90g setup HELP PLS

[Pyxis]

OK everyone, i am gonna upgrade to a 90g (48x18x24) this friday. and with most tanks will be a slow process. but here is some things I want everyones opinions on. not just for me, but anyone else in later dates.


1st. I plan on doin a closed loop system. 2 intakes and 4 returns. have not decided on 1 pump for the intake or 2 pumps and split the loop.

So, in your experiences, how many and what size bulkheads? whats the best route pump wise? single or double? what brands are better for the price.


2nd. Lights. I am basically planning a sps/lps tank. What type of lights are recomended? I know the basic rule of WPG (Watts Per Gallon) but I want your opinions.

I was thinking 4x 96w pc's with 2x 250 mh. What do you recomend? VHO's? PC? MH? wheres the best to shop for them? whats the average goin price?


3rd. Sump, what size sump/fuge should be made for a system of this type? what do you recomend for baffle height and width? LR sand or Mudd? what type of critters should be placed in the sump?

4th. The Sump Return and intake. Do you recomend drilled? or overflow box? intake pipe size? and what type of return line should be ran? What size pump should the return be? How many return lines? 1?2? what your preference?

I think that new guys that are intrested in going salt should be aware of these issues? So, i am hopin that the members can bring them selves together here and come to a complete setup for a 90g tank.


Thanks in Advance

Pyxis

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

(Evan Hardin)

 

[NeilsReef]

Hello Pyxis,

Quote from Pyxis "2nd. Lights. I am basically planning a sps/lps tank. What type of lights are recomended? I know the basic rule of WPG (Watts Per Gallon) but I want your opinions. "
__________________________________________________

Here is my opinion, I would say to get 2 250 watt metal halides (probably 10K bulbs, but it is ultimately your preference what type of bulb), and 2 to 4 46.5" VHO's or 2 to 4 48" VHO's for your blue light. It would be a nice mix of light and it gives you options like dusk till dawn or what ever else you are looking for.

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2654
You can shop for these on ebay, LFS, internet sites and other hobbyists. I reccomend searching the net for cetain brands by using froogle http://www.google.com/froogle?hl=en&tab=wf&q=
this will help you with some of the going prices. I normally get my lighting set ups used and I buy new bulbs after I use the existing ones if they have any usable life left in them, but I do this because I am normally low in the cash flow area. Historiacally I have stayed away from PC's because I have found the VHO replacement bulbs to be a bit cheaper, but pc's will work fine also.

"3rd. Sump, what size sump/fuge should be made for a system of this type? what do you recomend for baffle height and width? LR sand or Mudd? what type of critters should be placed in the sump?"
You need a big enough sump so that if or when the power goes out the sump will not over fill. Check reef calculators for the info:
http://reefcentral.com/calc/sump.php
The sump can be a rubbermaid, old tank or custom built one, just depends or prefrence and dollars that you want to spend.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3056
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3108&highlight=sump

"4th. The Sump Return and intake. Do you recomend drilled? or overflow box? intake pipe size? and what type of return line should be ran? What size pump should the return be? How many return lines? 1?2? what your preference? "
I prefer drilled tanks, oftentimes acrylic. Can be a drilled overflow box or bulkhead. The over all flow I like in the tank is the more the better, especially when doing SPS.

Here is a nice thread on Waterflows and designs for reef tank:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2675

I hope some of this helps, there is a ton more great information here in our resource library
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=2
Have fun!

 

[NaH2O]

I'll take a shot at a few...

3/4" for the bulkheads. That way you can use the 3/4" locline (if that is what you have planned). As for the closed loop - I'm not sure... is the tank glass or acrylic...is the back going to be drilled? With the sump return - on my tank, I just did one return over the top....only to bring the water back to the tank....I count on my closed loop for the flow/circulation.

Great set-up questions!

 

[Pyxis]

well, Nikki, the tank will be aga. and i was thinking a drill thru the back of the tank in a staggered position so that no return flow will be in the exact area. possibly having my intakes at the bottom corners of the tank with the returns at the low/mid and top of the tank, dont know if this is the best route to go with this idea, but I am open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks again

 

[CarlaW]

I'll throw my .02 in on the size of the sump. I've read and heard that the sump should be at least 20% of the tank volume. If you go larger, no biggie because then you know for sure that if the power goes out, you'll have plenty of room for excess water. Plus the more water in the system the merrier, more stability to the system.
On the lighting, with your tank only being 18" deep, 175W halides should cover just about anything, you should probably have 2 of them. As for supplementation, I'd go with vho, because they seem to make the corals look better when just the actinics are on. That could be just personal preference tho!!

 

[NaH2O]

possibly having my intakes at the bottom corners

Are you going to have any type of substrate? This would cause issues by sucking the substrate into your closed loop if it was stirred up, and also sucking detritus into the loop. This can be lessened by having the intakes up higher...say in the middle, rather than having them on the bottom.

My thoughts on the lighting would be to do the 250W...that way you won't be limited on your SPS. I'm with Charlie on the VHOs, too.

As far as baffle height - this would decide the water height in the sump. I like the width to be a few inches between....that way I can get my hand in there, or a siphon to clear out detritus. On mine, I can get a powerhead inbetween.

 

[CarlaW]

Nikki, good point on the 250w bulbs, as I think there are more options with them. The only thing I was thinking about is the heat issue with the tank only being 18" deep.

 

[reedman]

Here's my thoughts on the pump question:

I would suggest 2 pumps instead of one for the closed loop. There are several reasons for this:

1) When one fails you can shut that CLS down and still have flow until you replace the pump.

2) You can clean one pump and still have flow in the tank.

3) If you size the CLS pumps the same as the return pump, you can have one spare pump that will work for all of your pumps instead of 2.

Just my 2 cents worth. When I get a new tank, I will probably go this route.

-Reed

 

[NeilsReef]

Reedman, that sounds like a good idea.

 

[mojoreef]

1st. I plan on doin a closed loop system. 2 intakes and 4 returns. have not decided on 1 pump for the intake or 2 pumps and split the loop

You could if you wished or for the reasons Reed mentioned. Personally on a tank of this size I would just do one, but either is an option.

So, in your experiences, how many and what size bulkheads? whats the best route pump wise? single or double? what brands are better for the price

The BH's are really going to depend on the pump you decide to go with. Pump wise you could go with anything from a ampmaster 2100 to a simular iwalkie or other. Again each pump is different whit the plumping size it needs. ampmaster like a 1 1/2 where as the iwalkie is 1 inch and most others are in the 3/4 inch size. As per inputs they are going to be 3/4 most likely, this way you can use locline.

I was thinking 4x 96w pc's with 2x 250 mh. What do you recomend? VHO's? PC? MH? wheres the best to shop for them? whats the average goin price?

lighting plan sounds solid, pc's might be better because of the size of the hood, but either would do. As per color 10K's are usually the safest bet but that again is a personal preference. As per shopping we have a ton of good sponcers to choice from.

3rd. Sump, what size sump/fuge should be made for a system of this type? what do you recomend for baffle height and width? LR sand or Mudd? what type of critters should be placed in the sump?

I would suggest taking a look at Mntdewmans sump/refugium its a great combo design for a tank of you size. I also believe IAP is still making them. As per what to put in it, thats kind of a tough one for a simple answer, but thier are a ton of good threads on the subect here.

4th. The Sump Return and intake. Do you recomend drilled? or overflow box? intake pipe size? and what type of return line should be ran? What size pump should the return be? How many return lines? 1?2? what your preference?

I would drill the returns and go with 1 inch drain lines. When returning the water I wouldnt worry to much about the ammount ust get it back in, let your CL do the flow thing. So one return line at 1 inch.

ust a little word to the wie I would becareful about the ammount of holes you are contiplating when used on a glass tank of this size. You structural integrity will really take a hit. As an alturnative I would suggest taking a look at coming into the tank with one pipe and then doing the lumbing inside the tank. The you could ust insert a blind (black acrylic) to hide all the plumbing. ust an idea

Mike