90g Sw Build...eek!

Thought I'd start a build thread, half for input from others and half as a record for when I look back on this!

This will not be my first Saltwater tank but is significantly bigger than my first (first one was 80 litres).

So far we have ordered:

• 3ft x 2ft x 2ft DT, open topped with pelmet and 30 x 18 x 17" sump + pipework. The tank is being custom built and is expected to be ready probably just after christmas.
• Ecotech radion xr15w pro gen 4 LEDs x2 plus multilight mounting equipment (arms, track + sliders)
• Heaters - x2 Eheim Jager 300w (one for back up)
• Hydor Koralia Gen 3 7000 wavemaker
• Tunze Turbelle Stream 2 6065 powerhead
  
• Sicce syncra silent 2.5 return pump
• Phosban reactor 150

The aI'm of the game is to keep a completely mixed reef with soft, LPS and SPS corals. We ordered everything during the black Friday sales so made some significant savings which was awesome!

Planning on using a mix of live rock (about 10ish kg) and 10 - 15kg of dry (probably Marco) rock, along with the Red Sea Reef Mature Pro kit to cycle (as it's a new one on me thought I'd give it a go and see what happens!)

Have been considering adding a UV steriliser to the equation - any thoughts on this appreciated if anyone wants to chip in

I'm sure I've forgotten something somewhere so if I have feel free to point it out lol

Knew I'd forgotten something, we also ordered a Bubble Magus curve 5 protein skimmer

 

Sounds AWESOME!!! I'll be very happy to follow along on this one!

 

I’m in too. I’ll be building my 75 after Christmas.

 

Following too! I’ve got an 85 gal that is 4’Lx2’Wx14 ¾”H. Also a rimless but I am currently using a screen top that sits just inside the top of the tank.

 

Following too! I’ve got an 85 gal that is 4’Lx2’Wx14 ¾”H. Also a rimless but I am currently using a screen top that sits just inside the top of the tank.

We are gonna have glass sliders on top to help reduce condensation losses. In theory should be hidden behind the pelmet our lights arrived yesterday, so of course I plugged them in to see them in action...managed to frazzle my eyeballs pretty good lol I am excited!

 

I’m sorry ... what’s a pelmet?

 

I’m sorry ... what’s a pelmet?

So you know how (going from bottom to top) most tanks have the stand and then the aquarium, and then the wood of the hood? A pelmet is where you have the wood "hood" but the top is open instead of closed

 

So you know how (going from bottom to top) most tanks have the stand and then the aquarium, and then the wood of the hood? A pelmet is where you have the wood "hood" but the top is open instead of closed

Oh so sort of a decorative frame around the top?

 

Oh so sort of a decorative frame around the top?

Pretty much, it gives the illusion of having a closed lid even when the top is open

 

So, it's been about a week since you posted about ordering stuff... any awesome deliveries yet? Pictures?

 

So far we have:

x2 radion xr15w gen 4 pro lights
Heaters - x2 Eheim Jager 300w
Hydor Koralia Gen 3 7000 wavemaker
Tunze Turbelle Stream 2 6065 powerhead
Refractometer

We haven't ordered the return pump yet but the phosban 150 got 'lost in the post' so we are having a new one sent out. The protein skimmer is going to be delivered with the tank (I'm assuming) as we ordered it at the same time as the tank

Unfortunately I'm at work but I'll take some pics when I get home if you'd really like to see some boxes haha!

 

Radions huh.... daaannngg! Sure, I wouldn't mind seeing those. I cannot wait to see this setup come together. It's gonna be awesome!!!!

 

Radions huh.... daaannngg! Sure, I wouldn't mind seeing those. I cannot wait to see this setup come together. It's gonna be awesome!!!!

Haha you got it, I'll take a pic with them on so you can see just how blinded I was (hopefully it'll be toned down in a photo, don't want to blind you too haha!). Gives me a good excuse to take them out the box and play with them some more I will probably end up buying the reef link too, it appeals to the geek side of me lol

 

Haha you got it, I'll take a pic with them on so you can see just how blinded I was (hopefully it'll be toned down in a photo, don't want to blind you too haha!). Gives me a good excuse to take them out the box and play with them some more I will probably end up buying the reef link too, it appeals to the geek side of me lol

Us too!

 

So far we have:

• x2 radion xr15w gen 4 pro lights
• Heaters - x2 Eheim Jager 300w
• Hydor Koralia Gen 3 7000 wavemaker
• Stream 2 6065
• Refractometer

We haven't ordered the return pump yet but the phosban 150 got 'lost in the post' so we are having a new one sent out. The protein skimmer is going to be delivered with the tank (I'm assuming) as we ordered it at the same time as the tank

Unfortunately I'm at work but I'll take some pics when I get home if you'd really like to see some boxes haha!

Check out the jebao dc return pumps. I’ve had a couple on mine and they are great! Old return I thought went out but just needed to be cleaned, I’ve put on my Skimmer and have a bigger one for the return. I’m running it just above half speed with room to go either way. Quiet too. Slow startup so no splashing.
Jebao Jecod DCT Marine Controllable Water Pump

The Skimmer one is smaller and blue. My tank is 85 gal with trigger emerald 34 sump.

 

So I had an awful migraine last night and couldn’t face the dazzling lights, but took a quick snap before I face planted in bed of all the things we’ve got so far lol



I’ll take a look at that return pump, thank you! How noisy is it? We are after something extremely quiet as the tank is going to be in the living room

 

Hope you're feeling better today!

 

Hope you're feeling better today!

Thank you, yes much better today! Researching Talbot's damsels today, I think I may have to get a couple they're adorable

 

Thank you, yes much better today! Researching Talbot's damsels today, I think I may have to get a couple they're adorable

Thanks for introducing me to the species. I love how you can see the scale pattern on those guys. Have you seen the SpringerI damsels? I'd love a big tank with some of those guys.

 

Thanks for introducing to the species. I love how you can see the scale pattern on those guys. Have you seen the SpringerI damsels? I'd love a big tank with some of those guys.

Ooo yes they're gorgeous too, but I've only seen them once in the last four or five years so I'd have to order in specifically. Very, very tempting

 

So I had an awful migraine last night and couldn’t face the dazzling lights, but took a quick snap before I face planted in bed of all the things we’ve got so far lol
View attachment 384884

I’ll take a look at that return pump, thank you! How noisy is it? We are after something extremely quiet as the tank is going to be in the living room

Eek! It’s like Christmas! It’s going to be so fun opening all of that and getting everything set up!

And I feel you on the migraine front! I’m hoping it resolved over night. Mine have varying degrees from where I can feel it coming on and use oils, ice packs or excedrin to where nothing helps and I have to take maxalt and go to bed! Migraines suck! Really hope you are feeling better!

Return pump is totally quiet!! Can barely even hear it starting up. It ramps up slowly. The main noise I have is from my Skimmer output that is above the water line so I hear the splashing. I should run a tube down so it doesn’t splash. DC pumps are known for being quieter than AC.

Remember that damsels are quite territorial! Even more than Clownfish! The only ones I’ve heard of people keeping rather peacefully are chromis. Chromises?

Get you a stocking list together before you start stocking too. You want to make sure you know tank size, care and general compatibility before making a purchase and having it die/get killed or having to return it.

Liveaquaria is a great place to start and get the basics to rule out fish or know to do more research! In a 90 you could even have a tang if you wanted. I believe the kole and TominI are the 2 that are compatible with a smaller tank. And by smaller I mean under like 150 gallons ... most tangs need LOTS of room. When I got my tank it came with a clown tang. He was beautiful but I only have an 85 and he needed a 250+ so I sold him to a guy whose parents had like a 600 gallon tank! I hope he’s loving it there!

 

Yes, that's why the Talbots appeal to me, they're supposed to be one of the most peaceful damsels out there my mum really wants some yellow tail damsels too but if we do that it'll only be one or two (of both damsel species) and we'll make sure there are lots of nooks and crannies in the live rock for hiding spaces. We have been thinking about stocking, and so far on the list of possibles we have:

• Onyx clownfish pair (although I personally prefer the da vincI clowns)
• Talbots damsels
• Yellow tail damsels
• Kole tang
• Possibly pipefish? Still researching and weighing up if it's worth the risk
• Scooter blenny
• Lawnmower blenny or midas blenny
• Cleaner wrasse
• Some sort of fairy wrasse
• Coral beauty angel (with the agreement LFS will take it back if it's a coral nipper)
• Longnose hawkfish (although not sure about this one)
• Royal gramma or a dottyback. I know the dottybacks are more aggressive but I kinda like their attitudes lol. I used to have a mccullochI pseudochromis who was a total dude lol
• The usual CUC suspects - blue leg hermits, black longspine urchin and possibly a red sea star

If you have any more suggestions feel free to throw them my way lol obviously not gonna buy everything on the list but think it's a good starting point

 

Yes, that's why the Talbots appeal to me, they're supposed to be one of the most peaceful damsels out there my mum really wants some yellow tail damsels too but if we do that it'll only be one or two (of both damsel species) and we'll make sure there are lots of nooks and crannies in the live rock for hiding spaces. We have been thinking about stocking, and so far on the list of possibles we have:

• Onyx clownfish pair (although I personally prefer the da vincI clowns)
• Talbots damsels
• Yellow tail damsels
• Kole tang
• Possibly pipefish? Still researching and weighing up if it's worth the risk
• Scooter blenny
• Lawnmower blenny or midas blenny
• Cleaner wrasse
• Some sort of fairy wrasse
• Coral beauty angel (with the agreement LFS will take it back if it's a coral nipper)
• Longnose hawkfish (although not sure about this one)
• Royal gramma or a dottyback. I know the dottybacks are more aggressive but I kinda like their attitudes lol. I used to have a mccullochI pseudochromis who was a total dude lol
• The usual CUC suspects - blue leg hermits, black longspine urchin and possibly a red sea star

If you have any more suggestions feel free to throw them my way lol obviously not gonna buy everything on the list but think it's a good starting point

Great list! You are doing your research and that will make things easier as you start. I want to put a plug in for a watchman goby shrimp pair. Lots of fun even if you don’t pair them before you put them in the tank and they pick opposite corners(I don’t have the energy to chase my shrimp as Nart) suggested but love it when Willie the watchman begs for food!

 

Wel, it's been migraine week here this week, have had one every day since Sunday! Took the day off work but feeling a bit more human now. Phew! The phosban 150 reactor arrived today...and so did the one that got "lost" so I guess we now have a backup! Lol

 

Migraines suck! Hope you are feeling better!

I’m definitely no stocking expert and really don’t know too much about damsels ... my kole tang is super fun to watch. He’s always bebopping around the tank. I do know that the blennies need to look very different. If they have the same body shape they can be aggressive towards each other. I have a lawnmower and love him. He does a lot of perching but he changes color to blend in. It’s really cool. Like he will be really light colored on light rocks, dark on aged ones and even gain somewhat of a purple hue around the coralline. His face shape really looks a lot like a chunk of rock too. Neat little guy!

I also have a coral beauty. I like it. I lucked out with a well behaved one.

 

Update! Tank is arriving on Saturday!! I am so excited!!!!!

 

Sweet.

 

ITS HERE!!!

 

YAAAAYYYYY!!!! It's beautiful!!!

 

YAAAAYYYYY!!!! It's beautiful!!!

I'll be putting the radions on it tonight so I'll post another pic when done! Ahhh so exciting!

 

What’s the dimensions on that? Doesn’t look like a standard 90. If it’s less than 48” I would say the tang is probably not a good idea they really need some swimming room.

 

I am so excited to see those lights! Please do feel free to get all nerdy with them, and share it all with us!

 

It’s 3ft x 2ft x 2ft which I believe is 36 x 24 x 24 in inches so not a standard 90. Here it is with the lights lol purchased our dry rock (Marco rock) on Boxing Day and that’s now soaking in RO just to see if I can leach any phosphates out of it. We also picked up sand and new nets as I didn’t want to share nets between my tanks!

 

Yaaaayyy!!! It's so exciting seeing those Radions on! I can't wait to see this tank full of life!

Do you have a powerhead you could add to the soaking rocks? If you use saltwater, a heater and a powerhead, you could start the cycle if you'd like.

 

Yaaaayyy!!! It's so exciting seeing those Radions on! I can't wait to see this tank full of life!

Do you have a powerhead you could add to the soaking rocks? If you use saltwater, a heater and a powerhead, you could start the cycle if you'd like.

I’m using a mix of dry and live rock, and am gonna try the Red Sea Reef Mature Pro Kit which claims to cycle a tank in 21 days, so just gonna soak the dry rock for now it’s starting to feel like it’s a real project now lol, I know that sounds silly but now we have the actual tank it feels like we can make a proper start! The sump is being plumbed in on the 8th January

 

The sump is now plumbed in! Have decided to do a refugium in the sump instead of live rock rubble, so now scrambling to research best lights for algae growth - if anyone has any suggestions/recommendations please let me know! I've sent my poor dad out today to get Saltwater which is gonna be kept in the garage (in the dark) until Saturday - that's when we'll be filling her up! Exciting!

 

You can keep some rubble in the fuge, under the chaeto. Doing so is supposed to be good for a healthy pod population. It would create a safe space for them to live and breed, while some make it to the display where they'll have predators.

I use this light over my little fuge.

 

You can keep some rubble in the fuge, under the chaeto. Doing so is supposed to be good for a healthy pod population. It would create a safe space for them to live and breed, while some make it to the display where they'll have predators.

I use this light over my little fuge.

That's a good idea, I'll do that thank you! It turns out I don't need to worry about the fuge light as my dad asked about it and ordered one yesterday while getting the water. He has no idea what light it is other than it's some sort of hydroponic light so I guess it'll be a nice surprise when it turns up (I hope, lol)!

 

The tank is filled! Everything is up and running now to cycle!

 

Love these cube 90 gallon tanks!
The Radion lights.... are money!