getting 2 Jeabo RW-8's for my wavemakers?
 
msujohn said:
So, if I did the 90 gallon tank (with a 40 gallon sump). I would need the following flow:

Wavemakers (between 3900 and 5200 GPH) and return pump (between 650 and 910 GPH). The is more flow than I realized I would need. Should I target getting in between these flow rates? Could I get to much flow? Or should I target the higher #'s?

Would the NWB150 be good in the 90? Or would you recommend something else?

What about getting 2 Jeabo RW-8's for my wavemakers?
Click to expand...

i would chose the 120 over the 90. there wont be really any cost difference maintenance wise. not like your goin from a 90 to a 220g ya kno...so i would go with the 120g..

2xRW8s would be perfect for the 120g...

the NWB150 would be fine for a 120g as long as your not insanely stocked bioload wise. but its rated for a heavy bioload on a 120g. the next size skimmer up would be a better choice but the 150 would do just fine for a while...

as far as return goes, the mag 9.5 would work fine. but i would look into the jebao DC6000. this is an adjustable pump and if you ever hook up any type of reactors this pump can run the reactors and still work as your return pump just fine. again its adjustable so you can always turn up the pump if adding the reactors...
 
IMO If you have the option go with the 120, the foot print is 6" more but makes a huge difference.

The 40 gallon for a sump will be fine.

Once you figure out the tank size, then you can start the picking and choosing of equipment.

Check the classifieds as a lot of people are always upgrading inc myself and list stuff on here.

The thing I have learned is saltwater is a "take your time hobby", I have learned a lot by coming to this very site. Ask a lot of questions. Also you will find there are tons of different views and opinions, just listen and take it all in.

Good Luck and ask away

Rich
 
I also plan to build my own sump from a 40 gallon breeder. Do i use acrylic or glass as the dividers between the chambers? I'm planning one section for a skimmer, another for a fuge/chaeto, etc, and 3rd chamber for my return pump.
 
msujohn said:
I also plan to build my own sump from a 40 gallon breeder. Do i use acrylic or glass as the dividers between the chambers? I'm planning one section for a skimmer, another for a fuge/chaeto, etc, and 3rd chamber for my return pump.
Click to expand...

Glass and spend a few extra $$ and get them cut at a glass shop and then use GE1 silicone you can get at any hardware store.
 
I don't plan to have any glass tops on the tank, but what do I put on it in order to keep fish from jumping out?
 
If you have the space and can afford it, the 120 for sure. I've had a 90 for 10 months and im already wishing I could have a bigger one. Trust me, it's a good investment. The 20 extra gallons will allow you to have more space, which means more everything. More fish, more corals (if you go down that path), crabs, everything! You'll be happy with either but the 120 is definetly what I'd recommend
 
it's not the gallons so much. it's the room. that extra six inches makes scaping so much easier. I have 150 lbs. of lr in my 120 and none is near the glass. Hydor's are ok until you clean them. they tend to start running backwards. go with the Jeboa's. built in controllers and night mode.
 
Pumps - Eihem 162 ~ 900gph or Sicce 4.0 950 gph for a 120 G display and 60 gal sump w/ either a single overflow rated at 750 gph or dual 400 gph overflows.

Reef Octopus 150 is only rated up to 150 gals max and is rated at 150 gal for FO or soft corals. For SPS coral it would only be sufficient for a 75 gal display. Would need like a Reef Octopus SRO-3000INT ($500) for a 150 gal SPS tank. I would go the Eshopps PSK 300 for $350 at Drs Smith and Foster

2 1500 Hydor Evolution's - will get you real close to 30 X turnover rate of display including the return pump

Reactors are no big deal I'd get the dual reactors in the 150 class
 
go with the jebao pumps. you'll like them. Better imo to have 2 strong pumps than one as you can change the flow up a lot more easily, and the jebao's have great controls and lots of options.


Glass in the sump for sure.

I'd vote for the 120, but like others have said bigger is more expensive. You need more lighting (or at least stronger lighting) potentially. You need more or stronger pumps, you need a larger skimmer. More live rock. More fish and coral to fill it. etc etc etc.
 
I think I have decided to get the 90 gallon, based on where it will be going in the house.
I'm leaning towardsthe following equipment:
- Reef 150 skimmer
- 2 Jeabo RW 8's
- Return pump, I like the eheims from what I have read very quite (either the 1262 or 3000 compact)
- Lighting I still have't decided. I plan to go the LED route, just not sure how much I can spend on them now. I may lean towards the Chinese LED's in the short term.
 
The other question that I have is with a ATO system. If i do a 40G breeder sump (36" long), I won't have any/much room for a container of RO/DI water to use for my ATO. My wife will never let me put a container next to the tank. Should I go with a smaller sump or what else can be done for the ATO container?
 
The extra front to back space is spectacular in a 120. I opted for a 90 as well and regret it but have learned to live with it as it will be the last tank I purchase while in this home. Light and flow should seriously be comparable in cost. Only increased cost factor should be possibly skimmer size, and cost of water/salt/additives.
 
things you can do for an ato....

1) go with a bigger sump that totally fills the bottom, and use a portion of that as your reservoir.

2) go with a smaller sump and just get a big bucket to put next to it. (I don't like this idea at all.... and if you go smaller, you should definitely get a tall sump for excess water during outages or maintenance, etc)

3) assuming you have about 9.5" of space left in the bottom (like me) get a thin but tall container to use.

4) plumb your ro/di directly into your sump and use an auto shut off valve on the ro/di unit along with a float valve.

I'm still on the fence as to whether I want to go option 2 or 3 myself. I'm leaning toward option 2 but we'll see.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
Setting up 10g quarantine tank
Replies
9
Views
441
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
C
Help with aio return pump.
Replies
6
Views
1K
Cruzersmith
C
P
New installation / No a new Hobbits
Replies
14
Views
272
Pump_Guy
P
R
Sandbed depth question
Replies
9
Views
337
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
M
Choosing Between Innovative Marine and Waterbox for a 200-Gallon Mixed Reef – Your Input Wanted!
Replies
6
Views
4K
griss
griss
Back
Top