Bear's 90 gallon reef build

Bear · Mar 24, 2014

Just did the first water change on the cleaning if the live rock. They came out clean! Now I will let them sit another day with just water and decholrinator.

D_Reep1106 · Mar 24, 2014

nice build so far! honestly i would try to buy a used skimmer on here before a random ebay skimmer, skimmers really are you get what you pay for and saving a little longer and spending is well worth it when you're talking about skimmers. also check out Bulkreefsupply.com they have some great sales and some of the best and cheapest RO units I run one and my cousin and good friend have them for our tanks and couldnt be happier. the whole run it into your sump with a float switch is kinda risky its really not a hard thing to fill up a trash can once a month and have an extra little pump you can switch on everyday for <1min to top off. saves you from all the risk, ive heard and seen too many tragedies when relying on float switches

wuuzzzuuppp · Mar 24, 2014

2 530GPH Aquarium Protein Skimmer Pump Powerhead 80 to 300 Gal Tank Micro Bubble | eBay

I actually bought one of these and tried it. Sorry to be a barer of bad news but it really is a piece of garbage. I couldnt get it to work right. The parts are really cheap. There was a few times I got it to kinda work but most the time it either wouldnt work at all or it overflowed.

wuuzzzuuppp · Mar 24, 2014

D_Reep1106 said:
the whole run it into your sump with a float switch is kinda risky its really not a hard thing to fill up a trash can once a month and have an extra little pump you can switch on everyday for <1min to top off. saves you from all the risk, ive heard and seen too many tragedies when relying on float switches

I see why you came to that conclusion so I'm good with it, but wouldn't checking the switch everyday be even less work than pumping water in everyday? I dont really have an option to store water in a place other than outside unless I want it in the house and the wife isnt having that lol. I've ran a float switch over a year now and I love the thing but I know what works for me might not work for you. I guess it one of those thing some people love and some people not so much.

Bear · Mar 25, 2014

I decided to go with a Reef Octopus NWB-110. One of my associates recommended it to me. He has it on his 120g reef and ensured me that it works flawlessly. I have been fabricating and welding. Got the top and bottom of the new stand welded together. I have to go to work in a little bit, so I will have to make the supports in the morning and weld them in.

wuuzzzuuppp · Mar 25, 2014

Looks sweet!

Bear · Mar 26, 2014

Thanks, it will be nice when it's done.

Bear · Mar 26, 2014

This should get the job done, just a couple of more mods and it ready to start covering.

vlangel · Mar 26, 2014

Wow, you are getting there. Lookin'good!

wuuzzzuuppp · Mar 26, 2014

I wish I had made a bigger stand for my tank to fit a larger sump in. Maybe someday! Looking good!

Bear · Mar 27, 2014

Thanks everyone. Alright, you guys are the experts, so you can answer this question about lighting. I am caught between building a HO T5 setup and an LED. I have read mixed reviews about both. I have been told with T5 the rule of thumb is 4 watts per gallon is preferred for reef lighting, with LED's, 48 varied 3 watt lights spanned across 48" does the job. I found these online and after looking at their components I feel that I can build them for a fairly good price. Please take a look at these and give me your input on these if you have something similar and whether you are having or had good success on your reef with them.
First up 324watt T5HO setup
48" 324W T5 HO Aquarium Light Hood 6x54 Fluorescent Actinic Lamp LCD Timer Reef | eBay

48" Made in China LED setup
EVO Quad 48" Timer LED Aquarium Light Marine Coral Reef Cichlid 64X 3W 4 ft New | eBay

Bear · Mar 27, 2014

I should have asked before I made the sump sock retainers, but are the plastics rings 4" or are they slightly larger than 4", I made the holes 4" to drop the socks into. Got the dividers made, they came out great and are ready to be sealed into the sump.

Chris07 · Mar 27, 2014

Quick tip.... I see you are running filter socks. Whenever I put a clean filter sock in my tank I have to unplug the skimmer or it starts foaming like crazy. Usually I unplug it for like 15 minutes and then its fine. Also about the lights I have a 90 gallon tank and I run 8 54watt T5 bulbs on mine. I know ppl with ten bulbs and I know ppl with 6 bulbs on the same tank and they all work its just a matter of what kind of coral you want to keep and where. I think ten bulbs is overkill and with 8 bulbs I can grow anything anywhere. My friend that runs 6 bulbs grows soft corals and LPS corals anywhere but SPS corals she has to keep up high.

Bear · Mar 27, 2014

Thanks I figured that I would need 8 T5's for my tank if I decided tomgomthat route. Project overkill is done and ready for paneling.

Bear · Mar 30, 2014

Moving right along, I am going to order my skimmer online from BRS, Reef Octopus in sump NWB110. I was at the petstore and found this on clearance. It says it can make 180 gallons. Has anyone here used this and what are your results, go or bad?

wuuzzzuuppp · Mar 30, 2014

Saweet! Looks like you are moving right along. Sorry I dont know anything about that salt. Have you tried to google reviews on it? Might be worth shot.

vlangel · Mar 30, 2014

Bear said:
Moving right along, I am going to order my skimmer online from BRS, Reef Octopus in sump NWB110. I was at the petstore and found this on clearance. It says it can make 180 gallons. Has anyone here used this and what are your results, go or bad?

If I were you, I'd post your salt question under a new thread in aquarium discussion under the reef chemistry topic. Those folks know more about what salts contain what ingredients, like calcium and magnesium and such. I personally use Instant Ocean because it is very near ocean water in make up. Since my reef strategy involves doing bigger, consistent WCs IO works for me. Also it is cheaper than most and readily available.

Bear · Mar 31, 2014

I found some reviews on the salt and they were very mixed, so I will just do trial and error. I got the 55gallon sump all cleaned and ready to start sealing together.

Got all the layout lines for the dividers.

Bear · Mar 31, 2014

Got the dividers in and siliconed in. Now just let cure, clean up and leak check.

wuuzzzuuppp · Mar 31, 2014

Looks nice! You will be soooo much happier with the extra room of the 55. I have a 35 under my 150 tall cuz it's only 48" wide. A complete disappointment lol.