A Reef for xx - 90g Reef - Page 3

chrome91 · 01-14-2009, 11:18 AM

i would say 400w halides are a bit overkill on a 90g, 400w are best for tanks over 26" tall. 250w's will do it on a 24" tank

Adam Black · 01-14-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrome91

i would say 400w halides are a bit overkill on a 90g, 400w are best for tanks over 26" tall. 250w's will do it on a 24" tank

There not overkill. And yes 250 would work but why not go with something better and cheaper?

Jeremy0322 · 01-14-2009, 02:44 PM

I am going to have to agree with the 400 watt move. If you placed it at the same height as you did the 250 you may experience some bleaching, but I dont even know if that would happen, but with most lights you can move them up and down depending on how you feel, so if you start to see any negatives just move the light up a little bit. To save that kind of money and get that much more light I would go with the 400, plus if you ever decide to go larger you can always just use this light.

ReefLady · 01-14-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

If you placed it at the same height as you did the 250 you may experience some bleaching, but I dont even know if that would happen, but with most lights you can move them up and down depending on how you feel, so if you start to see any negatives just move the light up a little bit.

If you put 400's on the tank, I would definitely acclimate the corals by initially reducing the photoperiod, and gradually increasing over time

The only "downside" to the 400w bulbs would be increased heat generation and power consumption. But for that depth tank, I'd agree they are the best choice.

Miltonic · 01-14-2009, 09:28 PM

well 400 watts is nice and all but the way the lights look from that link don't appeal to me, It looks like, I would have to build something to hold them above the aquarium a chiller to cool the tank from all the heat they produce, get moon lights and my parents electric bill will skyrocket so with all those extra costs the small price now will add up to more later. I want lights that are ready for me to use when I get them and have everything I need.

In other news my Protein Skimmer arrive today, I'll edit pics into this post in a minute after I take them. The skimmer came with no instructions on how to install though :S

yungreefer2410 · 01-14-2009, 10:10 PM

you prob won't need a chiller if you put it high enough above the tank

ReefLady · 01-14-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

It looks like, I would have to build something to hold them above the aquarium a chiller to cool the tank from all the heat they produce, get moon lights and my parents electric bill will skyrocket so with all those extra costs the small price now will add up to more later. I want lights that are ready for me to use when I get them and have everything I need.

Yes, MH's need to be about 9" from the water. No, you don't need a chiller (we didn't use one), fans used correctly should work. Yes, electricity costs can be high -- any decent lighting system will boost your power consumption.
As far as lights that are ready for you when you get them you can buy "turn key" MH lights. No, you don't have to have moon lights.
It all depends on what you like, and what you want to keep in the tank.

Miltonic · 01-14-2009, 10:39 PM

so, Would you recommend I get those lights?

I like the power they have because it gives me a wide range of corals to keep but having to build a stand for them to keep them over the tank turns me off and they aren't aesthetically appealing to me either. :/

ReefLady · 01-14-2009, 10:50 PM

I would recommend that you get what appeals to you, but research and understand what you can keep with the lights you choose.
There are a lot of MH options that wouldn't require you DIY'ing a hood. some are "kits" that come in a retrofit hood. What specifically about them is it that you don't like? MH come in a wide range of color temps, hood or pendant styles, etc. Poke around - you'll find a lot of different options.

Personally, I would not recommend MH lighting to a a new hobbyist. There are a lot of side "issues" that can be costly (power consumption, heat reduction, replacing costly bulbs regularly, etc). Also, typically the livestock that "needs" MH lighting is not recommended for a beginner.
The good thing about MH lighting is that you will not need to "upgrade" your lighting later. Look at the "sunpod" light systems. That might be something that appeals to you.

Miltonic · 01-14-2009, 10:58 PM

What I don't like about them is that their hood is a piece of wood basically and that won't look appealing above my tank since i'm not going to use a canopy and I can't hang the lights from the ceiling :/ I may just get them thinking about the future livestock i'm going to get when I have more experience. I'm going to do lots of research on this since I won't be putting anything in my tank for like two months after its set up to let my live rock cure and save up for them during that time.

Edit:
Here's a picture of my skimmer.

Miltonic · 01-29-2009, 01:16 PM

I finally got my stand and put it together yesterday and so here are some pictures

Im really happy everything is coming together.

heres my skimmer in the sump.

morbius18 · 01-29-2009, 02:01 PM

Is the return in your skimmer chamber? The baffle height on the right side will be your water level on your skimmer side if your return is on the right side. You might have to raise the skimmer up a couple of inches, or flip the sump around.

Miltonic · 01-29-2009, 02:39 PM

I might have to put something under the skimmer to lift it up since the skimmer won't fit in return chamber.

heres a picture of just the sump.

Miltonic · 02-06-2009, 12:18 AM

sorry for the double but I have a huge update! My RO/DI unit arrives tomorrow and i'll finally be able to start filling my tank,oh man im so excited. I also found someone in my area who will be tearing down his tank and will sell me about 125 pounds of fiji live rock for $300 and will be picking it up on Monday. I also ordered my lighting and I decided to go for T5's, I went with the 8 bulb ATI fixture and will be arriving here on Wednesday. This is going better than I though y the ended of next week everything should be up and running, even though I still need to get alot of stuff like substrate, more buckets, and other randoms and that stuff can wait until the rock is recured.

Miltonic · 02-09-2009, 11:06 PM

i'll still keep updating by triple posting even though no one seems interested. :/

Well I got pictures from my whole starting process.
when I begun filling my tank late Friday night.

top view

Almost full with salt mixing

Sump with skimmer working

top view of skimmer

about 140 pounds of live rock gotten today for $300 nothing can beat that deal.

01-14-2009, 11:18 AM	#31 (permalink)
chrome91 Achilles Tang Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: edmonton, alberta, canada Posts: 821 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef i would say 400w halides are a bit overkill on a 90g, 400w are best for tanks over 26" tall. 250w's will do it on a 24" tank __________________ 650- SA tank 125g- reef, 150lbs LR, 250w MH/2x65w PC, 150w MH, 15g sump 90g- SA tank 10g cube- 3 firebelly toads

01-14-2009, 02:44 PM	#33 (permalink)
Jeremy0322 Tridacna maxima Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 4,753 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef I am going to have to agree with the 400 watt move. If you placed it at the same height as you did the 250 you may experience some bleaching, but I dont even know if that would happen, but with most lights you can move them up and down depending on how you feel, so if you start to see any negatives just move the light up a little bit. To save that kind of money and get that much more light I would go with the 400, plus if you ever decide to go larger you can always just use this light. __________________ UNCW 2011 -Marine Biology Major -Oceanography Minor The old 90 Gallon Build r.i.p Only after the last tree's cut And the last river poisoned Only after the last fish is caught Will you find that money cannot be eaten....

01-14-2009, 09:28 PM	#35 (permalink)
Miltonic Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef well 400 watts is nice and all but the way the lights look from that link don't appeal to me, It looks like, I would have to build something to hold them above the aquarium a chiller to cool the tank from all the heat they produce, get moon lights and my parents electric bill will skyrocket so with all those extra costs the small price now will add up to more later. I want lights that are ready for me to use when I get them and have everything I need. In other news my Protein Skimmer arrive today, I'll edit pics into this post in a minute after I take them. The skimmer came with no instructions on how to install though :S

01-14-2009, 10:39 PM	#38 (permalink)
Miltonic Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef so, Would you recommend I get those lights? I like the power they have because it gives me a wide range of corals to keep but having to build a stand for them to keep them over the tank turns me off and they aren't aesthetically appealing to me either. :/

01-14-2009, 10:50 PM	#39 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef I would recommend that you get what appeals to you, but research and understand what you can keep with the lights you choose. There are a lot of MH options that wouldn't require you DIY'ing a hood. some are "kits" that come in a retrofit hood. What specifically about them is it that you don't like? MH come in a wide range of color temps, hood or pendant styles, etc. Poke around - you'll find a lot of different options. Personally, I would not recommend MH lighting to a a new hobbyist. There are a lot of side "issues" that can be costly (power consumption, heat reduction, replacing costly bulbs regularly, etc). Also, typically the livestock that "needs" MH lighting is not recommended for a beginner. The good thing about MH lighting is that you will not need to "upgrade" your lighting later. Look at the "sunpod" light systems. That might be something that appeals to you. __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-14-2009, 10:58 PM	#40 (permalink)
Miltonic Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef What I don't like about them is that their hood is a piece of wood basically and that won't look appealing above my tank since i'm not going to use a canopy and I can't hang the lights from the ceiling :/ I may just get them thinking about the future livestock i'm going to get when I have more experience. I'm going to do lots of research on this since I won't be putting anything in my tank for like two months after its set up to let my live rock cure and save up for them during that time. Edit: Here's a picture of my skimmer.

01-29-2009, 01:16 PM	#41 (permalink)
Miltonic Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef I finally got my stand and put it together yesterday and so here are some pictures Im really happy everything is coming together. heres my skimmer in the sump. __________________ A Reef for XX - Follow my progress through the set up for my first reef tank.

01-29-2009, 02:01 PM	#42 (permalink)
morbius18 Neon dottyback Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 696 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef Is the return in your skimmer chamber? The baffle height on the right side will be your water level on your skimmer side if your return is on the right side. You might have to raise the skimmer up a couple of inches, or flip the sump around. __________________ My 90 Gallon Acrylic Build http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...w-90-reef.html ----------------------------------------- GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE.... I KILL PEOPLE

01-29-2009, 02:39 PM	#43 (permalink)
Miltonic Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef I might have to put something under the skimmer to lift it up since the skimmer won't fit in return chamber. heres a picture of just the sump. __________________ A Reef for XX - Follow my progress through the set up for my first reef tank.

02-06-2009, 12:18 AM	#44 (permalink)
Miltonic Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef sorry for the double but I have a huge update! My RO/DI unit arrives tomorrow and i'll finally be able to start filling my tank,oh man im so excited. I also found someone in my area who will be tearing down his tank and will sell me about 125 pounds of fiji live rock for $300 and will be picking it up on Monday. I also ordered my lighting and I decided to go for T5's, I went with the 8 bulb ATI fixture and will be arriving here on Wednesday. This is going better than I though y the ended of next week everything should be up and running, even though I still need to get alot of stuff like substrate, more buckets, and other randoms and that stuff can wait until the rock is recured. __________________ A Reef for XX - Follow my progress through the set up for my first reef tank.

02-09-2009, 11:06 PM	#45 (permalink)
Miltonic Cabbage Leather Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PA Posts: 355 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: A Tank for xx - 90g Reef i'll still keep updating by triple posting even though no one seems interested. :/ Well I got pictures from my whole starting process. when I begun filling my tank late Friday night. top view Almost full with salt mixing Sump with skimmer working top view of skimmer about 140 pounds of live rock gotten today for $300 nothing can beat that deal. __________________ A Reef for XX - Follow my progress through the set up for my first reef tank.

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