[BoomerD]

I have kept fresh & marine fish since the early 70's but got out of the hobby about 8 yrs. ago due to time constraints. I'm about to take the plunge again, but I have some questions before I start shelling out $$$.
First, my intended set-up.
48"x18" 90 gallon tank on a "shorty" stand. only 18" height under the tank. Low rise canopy with 3.5" clearance between tank & canopy for lights. Currently 1 48" NO fluorescent.
I want to start off with a FOWLR set-up. I plan on about 4" of Southdown sand, (I have 200 lbs.) and about 100 lbs. of live rock.
Due, in part, to the height restrictions under the tank, I probably won't go with a sump, ( She STILL remembers "The Great Flood of 91") so the majority of my equipment will have to be hang-on the back type.
.
1) Recommendations for a GOOD skimmer.
2)Do I have to upgrade the lighting for the live rock? If I end up going with a "reef" set-up, I will upgrade the lighting to an Ice Cap 4 tube VHO system, (no room for MH)but do I need more light just for the rock? If so, how much?
3) Wet-Dry filtration? Just nitrate factories? Or would an Amiracle SL-15 hang on filter be appropriate for FO? What about a canister?
4) Circulation. I currently have a Magnum 350, a Fluval 303, and an Aqua Clear 500 back filter left from the old days, would any of these be useful for circulation? The Magnum for carbon flitration?
5) What about adding on 1 or 2 of the corner overflows to "hide" a pump in for a closed loop for circulation?

I've been doing a lot of research before getting back into the hobby, and as you can imagine, both equipment & philosophies about keeping fish have changed a great deal. It seems eveywhere I turn, I get different ideas & recommendations. I want to do this right the first time. Not only because buying new equipment & fish get expensive, but because it's the right thing to do for the animals in our care.
The last marine tank I had, (70 gal.) I kept an Imperator angel for 4 yrs. (along with several other fish), giving him away to a friend when I left the hobby, and a 20 gallon micro reef with BTA & sebae clowns, a small 6 line (watermelon) wrasse. Kept that tank for 2+ yrs. with the only loss being a Pyschedelic Mandarin(?)
Thanks in advance.

[scout]

You should not need a hang on wet/dry with that much live rock. It will do the work a bio bale/wheel would have done.

My sump is 12 inches tall, but the skimmer is 19 inches tall. Not sure if you could find a good skimmer as short as you'd need it.

I also have a Magnum 350 I use for Mechinical Filtration.

Not sure if coraline/live rock needs powerful lighting or not. I'm sure someone else can let us know.

HTH
Mike

[scout]

BTW

WELCOME TO REEFLAND!!!

Mike

[tendar]

With the live rock all you need is a few power heads for circulation like a couple of Maxi Jet 1200's 2-4 of them.
You can use one of the filters for running carbon now and then when needed.
I would get about 30 nassarius snails to help keep the sand clean of detris along with a detris kit to seed the sand bed.
The corner overflow idea for a closed loop I have actually given some consideration to my self but have not tried yet but is possible as long as the overflow is big enough for the pump which would have to be pretty big.
Live rock does not need any light but if you want some coraline algea you will want some decent light. A VHO setup will get you all the coraliine you want. For a swim tank a couple of standard bulbs would be fine but wont get you much if any coraline. Unless the tank comes with the lights I would save the money on upgrading latter to VHO and just do it now.
Probably the best hang on skimmer for your size tank would be the Aqua-C Remora Pro hang on skimmer. It is the best one out there that I know of anyway.

[almostdiva]

I would do the VHO (or Power Compact) now, too. You'll end up buying 2 sets of lights otherwise (I learned this the hard way....).

DEFINITELY the Aqua C skimmers. They have 2 models -- the Urchin, which you can put in a sump, or the Remora, the hang-on.

You can convert your wet/dry into a sump easily. Take out the bioballs from the "media chamber" and fill with sand and live rock, or just the rock. It will increase your filtration. Scout is right, with sand and 1 - 2 lbs live rock per gallon, you shouldn't need additional filtration. If you want to get even a little more fancy, you can put in some macro algae for added nutrient export, too.

Good luck!

Rebecca

[Be-a-Reefer]

If you want you could get a tank that is drilled with a IN-TANK/corner overflow. That would make the tank very nice and you wouldnt have to go with siphoning.. But if you choose not to and go withought a sump your set-up plans sound very nice! with that much sand and LR it would almost set u pa perfect ecosystem. You might also want to look into Caulerpa or other types of Macro Algea. Hope it oes well for you!

Travis


WELCOME TO REEFLAND!!!!!!!

[BoomerD]

I'm hunting for a good hang-on skimmer used. ANYONE? I'll check with one of the local glass shops about drilling the tank. It's about 6 yrs old, but hasn't seen much use. Just a couple of 3" goldfish for about 2 yrs. I think they weren't too happy when I took them out of the 90 and put them in a 20 hex. Good water quality, but much less room. Still have to see what I can do for a sump. Been looking at a couple of wet-dry's on E-Bay. The right size might work for a sump full of live rock, heaters, etc., but still won't allow enough room for a skimmer under there due to height. haven't seen a quality skimmer that short. I've written to several of the manufacturers, and they pretty much all say the same thing.

[Be-a-Reefer]

Boomer you could Make one out of a rubbermain container. ALOT of reefers do this to save about 100+ dollars lol. And if you get a sump why dont you just put a skimmer on it? A good hang on skimmer (i used once but did pretty good) was a Prizm.

Just my 0.02 Worth!
Travis

[Be-a-Reefer]

One more thing have you looked in to the CPR Hang on skimmers? I head alot of good things about them. you can go to their website im not sure the addy of it thought... sorry

Travis

[BoomerD]

I have a serious height restriction inside my stand. Only 18.5" max.height. that leaves out most of the crappy skimmers, and all of the good ones. i've thought about the Rubbermaid containers, not a bad idea, but I still can't put a skimmer there, so it's only a maybe thing. Besides, the wife is REALLY against a sump. I had a 100 gal.about 12 yrs. ago with a wet-dry powered by a Hydrothruster pump. Due(mostly) to poor design on my part, when the pump shut down, the tank back siphoned about 20 gallons of water onto the living room carpet. NO MORE SUMPS!! She says. Still begging. I have a Bak-Pak 2, but it's just not enough for a 90.

[Be-a-Reefer]

Easy Way to take care of back syphoning! It happened to me on my part because i was just being stupid. Here is a way to take care of this. I took a Styrophome and carved it to fit perfect on my tank edge (or u can just push it down real hard until it molds to edge lol..) then i took my return thing and taped it to the thing ABOVE WATER LVL this helps when power goes out.. easy solution! and for the overflow just mount it higher. Hope it helps!

Travis

[BoomerD]

Yep, I had the return plumbed about 6" below water level, with NO siphon break in the line. A very small hole in the line just above the water level or a check valve would have done the same thing. Live & learn.

[Be-a-Reefer]

There ya go! Take a dremail and drill 3 small holes into the return head! WALA...... You prolly already thought of that! Just trying to help ya out

Travis

[Tervill]

Welcome to Reefland, eh! (I'm from Canada, eh). If you are looking for a reliable protein skimmer, I know that Prizm makes the best. I don't have one myself, but I know people who do and they swear by them. Finding a reliable and efficent skimmer that it less than 18" tall will be quite a challange to fit under your tank. It's probably not a bad idea to set up your Fluval again. They really work great for removing any particulate matter in the water, plus, it creates water flow as well. I don't know didly squat about sumps, so I won't comment on them. Soon, I will be aquiring a 120 g tank to replace my 40 g. Hopefully, I can get some advise on how to set up a sump c/w overflow from my pals at Reefland! Good luck with the tank!