New Setup

OcalaReefer · 01/13/2010, 04:01 PM

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to the hobby and am gathering the things I "think" I need to set up a 90 gallon tank. I would like to keep soft corals, a few fish and inverts but would like to have flexibility to keep other corals too. I have consulted with someone at 3 different LFS's and they all seemed to agree on the basics without me telling any of them what the others had recomended.
I had a saltwater tank about a dozen years ago but only kept fish, shrimp, and a few snails and needless to say; the equipment has improved dramatically.
Below are the things I have purchased for my reef tank so far.

-90g tank with back left mounted internal overflow
-30x12X16 refugim which I plan to stock with live rock rubble and Chaeto
-Mag Drive 950 gph pump for the return
-T5 HO ballast to be mounted on the canopy which will have 1 48" 54w Life Gro and 1 48" Marine Glo It will have the reflectors
-300 W VisiTherm submersible heater

I am planning to add about 150 pounds of live rock and about 1-2 inches of live sand to be bottom of the tank.

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on this set-up. It's not too late to add more lighting or make other changes as I'm waiting for the stand and canopy to be finished

thegrun · 01/13/2010, 04:12 PM

Your lighting is a little weak, but you can always add on in the future. I would recommend starting with 4 bulbs with the possibility of going with 6 in the future. I would also use 2 150 watt heaters instead of a single 300 watt. If one fails to turn on or worse yet stick in the on position, you may avert a disaster by only having one heater malfunction. You may also want to add a couple of remote pumps in the DT for better water movement. A skimmer would be nice, but it can also be added in the future (I would plan on arranging your sump to accommodate one).
Good luck and welcome to Reef Central!

WhoDat? · 01/13/2010, 05:24 PM

agreed... especiallly on the lighting.... you really need alot more lighting for that tank to house anything but fish... especially since your 90 is only 48".... this means its deeper and needs even more light to reach the bottom well..... A skimmer is also pretty much a must.... These are the two most stressed aspects to a successful tank..... Good lighting and a good skimmer....

210reefer · 01/13/2010, 05:27 PM

I would def. and a skimmer and if you really want to open up the coral options and you hve yoom, use the T5's with actinic bulbs and add 2 - 250 watt DE MH retro lights and a couple fans to the canopy for air flow. That will open all the coral options including clams, but that is a way off since it needs to be completely stable before even considering the addition of any corals.

01/13/2010, 04:01 PM	#1
OcalaReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ocala FL Posts: 1	New Setup Hello Everyone, I'm new to the hobby and am gathering the things I "think" I need to set up a 90 gallon tank. I would like to keep soft corals, a few fish and inverts but would like to have flexibility to keep other corals too. I have consulted with someone at 3 different LFS's and they all seemed to agree on the basics without me telling any of them what the others had recomended. I had a saltwater tank about a dozen years ago but only kept fish, shrimp, and a few snails and needless to say; the equipment has improved dramatically. Below are the things I have purchased for my reef tank so far. -90g tank with back left mounted internal overflow -30x12X16 refugim which I plan to stock with live rock rubble and Chaeto -Mag Drive 950 gph pump for the return -T5 HO ballast to be mounted on the canopy which will have 1 48" 54w Life Gro and 1 48" Marine Glo It will have the reflectors -300 W VisiTherm submersible heater I am planning to add about 150 pounds of live rock and about 1-2 inches of live sand to be bottom of the tank. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on this set-up. It's not too late to add more lighting or make other changes as I'm waiting for the stand and canopy to be finished

01/13/2010, 05:24 PM	#3
WhoDat? Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Crowley, LA Posts: 295	agreed... especiallly on the lighting.... you really need alot more lighting for that tank to house anything but fish... especially since your 90 is only 48".... this means its deeper and needs even more light to reach the bottom well..... A skimmer is also pretty much a must.... These are the two most stressed aspects to a successful tank..... Good lighting and a good skimmer.... __________________ Hello my name is Grant.... and I have OCD.... (first step is admitting it right?) :) Current Tank Info: 165g Red Sea Reefer, S-200 skimmer.; CW-200 Algae Scrubber. Sea Max 26 LED lights. 2 Nero 5’s

01/13/2010, 05:27 PM	#4
210reefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 75	I would def. and a skimmer and if you really want to open up the coral options and you hve yoom, use the T5's with actinic bulbs and add 2 - 250 watt DE MH retro lights and a couple fans to the canopy for air flow. That will open all the coral options including clams, but that is a way off since it needs to be completely stable before even considering the addition of any corals. __________________ 210 RR, 30 gal sump, Aqua Euro 250 skimmer, 2 x K4's, 2xK3's, turbo twist UV, 2 x 300 watt heaters, shop light w/6500k bulb for fuge, 300 lbs LR, 300 lb LS, powder blue tag, kole tang, regal tang, humu humu trigger, coral beauty angel, 2 x perc. clowns. ITS NOT THE DAYS IN OUR LIFE BUT, THE LIFE IN OUR DAYS THAT MATTER.

01/13/2010, 04:12 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Your lighting is a little weak, but you can always add on in the future. I would recommend starting with 4 bulbs with the possibility of going with 6 in the future. I would also use 2 150 watt heaters instead of a single 300 watt. If one fails to turn on or worse yet stick in the on position, you may avert a disaster by only having one heater malfunction. You may also want to add a couple of remote pumps in the DT for better water movement. A skimmer would be nice, but it can also be added in the future (I would plan on arranging your sump to accommodate one). Good luck and welcome to Reef Central!