Advice and help on new setup

[diablo243]

Hey all, as some may or may not know I am getting back into the hobby and setting up a 90RR DT and have recently added a 40gal custom sump with 3 chambers(see below).



I have 3 question thus far:
1. What kind of flow rate should I have through the fuge (chamber all the way to the right closest to you in the view). I need to get a small pump to circulate that chamber and am looking for flow rate recommendations.

2. What kind of light for that fuge area? It is relatively small but deep, I don't want to spend a couple hundred on a kessil, but don't mind $60/70 on a PAR38 LED bulb.

3. Ok so here is the big one, should be ready to fill tank later this week, I currently do not have enough water storage to make and mix salt water in one go and the RODI I have will only be about 75GPD. Should I just bite the bullet and buy a few extra brute cans and make everything I need? Should I just do it 30ga at a time over a few days? or should I go straight fresh water into tank and then attempt to mix it there(my least favorite of those ideas)?

That is all for today, thanks all!

 

[JerSaint]

Get the Brute cans. In the long run you will be happy to have them. If you end up needing to do a large water change or want to store RODI they will come in handy.

 

[Ari21]

2. I run a $12 red LED par 38 from eBay.

3. I would just mix and add over a couple days

 

[CodyRVA]

1. Depends on your setup, my system circulates water fast enough to tumble my chaeto, but you shouldn't need a whole lot of flow to begin with.
2. Go to home depot and buy a $6 lamp with a "grow light," does the same thing.
3. +1 @JerSaint, you'll be happy you have the cans, they absolutely come in handy. I'd spend the money on spare cans long before spending it on a Kessil sump light o_O

 

[diablo243]

There are a lot of things I would spend money on prior to a Kessil sump light :P

Thanks all, ok I guess I will pick up a couple more brute cans and start filling them.

Ok so my sump and water station will be in basement, should i pump water into the sump and let the sump pull it up till I get return? I have a pump 1 size smaller than my return pump I could use to go into the sump with. Given the head height the and capacity of the return chamber I am guessing if I fill the sump from the feed side it would have enough reserve water in it even with the smaller pump to stay full while the return pulls it to DT. Thoughts opinions?

 

[james30ct]

wont hurt to leave the sump empty until you get a pump

 

[Brewman1987]

I bought the reef breeders fuge bulb and have it in a clamp on light fixture from hd. My chaeto has exploded since this light and is a dark green color.

 

[Fin]

I bought the Brute dollys that attach to the bottom of the cans for both of my containers. I find them helpful and allows me to move them easily, wherever needed.