Starting my first SW tank (90 gal)

[Killerflash]

Hey there I'm new here and have been lurking around as a guest for a few days reading different things on here and pretty much everywhere else, but chose to stick with this forum.

I am definitely going to be needing some help from you guys through the process of starting up this new 90 gallon set up I received from someone who used to have a FOWLR set up in it.

Right now I have it basically empty (just a TINY bit of sand here and there) with both filters running cleaning everything as it is filled with tap water and distilled white vinegar.

Okay so I'll just list everything I got so far:

90 gallon glass aquarium (not drilled)
A nice stand that came with it that currently hides everything underneath it
Two canister filters (A Penn Plax Cascade 1200 & Marineland C-220)
Two power heads (JVP-102B's)
Two Submersible Heaters (Hydor 400 Watt & Acura 1000)
Marineland 36" LED Light System (White & Blue LED's)
Top Fin LED Light Bubble Wall
Glass canopy
A bag of instant ocean reef crystals
Various cleaning supplies/supplements
And I saved the sand that he had used previously and rinsed it many times and have it sitting right now in a large container in some tap water that looks like it was instant oceans live aragonite reef sand.

My plan was to turn this thing back into a FOWLR set up probably similarly to how the person that I got everything from had done it.

So it will be sump and skimmer-less
Plan to of course use RO-DI water and do a 10% water change every week
Plan to get around 10% live rock and 90% base rock (planning around 120 lbs)

Of course no fish will be added for a while until it has been fully cycled so I didn't list anything about what I plan to put in there.

How does everything look so far?

I really appreciate any help; so thanks in advance!

 

[moondoggy4]

I would drill the tank there are lots of videos on you tube showing how to do this.

I would get the largest sump that you can fit inside the stand, you make one or buy one.

I would buy a skimmer.

I would get a Ranco temp control unit sub 75 bucks.

Thats what I would do if I had your tank, if you want to go skimmerless it can be done, I had a 55 gallon FO no live rock with dual eheim canisters, it worked and I had a crazy bio load. I would get a Fluval 110 hang on the tank filters they have companies that make mods for them. Do lots of water changes.

 

[Killerflash]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I actually already had a Ranco ETC-111000 thermostat that I used to use for some of my reptiles; I suppose I could use that for this tank.

I know it is best, but I really don't want to drill this tank (multiple reasons). I could possibly see myself drilling in the future if I run into any big problems or really get into this and get more tanks.

However as for the skimmer and sump... I read a lot about how beneficial it can be before planning not to use either and just knowing the previous owner had a healthy tank previously with what would probably a be very similar set up to what I planned it just made me think there is no need or maybe I could do an overflow box instead?

BUT I have seen that most people still seem to recommend them to everyone and so it isn't like I am throwing them out of question, I just don't want to have the tank drilled and so I'm looking into ways around it to still have one without a drilled tank. Possibly run the tubes from the sump up over the back and into the aquarium somehow?

 

[EllisJuan]

Drill it man...it is not as scary as it sounds. Do an overflow box with three holes and setup a Bean Animal. Ditch the canister filters and as suggested go with the biggest sump you can fit. Snag a solid skimmer.

Don't rush. Do it once, and do it right.

 

[ufans]

Don't think about anything else until you convince yourself to drill it. If you are going to use a sump then drilling now will save you many sleepless nights and messes. Overflows are never 100% reliable and will fail. Drilling is cheaper and MUCH easier in the long run.

A skimmer is better than canister filters. In a live rock and live sand environment as long as you are skimming and managing phosphate levels then you should not need a lot more filtration. I use some simple filtration in the baffles of my sump sometimes, but often times mechanical filtration invites more Nitrates than it helps the system.

Did I read "Bubble wall" ? That's not natural. Why is that in the calculus? Moving water to the sump and back... and powerheads in the aquarium should provide enough surface contact to promote O2 exchange.

 

[Shawn O]

I run a sump-less FOWLR and can tell you that a skimmer makes a huge difference. In about a day my skimmer pulls about 1/4" of dark green crud from the water. That's all the proof I need for having a skimmer.

In the end you'll end up with a tank full of equipment you don't want to see, but will need. That's one of the reasons for a sump, to hide the clutter. Other reasons for a sump are to have a place to put extra rock and macro-algae for nutrient export and a safe place where pods can breed without being eaten immediately by your fish.

HOB overflows can work but there are as many stories of floods as there are success stories with them.

 

[Killerflash]

lol well I didn't plan to use the wall at all it was just another thing I was given along with everything else I wasn't sure why he had it actually it doesn't even have an air pump to go to it I just wanted to mention everything.

And about drilling, nobody around here will drill tanks. I live a little drive from Gerber's in Dayton Ohio and was thinking they might do it so I might call them up and ask. I'm definitely too scared to do it myself and have zero equipment for it (I don't have a drill or the right bit).

 

[Sounds Fishy]

Hi Killerflash, IMO ,on this site,if anyone has over 1000 posts,generally you can accept it as being good advice.
Also, a skimmer is important....

 

[jstephens24]

I have a FOWLR sumpless 75 gal with a skimmer. It pulls out nasty stuff

 

[vin_in_TO]

I think a skimmer would make a big difference to your tank.

 

[ClownsRCoo]

Starting my first SW tank (90 gal)

Since you know what direction fits your needs and ability I won't harp on the sump like the others. You already know the benefits of it and even though I agree with them you have said it isn't possible for you. That doesn't mean you can't get into this hobby however it just means you will be limited. I have seen some beautiful tanks in person that run sumpless. I do recommend that down the line as you can afford it you buy a quality hang on back skimmer. It will just make your life and your fishes life so much easier.

Your rock and sand are basically your filters and you sound like you will have plenty of that.

I think you just need to take it extremely slow with your fish additions and just know that your system will not be capable of supporting as big of a fish list as others like myself can who have the sump along with additional filtration options in their system. You must be religious with your water changes and test regularly to make sure your system is still keeping up with your bioload. Keep those canister filters very clean as well. Overtime detritus will make its way into them and pile up in there. You don't want that so make sure you empty and rinse those out regularly. Make sure you have decent flow and surface agitation for oxygenation and you should be fine.

GO SLOW

 

[Killerflash]

Thanks for all of that info; I will definitely go slow!

I can test my water regularly and could clean (rinse out) my canister filters weekly when I do my water changes.

I have been looking into HOB refuges and skimmers thinking that eventually getting one of those (or both?) would probably be my best bet, second only to drilling.

 

[ClownsRCoo]

If you aren't going to drill it then just skip the hang on back overflow and just get a skimmer. No point adding that risk to your system.

 

[Killerflash]

So I got it all cleaned out and got some base rock and sand in there now.
How does it look?
I planned get a little bit of live rock after its filled up to help with cycling to add to both sides.