90 Gallon tank build

W.Glint · Feb 4, 2012

I realize i posted this in the New Hobbyist area, but its a new tank so i thought it fit http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/images/smilies/ROFL.gif

OK! So heres the deal, I was planning a build for my new 55 gallon tank set up this spring, but I recently acquired a 90 gallon with a stand, canopy and a Amiracle Sump.

This changes everything!!!

So, I’m revamping my equipment list, and as well as my stocking list! So many more possibilities!

So one thing I need some advice on is lighting: I was planning on keeping the tank FOWL because I will be building my stocking list around my Snowflake Eel that I already have.

Q1: For lighting, I already have two 24’’ Coralife dual bulb fixtures, and the canopy has a 48'' dual t8 fixture in it. is this combo enough light to luminate the tank well enough?

Q2: what is everyones thoughts on the Amiracle sump? It’s the 20 gallon bio ball version. Keep it or toss it? dump the bio balls? Was planning on using a Mag 12 as a return pump ( tank has a drilled overflow.)

As for filtration, in addition to the sump (if i keep it ) i also have a Aqua C Remora skimmer that i currently have a maxi 1200 powering it, but when the new tank is up, i have a mag 3 that i will use with it. is this enough filtration?

Q3: For liverock, I was planning on using dry base rock, and just tie the new tank in with my current tank, and move some rock and a cup of sand from the old tank to let it ‘’seed’’ the system as to avoid the ammonia cycle. since im not changing the bio load, and not decreasing the bio filtration, i should'nt see a cycle. im just looking at it as increasing the water volume and adding some dead / dry rock. Good plan? Or no.

Now for stocking, I already have my SF Eel, and one of my the staple fish is a tang, but im not sure if I want a yellow or maybe a powder brown?

Tang (?) (A note to the tang police:

or

Flame Angel or a Pygmy Angle, or maybe a Coral Beauty.
Cromis ( maybe a few, a small school of 2-3 possibly?)
A firefish or 2
Longnose Hawkfish
(Eel and blue damsel I already have)

Thoughts on a cleanup crew? i was thinking nert. snails, some ceriths, some narssius snails, and then a bunch of hermits (i'm going to get a few more then i want because i suspect there's a chance the eel will pick a few off

.

revhtree · Feb 6, 2012

Can you repost this without the images from RC?

W.Glint · Feb 6, 2012

I realize i posted this in the New Hobbyist area, but its a new tank so i thought it fit

OK! So heres the deal, I was planning a build for my new 55 gallon tank set up this spring, but I recently acquired a 90 gallon with a stand, canopy and a Amiracle Sump.

This changes everything!!!

So, I’m revamping my equipment list, and as well as my stocking list! So many more possibilities!

So one thing I need some advice on is lighting: I was planning on keeping the tank FOWL because I will be building my stocking list around my Snowflake Eel that I already have.

Q1: For lighting, I already have two 24’’ Coralife dual bulb fixtures, and the canopy has a 48'' dual t8 fixture in it. is this combo enough light to luminate the tank well enough?

Q2: what is everyones thoughts on the Amiracle sump? It’s the 20 gallon bio ball version. Keep it or toss it? dump the bio balls? Was planning on using a Mag 12 as a return pump ( tank has a drilled overflow.)

As for filtration, in addition to the sump (if i keep it ) i also have a Aqua C Remora skimmer that i currently have a maxi 1200 powering it, but when the new tank is up, i have a mag 3 that i will use with it. is this enough filtration?

Q3: For liverock, I was planning on using dry base rock, and just tie the new tank in with my current tank, and move some rock and a cup of sand from the old tank to let it ‘’seed’’ the system as to avoid the ammonia cycle. since im not changing the bio load, and not decreasing the bio filtration, i should'nt see a cycle. im just looking at it as increasing the water volume and adding some dead / dry rock. Good plan? Or no.

Now for stocking, I already have my SF Eel, and one of my the staple fish is a tang, but im not sure if I want a yellow or maybe a powder brown?

Tang (?) (A note to the tang police:
Flame Angel or a Pygmy Angle, or maybe a Coral Beauty.
Cromis ( maybe a few, a small school of 2-3 possibly?)
A firefish or 2
Longnose Hawkfish
(Eel and blue damsel I already have)

Thoughts on a cleanup crew? i was thinking nert. snails, some ceriths, some narssius snails, and then a bunch of hermits (i'm going to get a few more then i want because i suspect there's a chance the eel will pick a few off.

todd141 · Feb 7, 2012

Since it isn't going to be a reef, but rather a FOWLR, the bioballs may be OK in my opinion. Not speaking from personal experience, but rather what I have read around the web.

I would also think the lighting would be fine for a FOWLR.

There are much better skimmers out there, if possible I would look at the Reef Octopus HOB skimmers if you are able to upgrade. Is there room in the sump for a regular skimmer?

You'll also probably need to throttle back the Mag 12 a bit on the return line.

I would still run the tank and see if it cycles at all after adding the seed rock and sand.

I've also read that powder brown tangs seem more prone to Ich than yellow tangs. I think a 90 gallon would be fine for a yellow tang. I have had one in my 75 gallon for 3+ years and he's happy and healthy.

A lot of people have problems with only 2 or 3 chromis I have read - they end up with only 1 left over because they fight. I started out with 5, one was killed by the others in a few months and 1 went carpet surfing after being in the tank for a couple of years.

Just my $0.02 worth.

W.Glint · Feb 7, 2012

Hey Todd,

Thanks for the great insight! really good advice, thanks allot.

I was planning on a yellow, but i was just thinking around a powder, but i think i will go with a yellow because it is my dream fish! i was planning on getting a Coralife supper skimmer at some point, because m LFS has them at a decent price, and i have store credit there anyways. i will look into a Octo though, they seem like great skimmers.

As for the mag 12, i was planning on splitting it 3 ways, about 25% to my smaller tank, 50% to my main 90, and then the other 25% to feed my algae scrubber that im making. For bio balls, ive read that along as you have really good mechanical filtration before the water gets to the bi balls the work well. from what i get is, the main problem is waste getting caught in them, so i was planning on putting a Heavy duty high micron count filter sock right above it, since my eel is a real messy eater.