Should i get a reef ready 90 gallon tank?

shista

Member
so i have been looking to get a new bigger tank for a while now. i have been looking at the reef ready ones that are already drilled and i always wanted one of them... i finally feel like i can do it but i don't know how hard it is. i have always been a HOB reefer and now want to try a refugium. i understand how the water comes in the refuge, but how will i find the right tubes? and how is it possible for the return pump to work out so perfect without overspilling the sump/fuge? how do i create tubing from return pump to tank? these are my problems for having a nice reef ready tank can anyone help me out? is it really that hard? especialy if i find one that is already drilled and piped?
 

rlablan

Active Member
A lot of reef readys come with a sump and piping. It's not that hard to find all of those things though. I don't know the scientific reasons for why the sump works... But it does. You just must make sure that you pump pumps water back up to the display at the same rate as it comes down into the sump. And you sump must be big enough to hold however much water comes down out of the overflow from the DT.
I used to think the same thing as you but it really isn't complicated. If you look around, there are plug and play set ups that come with sumps, pups, piping and even fasteners for the plumbing. The ecoexotics come with everything. My bf was shocked that he didnt need anything but saltwater to get it running. Its totally complete!
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Go for it man.
There should be two bulkheads in the bottom of the tank in the internal overflow box (the thing that makes the tank reef-ready.). The bulkheads create a seal around the holes in the glass that can direct water to and from the sump. The overlow part - the pipe that drains, is usually supplied by the "mega overflow kit" that you buy before you run your tank. Of course, there are many ways to DIY it if you wish, but it sounds like you pretty much want to plug and play. Measure out the inside of your new stand and find out what the dimensions are and then buy a sump to fit as much as those dimensions as possible. So, for your 90g, it is 18.5 inches deep by 48 inches long. The inside of your stand is most likely going to be 16" deep by 44.5" wide. (Yes, I have been doing this for years.) So, you will more then likely be able to fit a 16" by 30" sump under your stand. Then, look for a sump online that is "rated" for a 90g tank with those dimensions. Pre-made sumps usually come with a little pipe that makes a 90degree angle on one side. Connect the overflow pipe to that elbow pipe on top of the sump... HALF WAY THERE!
So, now, you have your sump and you have your overflow connected to it. A 90g tank needs a return pump that is at least 950 gallons per hour at zero foot of head. Basically,.... buy a Mag Drive 9.5. A mag drive 9.5 has 3/4" screw threads. What this means is - you need to take the pump up to your local hardware store and find some help there at the store and tell them that you need something that can screw down on it. Here's a basic plumbing list for your tank that requires no PVC solvent and cement:
1x hose adapter (they will help you with sizes
1x plastic threaded ball valve
2x hose barb adapters for ball valve
1x length of vinyl hose that will fit on the hose barb adapters and tightly seal. (use boiling water to soften up the vinyl tubing if necessary)
1x adapter that fits your return bulkhead. (If it's a standard reef ready tank, this will be a 3/4" bulkhead. Look to make sure the inside of the bulkhead has threads that you can screw the adapter into.
4x Hose clamps - they are little metal rings that you can tighten down with a screwdriver. They fit around the outside of the vinyl tubing that is pushed up onto the hose barbs of the adapter.
Put everything together and tighten it down. Make sure your bulkheads are really hand tight but not so tight they will break.
Before you fill the tank up with water -
Drill a small 1/8" hole on the side of the black flexible locline (part of the return plumbing) Possibly two holes - on the sides, pointing downwards so as to not create a splash. What the holes do is... when you turn your return pump off, the return plumbing automatically starts siphoning backwards. By drilling those two small holes, you are creating a siphon break which stops the water from siphoning. It keeps your sump from filling up with too much water. Another option would be to fill your tank up and position that locline to blow across the surface of the water instead of down into the water.
As long as you get a sump rated for your sized tank that has the features you want and as long as you do the plumbing where there is no leaks - or resolve the leaks when they happen - and you drill that siphon break - you shouldn't have any issues at all.
 

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:

Should i get a reef ready 90 gallon tank?

YES!!!
I don't think many people here will try to talk you out of it.

You will love a RR tank. Snake has you covered on all the technical aspects. Once you have it set up you will wonder why you did not do it sooner. Reef Ready Rocks!!
 

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
A word on the hose clamps - make sure you don't have any in the water itself. The do corrode. There are also nylon clamps that can be purchased, but it's a tradeoff between strength (steel) and safety (nylon)
Personally I use the steel bands for the bulkhead fitings and the barb fittings that regulate my return pump ball valve. These are all dry. I use a nylon fitting over the hose connected to the actual return pump, since this is submerged.
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Actually, as long as you keep the hose clamp submerged in the saltwater and not exposed to air, it doesn't rust! I've done it for years... it just can't get wet and then dry and cycle like that.
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
It takes a long time to rust... and the products of the rust... which is for the most part Fe (Iron) and Cr (Chromium) and C (Carbon) are not a problem in a reef tank.
In fact, they still make powerheads with impeller shafts made of high quality stainless steel.

Aqua Medic Hailea 1500 Powerhead

Hailea submersible power head HX-1500, 100 gph. Adopts high quality stainless steel impeller shaft. Comes with pre-filter and extra large suction cups. Uses 5 watts.
Price:-------
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392553/should-i-get-a-reef-ready-90-gallon-tank#post_3486605
It takes a long time to rust... and the products of the rust... which is for the most part Fe (Iron) and Cr (Chromium) and C (Carbon) are not a problem in a reef tank.
In fact, they still make powerheads with impeller shafts made of high quality stainless steel.

Aqua Medic Hailea 1500 Powerhead

Hailea submersible power head HX-1500, 100 gph. Adopts high quality stainless steel impeller shaft. Comes with pre-filter and extra large suction cups. Uses 5 watts.
Price:-------
Oh, you guys were talking about stainless steel???? I know stainless steel won't rust, they use it in the human bady when they put in screws and rods or replace knees and hips. but any other metal would be trouble ... Correct?
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Even low quality stainless steel isn't a problem... it just breaks down into miniscule amounts of metals - which are actually already present in saltwater.
Some people throw in a few iron nails into their sumps to help put some iron in their system for the macroalgae to use.
Brass contains copper, so it's a no-no.
 

yannifish

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by shista http:///t/392553/should-i-get-a-reef-ready-90-gallon-tank#post_3486501
and how is it possible for the return pump to work out so perfect without overspilling the sump/fuge?
Your pump works at whatever flow rate it is meant to, pumping water into the tank. As the water level in the tank rises (from the return pump adding water to the tank) the water reaches the overflow, and water starts to flow down into the sump. Once the water level reaches the height at which the overflow flow rate and pump flow rate are the same, the water level in your tank remains constant. So, as long as your overflow is large enough to handle the flow from the pump, the pump can't flood that tank. As far as the sump goes, the same amount of water is leaving the sump as is entering the sump (as long as the pump is running) so the water level remains constant. Of course, the water level in the lowest chamber of the sump (where the return pump is) will drop due to evaporation and must be maintained by topping of with RO/DI water. As someone already said, you just have to make sure the sump can handle the extra water coming down the overflow when the pump is not running (power outage, maintenance, ect.). Of course, once the water level in the tank drops below the overflow, water can't flow down into the sump. Since the overflow is just below the surface the extra water the sump must hold generally is just a few gallons.
Hope this helps, and good luck with your purchase!
 

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392553/should-i-get-a-reef-ready-90-gallon-tank#post_3486653
Even low quality stainless steel isn't a problem... it just breaks down into miniscule amounts of metals - which are actually already present in saltwater.
Some people throw in a few iron nails into their sumps to help put some iron in their system for the macroalgae to use.
Brass contains copper, so it's a no-no.
Woah, I never knew that! I've ALWAYS assumed we should leave as much stainless out of the tank as possible. Makes me feel a little better.
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I had those clamps underwater on my return pump for my 90g. I had all kinds of corals, softies, lps and sps... It didn't bother a thing.
 

shista

Member
thanks everybody. im definately going to get a pre drilled one.. i just feel like i need to go to my lfs and have them help me out with the tubings, snake your too experienced with plumbing for me hahaha
 

1guydude

Well-Known Member
lol i read the title and was going to have a meltdown! YES get a RR tank! Drilling and plumbing are prob my least favorite parts....it has to be done though and i would rather have them do it than i
u guys never used those plastic hose clamps? Cheap...
 

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Here you go. You probably already know all this, but I thought I would make a quick vid of the parts you'll want to ask about when you go to the LFS.
 
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