Feedback on my 90g tank plans???

[abossi2]

Let me start with a quick intro. I previously had a saltwater fish-only tank (15 years ago), but have only had freshwater since then. Technology has definitely changed and I consider myself a newbie! I am looking to get back into saltwater with a reef setup. I am working with my LFS on the specs but I wanted to also list these out and get advice from the community as to what works well and maybe not so well.

Goals for the system

• Must be Quiet (will be in den near TV)
• Would like to keep soft corals and LPS
• Low maintenance (where possible)
• Probably will add Apex as a future upgrade
• Would like to keep Chaeto in refugium area to help with nutrients

Equipment
Tank: 90 gallon corner overflow with stand and canopy
Lights: 2 Aqua Illumination Hydra 26 HD
Sump: Eshopps R100 (or R200 depending on skimmer choice)
Pump: Waveline DC 2500
Powerheads: 2 Tunze 6095
ATO: JBJ
Heater: Aquatop Titanium 300W
Skimmer: Reef Octopus 150INT SS -or- Reef Octopus Regal 150INT DC
Sand: Caribsea Fiji Pink and Dry Rock
RODI: BRS 4 Stage Plus

Any equipment here that you would recommend changing?

 

[Joeganja]

Man you'll never believe me when i tell you i have a 90 gallon corner overflow, 2 hydra 26 leds, a r100 eshopps sump, the brs 4 stage value plus rodi system lol. With the Leds your golden my favorite lights by far and grow corals especially sps without a problem. The sump no problem either defintley a quiet sump. It does however take half of the space inside your stand which im sure your fine with. The return pump section of sump ive found cant fit every return pump. I had to go buy a danner mag drive 9 for my return. which pump around 950 gph not bad but if you can upgrade to a ecotech marine vectra and fit it in there you can get controllability and can hook it up to your future apex. Powerheads tunze are good quality everyone seems to like them. i like ecotech marines vortech i have an mp10 and its nice not having any wires in my tank looks slick. + its quiet. but they are a little more expensive. auto top off jbj is good but tunze is the highest rated one double the price but more options with water levels. I use the fluval e series heater ive had it for 3 years not a single problem. skimmers is the big one. this all depends on what stock you plan to have the bigger the skimmer the better. i have the reef octopus external 110 and i love it just takes alot of room. the internal skimmer 110 reef octopus is 130 gallons on light load, medium load is 90, and heavy is 60 where the regal handles up higher loads so that might be your best bet especially if you want to have any tangs. aquamaxx q cone s skimmers are also really good skimmers but they dont have the controllable dc pump you want. Skimz has the controllable pumps they are on Bulk reef supply. dry rock you should get brs pukani, its cheap, very light, and can hold alot of bacteria and such.

 

[Joeganja]

 

[Joeganja]

Those are just the hydra 26s not the HD's

 

[Joeganja]

 

[abossi2]

Thank you @Joeganja! Great looking tank! Great to see you have so many of the same components I am looking at. It is always good to talk to someone that can vouch for them.

I saw the sump return section was pretty small so I am going to make sure the return pump will fit. Do you have any issues with seeing the water level in the return section since it is on the back side of the sump behind the refugium area? I was thinking I would probably put a mirror behind it so I can see it.

I was debating between the BRS Pukani and the Reef Saver. I was leaning towards Reef Saver because it sounded like it comes cleaner and I like how it fits together like puzzle pieces and looks pretty seamless. However, I have heard that Pukani is definitely more porous and lighter (better for bacteria). Given the lighter weight of Pukani, how many pounds would you suggest would be appropriate for a 90 gallon?

 

[Joeganja]

Thank you @Joeganja! Great looking tank! Great to see you have so many of the same components I am looking at. It is always good to talk to someone that can vouch for them.

I saw the sump return section was pretty small so I am going to make sure the return pump will fit. Do you have any issues with seeing the water level in the return section since it is on the back side of the sump behind the refugium area? I was thinking I would probably put a mirror behind it so I can see it.

I was debating between the BRS Pukani and the Reef Saver. I was leaning towards Reef Saver because it sounded like it comes cleaner and I like how it fits together like puzzle pieces and looks pretty seamless. However, I have heard that Pukani is definitely more porous and lighter (better for bacteria). Given the lighter weight of Pukani, how many pounds would you suggest would be appropriate for a 90 gallon?

It's big rock you think you need 90 pounds. I ordered about 50-60 pounds and it filled my tank. You can always email them and tell them you need larger pieces of rock for a 90 gallon and they will work with you. And I do have some issues sometime getting my head back there in the return but I have an auto top off so I don't really have to put my head back there. But I don't have an issue with seeing the water level just gotta peak my head a little in there.