First time SW 90gal reef build

[drunknmunkys]

I've been doing a lot of reading and have ordered most of my equipment. Here goes...

Tank - 90gal glass w/ black plastic rim. Offcentered overflow bow w/ 2 predrilled 1.75" holes on bottom.

Stand - DIY 30" high 2x4/2x6 construction. Will be skinned and trimmed in oak.

Canopy - Not built yet - will need to be at least 12" high to hang lights

Sump - 20g long. 29g is too tall. I'm not ready to build an acrylic sump right now - maybe after I get everything else up and running.

Sump design - I'll post a design pic later, but I'm thinking of a simple 3 compartment: intake -> protein skimmer -> bubble trap -> return -> bubble trap -> refugium with the return line teed w/ ball valve to control flow through refugium. Sump will be positioned so that the return line is vertical back up to the tank to minimize head loss.

Sump Intake - 1.25" PVC durso standpipe -> 1" bulkhead ->1" flex tubing -> ball/union valve -> 1" flex tube -> filter sock

Sump return - Eheim 1262 pump -> 1.25" PVC -> ball/union value -> tee to refugium w/ ball valve -> 1.25" PVC -> 1" bulkhead -> 1" pvc up to water level -> 1" to 3/4" tee -> 2x 1/2" loc lines

Heaters - 2x Aqueon 200W

Protein Skimmer - AquaMaxx ConeS - CO2

Powerheads - 2x Hydor Koralia Evo 1450gph

RO/DI - AquaFX Barracuda 4-stage 100gpd

Lighting - ATI Sunpower 36" 6x39W w/ B+, ABS, ABS, P+, B+, B+

Pics will follow. My questions now...

1) Sand. I've read some people say they use the quickrete sand and its fine, and other say its absolutely the wrong sand to use. I still need to figure out where to get the right sand.

2) Cycling with LR. I'm probably going to pick up one of the Live Aquaria Fiji Premium live rock . $100 for 45lbs seems like a great deal. Since this rock is not cured and I'm using it to cycle my tank, can I kill two birds with one stone and just add it and let it cure while the tank cycles or does it not work this way?

3) Sump Refigium. I know it'll be tight with such a small sump, but what is best to put in a refugium? I see a lot of references to chaeto. Where does one get this algae? Also, in my design the flow through the refugium is teed off of the return line. Does the refugium also need nutrients from the tank water before it gets skimmed? If so, what's the best way to handle this?

Thanks!

 

[maddmaxx]

seems like you have a nice game plan...thats always the best start to a new build...

i would look at special grade sand honestly. but there are tons of options. so do some research. i would rather use real reef sand then quickrete. youll never find quickrete sand in any ocean...

yes you can and should add the live rock to the tank to start the cycle. i would add sand plus rock with some water and start the cycle...

you could have have a fuge in the sump for sure. but to get the best out of a fuge it all depends on the size. and i dont think you could get that big of a fuge in that sump for a 90g main display tank. i would recommend just using chaeto in the fuge section only. no sand or live rock. youtube tumbling chaeto and i would set the fuge up like that. i would try to have the skimmer section on one side of the sump, return pump in the middle chamber and the chaeto/fuge section on the other end of sump. its best to have fresh feeds to both the fuge and skimmer section, so each chamber gets fresh nutrients. but you can certainly split the return line and have it move water into the fuge..

 

[JMorris271]

Q Kret sand has way too much silica . Don't use it.
Be sure that the stand allows easy access to your sump and you can do what you may need to do inside. Its not just about fitting things in the stand. You have to be able to work inside as well.
JMO

 

[drunknmunkys]

Alright so I'm about to order some CaribSea aragonite sand and I remembered that I've got about 30lbs of sand I took from Sanibel Island a few years ago. Its been sitting in a trashbag in the garage since then...is there any reason not to use that in addition to new aragonite sand?

 

[drunknmunkys]

Alright so I'm about to order some CaribSea aragonite sand and I remembered that I've got about 30lbs of sand I took from Sanibel Island a few years ago. Its been sitting in a trashbag in the garage since then...is there any reason not to use that in addition to new aragonite sand?

And it turns out that wasn't sand, its basically crushed shell so scratch that idea. 90lbs of aragonite sand it is.

 

[palmerit]

I like the sand (and rocks) from reefrocks.net. you may want to give that a look.

 

[drunknmunkys]

I like the sand (and rocks) from reefrocks.net. you may want to give that a look.

Funny you mention that, I found that site after some more internet searching tonight and just purchased 50lb base rock and 80lbs of sand for $114 with fs...best prices by far. Now I just need to get everything set up and get the 45lb live rock from liveaquatics. I won't use all 50lbs of that base rock but the price was so good I couldn't resist. I'm also upgrading my 20g freshwater to a 75g so there's plenty of room in there for some extra rocks.