Newbie to forum

[LuciDog]

Hi everyone

Recently my husband and I decided we are going to change our 90gal freshwater tank over to a saltwater setup. Before I run out and buy a ton of equipment that I don't know what to do with, I am trying to gain as much information as possible. While so far the google searches I have done seem informative, they do lack a Lot as well, so now I'm here hoping to learn as much as I can before I make the change.

The 2 biggest topics that are baffling me right now are 1) different types of filtration, what to use, what not to use, do I need several? and 2) the use of a sump.

[kfisc]

Hello and welcome! You've come to best place on the internet for reef tanks. There are "stickies," threads at the top of this forum, that supply huge amounts of great reading on every topic. Good for you for taking your time, it will be well worth it.

[Sk8r]

A sump yes, filters no if you have corals.
There's a very extensive 'how-to' most everything in a massive file named SETTING UP at the top of this forum. It will answer things you haven't asked yet.

I would recommend prepping as IF you will have corals so you don't have to rebuy equipment: what is good for corals is also good for fish, but what is ok for fish-only tanks (filters, lower end light kits, no-sump) is not good for corals.

My reef, eg, consists of a 105 gallon wedge, 100 lbs of limestone, 50 of it quite live when I started, 50 not at all; 100 lbs of aragonite sand, now live; a pretty spendy (10 years ago) metal halide light kit with actinics [you don't need that unless you're going for really bleeding-edge corals, and I recommend something short of that---T5's or a reef-capable LED kit]---
I have a 30 gallon sump that contains a Coralife 200 gallon-capable skimmer, a large pump (my sump is in the basement, so the pump is larger than you will need) and a refugium---which means the middle chamber of my sump is a pretty ugly moss and sand area that also processes waste. It grows near microscopic little crustaceans (copepods) that fish find delicious, and they do survive trips through the pump. Water flow in a saltwater tank is fierce--I used 950 gallon-per-hour pump in a 55. My Iwaki delivers 2136 gph, but that's from the basement, plus I valve it back. I'd say probably a 1500 gph for a 90 at the same level, but ASK AROUND! I'm no pump expert.

What the sump does is provide a place for water to 'fall'---literally, and oxygenate; and to put a skimmer to clean and oxygenate the water (it bubbles water into a froth that is skimmed off and discarded) ---ridding the tank of spare amino acids---and it grows moss that also oxygenates. A lot of oxygen (which the ocean surf does, among other things) is good for fish and corals both. And you also need an autotopoff---because the evaporation rate of a 79 degree Fahrenheit tank is fierce. You may lose 1-2 gallons a day from the tank and if you do not replace that evaporation constantly, you can rapidly end up way over-salty, like the Dead Sea.

I automate with basic hardware timers and a simple float switch: I automate my light turn on-off, and my topoff, from a reservoir: the reservoir has calcium for my corals, and I test the water with a simple kit to be sure the chemistry is normal---I do this once a week or so. I have an autofeeder, because I don't always have time, and the fish are always on the prowl for food. I raise stony coral, and while it's slow starting, once it takes off, you will have quite a lot from a small start.

How labor intensive is a coral reef? I can leave my topoff reservoir full of fresh ro/di water (pure freshwater for topoff) and everything on timers and be gone for 3 weeks and come back to a healthy tank. If I have to be gone longer, I leave an extra reservoir and have a friend switch over to the other fresh water supply.

[3dees]

what kind of tank do you want? fowlr or reef? how much do you want to spend? sump can be done two ways. drill the tank or external overflows. I converted my 120 gal. fw tank almost two years ago. I'm retired with severe back problems so I decided on going sumpless. 150 lbs. of live rock is my filtration. Chinese dimmable led lighting, two Jeboa powerheads, hob skimmer, and heater. I have softies and a few lps. I don't dose so no sps. you can spend thousands or go cheap like me. cheapest is a fowlr as there is no need of expensive lighting. keep reading here. you can find all the info you need.

[ska d]

If your starting from scratch then really take your time and plan. I also switched a 90fw over to saltwater. I used what I already had. An eheim canister filter and a bunch of live rock.and a couple of power heads. I purchased a hob skimmer later on. I ran that tank for a couple of years with IMO great success. I eventually upgraded lights and kept more corals. I have since switched to a sump system but if I had to start over again with the same equipment I'd do it in a heart beat. I learned a lot while I was running a simpler tank, and frankly I had less issues. The issue that I have now are mostly of the pest type. The thing I find about having the perfect set up with everything super healthy is that the pests (aptasia, gap etc..) also grow like crazy. I sort of long for those simpler days when I could just carry the canister over to the sink and be done. Bit who are we kidding, having a sump makes us feel like real reefers. Don't know why, just seems that way. Lol.

[Dkuhlmann]

Watch on Craigslist to buy someone else's equipment that they are getting out of the hobby. I bought my complete setup in my signature for $50. The T5 lights on it alone are $270. Figure out what you want and then compromise as to what you find on CL. Yes read the sticky's.

Good luck and welcome to the obsession.

[LuciDog]

Thanks for all the information. It is very helpful.

I have been picking away at the basics (what I would essentially like to set up, looking at different livestock, compatibility, etc) for about 2 months, so I could gather information about the tank I need to build.

I have 2 weeks holidays booked at the beginning of July. We will be moving the freshwater fish out of this tank into a smaller tank (there is only a small handful left in there) and then draining the tank to clean and move it (and paint the room hopefully while I have an empty tank).

I read the 3 part article titled "everything you need to know about sumps" and while they seem great, they also seem so intimidating to me. I'm going to have to do more research.

While I like the idea of simple without breaking the budget, I would like to add coral some day. We will be starting with FOWLR.

[LuciDog]

As for investment, I know it's going to be expensive. I haven't really put a price tag on what I'm willing to spend. I've just developed a mind set of, if I need this piece then it just may take me a few more weeks longer to finally plug in...

[mmittlesteadt]

Having come from over 35 years of pretty intense freshwater aquaria, I am now getting into reefkeeping and while there are differences, there are also similarities that are important to keep in mind.

First of all - PATIENCE!!! Nothing is more important than that! Secondly, understanding the nitrogen cycle. Thirdly, develop an understanding of the creatures you intend to keep and what their needs are (as opposed to your wants) BEFORE you start investing in equipment or setting it up. So long as your wants mesh with their needs, you are good to go. Also, really think every little thing through. Don't make hasty decisions on anything...not on any single piece of equipment or make impulse buys on the living beings that may end up in your care. And last but certainly not least, in case I haven't mentioned it...have PATIENCE!!!

Read, research, search, read some more, get a few things on your check list, read some more, ask some more questions, filter the answers, and when you are ready to go ahead...take your time. There is no hobby that tests one's patience like this one.

[LuciDog]

Oh I hear yah. Kind of why we started with what kind of fish we like... We can research what we need to do to keep them happy and healthy.

I will be starting a "shopping list" soon, researching each different piece as I go, and then maybe once this tank is empty we can start building. We understand there won't be fish in it for quite some time.

[chefbill]

I'll do my best to simplify a sump for you.

At the most basic, a sump is nothing more than a way to increase system volume, allowing you more time to deal with potential problems--->DILUTION IS THE SOLUTION TO POLLUTION.

From thgere, it becomes a handy place to stash extra live rock for increased bio-filtration. And hey, as long as the rock is there, why not light it with a CF bulb in a simple shop light, and grow macro algae in it for nutrient export? And what do you know but that the macro and live rock is a living community of various pods, worms and other critters...TAa DAa a refugium.

Got more room? Nice place to put that ugly equipment that is messing with the Feng Shui of the tank, your skimmer, heaters, dosing lines, line from your ATO, a filter sock (very optional, opinions vary) etc.

Assuming you end up running a refugium (fuge), it also is a place to hold a fish that is too aggressive or was injured by one that is even some weird hitch hikers that you don't want in a reef tank, yet serve a purpose (like gorilla crab or a shrimp that steals food from your LPS).

There are many options in sump design, some use 2 compartments, some 3, and some, like mine, is just 1. Some use baffles as bubble traps, others, like me, find that the bubble are all gone by the time it passes through the rock (I have about 40-50# in a 30g under my 90g DT).

There are several videos on Youtube about making them, just 2 caveats: Be sure to use aquarium safe silicon, and don't use plexi or acrylic baffles in a glass tank.

I am a chef, and have never done any real plumbing or electrical work in the 45 years I've been on this Earth, yet I was able to wire the BRS ATO (very simple, though it seemed complicated), plumb my 90g with no leaks or problems, and build a bueatiful 3 compartment, double baffled sump...that I had to tear apart because even though I measured for my skimmer, I didn't allow room for the main drain line, LOL, live and learn.

I guess at the end of the day, I'm trying to say is that yes, there is some high end, technical, complicated, intimidating aspects to this hobby, but the rewards are worthwhile.

If you do all of your planning and shopping before you start adding live stock or even water, then the entire experience is more enjoyable and relaxing, as you're not rushing to finish while something is in a bucket or a bag.

And as always, when Google or a search doesn't give you the answer, ask here.

[LuciDog]

I'm leaning towards a hefty canister filter to start off. Reason being is I can't seem to find anyone who could drill out my tank, and I fear a flood if I rig up an external overflow. I am really trying to plan for success from the start.

What are the opinions on a canister filter with 1.5lbs per gallon of live rock? And 2 power heads?

[mmittlesteadt]

I have a canister filter on my sump, but only to use as a makeshift reactor for activated carbon and/or GFO temporarily.

Typical freshwater filters for reefs are not that great. They trap too much junk in the filters that make them rather useless in that capacity. With reefs you need to be more concerned with biological filtration than mechanical.

They make some pretty good HOB (pretty much failsafe) overflows. I say "pretty much" failsafe, because nothing is ever 100% but those typically maintain siphon by design. Eshopps makes good ones in a variety of sizes. Go with a sump if you can. Keeps all your equipment out of the display tank and gives you way more options.