lighting/filtration for 90 gal FOWLR

[sagi1]

I am planning to setup a 90 gal DSB with a few fish (3-5) and a lot of mobile inverts (no coral, anemones, or other zoo's). I am planning to build the stand and canopy, mostly to keep costs down. Along those lines, is there a problem using 2-4 40 watt flourescents for the lighting? I could just buy the ballasts from HD and install them into the canopy, much cheaper than the 110 watt ballasts for VHO. Also, as far as filtration, I wanted to use a HOB skimmer, and a canister filter for polishing when cleaning the tank. I do not plan to filter particulates continuously as I understand these can actually build up nitrates. No sump either. I want to get the most bang for my buck on the skimmer and would like to know which are good and which to avoid.

Any comments are greatly appreciated

 

[ChrisRD]

Hello Sagi and :welcome:

So far your plan sounds fine. Will you be adding any live rock?

As for the skimmer, do some searches on the AquaC Remora Pro, hang-on Turboflotor (AquaMedic) and Lifereef hang-on models to start. Also, I think MyReef Creations will be offering a hang-on skimmer in a month or so (not sure what your timetable is) that may be promising.

HTH

 

[ChrisRD]

Also, if you're into DIY and want to save a few buck you might look into building your own skimmer...

BTW, here's a couple of links to the manufacturers mentioned above:

http://www.myreefcreations.com/
http://www.lifereef.com/

 

[sagi1]

I do plan to get live rock, but am still pricing it out, and also hoping someone local is getting out of the hobby and sell cheap. As far as the skimmer, I would prefer not to DIY at this point. With lighting, do the type of bulbs matter if I plan to have no zoos? Can I even just use shoplights? Also, I was thinking, as a substitute for a dsb, what about using some 2 inch PVC pipe with small holes drilled in it to act as the anoxic void, placing the LR and sand over this? The inverts wouldn't be stirring it around, oxygenating it and shifitng the rock.

 

[ChrisRD]

Shoplights are fine on a fish-only setup, but you may not like the lamp color. Most fluorescent lamps that are available in hardware and home improvement stores are going to be yellowish looking (ex. 3000Ks, 4100Ks, 5000Ks, etc.) even though they may be named "cool white" or something similar.

At least two exceptions I know of are Philips Daylight Deluxe (I think that's the name - just going from memory) and GE Ultra Daylight lamps. Both are full spectrum daylight lamps rated as 6500K, and are much whiter looking than most of the regular household lamps you'll find. Look into those. If these still aren't giving you the look you want, try one of those combined with an actinic (blue) lamp to get a more pleasing color. Of course you'll have to get the actinic from an LFS or online and it will be several times the price (hobby related ).

As for the DSB - if you're interested in going that route, I'd just put the sand in - I wouldn't bother with the pipes.

 

[Anonymous]

Sagi

I use 4' flourescents utility fixtures I bought on line at the home depot web site. And that is also for my 55g. I agree with Chris's assesments of the tubes. Additionally, the 6500K put out much less light than the 4100K's.

The specific fixtures are the commercial electric with the sunpark sl-15 electronic ballast. And they cost $7 delivered. And they were so popular they were back ordered and may not be available now.

The electronic ballast allows you to rewire so that one ballast fires one tube. I then used the ballast from another fixture to fire the other tube. That way each tube is overdriven 2x to about 54 watts. For 110 watts per fixture or 220 watts over my 55g. For about $40.00 total including tubes.

I also got a sunpark ho/vho electronic ballast from their web site. It puts out 110 watts but I have not experiemented with that. But at $16.00/ballast it does seem reasonable.

HTH.

Bob

 

[ChrisRD]

Additionally, the 6500K put out much less light than the 4100K's.

Depends on the tubes. In the case of the regular GE, T-12, 40 watt, 48" lamps, if you're comparing the 4100K to the regular 6500K there's a big difference. If you're comparing the 4100K to the 6500K Ultra that I'm talking about, there's very little difference in brightness (only about 5% according to the manufacturer's ratings) and the color of the latter is much nicer.

Of course, all of that is of secondary importance since it sounds like the tank is going to contain non-photosynthetic critters.

BTW, GE also makes a 7500K lamp but it's considerably dimmer.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks chris

will have to check out the GE. I was familiar with the phillips tubes. they go from 3400 lumens to something like 2300 lumens. Yea yea I know it should be par but still is a lot different. So will look at the GE tubes.

Bob

 

[Anonymous]

I am planning to setup a 90 gal DSB with a few fish (3-5) and a lot of mobile inverts (no coral, anemones, or other zoo's). I am planning to build the stand and canopy, mostly to keep costs down. Along those lines, is there a problem using 2-4 40 watt flourescents for the lighting? I could just buy the ballasts from HD and install them into the canopy, much cheaper than the 110 watt ballasts for VHO. Also, as far as filtration, I wanted to use a HOB skimmer, and a canister filter for polishing when cleaning the tank. I do not plan to filter particulates continuously as I understand these can actually build up nitrates. No sump either. I want to get the most bang for my buck on the skimmer and would like to know which are good and which to avoid.

Any comments are greatly appreciated

I would go no deeper than two inches on the Sandbed. I only have two in mine...... if that in my 100gallon. I am not going to get involved here about hang on skimmers.....oh what the hell. I have a Seaclone 150 that works well when properly maintained. Mine was not not working very well for awhile till I found out what was wrong. Plugged air intake and the water level needed to be at a specific level for consistant skimming. My LFS uses them on his tanks and they work just fine. All skimmers have there pros and cons. Mine is quiet,effective,inexpensive,and is gettin a bad rep because of the skimmers made prior tp 2002 and some misinformed aquarists. I did have to swap a different size O-ring (easily found at your local hardware) for the one that came with the skimmer. Otherwise the intake tubes did not fit properly. Your lighting is just fine for a Fish and Creepy Crawly Tank. Thats what I have. Good luck :!: