Flame_Angel's 90 gal softie/Lps build

[Flame_Angels]

Ok so as the title says this thread will be on my 90 gallon reef build. I got this tank from a friend who was getting out if the hobby and he gave it to me for free. I've decided to do a mixed reef with Lps and softies. I already have a sps reef but I've decided that I want to focus more on the fish this time around. I was thinking about having a small sump around 40 gallons and a quad t-5light. Just kind of a basic setup. Skimmer will be a sc-180, return a jeabo DC 600, flow is return and two wp-25s, and it will be lit by a quad odyssea t5 light. Now before you go bashing odyssea I got this brand on my first reef two years ago and again on my recent sps reef that I started about a year ago and neither has failed me yet as well as them giving out good light and sufficiently growing my corals. I know a lot of people don't like these lights but they have worked for me so I am sticking with them. Livestock was looking at a flame angel, a law mower blenny, a kole tang, a valentini puffer, and 8 or so chromis. Corals will be lots of mushrooms and zoas as well as toadstool leathers and some hammers and frogspawn a mixed in there as well. Spent all my money on Christmas gifts lately so waiting until after Christmas to really get going on this project. Tell me what you think of the plan so far any suggestions are welcome as well as experiences that might help me as this is my first tank above 30 gallons that I am doing. Thanks again:rollface:

[pyithar]

-some flame angel may nip at corals
-kole tang will probably chase and attack the lawnmower blenny becuase of same ecological niche
-the puffer may pick on snails and crabs
-8 or so chromis will kill each other and will become one in the end

i'm not saying those will definitely happen. but it could happen. there're some risks associated with your stocking plan.
you should ask steve in the intended fish purchases forum regarding your fish selections. good luck.

Welcome to reefcentral!!!

[reepher315]

+1 all very valid points

[Coach Vince]

I'm a newbie and this is just my experience so take it for what it's worth...

I have a mixed tank and my flame angel is thriving with no issues. I've also had 7 chromis for almost a year and while I've heard that, I'm down to 6. I would definitely go with the experience presented but there are some exceptions. If you want to test them then just prepare for a loss.

On the flip side, I have random losses from time to time that I can't explain, especially my clean up crew but that's another thread lol

[Flame_Angels]

ok posted in that thread, well see what they have to say. got a new brs 4 stage rodi system that does 150 gpd and set it up today in the basement. i have it hooked up to two buckets, one for fresh/top off water and one with a heater and powerhead to make salt. I also got a hydor 200w heater and jeabo wp-25. will be buying rest of equipment within the next week and should be able to get started on the tank build pretty soon. will post pics of rodi setup soon.


i ran into a problem while placing my 65 gallon sump, it wont fit under the tank or next to it so i had to place it into a closet 10 feet away and will need to plumb through the celing. has anyone done this before and how hard will it be? my pump is rated for up to 16 feet of head so it should handle the 9' celings okay.

[Flame_Angels]

yeah the mods said almost the same thing, chromis will kill each other and blenny/tang might not get along.

added a few things and this is what happened:

flame angel
lawnmower blenny
kole tang
8 chromis
(will become one over time)
flame hawk not shrimp safe
maroon clownfish pair
(will want to own about 50 gallons of tank space and very aggressively protect it )
sunburst anthias


ive decided to scratch the chromis and get a pair of clarkii clowns instead of the maroons.



on another note i have finally completely set up my ro/salt mixing area and have some pics:


whole view:
<a href="http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/Reef_noob_/media/photo11_zps1aca4331.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh566/Reef_noob_/photo11_zps1aca4331.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo photo11_zps1aca4331.jpg"/></a>


unit:
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh566/Reef_noob_/photo31_zpsc72bfe2f.jpg (http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/Reef_noob_/media/photo31_zpsc72bfe2f.jpg.html)

tapped from house here:
<a href="http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/Reef_noob_/media/photo21_zps7a86afd8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh566/Reef_noob_/photo21_zps7a86afd8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo photo21_zps7a86afd8.jpg"/></a>

waste water goes to sump in basement:

<a href="http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/Reef_noob_/media/photo12_zps1ee657b0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh566/Reef_noob_/photo12_zps1ee657b0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo photo12_zps1ee657b0.jpg"/></a>

Bucket with RO and float switch(salt bucket is same but has powerhead and heater in it):

<a href="http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/Reef_noob_/media/photo22_zps28a10d48.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh566/Reef_noob_/photo22_zps28a10d48.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo photo22_zps28a10d48.jpg"/></a>

both buckets:

<a href="http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/Reef_noob_/media/photo51_zpse878ebb0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh566/Reef_noob_/photo51_zpse878ebb0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo photo51_zpse878ebb0.jpg"/></a>


this is my sump, 65 gallon, it has no baffles yet but i got the plexi glass to install today. currently i have my old coralife super skimmer 65 gallon and my brs carbon reactor. also my pump came today, the jeabo dc-900. i know this pump is way to big for a 90 gallon, but as stated above the plumping will be in the ceiling so i needed at least 10 feet of head power, and this pump delivers 14.2 at 1500 gph and 3,200 gph at 0 head. pic of the pump below.


http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh566/Reef_noob_/photo42_zps42d24d01.jpg (http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/Reef_noob_/media/photo42_zps42d24d01.jpg.html)



pump:

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh566/Reef_noob_/photo52_zpsc925bc6c.jpg (http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/Reef_noob_/media/photo52_zpsc925bc6c.jpg.html)



the T5 light has also been ordered and should be here within a week, finally getting started!