Messer 90g Build

[ZakkMesser]

When should I do a water change?

[Parrothead]

you do a water change when your Nitrites are at zero and you Nitrates have started to go up, also start doing some research on clean up crews

[ZakkMesser]

Okay, will do. Is there anything that I should look to avoid with the clean up crew?

[Parrothead]

snails are good, you will get very different opinions on crabs, so do, some don't, I don't, hit the search window up top and type in clean up crew and enjoy the reading, keep in mind, don't get to many as your tank is new, and you don't want the goobs to starve to death. You know the drill, read, get confused
ask, read some more, and then break out the master card.

[ZakkMesser]

Back from vaction now. Went down to Sedona, Arizona. But anyway, is it about time for a water change? I got 30 gallons of water in the garage thats ready to go?

[Parrothead]

test your water, post the readings for

amm.
Nitrite
Nitrate
pH
Specific Grav.

We'll go from there

[ZakkMesser]

P.H- 8.1
Alk- 4 meq/L
Amm- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 40
Salinity- 1.022

[Parrothead]

Good Deal,

Now, test your specific gravity and pH of the water you got cooking, try to get them to balance with the tank, temp too. And have at your first water change

Good Job Zak

[ZakkMesser]

Thanks! Does a 25% change sound good, or more?

[Parrothead]

For your first one, Yes, after this try to do a 10 gallon every other week or so change, but for this one, 25% isn't gonna hurt anything, and should get things about right, have you figured out your clean up crew yet???????????

I gotta sign out for awhile, I'll check your thread later

[ZakkMesser]

Well, I decided that I just want to start out with a few snails then add to that. But im going out of town today and there is a pet store there, so I might pick a few up.

[Parrothead]

excellent, start small, you can always add more

[ZakkMesser]

Picked up 4 snails. 2 smaller ones and 2 bigger ones.

[ZakkMesser]

I'm trying to decide on which of these things I should get first.

-48' Nova Extreme Pro Saltwater Fixture 324W

Or

-A custom build sump, Eshopps PF-1000 Overflow and Quiet One 4000 or Mag Drive 9.5.

I don't really have the money to get both right now. Which should I get first?

[Doodaa]

The sump

[Parrothead]

The sump

+1

How handy are you at building things?????????????????

[ZakkMesser]

I hope I am! But my dad is helping so it should be okay. I would just buy a sump but with the really narrow stand its hard to find one to put in there and still maximize its size. So it looks like the sump will be 36L x 9W x 14-16H.

[Parrothead]

I hope I am! But my dad is helping so it should be okay. I would just buy a sump but with the really narrow stand its hard to find one to put in there and still maximize its size. So it looks like the sump will be 36L x 9W x 14-16H.

Zakk,

You have a 90 gallon tank, right???????

A 20 gallon tank should fit under the stand with plenty of room.

What are the dimensions of your tank????????

[ZakkMesser]

Nah, I ended up getting a 55 gallon tank.

[Parrothead]

You can always set the sump next to the tank, doesn't have to be under it;)