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starting a 90 gallon fish only tank
- Thread starter justin
- Start date
Moe_K
Stabbed by Foulke
For a fish only tank you need salt, good water, maybe some basic test kits, lights, thermometer, hydrometer (measure specific gravity -> salinity), a protein skimmer, and probably some kind of cannister filter.
You could go with live rock instead of the cannister filter, but you may want to run carbon in a cannister filter anyway. A 45 pound box of live rock (LR) would modify your fish only (FO) tank into a FO with live rock (FOWLR). Live rock would get your cycle started and can make for a beautiful and natural display. It may also provide food for your fish (amphipods, copepods, various worms, etc.).
The lights would just be basic normal output flourescents. Put some actinic bulbs in there to show off the fishs' colors.
You could go with live rock instead of the cannister filter, but you may want to run carbon in a cannister filter anyway. A 45 pound box of live rock (LR) would modify your fish only (FO) tank into a FO with live rock (FOWLR). Live rock would get your cycle started and can make for a beautiful and natural display. It may also provide food for your fish (amphipods, copepods, various worms, etc.).
The lights would just be basic normal output flourescents. Put some actinic bulbs in there to show off the fishs' colors.
Hoo boy...
Skimmer ... AquaC or Euro-Reef and some swear by the ones from myreefcreations.com.
The best advice I can give you on skimmers is to buy one rated for at least twice the capacity of your tank. I think Moe will/has agreed with me on that, I'm already in the market for an upgrade and I bought what I thought would be more than enough.
Pumps .. based upon how your tank is setup and flow rate, buy a spare as well, things do go kaboom (or like one of mine .. the cord shorted and the sparks where something to see).
Lights .. if your going to keep corals, go metal halide from the start.
Live rock .. shop around, I bought mine online from Dr. Mac's, I know of one fellow here on BRS that has some for sale now as he is moving and tearing down his tanks, not uncommon. LFS's .. usually the more you buy the cheaper. If ordering on the net figure about $.50 to $1.00/lb for shipping. Some airlines have a 100 lb. minimum they charge for.
Sand .. if you can find it .. "Southdown" / Tropical Playsand from Home Depot
PH meter .. buy one you'll be glad you did.
Test kits .. Salifert or Aquarium Pharmaceticals (SW/FW only).
Randy Farley-Homes homemade 2 part system !! It works great and is cheap cheap cheap! in comparison to commercial 2 part additive systems. Someone unknown BRS member turned me onto it here a few weeks (months?) ago.
Others have their own opinions, mine are based on what I know now and wish I'd known before I wasted alot of time and $$$ .. and I'm absolutely NOT an expert, I still have more questions than I have answers.
Regards
Noel
Skimmer ... AquaC or Euro-Reef and some swear by the ones from myreefcreations.com.
The best advice I can give you on skimmers is to buy one rated for at least twice the capacity of your tank. I think Moe will/has agreed with me on that, I'm already in the market for an upgrade and I bought what I thought would be more than enough.
Pumps .. based upon how your tank is setup and flow rate, buy a spare as well, things do go kaboom (or like one of mine .. the cord shorted and the sparks where something to see).
Lights .. if your going to keep corals, go metal halide from the start.
Live rock .. shop around, I bought mine online from Dr. Mac's, I know of one fellow here on BRS that has some for sale now as he is moving and tearing down his tanks, not uncommon. LFS's .. usually the more you buy the cheaper. If ordering on the net figure about $.50 to $1.00/lb for shipping. Some airlines have a 100 lb. minimum they charge for.
Sand .. if you can find it .. "Southdown" / Tropical Playsand from Home Depot
PH meter .. buy one you'll be glad you did.
Test kits .. Salifert or Aquarium Pharmaceticals (SW/FW only).
Randy Farley-Homes homemade 2 part system !! It works great and is cheap cheap cheap! in comparison to commercial 2 part additive systems. Someone unknown BRS member turned me onto it here a few weeks (months?) ago.
Others have their own opinions, mine are based on what I know now and wish I'd known before I wasted alot of time and $$$ .. and I'm absolutely NOT an expert, I still have more questions than I have answers.
Regards
Noel
clamm
Nothing to nobody
Agree with Moe...You really need to think about what you want the tank to be. I started with a fish and lr tank and then turned it into a reef. But the change over costs alot of money. Stick with what ever you choose. Descide what kind of fish you want to keep. Don't over crowd the tank. With that tank you really have alot of options available, take it slow and you will have a successfull thriving fish tank.
Good luck,
Casey
Good luck,
Casey
Speaking of sparks ...
One thing I would highly recommend is that you install a ground fault breaker or adapter on any circuit you use with water involved and especially SW, very conductive.
The pump that shorted was a brand new mag 9 and I had just installed it into the sump and plugged it in, I hate to think of the jolt I could have received if I were not standing on a dry rubber mat at the time, and luckily it blew the power cord apart several feet down the cord and tripping the breaker. I could have just as easily had my hand in the sump or on the metal stand at the time.
I did not have a GFCI on the outlet. But I sure do now!
Regards
Noel
One thing I would highly recommend is that you install a ground fault breaker or adapter on any circuit you use with water involved and especially SW, very conductive.
The pump that shorted was a brand new mag 9 and I had just installed it into the sump and plugged it in, I hate to think of the jolt I could have received if I were not standing on a dry rubber mat at the time, and luckily it blew the power cord apart several feet down the cord and tripping the breaker. I could have just as easily had my hand in the sump or on the metal stand at the time.
I did not have a GFCI on the outlet. But I sure do now!
Regards
Noel
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