new 90g

[Myka]

Originally Posted by mikeT

can I use any of my existing equipment like the AQ500 filter, Emporer biowheel filter, florescent lighting(4 powerglow t8 tubes 10000k), heater, power head.

You can use your heater I bet!

By AQ500 do you mean an AquaClear 500? If so, you can use that to run carbon (buy a good brand and put it in a filter bag instead of the AquaClear carbon), and a phosphate absorbing media (buy one that is brownish red, not white).

Do not use the Emperor biowheel filter. It will be a nitrate factory, and you don't want that in a saltwater aquarium.

I'd say keep your lighting for now, and do as already suggested...setup up a FOWLR, and upgrade as you go. Your lighting will be sufficient to have some low light corals like mushrooms, maybe some polyps/zoos.

For a protein skimmer...buy the best you can afford. Seriously. Spend the money on your skimmer!! The only two HOB skimmers I would recommend would be the AquaC Remora Pro ~$200 (you'd need the Pro, not the regular model), or the Deltec MCE-300 ~$300.

If you can afford it, spend the $4-500 on drilling your tank, plumbing, a sump, and a return pump. You can buy protein skimmers that are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better. Like the EuroReef skimmers.

I'd say with about 50-75 lbs of some nice live rock (look for funky shapes, not round pieces). Tonga tends to be nicer than Fiji. Fiji is usually about $5/lb, and Tonga around $6.50/lb, but Tonga is more porous so you get bigger pieces for less cost. This will be enough live rock to "do the trick" (nitrate "removal" among other things).

I would suggest that you get 3-4 powerheads that when combined have a total flow of at least 1800 gph. Say...3 that push 600 gph or more. You could use MaxiJets, but you'd have to buy Maxi-Jet mod kits for them to boost their flow. You have to buy the mod kits online. Just Google it. Or try the Hydor Koralia's. They are good and relatively cheap. You could easily use one Koralia 2, and two Koralia 3s. They have a higher flow rate, but their flow is dispersed, so you need to buy a higher flow than it's rated. The Koralia's would probably be your best bet.

For sand, I wouldn't bother with "live". You're putting live rock in there, so I see no point in using live sand.

When you're curing your live rock (this will be about 4-6 weeks of just rock in your tank, no inhabitants) don't put your sand in until your rocks have cycled the tank (Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, and Nitrate <10). Then set up the rocks the way you want them, and put the sand around the rocks (don't put the rocks on the sand). That way when your fish dig the sand around they won't topple your rocks.

After your cycle, and you sand has settled for a few days, then you can buy a cleanup crew (snails, shrimp, etc). I suggest you buy 1/4 of what the pet store will tell you to buy in their "clean up crew packages". HAHA! They always tell you to buy WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much, and half of it will die from starvation.

After a couple weeks of cleanup crew action, then you can add your first fish. Don't add too many at once. Just a couple at a time/per week. That "one fish per 10 gallons" is BS, don't listen to that. So don't expect to have fish in your tank for at least 6-8 weeks after your rock goes in.

J&L Aquatics in Burnaby is a very good place to go. The staff is very knowledgable there, and will help you out. Just make sure you ask lots of questions.

Oh, and remember this: Nothing good happens fast in a marine aquarium. So have patience.

[michika]

Welcome to Canreef!

What kind of 90g tank did you pick up? Bowfront, rectangular, cube?

[mikeT]

Thanks guys for the tips.

The 90G i picked up is rectangular in shape.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by mikeT

Thanks guys for the tips.

No questions or comments after that book I wrote for you?

[Drock169]

I disagree with the comment that the AC500 is useless, with a little modding it becomes a great HOB fuge.

[michika]

Originally Posted by mikeT

Thanks guys for the tips.

The 90G i picked up is rectangular in shape.

Does your tank have an overflow, or is it drilled?

Its a great size tank to start out with! You have lots of options for livestock combinations.

Have you made any decision about what type of tank you want to keep? Fish only, reef? I ask because it may impact what type of information you need, and what type of equipment may best suit your needs.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by michika

Have you made any decision about what type of tank you want to keep? Fish only, reef? I ask because it may impact what type of information you need, and what type of equipment may best suit your needs.

He said:

Originally Posted by Mike T

I hope to start off small and build it up over time, maybe a clown fish or two and anenome and some other beginner freindly corals.

Oh Mike, that reminds me, I forgot to mention that most anemones will need Metal Halide lighting, there are a few that will do ok under strong T5 lighting, but your T8 lighting is definately not sufficient for an anemone long-term.

[michika]

Actually I was asking about his future plans above and beyond what he had already mentioned.

[mikeT]

Sorry 'Myka' I do appreciate the long post you wrote but it was mostly straight forward and I understand it ..... except the empty tank for 6-8 weeks allowing the cyle period, thats along time.

I won't be drilling the tank so a HOB skimmer would be my best option. I think I'll be looking in the DIY section to see about lighting, a good light will break the bank so soon after Xmas.

Can I start the tank as a fish only with live rock, add more live rock over time slowly building up to a small reef. I know I would need to get reef safe fish , but could those reef safe fish survive with only some live rock in the tank?