Question About Equipment For 90 Gallon Aquarium

[princer7]

I am putting together a 90 gallon aquarium (standard 48" long). As the last time I have had a salt water aquarium was over 13 years ago - and that was fish only - I really want to make sure I get the right equipment.

So far I have:

• 90 Gallon Aquarium 48x24x18

• Wet/dry filter - purchased on ebay
  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3981088336

• Odyssea Metal Halide Lighting System - two 175W double ended HQI 20000K & two 96W compact fluorescent bulb actinic blue & six LED bluemoon night light. http://aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=15

I am not sure about the bulb choices or if there are any positive or negative reviews on the lighting unit. It seemed like a decent price for $329 plus shipping - wanted open top but ceiling to high for hanging lights. Will this be adequate for corals and fish? A reef aquarium would be ideal.

Can you recommend a solution for light controllers. I noticed there was a fairly inexpensive moonlight controller (@ $35) on eBay but would like to find something that would do the entire 24/7 cycle.

As far as a skimmer goes, I am looking at a Turboflotor to put in the sump area but do not know if this will be adequate or if there is something better on the market.

I am thinking of doing a modified refugium / second sump to help with filtration and stability of the tank using macro algae. Any thoughts? What size would be best?

Thank you for your help.

JP


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[Anonymous]

I think with those lights, you will be able to keep MOST corals. You might have to put the more super light demanding ones high in the tank, but that looks like a nice lighting system. With those 20000K bulbs, and the actinic PCs, you will have very blue light. Some people like that. I would prefer 10000K bulbs in that set up, but try it and see if you like it!

I believe the Turbofloater will be plenty of skimmer. I have the Turbofloater multi and quite like it, but I don't have a ton of experience with other skimmers.

Yes, if you can, go with a refugium. As for size, as big as you can do is best, but work with the room you have. I note you have a wet/dry. Most people do not run those with the bioballs on reefs (although I did for a few years and it worked fine, I just didn't need it with the live rock and skimmer). You might want to look into if the wet dry might make a nice refugium, if you can get it submerged.

 

[princer7]

Laura D, thank you for your reply. I was wondering about the bio balls - can I replace them with live rock in a traditonal wet / dry filter? If so, do they need the light requriements of the main tank?

 

[Anonymous]

People do put live rock in the sump area, it is certainly an OK thing to do.

Keep in mind that if you do it, the rock really should be submerged, so if your wet dry is actually functioning like a "trickle" filter above your sump then no, I wouldn't do it. (Mostly because I have no idea what would happen to live rock in a "wet/dry" scenario)

I feel live rock functions best in the main tank. Yes, you can put it in the sump, but I like to keep the sump open and clean so I prefer no rock in there. Putting live rock in the sump will create areas of lower flow, where detritus can settle and go unnoticed, but not a terrible big issue if you keep things clean.

Personally, any area below the tank that you would be thinking of placing live rock, I would devote to a refugium with some macroalgae.

 

[owenz]

Wow, that's a nice price for a metal halide set. I'll be very curious to hear how it works for you. I did a search for their 36" halide set and it's only $179 - less than half the price of coralife's unit.

Let us know how it works!

 

[owenz]

I think maybe I'll post a question to the overall group about these lights. There's a "too good to be true" quality to the price, so let's see what people say.