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02/03/2008, 03:41 PM | #1 |
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Starting 90g Reef Tank Build... Finally!!!
Just starting the thread. Finally found an offer I couldn't refuse, so now I get to upgrade from my 55g FOWLR tank to a 90g reef!!!
Here's the only pictures I have so far (they're the origninal from the online add). My father is picking up the tank tonight and will be driving it out to me sometime this week to get started on it. It looks like the tank is gonna need some TLC, but that's something I'm looking forward to. First projects are going to be refinishing the stand and building a canopy. Then comes the new sump build and plumbing layout... I'm looking forward to any and all advice as I go through this, so thanks in advance!!! |
02/03/2008, 03:47 PM | #2 |
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I guess the only thing I can really do right now is do a poll for black vs blue backgrounds. Preferences, and if you have any pictures of them I'd like to see them...
My 55g and 20g are both painted black, but contemplating blue now after seeing acropora nut's tank of the month (september 2007). thanks!
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02/04/2008, 09:39 AM | #3 |
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Any recommendations for depth of the sand bed? right now I am thinking about a 3" sand bed of strictly Argamax.
Is this ok...? Is there better substrate out there...? Should I use strictly one type, or a mixture of substrate...? Any recommendations...?
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02/04/2008, 10:29 AM | #4 |
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I like blue bg, just because it adds depth to the tank. I don't like deep sand beds in the main tank. I would use a refuge that has a deeper sand bed. good luck.
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02/04/2008, 10:54 AM | #5 |
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I vote for blue backgrounds as they make the water shimmer in that blue hue!
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I look into the finance box just to check my status. I look into the microscope and see Golgi Aparatus! Current Tank Info: 55g Reef |
02/04/2008, 11:17 AM | #6 | |
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Quote:
My question with the sand bed is more of requirements rather than display... Is there a certain depth or amount of sand needed to help sustain healthy corals/fish/etc... Does a deep sand bed have advantages over a shallow one? |
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02/04/2008, 11:19 AM | #7 | |
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Quote:
As always pictures would def help here. Thanks! |
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02/05/2008, 06:33 PM | #8 |
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Here's the Sump/Fuge design I am thinking about... Just in design phase at this point.
Thoughts... not sure how I will plumb this yet though... I only want minimal flow through the fuge. |
02/05/2008, 07:34 PM | #9 |
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I prefer a black background, I use to have a blue background but changed it over to black. I feel it makes the colors "pop" more in corals. JMO
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02/06/2008, 07:49 PM | #10 | |
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Quote:
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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02/06/2008, 07:51 PM | #11 |
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so I would reverse the set up like mine:
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
02/06/2008, 07:54 PM | #12 |
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the skimmer pump is in the far right corner---the fuge returns near the left bottom bulkhead and then is pumped back into the tank
One modification I made with the gravity flow return was to add that t fitting with a small piece of hose on it. If I increase the flow before sometimes an air bubble would stop it and the fuge would overflow--this way it keeps the flow clear
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
02/06/2008, 07:57 PM | #13 | |
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Quote:
IMO 3 inches to 5 inches makes a nice sand bed for inhabitants and for filtration bacteria. and go with a medium argonite--stay away from crushed coral
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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02/06/2008, 10:41 PM | #14 | |
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Quote:
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02/06/2008, 10:45 PM | #15 | |
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Quote:
As far as gasses... is there a chance this can damage my system, or are they ways to keep the gasses from becoming trapped? Also, I was thinking of a 3-4" sandbed in my display also. Is this too much? This tank is going to be a full reef (I'm not sure if I mentioned it before or not). |
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02/06/2008, 10:53 PM | #16 |
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Another topic...
I've seen a lot of sumps with LR rubble in the initial intake chamber is there added benefit from this? Also, what does this do to the noise factor. One of the goals of this tank is to try and make it as silent as possible.
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02/12/2008, 08:14 AM | #17 |
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The tank got here yesterday, so here's some pics of what I'm looking at... Everything was pretty dirty, so it's all getting a vinegar bath as I speak.
Also, the 20g sump turned out to be a 30g sump so I was excited to see that, and the glass and silicon was all in great shape.
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02/12/2008, 08:16 AM | #18 |
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Here's the odd drain system that I am thinking about doing something with or possibly installing a calfo.
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02/12/2008, 09:22 AM | #19 | |
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Quote:
In the display are started out with a 1/2 inch and then later brought it up to 5 inches with no problems so 4 inches is an ideal level IMO
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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02/12/2008, 09:27 AM | #20 | |
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Quote:
live rock itself can be put in the sump itself especially when more swimming area is needed in the main tank. The sump, refugium and tank are all part of the same water column so it doesn't mater if the live rock is in the sump or main tank that said you need to tone down the flow over it in the sump to give the bacteria time to work on the organics. This can be accomplished easily by a baffled area.
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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02/12/2008, 09:33 AM | #21 | |
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Quote:
In the first section house your protein skimmer or skimmer pump. This way the water is skimmed first so that the copopods etc will make it back to the tank finally without being skimmed
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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02/12/2008, 10:43 AM | #22 | |
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Quote:
add the filter sock--that slows down the water and also deadens the splash.
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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02/12/2008, 02:40 PM | #23 | |
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Quote:
Funny you say that about the filter sock, because I just added that to sketch for a potential design yesterday, based somewhat off of Xenon's sump design in the 90g BB reef tank thread. I am still unsure about the mangrove section I will probably just add the baffles for now which will give me the option to put them in in the future if I decide too.
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02/12/2008, 02:43 PM | #24 | |
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Quote:
I'll just leave the LR rubble in the fuge with the cheato. Thanks as always Capn
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02/12/2008, 02:50 PM | #25 |
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You doing great--keep me posted on how it goes
if you go through this thread you will see a similar setup by the Tinman: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1207565
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I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock |
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