New to Salt! 90G build.

[Explicit]

Hello y'all!
So I have been creeping the forums for a while doing my research on reef aquariums. I finally bit the bullet and bought a new setup fro Big Al's in Edmonton Alberta. I'll probably need a little help getting this whole thing set up and ready so be ready for questions. I have everything I should need except I am waiting on my tank stand (which will be here shortly)

Here is my setup (Although it is not yet setup):

Marineland corner-flo 90gallon tank
SWC 120 Skimmer
Aqueon Model 2 Proflex sump
48" Aquatic life t5 HO (four bulbs) with timer and moonlights
Marineland 4500 sump pump
Hydor 750 and 1150 Powerheads
Eheim 250W heater and Fluval 300W heater
And ofcourse other things like Live sand, salt, GFCI, thermometer, Refractometer, test kit, plumbing etc...


I unfortunately work the next three nights so I wont be able to set it up till Friday morning!!
(I'll probably get impatient and start setting up when I get home tomorrow morning!! :bounce2

 

[Agu]

[welcome]

 

[WetShepherd]

Welcome aboard - always good to see another Canuck My tank was coincidentally also from Al's - nice showroom but they need to spend a lot more time on their web store.

Don't forget to post some build pics as you go!

 

[scarface70706]

if your going to get a proflex sump i would get the model 3 or 4. nothing less. i have the 3 and i like it. very quite but i wish i could have gone with the model 4 since its bigger. if you can atleast get the model 3. the rest of the models are way too small.

 

[Explicit]

Here is a couple of pics do far with most of it set up.

 

[Explicit]

I took the skimmer out until I get the water and everything in. And everything settles down.

 

[WetShepherd]

Nice looking setup - slightly bizarre to see in that you have the same stand, sump, pump, carpet, trim and wall colour as I do lol. Thanks for posting pics

 

[Explicit]

Haha nice setup!!!

Is yours up and running now? You have a thread?

 

[Explicit]

I hope to start filling it today!!

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[WetShepherd]

LMAO you bought the same RODI system I did too. Just a heads up - I had some issues with TDS and strangely enough, ammonia and it turned out to be the DI canister (which shouldn't actually be in a horizontal format - not sure why they designed it that way).

What I did to fix it, with the help of an RC member, Korrine, was to get in touch with Bulk Reef Supply. I ordered a new DI canister and new media for everything, because at the time I wasn't sure where the problem was. I've since added on a dual in-line meter (way more convenient) from them as well (along with some mesh filter socks - way easier than the fuzzy stuff to clean).

If you run into the same problem, check them out. They have a special set up for Canadian orders - no hassles with customs brokers etc. If you email them with a question it will by handled by Brandon - VERY helpful guy. BRS

To answer your question - yes it's up and running - instead of a thread I just posted the build in my blog section of RC (link is under my name). Easy to find and it won't get used for anything else anyway Guess it needs another update.

Good luck with the filling - I started with tap water (unwittingly) and continue to suffer for it months later - so it's good that you're off to a better start

 

[Explicit]

Well I was just filling it but my friend called and told me to stop because I had to fill and empty the canisters 4 times or some **** before I use the water?!

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[Explicit]

Nm he thought it was a different style that he was use to working with... Tank has about an inch of water haha

When should I add live rock? I think I should add sand soon?

 

[WetShepherd]

Ideally, Live rock next so it sits on the glass. You don't want it shifting around and collapsing in the middle of the night. If you know you won't be getting anything that burrows in the sand like pistol shrimp, blennies etc then you could lay down some Egg Crate underneath to help stabilize it further. Then you add the sand - let it settle - then blow it off the rocks with a power head or turkey baster.

You can start as soon as your temperature is stable around 78 and your salt is mixed and fully dissolved (I'd give it a day). Make sure you have lots of water movement / surface agitation so that you are getting adequate oxygen in there.

 

[Explicit]

Okay so the water is now salt water and the rock and sand is in too!!

 

[gmate]

Where'd you get your rock? Did you purchase it at a LFS or online? If online, can you specify which site? Thank you!

 

[Explicit]

Got it from a fish store in Edmonton.
It's Kupang island rock. realllly nice stuff!

 

[Explicit]

So I did some tests today as the water is almost perfectly clear.

pH 8
Nitrate ~2.5 mg/L
Nitrite ~0.1 mg/L
Ammonia ~3.7 mg/L
Phosphate ~0 mg/L
Temperature 80*f
Salinity 1.026

This all seem normal?

 

[WetShepherd]

Yep - if you're putting food in to generate the ammonia, you can stop for a while. If you haven't been putting food in, or you have and you are now pausing, wait until the ammonia is gone and put a bit more in to see if you can provoke more ammonia, or if it goes straight to nitrate. When it's the latter, you're done - add your CUC

I'd also do a water change if you have more that 10ppm nitrates - right after your ammonia hits zero, but before you add food to confirm that you have an adequate bio filter to convert the food directly to nitrates. This is not required, but there's no point in letting nitrates build up if there are no benefits.

 

[Explicit]

Cool. I have not been adding food.
So when my ammonia hits 0ppm do a small water change and add food to check if it goes to ammonia or nitrates?

 

[WetShepherd]

Yes - I'd only do the water change if the nitrates are high though - in my case they never got up to 10 so I never bothered.

I like your rockwork, but if you want to keep the glass on the right side clean (you may not depending on plans) you will want to move the rocks to allow enough space for a magfloat or scrapper.