My 90 Gallon Reef build....Advice Welcome!!

[D Rose]

Hello,

I just joined MR and decided to create a thread so people could post advice on my tank while I am setting it up. Attached are pictures of my tank and sump. Here is the specs of the setup thus far:

Main Tank: 90 gallon with a corner over-flow. Has a koralia 3 and a
Maxi 1200 with sure-flo mod to increase flow.
Lighting: 2x150w MH, 2x130w Dual Actinic PC's. Current Outer Orbit Fixture (pic below is with old light)
Sump: 20 gallons. Has a filter sock, Aqua-C Urchin pro powered by a Mag 3, and a Mag 7 return. I currently am using Poly-Filter and Chemi-pure wedged in my baffle of the sump to force water through the media. Phosban and reactor coming soon
Livestock: 3 Ocellaris Clowns, 2 firefish (1 is purple), 1 purple pseudochromis, 1 Six-line Wrasse, 1 sleeper goby, 1 royal gramma, turbo snails, brittle starfish, dwarf blue hermits, nassarius snails, cerith snails.
Refugium: HOB fuge with Chaeto.
Filtration:

How much more fish would you add, thinking of adding 1 more.
What type of corals would be good for my current light setup?


Thanks in advance for all input!!

 

[rookie07]

Do you have any type of non-natural filtration?
Heater/chiller?
Nice looking tank.

 

[D Rose]

Well I have the Chemi-pure for chemical filtration, and the filter sock, poly-filter and skimmer for mechanical. As for natural filtration I am looking into a refugium. I do have a heater in the sump and no chiller yet......putting it off till it gets hotter come summer

 

[D Rose]

I just got a HOB refugium and some Chaeto, both from MR members. Now I am waiting for my Kent aquadose to use as a top-off and am looking into RO/DI units. May upgrade the lighting to a 2x175w MH with 2x54w T5 Orbit fixture.....don't know if that will be overkill though.

 

[mikey3165]

you should try and get the tek t-5 lighting that is 6 bulbs ;-) that will do the job and im hopefully gettin my 90 gallno this weekend so ill be on the same boat as you

 

[rookie07]

The 2x175w Mh is not overkill at all..I ahve 2x250w and 2x54w T5 on my 120...and if it wasnt for a heat issue, I would have 2x400w Mh.

Keep the pics coming

 

[D Rose]

I am trying to track down the guy with the current orbit fixture with the MH and t5. I also have a possible deal on a 36" hamilton fixture with MH and t5. Figured even though its 36" it will cover a 48" tank when elevated

 

[junglebase]

I am trying to track down the guy with the current orbit fixture with the MH and t5. I also have a possible deal on a 36" hamilton fixture with MH and t5. Figured even though its 36" it will cover a 48" tank when elevated

I dont think you would be happy using a 36" fixture on a 48" tank.. you will regret it in the future so if i were you, i would just wait until i can finally afford the light fixture that you really want... just my 2 cents...

 

[mikey3165]

+1 ^^ wait for the best cuz you know your gonna want it later

 

[Lenny718]

I agree with the above post, wait to get the best light you can for your tank.

 

[D Rose]

ok, i will take the advice. thanks everyone. will post new pics once i get a new light

 

[D Rose]

OK so here is the livestock of the tank. I have added these guys over the past week. I have 3 Ocellaris clowns (2 are tiny), 1 Purple Pseudochromi, 1 Purple Firefish, 1 regular firefish, 1 coral banded shrimp, 1 brittle starfish, 1 six-line wrasse (couldnt get a pic of him, too fast). I have 10 nassarius snails for sand-sifting. Do I need a sand-sifting starfish maybe?

 

[CIA]

If your tank is not covered...be careful the fire fish will jump.

 

[KathyC]

Dennis..how long has the tank been up and are you using RO water?

Unless your sand bed is established I don't think a sand sifting star will find enough to eat in there.

Your rocks have very nice shapes What type of corals do you plan to add?

 

[D Rose]

Tank has been running for 6 months as a FOWLR, then I sold my lionfish, doubled the Live Rock and decided to go Reef a month ago. Just started re-stocking, am using RO water now (wasnt until a month ago). I want to do mostly Zoa's, softies and maybe some LPS. Picking up an Outer Orbit MH/T5 fixture tonight I think so will post pictures. Half the Rock I bought from NY Aquarium Services and had nice big pieces, the other half I bought for only $3/lb from a guy Rick in NJ who braks down pple's tanks and resells everything (great guy who ahs some awesome 250 gallon tanks).

 

[m'akoyPINOY]

nice set up d rose!can't wait for it to be filled with corals.

 

[D Rose]

Thiking of adding another fish but not sure what would look nice. A black and white clown would be nice but my group of 3 clowns are very aggressive. I was thinking royal gramma or something else thats small wiht lots of color.

 

[meagheavz]

seom advice to save you from the future. get pepermint shmp. you dont hav them now but aipstia suck. and joe juice are a quick fix. i see u have lil holes and caves like mine so if any grow their u wont see them. and they'll just keep on comming and you'll spend so much on joes juice..

 

[Josh]

Nice rock work, but please, try out some corals before adding any more fish. I think your tank has a lot of fish but not enough corals for how long it has been up.

 

[D Rose]

Corals are going in as soon as my phosban and reactor arrive. My phosphates are really high, and I heard sometimes a big pH shift happens when you first run phosban. I'm takin it slow and steady.