90 Gallon Reef

Hello 3reefers,
Thanks to all the info that I have gathered here I ventured and started my own 90 gallon reef after playing around with my 29 biocube for a year.
I got some pictures i will upload later but in the mean time here is a vid of it that I put on youtube. Please help me with some advice and if you see anything that does not look right.

90 Gallon Reef (start date was 01 Sept 2010) 1 koralia 4 and 1 koralia 2.
35 Gallon sump (mag 9.5 return), 55w 6500k
60 lpbs of pukani rock (brs)
tek t5ho (8x54, 3 ati blue plus 2 acitinc, 2 6500k bulbs, 1 aquablue)
turboflotor multi protein skimmer hob in the sump
chiller.
5 gallon DSB. fine sand.
BRS carbon reactor and HCGFO reactor. 3/4cups of each.
2 part brs dosing 25ml each/day.

Livestock,
1 misbar clown and 1 ocellaris, i atlantic blue tang, 1 yellow clow goby, 1 6-line wrasse and 1 bubble tip anemone,
CUC consist of nerite, nass, cerith, margarita and one turbo snails.
2 cleaner and 2 pepermint shrimp, 1 sand shifting star and 1 of those long skinny legs star.

Corals, all frags for now.
frogspawn, duncan a few zoas hammer.


FUTURE list. LOTS of more corals. I will try some sps in a few months but for now just softies.
Controller, Debating between a reefangel and reefkeper lite, dosing pumps
Live stock. 1 or 2 smaller fish goby or blenny, rose bubble tip nem.

 

I would switch the 6500K T5 for ATI Aquablue Specials. The 6500K tend to cause corals to brown out.

The 6 line might make life hard on the new fish. One thing going for you is the size of the tank. Add the new nem before any more corals to keep it from killing your frags if it goes on a walk about.

I would add about 30 lbs more rock. Dry rock will fit the bill perfectly.

Plan on your dosing increasing dramatically when you add SPS. I add 360ml a day of BRS 2 part in my 75.

 

Is that Crushed Coral??

If it is, thats not good. NO3 factory!!

 

Thanks for the quick response. I didn't know that the 6500k did that. I was using it to get more growth. I will switch those out.

I read about the 6 line and I am slightly worried. I got a real small one and it went in last. If I will keep an eye on it.

I forgot to mention that I have 30lbs of live rock in the sump from my biocube. Should I add more? The display is kind of maxed out.

I will increase the dosing as I add more corals. I never thought I would need 360ml. That is a lot. My par right now are pretty good
cal 460
alk 7.8
mag 1500 all salifert kits.

 

That is the special grade reef bed from Caribsea I believe but it's kind of clumping with some algae. I might need more circulation.

 

I was thinking of the rock for the DT but if it is maxed then you should be OK. Take a look at my build thread to see the coral I have. I expect to be increasing the dosage as the corals grow. SPS and clams use much more than LPS and coralline. Just keep track of your Ca and alk and adjust accordingly. 12000K bulbs seem to not cause browning but 10000K and 11000K can. You might be OK with the 2 actinics. I would go with no more than 1 6500K if you do keep one. I think I would put the actinics on either side of the bulb also. You should get good growth from 12000K bulbs. The tank will look a little bluer with them in place.

 

On your flow you will want 20+ times your actual volume with LPS and softies but will want to get it to 50+ times with SPS. I have 66 times and all but one of my LPS and softies are OK. I will need to find another spot for my frogspawn. The torch seems to like the higher flow.

 

+1 to 2in10's posts.

You're headed in the right direction

 

I like the type of rock and scape very much.

I am somewhat concerned about the algae on the LR that appears stingy and with bubbles attached. Has it gone away since the video ?

Good surface movement as well.

 

That is a nice thread and a good looking tank you got there. I cheated and skipped to the pages with pictures. ;D I will have to read it it all tonight when I leave work. I am picking up the rose bubble tip tonight. $40.00. I thought it was a good deal. Love craigslist. By the way all my pieces for my setup came from there. I will update with prices.