I don't know what to do!

Randy2400 · 06/24/2013, 10:28 AM

Alright I have a 90 gallon tank that I want to make into a reef tank this is what I have:
90 pounds of live sand
20 pounds of live rock
Fluval 406 ( going to drop it heard its a nitrate factory )
Beamswork led ( going to upgrade to quad t5s 2x actinic 2x 10,000K )
2x 1300 gph poweheads
salt of course

So I have no idea what to do filtration wise should I use the 406, get a refugium which i don't really want to do its too expensive, or get a lot more of live rock and more water circulation with a good skimmer?

I think the last option is the best but let me hear your opinions

ryan3 · 06/24/2013, 10:50 AM

Look to refugium tank , it is clean up your display tank as well. it is not expensive, DIY reall cheap.

Sugar Magnolia · 06/24/2013, 10:52 AM

You definitely will need more rock. It doesn't need to be live rock. You can buy base rock and over time it will become live from being seeded by the 20 pounds of live rock that you already have. I'd skip the canister filter and opt for a good skimmer.

t00lfan · 06/24/2013, 11:59 AM

I have a 90 as well. What I did is went on BRS and got some dry peices of Pukani that work great for my base rock since you will need a lot more however if you have some already to seed it that is good as well as varous other types they have are worth it plus you don't pay for the water weight. I have a Vortech which I cannot say enough about my flow since I have it. Its undertow is unmatched and worth the price considering all the pumps I have boughten over the years I would have saved money believe it or not just forking out the cash. I have a 30 gallon sump with an Octopus skimmer as well as a fuge with chaeto in the sump. The 30 gallon costed me 20 bucks and I got chaeto from a reefer in my local reef society with a grow bulb from a hardware store that costed me about10 additional dollars. Liverock/skimmer/fuge is the way to go instead of maintenance you will have with a canister. I understand the pump may cost something to pump from sump but do you want to spend some money and fail or spend a little more and be successful. Those who say skimming isn't necessary has never had a good skimmer.

BlindZide · 06/24/2013, 12:39 PM

+1 to Sugar and t00l. I currently have a 75g cycling with my first DIY sump. Had the 20g laying around, purchased some acrylic, cut to lengths, and used tank safe silicon to seal it up. Ran me roughly $30 for the supplies to build it. Putting a Reef Octo NWB150 in it with a Mag 5 return pump and some chaeto to help out. Just waiting on a ball valve and I am set!

06/24/2013, 10:28 AM	#1
Randy2400 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 4	I don't know what to do! Alright I have a 90 gallon tank that I want to make into a reef tank this is what I have: 90 pounds of live sand 20 pounds of live rock Fluval 406 ( going to drop it heard its a nitrate factory ) Beamswork led ( going to upgrade to quad t5s 2x actinic 2x 10,000K ) 2x 1300 gph poweheads salt of course So I have no idea what to do filtration wise should I use the 406, get a refugium which i don't really want to do its too expensive, or get a lot more of live rock and more water circulation with a good skimmer? I think the last option is the best but let me hear your opinions

06/24/2013, 10:52 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	You definitely will need more rock. It doesn't need to be live rock. You can buy base rock and over time it will become live from being seeded by the 20 pounds of live rock that you already have. I'd skip the canister filter and opt for a good skimmer. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

06/24/2013, 11:59 AM	#4
t00lfan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 149	I have a 90 as well. What I did is went on BRS and got some dry peices of Pukani that work great for my base rock since you will need a lot more however if you have some already to seed it that is good as well as varous other types they have are worth it plus you don't pay for the water weight. I have a Vortech which I cannot say enough about my flow since I have it. Its undertow is unmatched and worth the price considering all the pumps I have boughten over the years I would have saved money believe it or not just forking out the cash. I have a 30 gallon sump with an Octopus skimmer as well as a fuge with chaeto in the sump. The 30 gallon costed me 20 bucks and I got chaeto from a reefer in my local reef society with a grow bulb from a hardware store that costed me about10 additional dollars. Liverock/skimmer/fuge is the way to go instead of maintenance you will have with a canister. I understand the pump may cost something to pump from sump but do you want to spend some money and fail or spend a little more and be successful. Those who say skimming isn't necessary has never had a good skimmer. __________________ Ocellaris are clowns, and so are people. Current Tank Info: 90 gal. mixed reef tank (SPS, softies, LPS,3 Clams)with 10 gallon fuge and 30 gallon sump. Lighting 2 250 MH 20k radiums with 4 t5 HO ATI(1actinic 1purple and blueplus)

06/24/2013, 12:39 PM	#5
BlindZide Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,273	+1 to Sugar and t00l. I currently have a 75g cycling with my first DIY sump. Had the 20g laying around, purchased some acrylic, cut to lengths, and used tank safe silicon to seal it up. Ran me roughly $30 for the supplies to build it. Putting a Reef Octo NWB150 in it with a Mag 5 return pump and some chaeto to help out. Just waiting on a ball valve and I am set! __________________ ~Trent Biocube 14 Mixed Reef 75G LPS Reef

06/24/2013, 10:50 AM	#2
ryan3 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 29	Look to refugium tank , it is clean up your display tank as well. it is not expensive, DIY reall cheap.