Starting Anew

[piper2013]

Hello all experts out there!

I have been out of the salt water aquarium activity for about 6 years. Thinking about rejoining the hobby. My question is this: if you had to do it all over again what would you do today.

I have a 90 and a couple of 30's. Protein skimmer, halides, etc. My though is to start with a minimum of 200 using the 90 as a refugium/sump. Planning more for corals - small volume of fish.

So have at it - WITHOUT RESERVATION TELL ME WHAT YOU WOULD SET UP TODAY KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW?

I am appreciative of your knowledge.

Craig

 

[allsps40]

I would go bigger 300-350G DT and a DD tank. Closed loop system to reduce power head in the DT. Large sump 100-150g at operating level. Large fuge 90G with 4-5 inch DSB as its own tank separate from the sump. Build/plan the sump after getting all equipment that will be going in it. More room under the stand. Frag tank. QT tank that can be shut off from the main system if needed. These are some of the things I would do different if I went larger, well not if when.

 

[piper2013]

Thanks for the reply. Have most large systems moved to entirely live rock etc for biological filtration and away from trickle/wet drys? Also I have been reading much about LEDs. Are my halides till valuable?
Craig

 

[seasmurf]

In the smae boat….

In the smae boat"¦.

Hi Poper,

I'm in the same boat after losing my 90 gallon reef to a mid-winter power failure up here in MAssachusetts. I'm just starting to get the tank up and running after 5 years and am makeing some technology changes. I'll be logging our progress at http://rjnreef.blogspot.com/. Some of these are:

1. Keeping the 90 galoon tank but have relocated the sump from under the display tank to the basement to cut down on noise and also give more room to work on system.

2. Adding a 12 gallon refugium with macroalgae for nitrate/phosphate management and copepod growth.

3. Replacing Neptune II controller with Reefkeeper Elite (swapping out old X-10 switchin module technology)

4. Replacing two metal halide bulbs aith Aqua Illumination SOL LED system.

5. Replacing old oscillating closed loop system with a programmable Vortech powerhead.

Be interested what changes you'd be making!

 

[allsps40]

Thanks for the reply. Have most large systems moved to entirely live rock etc for biological filtration and away from trickle/wet drys? Also I have been reading much about LEDs. Are my halides till valuable?
Craig

Stay away from wet dry filter they are NO3 factories. Live rock, a good skimmer, a fuge and flow are all you need. LED is still new and there are only a few that I would trust to keep my corals alive and thriving. IMO MH is still the best and for sure the most proven. I like MH and T5 combo, gives you with most choices of lighting. Plus the stupid high cost of the LEDs. They really need to come down to be more competitive with MH and T5 lighting. For example the AI LED was sweet when it came out but many that have beet running them for a while now are not please with the color of their corals. The Radion is a much better LED light than the AI. Me I will stick with what works.

 

[piper2013]

Thanks for the help. I will certainly share my efforts but I am probably behind you in timeline. What would help me is descriptions/pics of all the plumbing. Is there a good reference out there somewhere? It has been a long time and sizes in/out plus power of pumps etc.... Has me looking for direction.

I am thinking my 90 will be a sump/refugium for a larger tank. Again, be happy to share my progress as I go. Yesterday for example I ordered all new filters/membrane for my r/o and now have to figure out where to put it etc...I am in a different house than when I did salt so it is really starting over.

 

[piper2013]

Thanks allsps40. Your post is a big help in my planning. I was thinking of keeping the halides - was a big investment at the time.