Resurrection of the 90 gallon reef tank.

seasmurf · 05/12/2012, 06:13 AM

Many years ago, I had a nice 90 gallon reef tank that was wiped out during a mid-winter, 10 day power outage. The empty carcass has been sitting in our family room for years. FInally after another week long power outtage last year, I decided to purchase a whole house generator and the kids would like to resurrect the tank.

I checked out all of the equipment and am making some major changes now that technology has evolved. My old Aquastarlight MH light (2 x 250 w, 13,000K) overheated on startup and burned out both a ballast and a transformer. I've decided to upgrade to a pair of Aqua Ilumination SOL white LED modules. Ordered them yesterday. Since my tank is only 18" wide, I've decided to orient them with their long axis parallel to the length of the tank which requires my building a hanging frame out of some 80/20 Al extrusion.

Next, I checked out the old Neptune II controller. The thermocouple did not function and the manufacturer no longer makes that stye, nor could give me the info so I could find an aftermarket replacement. Also, it no longer communicated well with some of the X-10 modules I had so I've decided to replace it with a Reefkeeper Elite system, which can control the AI lights as well.

I liked the reef keeper because it actually connected the power modules by hard wire. In my new installation, I'm setting up a fish room/refugium in the basement and the X-10s did not seem to work reliably with the control module upstairs.

FInally, I have put my RO system, skimmer, refugium and 30 gallon sump in the basement. I repaired one of the old Iwaki 40RXLT pumps and connected t to the upsairs tank with a straight run of PEX tubing and the old girl provides plenty of flow (I actually have to back off using a gate valve).

Finally, I had an old Vortech MP20, still in it's original package from 5 years ago which I planned to preplace my old Seaswirl closed loop system. (It unfortunately arrived the week the power died.) I have 135 lbs of now dead rock and sand in my garage that I would like to use again and seed with some LR.

So this week it's waiting for the generator installation and electrician to run outlets into the fish room. I tested the tank water circulation from basement to tank and return, fixed the leaks, tested the heater and built a 10 gallon refugium out of an old tank. I also replaced all RO and other filters and have started making RO water in my 30 gallon storage tanks.

Yay! The project is finally underway!!

saltysailor2329 · 05/12/2012, 08:43 AM

Welcome back. Sucks to hear about the power problems but nice that you are getting a generator.

I just made the switch from MH to LEDs and I went with 3 AI Sols and love them. I also oriented them that same way. I went with a 36" hanging bracket and ran each bracket end to end to get 72" and then used HVAC hanging straps to hold it up in my canopy...works great.

Good luck on the rebuild.

seasmurf · 05/12/2012, 10:57 AM

Thanks for the reply. Are you running your lights on the AI controller or another. does your support bar on the lights block the cooling? Apparently not enough to matter. I was overly cautious and so am putting in two 36" long bars of 80/20 aluminum spanned by 4x 12" cross bars from which I'm hanging the light. That wau, fans are clear. The whole fram will be sustemded from steel cabling from the ceiling. I fihure 12-13: from the water line would give good, even illumination.

Any opinions on what distance to set the lights from the water?

IridescentLily · 05/12/2012, 12:37 PM

wow, sorry about your loss.
But you got a generator, Way to make a comeback.

I look forwad to seeing your tank project progress.

MattyO · 05/12/2012, 11:14 PM

I run radions but from reading most hang the AI's 12 inches from the water surface, just make sure u can lower if needed and raise to work in the tank. I would start by cooking the rock and rinsing the sand very well... Might be worth it to get new sand as you can have a lot of stuff stuck in it. Any plans for livestock? Depending on the area for ur fish room I would go with the largest sump and refugium that would fit. The MP20 is discontinued so on my 90 I use 2 MP40's so if u get one ur set. I like the RKE but make sure you get an extension set up to connect a laptop or desktop to. Lastly please water test the tank outside... Would hate to have a seal cracked and find out the hard way.

RNX CTD · 05/12/2012, 11:26 PM

That's my next big buy will be a generator. Welcome back

seasmurf · 05/13/2012, 09:14 AM

Thanks for teh suggestions. I already water tested the tank and it is (thankfully) fine. Great idea of giving the sand a good rinsing, probably lots of organic built up in there that will send he nitrite levels screaming when I start up.

One question….the MP20 should generate about 1,800 gph flow. Coupled to my 600 gph flow from my pump/return, that should give me 26-27 turnovers an hour. Would this be enough for my LPS, soft corals and an anemone?

05/12/2012, 06:13 AM	#1
seasmurf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Pepperell, MA Posts: 53	Resurrection of the 90 gallon reef tank. Many years ago, I had a nice 90 gallon reef tank that was wiped out during a mid-winter, 10 day power outage. The empty carcass has been sitting in our family room for years. FInally after another week long power outtage last year, I decided to purchase a whole house generator and the kids would like to resurrect the tank. I checked out all of the equipment and am making some major changes now that technology has evolved. My old Aquastarlight MH light (2 x 250 w, 13,000K) overheated on startup and burned out both a ballast and a transformer. I've decided to upgrade to a pair of Aqua Ilumination SOL white LED modules. Ordered them yesterday. Since my tank is only 18" wide, I've decided to orient them with their long axis parallel to the length of the tank which requires my building a hanging frame out of some 80/20 Al extrusion. Next, I checked out the old Neptune II controller. The thermocouple did not function and the manufacturer no longer makes that stye, nor could give me the info so I could find an aftermarket replacement. Also, it no longer communicated well with some of the X-10 modules I had so I've decided to replace it with a Reefkeeper Elite system, which can control the AI lights as well. I liked the reef keeper because it actually connected the power modules by hard wire. In my new installation, I'm setting up a fish room/refugium in the basement and the X-10s did not seem to work reliably with the control module upstairs. FInally, I have put my RO system, skimmer, refugium and 30 gallon sump in the basement. I repaired one of the old Iwaki 40RXLT pumps and connected t to the upsairs tank with a straight run of PEX tubing and the old girl provides plenty of flow (I actually have to back off using a gate valve). Finally, I had an old Vortech MP20, still in it's original package from 5 years ago which I planned to preplace my old Seaswirl closed loop system. (It unfortunately arrived the week the power died.) I have 135 lbs of now dead rock and sand in my garage that I would like to use again and seed with some LR. So this week it's waiting for the generator installation and electrician to run outlets into the fish room. I tested the tank water circulation from basement to tank and return, fixed the leaks, tested the heater and built a 10 gallon refugium out of an old tank. I also replaced all RO and other filters and have started making RO water in my 30 gallon storage tanks. Yay! The project is finally underway!! Last edited by seasmurf; 05/12/2012 at 06:17 AM. Reason: spelling

05/12/2012, 08:43 AM	#2
saltysailor2329 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Frederick, CO Posts: 547	Welcome back. Sucks to hear about the power problems but nice that you are getting a generator. I just made the switch from MH to LEDs and I went with 3 AI Sols and love them. I also oriented them that same way. I went with a 36" hanging bracket and ran each bracket end to end to get 72" and then used HVAC hanging straps to hold it up in my canopy...works great. Good luck on the rebuild. __________________ 200g DD has been wet since March 16, 2013!!!! Running 40g breeder w/20L sump is currently acting as the QT.

05/12/2012, 10:57 AM	#3
seasmurf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Pepperell, MA Posts: 53	HI Saltysailor! Thanks for the reply. Are you running your lights on the AI controller or another. does your support bar on the lights block the cooling? Apparently not enough to matter. I was overly cautious and so am putting in two 36" long bars of 80/20 aluminum spanned by 4x 12" cross bars from which I'm hanging the light. That wau, fans are clear. The whole fram will be sustemded from steel cabling from the ceiling. I fihure 12-13: from the water line would give good, even illumination. Any opinions on what distance to set the lights from the water?

05/12/2012, 12:37 PM	#4
IridescentLily Editor-Reefkeeping mag Join Date: May 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 3,858 Blog Entries: 5	wow, sorry about your loss. But you got a generator, Way to make a comeback. I look forwad to seeing your tank project progress. __________________ ~April Editor-Reefkeeping Magazine

05/12/2012, 11:14 PM	#5
MattyO Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 800	I run radions but from reading most hang the AI's 12 inches from the water surface, just make sure u can lower if needed and raise to work in the tank. I would start by cooking the rock and rinsing the sand very well... Might be worth it to get new sand as you can have a lot of stuff stuck in it. Any plans for livestock? Depending on the area for ur fish room I would go with the largest sump and refugium that would fit. The MP20 is discontinued so on my 90 I use 2 MP40's so if u get one ur set. I like the RKE but make sure you get an extension set up to connect a laptop or desktop to. Lastly please water test the tank outside... Would hate to have a seal cracked and find out the hard way. __________________ ~300G System, 180+ 90 plumbed to 75G Sump.. in the making

05/12/2012, 11:26 PM	#6
RNX CTD Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Kentucky Posts: 59	That's my next big buy will be a generator. Welcome back

05/13/2012, 09:14 AM	#7
seasmurf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Pepperell, MA Posts: 53	Thanks MattyO Thanks for teh suggestions. I already water tested the tank and it is (thankfully) fine. Great idea of giving the sand a good rinsing, probably lots of organic built up in there that will send he nitrite levels screaming when I start up. One question….the MP20 should generate about 1,800 gph flow. Coupled to my 600 gph flow from my pump/return, that should give me 26-27 turnovers an hour. Would this be enough for my LPS, soft corals and an anemone?