new tank start up

odin5738

Member
I'm sure this type of thread has been around the block a few times. I'm trying to decide on the best reef set up. 90 gal tank 35 gal refugium, 20 gal sump with protein skimmer. There is a lot of equipment on the market but what items are necessary to maintain an easy running system? Along with startup live sand, live rock and quantities? Or is it fine to have live rock and crushed coral? What live rock is more preferable? Just a few questions to get this reef started for success.
Thanks
 
The questions you ask are not answerable by any one person, or one thread. Everyone will have different opinions and if they all posted on yout thread you would have your head spinning.

Your questions about what equipment completly depend on what intentions you have, what your buget is, your location of your set up regarding room constraints etc.

As for LR, Sand, Etc... My opinion is to stuff as much LR in the display as you can, but I also prefer a stuffed display and smaller/less fish

Others would say you should put a deep sand bed in your refugium?along with cheato and live rock. I would stay away from crushed coral unles you are running a bio filter (fluval etc) but most here prefer the bio filtration provided by live rock and sand.

Any live rock is good, just depends on what look you like... but make sure you place it so that as much surface of it is exposed to the water as piossible to maximize filtration.

Make sure whatever you do is take it slow (i am bad with this and have had bad experiance because of it)

Lastly, look on the build threads...search for 90 gallon set ups and see what others have done..

Your Bio says 5 years reef keeping?

Good luck :)
 
I've been dabbling in a reef for a while and haven’t been super successful. I'm moving and want to start completely over with an ideal setup. My display tank will be backed by a mech. room with a lot of space for refuge and sump. I have a pretty good plan for my set up but looking for proven suggestions. Since I already own all the basic equipment I have a pretty large budget and I'll need it because LR is not cheap. I plan on a large sand bed in the refuge but what's recommended for the display sand bed? One thing I never did in the past was much LR and maybe that has been part of my problem. I feel pretty confident maintaining water quality and stable chemistry adding turbo ca and baked baking soda daily. It's recommended to put 1.25 to 1.5 lbs of LR per gallon. Should that be added 1/2 at start up and 1/2 after cycled? Other suggestion would be appreciated.
 
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