Start of my 90G reef

[ssd0514]

First of all, thank you everyone for all your useful information. Out of habit I research before I do and this site has been a great help in my planning process. I'll tell you from the beginning this is going to be a long slow build but it will get built.
So after about 6 months of reading and rereading and talking to local reefers and a couple of LFS I've started my reef tank build. I'm starting with a 90G AGA with built in overflow. I'm using a tank I had previously used for freshwater as a sump. First thing is first though-I built a stand based on the designs I found here on reef central. Pictures to come.

[aquaman67]

Sweet. Can't wait to see the pics.

I took about as long before I actually got started. For some reason I thought this would be hard. But maybe it was easier because I took my time...

[smokieroom]

i will be starting the same AGA 90 gal in about a week also can't wait to see your build.

[ddinox64]

Two more 90 gallon tanks. Has to be the most popular tank going now.

I wish the Mods would start an 80-180 gallon tank forum.

I love my 90g. Aquaman. You have a 90 too?

[aquaman67]

No, Just an Oceanic 50.

I have a Glass Cages 70, but it's freshwater.

[ssd0514]

Bought this tank from a reefer here in Atlanta, got some coralline algae on the overflow i'm having a hard time getting off. http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/215720Profile_tank_on_floor.JPG
And here are some picture on the tank on the stand in various phases of completion.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/215720Tank_on_stand_1.JPG http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/215720Stand_after_covering.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/215720stand_after_stain.JPG
As you can see I've fit doors but didn't like them, so I'm going to have to construct new ones the same size. Working on getting the close up of the sump loaded onto RC.

[ssd0514]

and I decided not to use the canopy I had started on so that's why it's gone.

[ddinox64]

I wouldn't worry about the coraline on the overflow. With luck and patience it'll be covered again.

[ssd0514]

didn't figure the coralline would be a problem. I'm basically buying as I go so the next thing I need is an rodi unit and a return pump. I've read a lot of different viewpoints on both and am having some trouble deciding what i need.
I think the return pump needs to be a bale to move about 950gph since my overflow is rated at 700, so i've been looking at the mag drive pumps and the ehiem pumps, which one do you guys think is better?
as far as rodi units go can i just use a 3 stage? do i need more stages, the water in my area is loaded with copper, flouride, and chlorine so i just want to make sure my inverts and fish will be ok with whatever i choose.

[ddinox64]

Let people give you direction, but you ultimately have to decide for yourself. People will be pushing all kinds of high dollar equipment at you when middle of the road works just fine.

Can't help you in the RO department. I don't use one but doesn't mean I shouldn't. Actually thinking of buying one. Talked to plenty of peolpe that got them off of CL and are very happy with them. 1/2 the price as elsewhere.

I'm running a Quiet One 6000 full blast through a SCWD which cuts back flow to about 650 gph. That 700 is probably rated at gravity flow. If you use a standpipe that runs by syphon, I'm positive it can be a lot more than that.

I'm using a HERBIE, and with my pump wide open my valve on my drain is a little less than quarter open. So does than mean I can potentionally run 2600GPH if I had a pump big enough? I don't know.

I originally designed a Durso with no valve in the drain and it ran wide open on the return pump side too with water level right where I wanted it in my sump. But with the HERBIE I had to restrict the drain.

To be honest. I have no idea how I came about figuring it out. I bought a pump and went from there. I just knew I needed complete silence as my setup is in my livingroom.

Lots of guys using that Eheim 1262 and pretty happy with them.
What was the guy you bought it from running?

[ssd0514]

pretty much everything he ran was on the low end, he only ran about 500 gph through the sump, i know i'll need more than that as I want a mixed reef with as many different kinds of coral as possible. think i'll probably go with the 1262 for a return and run a couple of powerheads in my dt

[gmneil]

if you want to get rid of the coraline, fill the tank with water and mix in some white vineagar, let it soak until it wipes off easily.

rodi is a must i personally use a 5 stage 3 filters before ro unit then a di filter last. got mine of e bay.

[ssd0514]

thanks, it would be nice to start completely clean but like someone else said, if i do everything right it'll just grow back