My first salt, 90 gallons
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Main
Forum Name: Tank Threads
Forum Description: A place to show off your tank build.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=55871
Printed Date: February 17 2025 at 5:12pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: My first salt, 90 gallons
Posted By: rwgoose
Subject: My first salt, 90 gallons
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 7:52pm
|
i was looking around on ksl and found a 150 gallon tank with everything. 30 gallon sump, lights (with purple led??) only four or five fish, some crabs, snails and only a few corals.. need some help on this.. is it worth picking up a set tank and parting out the stuff i dont want?? please post as soon as possible, i need a decision by this weekend..
------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Replies:
Posted By: Ryanscott
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:06pm
| I looked at the tank. Id say go for it, looks like a decent setup to me. |
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:14pm
|
We just bought a 180 as a complete setup when all we needed was the glass. It was cheaper to buy the setup, than it would have been to buy a new tank.... then we killed all the rock and sand to start fresh, gave away most of the livestock and stuck the equipment in a corner for back up. Soooo I guess it depends on the price. Are you going to waste your time and effort and not make enough money back to make it worth it? Only you know. |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:16pm
|
well i actually just made a deal on a 90 gallon.. everything but live stock.. that way i can pick out my own stuff.. besides a 150 is a little intimidating... so.. next question.. i hear on here that i can start with dry sand and dry rock then seed them.. who is the guy to ask for help in this department?? trust me, i will need all the help i can get.. ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:22pm
Everybody is the guy  I found this useful several times http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 You CAN use dry rock and sand then seed it. That is what we are doing with the 180 we bought. We killed it all to start over. |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:32pm
|
thanks McClure!! looks like i am on a road trip!!! about how much sand am i looking at to do a 2 inch base in a 90 gallon?? i have this 30 gallon rubber made tub.. think that will do it?? ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:37pm
| 30 gallons of sand is way too much for a 90 gallon tank. |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:42pm
|
lol... ok... ummmmm.... i guess i will just grab like 10?? or 15?? and the link is a little fuzz about rock?? is that the Argonite road?? ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:45pm
|
Probably 5-10 would do, I am only guessing here, we we always have more than we need laying around and just dump till its the right thickness. The rule for rock is 1lb per gallon.... so I would do 90 pounds for a 90 gallon tank. I do not understand the question about argonite road what are you asking? |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:48pm
|
on that link.. there is this pic that says like argonite, when coming from wendover... is that where i drive off to to find the rock?? or can it be found where i find the sand?? ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:50pm
|
sorry... i read that totally wrong.... so it says to head north of the dunes and i can find the rock.. sound right?? ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:51pm
|
sent a pm
|
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 8:53pm
| oooooo ha! I have no idea, my husband could give you directions if you call him tomorrow, but I wouldn't go look for the rock... There isn't any left to speak of, at least we didn't find any decent pieces. If you put on classified section you are looking for dry rock, or keep your eye out for what people post, you will find plenty available. |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: April 19 2012 at 10:58pm
| There is tons left !!!!!! Knowing where to look is key , but for me other rock is better looking and after searching, the labor and gas prices just as cheap to buy what is more eye appealing to what you want your set up to look like. JUst my 0/2 |
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: April 20 2012 at 12:01am
Jas and I only found crap when we were there last year... nothing amazing. But I agree, not worth the labor and drive. On an unrelated note: Are you awake? |
Akira wrote:Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: April 20 2012 at 12:03am
|
nope LOL |
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: April 20 2012 at 12:07am
| lol good thing I asked then.... would hate to wake you! |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: April 20 2012 at 4:36pm
|
ok so this is the 90 gallon i just bought... the sump is a 55 in a custom stand... that cannot be removed so i get to cut and make a door on the side... the equipment is a return pump, uv sterilizer, four power heads (one is much bigger and says uv pump??), some t5 lights (that need a little work), stand and canopy.. needs to be repumbled, and the sump is not setup for a refuge... soooooooo....... all for 550...  
------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: April 20 2012 at 4:38pm
  
------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 2:55pm
|
well making baby steps... just got the tank all cleaned out and sold off my fresh water fish.. i have now moved my 90 gallon into the living room.. next is time to plumb and start cycling... baby steps... oh, and i put the 50 lbs of sand i purchased into my tank.. not really that much sand, maybe a quarter inch bed.. how deep should i have a bed?? ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: Christianwaisath
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 2:56pm
| 2 inches? |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 2:57pm
  
------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 2:59pm
|
2 inches!!! thats a ton of sand!! figure at $1 lbs... and 50 lbs was a quarter!! sad day.... ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 3:23pm
|
There is more than 1/4 inch of sand in there....you can just only "see" 1/4 inch. The rest is hidden by bottom rim/stand. Where the glass starts to show to you is not the bottom of the tank, I would guess there is at least another inch under there. Another bucket or so of sand and you will be fine. That being said, I have some I am not using. |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 3:26pm
|
When in doubt, stick a ruler into the sand and see how high up the sand goes ------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 3:27pm
Genius!!!  |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 3:44pm
|
McClure you are amazing!!! i just hit my bottom on my fish budget!! i would LOVE to give that sand a happy home!!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 4:17pm
|
And, you should put sand in AFTER the rocks. Otherwise, creatures will move the sand under the rocks, and you'll get a rock slide. You'll use less sand that way too. I'd pile your sand up on one side of the tank as best as possible, place your rocks, then slide the sand back. I use all dry sand and dry rock...then just seed it. You'll get less pests, spend less money, and have less headaches down the road. Keep in mind, when I say dry, I mean dead, base rock. Not someone's live rock that they let sit in the driveway to dry (using that will cause you all sorts of headaches due to decaying matter and detritus buildup.) ------------- www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 6:31pm
|
thanks for the advice Reef... i was thinking of doing egg crate under the rock as well just its not on glass and then i can keep the sand off the rock as well to help with detritus... any good leads on where to find rock?? p.s. i really dont want to go digging out in toole.... ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 11 2012 at 5:33pm
|
well lately it has been set back after set back... doesnt look like i will be plumbing this coming week... still need a durso kit for my tank and acrylic for my sump.. not happening anytime soon... maybe this is the wrong hobby... ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: May 11 2012 at 5:40pm
 Keep your chin up! Bulk Reef Supply has pretty good rock at a good price. If you get in on one of the group buys, you'll save some money there too. Rock will cost about $2-3 per pound...and that's for the cheap stuff (which is what I buy.) You may be able to find it $1 per pound if you look hard enough for someone tearing down their system. If you're really desperate, you can make LR yourself, but it's a pain, messy, and takes forever to cycle. Heck, I've even seen concrete blocks used for LR (again, they have to cycle for forever to leach all the nastiness in them.)------------- www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 7:41pm
so we start plumbing this weekend!! so excited!! this weeks step... silicone my acrylic into my sump and find rock!! i am hearing that since this a new tank with new sand it would be beneficial, and affordable to start with some lace rock... the search begins!!!!  ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: e46slc
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 7:53pm
| I have some marco rock that I'll sell cheap to you to get you started if your interested. It's not live or anything but it's pretty! |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 6:42pm
|
so got my sump built... a little on the messy side, but hey its my first one... so from left to right, overflow with my skimmer, baffled into my return, and finally a MONSTER refuge!!!! looks to be about 21 gallons!!!! 
------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 6:50pm
| Water test Saturday !!!!! Very excited to see u up and cycling . |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 6:53pm
|
i am SOOOOOOOO excited!! seems like it has been the longest process ever!!!!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 9:22pm
You wanna come over and grab a cup of sand to take? |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 2:10pm
|
ok so we are now cycling!!! big props to Akira (Kurt) big help in the plumbing department!!! i still have some work on my sump to do, leaky dividers... so i am thinking i am going to pull all the acrylic out of this tank and put into another tank of the same size and just pull the old switch-a-roo!!! well maybe.. may just shut it all down and pull and clean and pull and clean and use an extra tank just to keep the cycle going.. anyway here are some pics.. oh and the last pics are the skimmer that came with the set up... neither i nor Kurt could figure out how to run it.. so if anyone knows please let me know.. it has this little pump with it... i just dont know ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 2:16pm
      
------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: Deluxe247
Date Posted: May 20 2012 at 11:47am
|
A few thoughts on reef rock: I have experience, but in no way claim to be THE expert, so if someone has a different opinion, please share. in my experience, it doesn't really matter how much you pay for the rock, as long as it meets some critical criteria. First, it must not leach toxic or unwanted substances into the water. Along with that, rock and sand that is composed of calcium carbonate is highly recommended because it will actually help maintain appropriate CA & alk levels in the water (though there is some debate on the extent to which this is true). Secondly, generally, the more porous, the better. You want rock that provides TONS of little places for beneficial microorganisms to thrive. Aerobic bacteria can colonize the outer layers of the rock while anaerobic bacteria can grow in the deep, inner reaches where there is little oxygen and flow. Both types of bacteria are essential for the overall health of the reef. In addition to bacteria, porous rocks provide good homes for beneficial "pods" (copepods, etc.) Also, it is usually best to build your reef with an open structure. I have serviced hundreds of tanks, and most of the really successful, and consequently maintenance-free, tanks use a combination of good porous rock, and a fairly open reef structure to allow for good circulation and minimize "dead" zones. This is true with fish-only tanks as well as full reef tanks. Again, these are just my thoughts on rock, and others are likely to have somewhat different opinions. The bottom line is that you want to create an environment that will sustain a complete and stable ecosystem, and there are often many ways to accomplish that. I find that a few things done "right" in the beginning can save you a LOT of headache and $ in the future. Best of luck with everything. This is a freaking awesome hobby! ------------- 90G Mixed Reef |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 20 2012 at 7:06pm
|
so after reading these posts on rock and a long talk with builderofdreams while we figured out how to work my skimmer, i decided the so called "lace rock" i bought was entirely to dense, and was just sitting outside in the grass, growing molds.. yeah, not going to use that rock.. luckily i spent about nothing on it, just a longish drive.. and i have a much more reliable source for lace rock!! thank you so much Paul and everyone else on this forum for all the help... now for my next question, which from what i have heard may generate quite a discussion, but i value, and need the input... refuge?? to refuge or not to refuge?? ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: May 20 2012 at 7:56pm
| Definitely a refugium, IMO. |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 8:35pm
|
such a huge thanks to builderofdreams tonight!! so much help and so much Rock!! thank you so much Paul!! i am liking the look i have going on, and actual lace rock!!! and decision is made, to refuge!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 8:37pm
  
------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 24 2012 at 8:23pm
so this is try #2 on building my sump.. water test tomorrow!!  ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 28 2012 at 12:22pm
  sump is now up and running!!!! the refuge is about 23 gallons and the overflow drains into about 7 gallons... just excited to be this far along!! not to fun putting the new sump in though..   ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: ksmart
Date Posted: May 28 2012 at 3:20pm
|
Really cool sump set up! ------------- |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 31 2012 at 6:24am
|
really big thanks to builderofdreams for all his help on this build!! i am now rocking two 175 watt halides for my lighting!!!! got a few rocks as well, one with great coraline coverage and they other has some polys and a mushroom, all of which are open and happy!!! cant thank you enough Paul!!! pics are coming after work!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 03 2012 at 9:53pm
     ok so here are the pics of the halides i am now running, the fans i just installed, and the mushroom and polys i have so far!! sorry so blurry, not the greatest camera, but all we have so far.. ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: builderofdreams
Date Posted: June 03 2012 at 9:58pm
|
Looks Great. Now just go to a meeting and you will be a true Addict. ------------- It's Not a Hobby It's an Obsession 150&210 Gallons of Madness and. Sanity! 801-850-4915 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=65135&title=builderofdreams-feedback-post |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: June 04 2012 at 1:15am
|
Looking good! Remember the club is hosting a Frag Fest this Thursday at 7pm at the Rose Garden (1600ish E 2100 S) we'll have great frags at very low prices, memberships will also be available there (members get 50% off all frag prices!) ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: Deluxe247
Date Posted: June 04 2012 at 7:57am
|
Good move putting in the fans! Make sure one blows in and the other out. Not only will that help vent some of the heat from the lights, but also humidity. If you're up for it, I would also recommend putting a fan in the stand. You may already get enough ventilation in the sump area, but it's always a good idea to try to vent it well. I've seen stands fail because they got too humid (of course most of them were made of particle board). ------------- 90G Mixed Reef |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 06 2012 at 5:30pm
|
well starting to get algae... now is this diatom??    ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: June 06 2012 at 5:44pm
|
Looks like brown diatom to me , but you can also look up bryopsis but your tank being new I suspect brown diatom algae
|
Posted By: McClure
Date Posted: June 06 2012 at 6:00pm
Completely normal... and yay!! It will take care of itself. ------------- 180 Gallon, 75 gallon, 30 gallon, 5 gallon. On a side note: I have just now decided that "Gallon" is a funny looking word. |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 08 2012 at 8:59pm
well today i went just a little over budget, but picked up some starters to a cleaner crew, 10 astaera snails, one emerald crab (who has vanished into the rocks) and a couple of baby clowns!! ;) also found myself a pretty good deal on a light timer setup.. just a happy kind of day!!     ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 10 2012 at 8:42am
|
so finally got my t5s installed to go with my halides.. thanks a ton Akira!!!!! on a sad note, playing with my timer last night, shortly after lights out, my t5s flashed sending one of my clowns into shock.. after about twenty minutes of cradling him and trying to help him recover he died.. sad night.. and lesson learned.. lights out, DONT TOUCH THE TIMER!!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: Deluxe247
Date Posted: June 12 2012 at 1:24pm
|
That's crazy! I've never heard of that happening before. My condolences. ------------- 90G Mixed Reef |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 16 2012 at 6:03pm
|
thanks.. it was a sad night.. but now everyone is happy and doing well.. i have made some new additions, a cleaner wrasse (that the gf named mr. clean), a bristle star, a sand sifting star, tons of blue hermits and about five scarlet hermits, lots of snails, and we found a little hitch hiker star as well.. i think he is a sand sifter as well.. i will post a pic to see if anyone can identify.. as well as another little piece of coral on one of my rocks... the gf thinks it maybe another type of mushroom.. i personally have no idea.. so if you can see it in my crappy pics and are able to identify it i would greatly appreciate it!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 16 2012 at 6:11pm
|
so these are the pics of i have of the hitch hiker star i found.. sorry so such a crappy pic.. this first pic is the new coral that just popped up.. maybe a new mushroom?? anyone know.. its right above the snail shell...  ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 16 2012 at 6:13pm
 so this is the star fish i found... sand sifting?? 
------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: CrimsRayne
Date Posted: June 16 2012 at 6:28pm
|
Those tiny starfish are so much fun because they will breed in the tank and at night they come out and clean everything. When my lights go out it's party time for hundreds of little starfishies. ------------- "What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer "The Puffer Girl" Zoo freak :) West Jordan |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 16 2012 at 8:20pm
YAY!!!  ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 19 2012 at 8:31pm
        ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 19 2012 at 8:32pm
|
first real set of corals!! lots of sps!! big thanks to Kurt and the amazing deal!! not super sure on all the names, but i love them all!! the second pic is my favorite!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: June 20 2012 at 1:23pm
|
Top to bottom, 1 Pink birds nest, 2 green birds nest, 3 same as #1, 4 think its called a cats paw, 5 Pocillipora, 6 bleached birds nest thats trying to come back, 7 red monti . Sad you cant see all the great colors of these .
|
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: June 20 2012 at 1:30pm
  
|
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 20 2012 at 4:12pm
|
the joy of mh lights.. i will repost the pics tonight when its just my ati's on.. then we will see some color! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: June 20 2012 at 6:14pm
| Still looks good bud , just had a few pics thought i would share with ya. See how big the green is now compared to the pic I put up ? |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 20 2012 at 6:27pm
|
oh yeah!! dude is huge!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: June 20 2012 at 6:31pm
| remind you of the previous owner ? LMAO |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: June 25 2012 at 6:57pm
|
so i have been testing my water the last few days (finally).. cal=520 alk-8.4 mag=1260 no ph test no nitrite no nitrate i need to get down and have the rest tested or at least pic up some more tests.. but all in all i feel that everything is going well.. cal i little high, but i am sps dominate.. so not to worried about it.. i got a ton of more rock and a few more corals from Kurt this last weekend and every one is open and happy.. oh as well as a ton more snails and hermits.. p.s. Kurt, that big blue hermit made an upgrade to much bigger shell yesterday!!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: July 24 2012 at 9:08pm
|
been a little while since my last up date.. everything is up a running still and my levels have been doing well... everything is growing and very happy.. added a few pieces since the last updates. i will get up pics asap.. ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: July 25 2012 at 1:31am
| You have come a long way so far Roy. Might be time to make a visit and see it in person again after all the visits you have made to my place . Let me know bud. |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: November 24 2012 at 8:24pm
|
so i finally decided to start buying fish.. i usually just buy corals... so i hit up reef runners on their black friday sale.. bought a twin spot blenny, a starry blenny, a yellow coris wrasse and a true perc clown fish!! great deal and some sexy fish!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: January 17 2013 at 6:58pm
|
so i have begun the wrasse obsession.. bought a pair Hawaiin flame wrasse.. another yellow coris, and a pair of black ocelaris clowns.. also picked up a GBTA for the clowns.. slowly but surely filling the tank.. thinking about a carpenter wrasse and a lubox as well.... ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: January 17 2013 at 6:59pm
|
oh yeah.. also got a fox face rabbit fish!!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 04 2013 at 7:16pm
|
It's been a long time since my last post.. A ton has changed and happened.. Had alk problems and lost a lot of things.. Here are a few new pics. ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 04 2013 at 9:56pm
         
------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |
Posted By: bstuver
Date Posted: May 05 2013 at 12:02am
|
Glad to see things look like they are turning back around for you! ------------- Jackie Stuver "wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart |
Posted By: rwgoose
Date Posted: May 05 2013 at 1:30am
|
thanks jackie.. those zoas you gave me are growing nicely as well!! both kinds are up six or seven heads!! ------------- getting fishy?? 8016348673 |