Suggestions...

[Guest Keyoke]

heya peeps.

 

So it's been awhile about 8 years since my last tank and now that I'm all growed up, and have a little more disposable income, I'm wanting to get back and indulge my obss..er, hobby.

 

So I managed to pick myself up a predrilled 90, with the hole in the back, and I'm looking for suggestions as to sizes of sumps, skimmers, lighting, etc.

 

I'm not planning on doing anything specalized with this tank. I'm thinking a general 'reef', only things that are easy to keep ('shrooms, maybe a bubble or leather, xenia, that kinda stuff)... if the wife determines this is going to cost too much, then I'm gonna end up with a FOWLR... (or maybe just a few blue dames in the tank, bare bottom and all!)

 

I have an AquaC Remora skimmer, that I was going to use a few years ago when I was thinking about a 30gal,  but I don't think it's going to quite cut it for a 90...

 

Anyone have any ideas? I'd rather not deal with another plenum setup. It was a pain to cut all those little PVC pipes with a hacksaw.. Last time I did this, DSBs were almost as Evil as a UGF in a reef, and the Plenum setup was the way "everyone would do it, if they could do it over again"  now it seems to be the other way around.. I never had any problems with mine, but then again, I only had the tank for about 2 years..never could get any coraline to grow tho..

 

Anyway, I digress. What I'm looking for is some suggestions on lighting, skimmer size.. and if anyone can tell me what size return pump I'm goinna need, I forgotten how to do all of that stuff it's been so long..

[craby]

Are you planning on a sump? This is recommended for larger tanks so you can run a refugium, skimmer, heater, return pump, top off system, reactors, etc... through it & have more stable water parameters. Without a sump you can plumb in a closet loop with the drilled hole?  What size hole is drilled in back? This will determine the max size return/closed loop pump.

If you go w/ a soft coral tank you shouldn't need metal Halide (MH) lighting, & power compact (PC) or very high output (VHO) lighting should be sufficient.

As far as skimmers, the hook on back types are more sensitive than the in sump types and need adjustment more frequently.

[Guest Keyoke]

Yeah, I'm planning on a sump. I'd like to go with a fuge at some point, but again I'm havign issues in sizing everything.

 

The hole is a 1inch in the upper right along the back.

[HowardofNOVA]

Hey Jeff,

I have a 90g RT just off the beltway off Rt 50E in Falls Church if you would like to stop in a see the setup?

I just got my Downdraft Skimmer from Chip and finishing it off for install soon. I currently running a Turbofloater 1000 with Rio2100 pump. Has done an admiral job in my tank, but time for an upgrade.

I'm also just upgraded from a JEBO 4-55w PC to 2-250w MH lights.

I'll be selling both soon if your interested in using them? Say $85/$75 or both for $150 if your interested, but could be a couple of weeks before I make the switch, but soon?

I running a Mag12 pump with a SCWD that splits to 2 inflows to the corners that producing a ton of flow. I went to The Reef Tank www.reefstore.com and had 3 total holes drilled in the back of my tank and running 3-1" Bulkheads out the back into a 20g sump below. BTW, I probably have the 20g tank available as well, going to a 29g sump/refugium soon also.

LMK

Howard

 

BTW, IMO, the one 1" hole is too small for that tank size. I would recommend using 1" Bulkheads, which off hand, can't think of the size to have them drilled to accomandate them.

Each 1" bulkhead will outflow about 600gph. The Mag12 I'm running puts out 1200ghp with a slight loss to the tank. I recommend 3 holes because you can have 1 clog and system will keep running fine. Only 1 hole leave's no room for error and it only runs about $15 per hole to have drilled.

[fishface]

Hi Keyoke, (Howard too), et al:

 

Offering my 25 cents to suggest that you visit the Reef tank for hole drilling and excellent analysis/help. I called them up looking to get a 55 drilled to I can move a pair of Gold Band Maroon Clowns to it. Mike was very helpful, and also asked questions and analyzed the flow for my 75 rather than just listening to my one issue. He determined that the single drain is not enough flow based upon gph. This is something I would not have figured out, and just assumed what I had was correct. I've only have had Freshwater fish until this year, and I've learned in the last 10 months that you can get a lot of misguided advice, particularly if the person you talk to is not really listening or asking you good questions.

To the point, I discussed with him dropping my sump into my basement because: A. You will find that there's not enough room to easily work on most supporting reef equipment if it's stuffed in the the stand, so take over an adjecent closet or go down into the basement. B. The pumps, drain and even some MH ballasts make noise, so in your living room or wherever, the noise factors build up. My wife quickly agreed to a sump in the basement because of this. C. If your interest takes off, you can be more flexible later and change your setup for LPS or SPS  later. It's then an easy decision that would be based upon your wants, not logistics/space.

And FYI- as for the sump solution: Mike suggested buying a drinking trough and showed me one that they use at The Reeftank. My 100 sump was $60 bucks at Southern states, comes plumbed with a  1 1/4 in bulkhead.

Regards,

Fishface

[GaryL]

i always have good experiences at the reef tank. grimm has always been helpful as i have usually only seen him there till recently, i started to see more people there and they have always been very helpful. great LFS

[wirick21]

Fishface

 

What kind of pump did you use for your return?  I was thinking of doing the same thing my self.

 

Thanks

Brian