new tank/advice

sh4n

sh4n

Member
i have a 45 gallon reef tank now and am about to buy a 90 gallon, with a tank this size would it be worth getting a sump? (with this i can put my heater and protein skimmer in it?)
if i have
2 clown fish
a red corris wrasse
blue tang
Blue Starfish
Abalone
about 15 hermit crabs/snails
what else could i add that wouldnt be to much?
If i added water from my existing tank and use the same filter will I not have to wait for the cycle again?
Can someone tell me the "perfect" water parameters for a reef tank
Salinity:
Calcium:
KH:
PH:
Phosphate:
anything else
and how often do you's "top up" your tank and how much?
thanks
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Hi,
Each tanks parameters depend on what is living in them...for example my Sea horse (soft corals only) 30g tank is different than my 90g reef. A Pagoda cup coral died in my 90g because it liked colder temps...and the 90g stays at 82 to 84
Not all corals want the same conditions...so you have to research and see where the coral came from, and purchase corals that like the same.
Phosphates are bad, and you want that number to be 0
Soft corals like Xenia like a little nitrate...but SPS corals can't live with them at all.
The ocean SG is 1.026 so I would go with 1.025 or 1.024.....because unless you have an auto top off unit the SG will climb as the water evaporates.
Ph should be between 8.0 and 8.3
Reef tanks need calcium which should be between 400 and 500
KH between 9-12 Alkalinity between 2.5 and 5
These are numbers off my test kits...IF you have the same as mine...OTHERWISE the perfect number you want is posted in the instructions, at least it always has been in the test kits I use.
For a 90g you need a much better CUC of snails and such.
I top off the tank everyday....with fresh RO water. I mark my sumps with a white line of tape...in the morning if that line shows a water loss...I add enough Top off water to bring it back up to the line...remember the more evaporation the higher the SG climbs. An ATO will eliminate the need for top offs, and keeps the tank water very stable.
A sump is fantastic in any size tank. I have one on my 90g reef and my 30g SH tank. A sump and a good skimmer are all you should really need. I added an Aquaripure to both of my tanks...it removes nitrrates, and since I now have hair algae in my 30g after a 4 day black out....I also purchased a phosphate reactor.
I want some SPS corals and they have absolutly no tolerance for nitrates so the Aquaripure was a needed thing for me. I love it...it never needs to be cleaned...all I do is inject a few ml (4 in the small, and 8 in the larger) of vodka into it once each week and that's it...no more nitrates.
 
sh4n

sh4n

Member
thanks for your reply
Can sumps be bought from a store or only be made? is there anything I should be looking for in one?
thats a really good idea with the white tape on your sump so you know when to add water i will remember this.
what other fish could be added in a 90g (see above)?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Can someone tell me the "perfect" water parameters for a reef tank
Salinity: 1.024-1.025
Calcium: 460-500
dKh: 8-112
PH: 8.2 - 8.3 constant
Phosphate: less than 0.03ppm
Magnesium: 1400+
Temp: 75-80 constant
Nitrate: 0.0ppm
Nitrite: 0.0ppm
Ammonia: 0.0ppm
internal flow: 10x to 30x the volume of the tank
and how often do you's "top up" your tank and how much?
I top off my tank once every 3 days on my 20g with a 10g sump, maybe a half a gallon if that. Then again, I don't have any lights currently running on the system. It will probably be closer to a gallon every 3 days.
You can buy pre-made sumps online. Proclear makes a pretty good sump. I would personally avoid bioballs and filter media trays on the commercial made sumps and opt for a refugium sump if you can swing it. If I would you, I would learn quick how to cut glass and silicone it in place... make your own custom sump. Do some research on the best types of sumps and setups and don't settle for anything. Home made sumps are custom, and that's what most people like in this hobby I would assume.
I wouldn't overstock a reef tank at all. If you were going to add corals in the future, I would say that you are stocked. But then again, I prefer less fish and more corals. Fish produce a lot of waste and call for more frequent water changes. :(.
Welcome to the boards and I hope you take advantage of all of the FAQs and useful information in the stickies.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I would personally say no less than a 20g tank. Remember though, the solution to pollution is dilution. The bigger your sump - the more water you add, the more stable your tank will be. I would fit the biggest one I could in there while still having enough room to work and install additional equipment.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I have no clue what that marysis 240 pro series 2 is. It looks like a sump/overflow combination pack, but honestly I have no idea. Sorry I couldn't be much more help.
 
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