As titles states, I am about to do a 90gallon build with a Marineland RR setup. If you didnt read my book of an introduction post in the other forum this will be my third setup and once completed the only one for a loooong time. I will make an official build thread/blog with the updates and pictures but first the questions!
So this will basically be a blank slate. New rock, new sand, etc. Will be keeping some equipment from the old tank as I upgrade and a few fish and corals as it matures and I can move them.
Aquarium- 90gallon RR setup.
Stand- Unsure here building my own. Looked through the threads here wish people had plans on how to skin some of the ones Ive seen and not just the structural support. I can build that easily, its the skinning and finishing that I have a hard time with so any tips or links are appreciated!
Sump- Obviously will go under the stand. Being my first experience with these I have lots of questions and basically drilled my LFS owner for hours before pulling the trigger on a RR tank. I am thinking a premade one is nice, but limited and expensive!! I figured making one is t he best bet here so once again advice and links!!! Thinking I will close off under the tank into 2 compartments, 1 ft area for electrical with a divider to keep moisture out of the 3ft part for the sump. maybe a 20 or 29gal tank?? This is at this point very much in the air so all opinions welcomed. I want the return section, a live rock section, and an equipment section. Am leaning away from sand for maintence reasons in the sump and might eventually do a chaeto or something as well.
Rock- Had used Pukani from BRS before and loved it. Have been debating between using that again or using r eefcleaners. I did see the BRS reefsaver at a store and dont love it the way I loved my pukani and I believe the reefcleaners is the same stuff as is marcorocks? Will have some branch and shelf pieces mixed in as well
Sand- Thinking the FijiPink by CaribSea? Had used sugargrain before cant stand the stuff.
Equipment- Never ran a skimmer before but am looking into a sump one. For the price the Reef OCtopus NWB 150 looks to be a great choice but I am still early on with this. Help and advice welcomed!
For flow I have NO idea on what to get for a sump return pump. Something submersible obviously and rating at 800-1200gph?? Thinking slower rates might work better for a liverock/refuge section since I will have just 1 feed from the tank? Also I have 3 vortech mp10 and will probably get an mp40 and only use 2 mp10s to provide adequate flow.
I have many heaters and like the fluval E-series. Probably put 1 in the sump and 1 in the DT behind in the overflow box?
Lighting will be my current 2 dual bulb T5HO 36 inch fixtures to start. Want to go LED at some point. After I build a canopy I want to get the dimmable Onyx figtures, maybe 2 would work, as the main lighting and use the T5HO units as suppliment lighting.
As for media I currently have always used carbon from BRS and phosguard from Seachem mixed together. I t ried GFO once and did not like it but that was in a HOB filter. I am thinking a reactor with carbon to start and maybe adding biopellets later down the road.
As for overall plans, a mixed reef is what I enjoy with lots of movement. I am going to transfer some of my xenia and blue mushrooms over at some point. Would like to have a lot of LPS again and a few sps. Will keep my clowns, melarus wrasse, and blue hippo tang. Tang police please hold back, he is about 4inches and tank raised. We got him under an inch knowing he would outgrow the current tank we had. Upgrading to a 90gallon will allow us to keep him for many more years I am sure but at the sign of any aggression or anything he will be removed to a better home. Im thinking keeping 10 or so fish in the tank isnt out of the question and would consider another wrasse or 2, soem anthias, dwarf angels, etc. MAYBE a regal or blue girdle angel as they are very slow growing and max out at 8-10inches. Would also like a ncie butterfly and the double saddle looks to fit the bill just right and is considered to be reef safe by many.
So this will basically be a blank slate. New rock, new sand, etc. Will be keeping some equipment from the old tank as I upgrade and a few fish and corals as it matures and I can move them.
Aquarium- 90gallon RR setup.
Stand- Unsure here building my own. Looked through the threads here wish people had plans on how to skin some of the ones Ive seen and not just the structural support. I can build that easily, its the skinning and finishing that I have a hard time with so any tips or links are appreciated!
Sump- Obviously will go under the stand. Being my first experience with these I have lots of questions and basically drilled my LFS owner for hours before pulling the trigger on a RR tank. I am thinking a premade one is nice, but limited and expensive!! I figured making one is t he best bet here so once again advice and links!!! Thinking I will close off under the tank into 2 compartments, 1 ft area for electrical with a divider to keep moisture out of the 3ft part for the sump. maybe a 20 or 29gal tank?? This is at this point very much in the air so all opinions welcomed. I want the return section, a live rock section, and an equipment section. Am leaning away from sand for maintence reasons in the sump and might eventually do a chaeto or something as well.
Rock- Had used Pukani from BRS before and loved it. Have been debating between using that again or using r eefcleaners. I did see the BRS reefsaver at a store and dont love it the way I loved my pukani and I believe the reefcleaners is the same stuff as is marcorocks? Will have some branch and shelf pieces mixed in as well
Sand- Thinking the FijiPink by CaribSea? Had used sugargrain before cant stand the stuff.
Equipment- Never ran a skimmer before but am looking into a sump one. For the price the Reef OCtopus NWB 150 looks to be a great choice but I am still early on with this. Help and advice welcomed!
For flow I have NO idea on what to get for a sump return pump. Something submersible obviously and rating at 800-1200gph?? Thinking slower rates might work better for a liverock/refuge section since I will have just 1 feed from the tank? Also I have 3 vortech mp10 and will probably get an mp40 and only use 2 mp10s to provide adequate flow.
I have many heaters and like the fluval E-series. Probably put 1 in the sump and 1 in the DT behind in the overflow box?
Lighting will be my current 2 dual bulb T5HO 36 inch fixtures to start. Want to go LED at some point. After I build a canopy I want to get the dimmable Onyx figtures, maybe 2 would work, as the main lighting and use the T5HO units as suppliment lighting.
As for media I currently have always used carbon from BRS and phosguard from Seachem mixed together. I t ried GFO once and did not like it but that was in a HOB filter. I am thinking a reactor with carbon to start and maybe adding biopellets later down the road.
As for overall plans, a mixed reef is what I enjoy with lots of movement. I am going to transfer some of my xenia and blue mushrooms over at some point. Would like to have a lot of LPS again and a few sps. Will keep my clowns, melarus wrasse, and blue hippo tang. Tang police please hold back, he is about 4inches and tank raised. We got him under an inch knowing he would outgrow the current tank we had. Upgrading to a 90gallon will allow us to keep him for many more years I am sure but at the sign of any aggression or anything he will be removed to a better home. Im thinking keeping 10 or so fish in the tank isnt out of the question and would consider another wrasse or 2, soem anthias, dwarf angels, etc. MAYBE a regal or blue girdle angel as they are very slow growing and max out at 8-10inches. Would also like a ncie butterfly and the double saddle looks to fit the bill just right and is considered to be reef safe by many.
