I'm in!

[Katmanblue]

Well, I'm in. I've taken the plunge and settled on a 90g tank. Today I purchased a Nova 48" T5 Extreme Pro 6x54 lighting fixture.
The plans are for a live rock, soft coral set up with very light fish load (1 or 2 at the most). I'm going for a non-drilled, non-sump system. I plan on a h.o.b skimmer. All my tanks in the past have been set up like this before, but I've never done a tank this size. Hopefuly this weekend I'll post some progress pics

I'm just VERY excited to be back in the game after several years!!

:rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

 

[ludnix]

Have fun and good luck!

 

[snorvich]

Well, welcome back and good luck!

 

[ihavtats29]

go with a 120 you will wish you did same dimentions of the 90 but 24'' front to back instead of 18'', i have 2) 90 gal setups one is drilled with sump and the other is not, i just got a 120 cause i realy wanted more depth to the tank also a tank drilled for a sump and closed loop will keep the power heads and heater out of the tank and looks much more apealing, this is just my opinion
, good luck !!

 

[Imzadi]

^ +1 (on all the points)

 

[Katmanblue]

I havent actually bought the tank or stand yet, so a 120 is still an option. I really am trying my best to resist the drilled/sump system only because I have an innate fear of a drainage issue. I need a written guarantee that the plumbing won't fail
In a soft coral/shroom system, would the lights i bought still be sufficient?

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

get a 90g drilled and use a 29g tank for a sump and it's impossible to flood

 

[BLKTANG]

sweet. wb

 

[Imzadi]

Drill a BeanAnimal rig. It won't flood... at least IT wont be the cause of it. I have total faith in mine. And that is saying A LOT, because I built it.

Check it out in my Red House. It's only a 55g, but I got a video of the BA in action, and I think its amazing.

 

[ihavtats29]

the drilled sump design wont flood its the hob over flows you have to worry about , i hav a 29 gal tank with 11'' baffels for a sump i have plenty of room for drainage and if my stand pipe were to get pulled out i still have plenty of room, the 120 is getting a custom built sump around 40 gal total cap.

 

[Katmanblue]

I def wasnt going to do a hob overflow, too many horror stories there. I'm going to keep chewing on the drilled idea....

 

[rgentry123]

well goodluck with everything. cant wait to see how long that 1 0r 2 fish thing lasts....

 

[andrewk529]

i originally went sumpless but i think once you get everything set up you will want to add a sump which i just did..with the hob skimmers you will see a huge pump and bubble catch directly in the tank..least in my opinion it really took away from the aquascaping

 

[Macimage]

I would get the 120 and also highly recommend a drilled tank.

You need to have a large enough sump and plumb your show tank with the plumbing up high enough so that in the event of a power outage all the water that back syphons from your display tank will back flow into the sump. Do not use check valves, they will fail.

Good luck!
Joyce

 

[Katmanblue]

Well if I do the 120, I'll of COURSE have to add more than 1 or 2 fish <wink>

One question still on the table. I've already ordered the light fixture, 324watts of T5's. The fixture is 48x12. The height of a 120 is the same as the 90 but there are an additional 6" in width so I'm assuming if I aquascape so that the rocks and mushrooms are beneath the 12" light fixture I'm still ok....That would leave room behind and in front of the rocks, I guess for added water flow.

 

[Macimage]

Yes, that light will be fine.

Joyce

 

[Imzadi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15241990#post15241990 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Katmanblue
The fixture is 48x12.

HOLY CRAP! Thats a lot of light! lol

It might actually fit BETTER over the 120g! lol And if you go with a 120, the extra room at the back at the top you can do a coast-coast, and not lose anything over the 90g, and still remove a considerable amount of hardware and plumbing from your dispay area.

 

[Katmanblue]

LOL
Maybe I've been out of the game too long, I didnt think the 324w of light was a lot. In fact I almost went with the 8x54 432w fixture but I couldn't justify the extra $$.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with 120 at this point. Besides, I had originally entertained the idea of a 330 gallon (see one of my earlier posts), so the 120 at this point is still something my spouse sees as not so "ridiculous" LOL

 

[Imzadi]

Oh yea, the Acrylic one... lol

Maybe its not a lot to some... to me it sure seems it. But them again, ducttape and tye-wrapped ballasts are a good idea in my book.

lol, I envy you having to decide which set-up to use...

 

[ihavtats29]

the 6 t-5's will be plenty of light for softys even sps and lps corals, you will be happy with the 120 over the 90