New 90g

[scottbert]

Hey all,
Well I decided to post a pic of my new 90g that I am setting up. So far all I have is my tank and lights and sand. Waiting on my shipment of my filter, dry rock, and accessories to arrive.
I'm fairly new to the hobby, I had a 29g a few years ago...so this 90g is a step up for me!
The lights that I bought are ZooMed AquaSun LED HO 48" with 24 white 6000k, 1 watt each high output and 12 465nm blue LED's.
I have 100lbs of sand to add, 40 lbs being CaribSea Aragonite reef grade (course) and 60 lbs of Aragonite Aragamax select (a little finer).
Initial startup salt will be Instant Ocean sea salt
Will be adding more pics as stuff arrive. I welcome advise and suggestions.

 

[snakeblitz33]

filtration? flow?

 

[flower]

I love my 90g....I'm sure you will be very happy with the size, not too large so it won't take up too much space, and not too small, so you can put some nice critters in there..

 

[scottbert]

I have a Filstar XP-L, good for 125g tank that will give 350gph plus two Hydor powerheads that will give 1150gph each for flow. Is that sufficient do you think?
I like the size...looks perfect in the living room. Just can't wait for stuff to arrive and get er going!!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by scottbert http:///t/396906/new-90g#post_3536360
I have a Filstar XP-L, good for 125g tank that will give 350gph plus two Hydor powerheads that will give 1150gph each for flow. Is that sufficient do you think?
I like the size...looks perfect in the living room. Just can't wait for stuff to arrive and get er going!!


LOL...Stage 1

 

[pstanley]

Quote:
Originally Posted by scottbert http:///t/396906/new-90g#post_3536360
I have a Filstar XP-L, good for 125g tank that will give 350gph plus two Hydor powerheads that will give 1150gph each for flow. Is that sufficient do you think?
I like the size...looks perfect in the living room. Just can't wait for stuff to arrive and get er going!!
The Filstar XP-L is a canister filter which may cause you some issues in the long run...especially if you are keeping nitrate sensitive inverts. You will have to keep up with the constant cleaning that they require.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pstanley http:///t/396906/new-90g#post_3536415
The Filstar XP-L is a canister filter which may cause you some issues in the long run...especially if you are keeping nitrate sensitive inverts. You will have to keep up with the constant cleaning that they require.

Hi,

That's a fact of life for anything you use in your fish tank...if you don't keep up the maintenance you will have issues, and not just nitrate either...from your filter to water changes, you have to do the work to keep it looking good, and the animals you keep alive and healthy.

I ran a canister for some years on my 90g reef...the only issues I had with nitrates (when I decided to go with a sump) turned out to be false, the API test kit was off...once I got a different kit, my nitrates were 1.

 

[pstanley]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/396906/new-90g#post_3536417

Hi,

That's a fact of life for anything you use in your fish tank...if you don't keep up the maintenance you will have issues, and not just nitrate either...from your filter to water changes, you have to do the work to keep it looking good, and the animals you keep alive and healthy.

I ran a canister for some years on my 90g reef...the only issues I had with nitrates (when I decided to go with a sump) turned out to be false, the API test kit was off...once I got a different kit, my nitrates were 1.

My information comes from what seems like hundreds of hours of research lol (not personal experience).....I am just passing along information that I keep reading, that canister filters (more than other methods of filtration) can cause issues with nitrates if not maintained properly. Yes, I agree you need to do the work to keep anything operating correctly....canister filters just require more of it (again, not basing this off of personal experience but rather internet and communication with other successful reefers).

 

[scottbert]

Good to know, thank you Pstanley and Flower.
When going with the tank I was struggling between a sump or not. My LFS rep told me that the positive is that everything (heater, skimmer etc) could be put in the sump thus not having anything on the actual display tank. The negative being that the can be someone noisy with the sound of water and the return pump, and then told me the Filstar would be acceptable for the tank....hopefully he wasn't just trying to make a sale lol. That being said, will keep all that in mind when checking my water parameters.
While I'm here, has anyone used Marina Clear View background adhesive before? It's an oil based product to stick the background on the back of the tank. I put it on last night, somewhat messy but this morning it looks not bad (other than the odd air bubble near the top). Just wondering on long term....and I'm assuming oil is not going to break down the silicone on the tank seals...

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by scottbert http:///t/396906/new-90g#post_3536431
Good to know, thank you Pstanley and Flower.
When going with the tank I was struggling between a sump or not. My LFS rep told me that the positive is that everything (heater, skimmer etc) could be put in the sump thus not having anything on the actual display tank. The negative being that the can be someone noisy with the sound of water and the return pump, and then told me the Filstar would be acceptable for the tank....hopefully he wasn't just trying to make a sale lol. That being said, will keep all that in mind when checking my water parameters.
While I'm here, has anyone used Marina Clear View background adhesive before? It's an oil based product to stick the background on the back of the tank. I put it on last night, somewhat messy but this morning it looks not bad (other than the odd air bubble near the top). Just wondering on long term....and I'm assuming oil is not going to break down the silicone on the tank seals...


I used it...over time it begins to peel off, as far as I can tell, it's safe. I think the best bet is to paint the background...but then you can never change it. The coolest background I ever saw was the foam rock one....but if you ever have a hair algae problem, that would become a nightmare.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I'd put a sump on the system, personally. You can use a few plastic containers as a sump, as long as they are food grade. the small container would be used for your filtration media and chemicals, the bottom of it has holes in it and dumps the incoming water into the larger plastic bin. you can use another small one, submerged or not as a protein skimmer spot. It would be easy, then, to install a gravity fed float valve for your automatic top off unit. the whole thing can cost you less than $40 if you get good deals on the bins. If you are up for something more expensive, you can silicone in some glass baffles in a glass tank - I would recommend no less than a 30g on a 90g tank for a sump.

Eshopps makes pretty good hang on back external overflow boxes... and you can buy and use a Maggie muffler on your overflow to keep it much quieter,... they are about $20. On a 90g, you would probably be good with buying a Quiet One return pump, model 4000. That would give you enough power for your tank and your overflow - and if you do it that way, I would suggest getting one of those flow powered wave makers for your return nozzle... I think they are about $25 or so, but worth it for the flow patterns. Just a small tip, if you buy a return pump, put a few beads of silicone on the bottom of it where it sits on the glass... it willtake away any vibrations and keep it quiet.