Joined: 20 Nov 2005 Location: Nanaimo, B.C, Canada
Posted: 2007.04.14(Sat)21:59 Post subject: 90 Gallon Equipment Questions
My folks decided that they would buy a 90 gallon reef ready tank if I bought all of the livestock and I maintained it. We will go pick it up on Friday the 20th. I have a few questions about it though, because we got a VERY helpful and informative lfs owner to basically design a setup and package it up for us.
Here's what we are getting from him:
90 Gallon Tank with two overflows(48" Long)
Cherry Wood Stand
48" Coralife Aqualight Pro 48" HQI (Metal halide, PC, LED moonlights)
Sump with 2 baffles (I don't know the size, but he will make it custom)
Refractometer
Saltwater Master Test Kit
Reef Master Test Kit
Heater
2 Tunze Powerheads (I think he said 1100 GPH each?)
Digital timer
Digital Temperature Guage
Aragonite Substrate
100 Gallon Salt Mix
Glass Top
Rena XP3 Filter
Coralife Super Skimmer
Some other stuff I forgot...
I'm a little worried about the XP3 filter. I think he wants to use it for a return pump, which sounds reasonable, but I'm a little concerned that it will become a nitrate factory because he suggested we use a sponge in it. Is that okay?
I will be keeping chaeto in the sump, and that will be lit by a Coralife 2X65W PC fixture. that should be okay, right?
Also, does it look like we have everything we will need. I think it is, but I could have missed something. I know we also need a RO filter, but we can get that this week.
Joined: 20 Nov 2005 Location: Nanaimo, B.C, Canada
Posted: 2007.04.15(Sun)9:20 Post subject:
Okay, I have the chaeto for my 10 gallon nano, which currently houses no fish, so it will now become the quarantine tank. When I go pick up the 90 gallon on Friday, I'll also pick up a smaller percula clown that can go into quarantine as the first fish to enter the 90 gallon when it is cycled.
Can someone tell me how often you have to do water changes (on average) with a tank this size. I plan to stock the tank lightly so that I have as much room as possible for corals.
Lots of questions here but we will take it a step at a time.
First off...do not try and use a cannister for a return pump...very bad idea, power outages will cause a siphon and may flood the sump. The pump in a cannister is not strong enough to last long term as a return pump, the head height of the water will eventually burn it out. You can use a foam filter in it but plan on cleaning it out every week or so.
The equipment list is good but do not use the glass tops, they will hold in the heat and the temps will rise too high.
I don't use UV and if you plan on keeping a mandarin I probably wouldn't though I know many people do. QT your livestock and you won't have any issues with pathogens.
If the test kit is Aquarium Pharm. take it back, they are OK for freshwater but I have had nothing but problems with the saltwater versions. Erroneous readings will drive you crazy.
The equipment list looks fine but I would get a good Eheim pump for a return. It uses very little electricity and won't heat the water up as much as a Mag or other pump will.
You have all of the basics covered for a very nice setup. The Coralife skimmer is decent but they do require more maintenance and tend to decrease in performance when dirty. For the money there are much better skimmers out there that sit in the sump. My biggest issue with the coralife skimmers is the pump is very small for the chamber it has to fill so it isn't very efficient. _________________ Out on the road today...I saw a DeadHead sticker on a Cadillac...
Jack
110 Gallon DSA Pentagon
Joined: 20 Nov 2005 Location: Nanaimo, B.C, Canada
Posted: 2007.04.15(Sun)13:33 Post subject:
Yeah, I kept on saying I would prefer a pump over a canister, but my parents (who know absolutely nothing as far as fish go) said they would trust a guy who has been keeping fish for ages over me. I'll work something out. _________________
Coralife Aqualight Pro (Two 150 Watt MH, Two 96 Watt PC, Three LED
Coralife Aqualight Digital Power Center
Glass Top
Seachem Reef Salt (160 Gallons)
So are all API kits bad, or is it just the nitrates? To be quite honest, nitrates are the least of my sorries since I plan to have a vigorous maintenance regime. Should I really take them all back?
Also, what pump should I use for return? I have the Rio and the Lifeguard. It looks like the Lifeguard is intended for return, but the Rio is higher powered. _________________
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