Purchasing a new tank... And accesories...

[RaceFaceR1]

Alright here goes... I'm in the market for a new tank...

I was thinking about getting a 90gallon w/overflow...

This will be a FO tank... But will mostl likely become a Reef tank in the future!

Now... I want to do this once... I want to buy the right stuff the first time...



I need suggestions on filters, power heads, skimmers .....

I've never owned a tank this size before... The biggest I've ever have is my 30 gallon that I have now!

 

[hdtran]

Go to 120! (j/k!)

For a 90g, I highly recommend the AquaC skimmer. If you've got an overflow running into a sump, I'd say do the Urchin Pro. Other folks also highly recommend the Euroreef line.

If you've got an overflow/sump, I'd also just hardplumb the returns to do circulation, and not bother with powerheads (except for maintenance when you throw in a powerhead to keep circulation going).

Then, think about your lighting, and very seriously consider splitting your sump to also contain a refugium (or I suppose more properly, an algae scrubber).

Throw enough LR & LS in the system that you can go reef right away (except for the corals).

 

[Anonymous]

Do go 120 if you can.

Amost the same footprint as a 90, but a bit more width.

You'll be glad to have the extra gallons later!

 

[RaceFaceR1]

120 eh... I'll think about that one... :p

Do you guys buy you tanks at the LFS? Or order them from somewhere else? I just don't want to get srewed...

 

[Anonymous]

It's usually cheaper to go to a LFS. Shipping is expensive. I found an 80 for $80 bucks (brand new!) at Petco once. Sometimes they have a 'dollar per gallon' sale.

If you do plan on making it a reef eventually, I would set it up exactly like that now, minus the lighting. Consider the circulation, topoff, skimming, etc. just like you're setting up a reef tank. Then when you want corals, all you'll have to do is add lights.

 

[sawyerc]

I second the aqua-c. I love their products, thought I have heard nothing but good things about euroreef. I also second the refugium/scrubber. As for buying the tank, if you go acrylic (I wouldn't recoomend it) it's probably cheaper to buy from tenecor online as shipping is only about a 100 bucks. Glass is probably too expensive to ship. Buying used is also a good alternative for the wallet conscious.

If you do plan on making it a reef eventually, I would set it up exactly like that now, minus the lighting. Consider the circulation, topoff, skimming, etc. just like you're setting up a reef tank. Then when you want corals, all you'll have to do is add lights.

Well said. It's much easier to set it all up before there's water and livestock in the tank. And believe me, you'll go reef, I promise. :wink:

 

[RaceFaceR1]

I know I wont be able not to go reef :lol:

That is a good idea... I will set up for a reef... Well I'm going shopping tomorow...

I've never seriously went out shopping for a tank that size... What should I expect to be paying for tank/stand/lid... I live in Canada... Just to get an idea...

 

[Ben1]

I personally hate the aqua-c skimmers, having owned a remora pro, and a EV2-240 both gave ok results and arn't worth the money, IME.

I would go with a PM bullet or a knock off of that. I have also used euro-reef which are much better then the Aqua-C but not as good as the becket skimmers.

a refugium (or I suppose more properly, an algae scrubber).

A refugium and an algea scrubber are different systems, the algae scrubbers take up more space and use screens to grow algae on. A refugium is nice to have but unless it is a good size won't do a ton for water quality control. It is a good place for the pods tho..

If you use a glass tank for the sump make sure you make a good compartment for carbon and such that has a good flow through. What size 90 are you looking for a suppose 4'? Using the returns as the main tank circulation is a good idea but if you cant get enough that way a closed loop, or a controllable tunze stream isnt a bad idea.

If you have the money to splurge a GEO www.geosreef.com kalkreactor at $150 connected to a litermeter would save you a lot of time with top off not to mention will help keep up CA/ALK and down P04.

Wathc out for what type of canopy you get, if it is too short for MH then later if/when you want to add halides you will also need a new canopy.

 

[RaceFaceR1]

thaks for the advice!