Starting a 90 Gallon with Live Rock

pescao

Hi, I want to star a 90 gallon tank with fish and live rock for now... my questions is: what are the better filters for a non-drill tank?

Lupin

Hi and welcome aboard, Pescao.

I cannot answer your filter for awhile although someone else will come here soon to help you out on that.

Before you buy fish, you'll need to do fishless cycling on your tank. The manual is already in the sticky thread. Instead of the usual filter media, live rocks will do the cycling for you.

Good luck on the salties.
Don't hesitate to ask more questions.:D

usmc121581

It really all depends on what you like. Canister or hang on the back? I would prefer a hang on the back as they tend to introduce oxygen into the water as it is being filtered.

pescao

ok, lets say i buy the hang on the back... how many gallons should it handle? which one do you recommend? can i use both at the same time?
thank you again for the info!!!

usmc121581

On my 120gal reef system. I have an emporior 400 which filter 350 gal/hr an hour. Then I have a magnum 350 which filters 350 gal/Hr. For a 90 gal. I would recommend you install a sump tank to. It will help on the filtration to.

pescao

ok. so emperor 400...
what is a sump tank?
do you have pics of your tank?

Lupin

A sump is a separate container connected to the main tank where filtration takes place.
You basically must have another tank which should be smaller in size. 10 gallons is preferable.

pescao

oh... ok...
so it will be like a tank below the main tank, and that tank will have any kind of filtration?
mi plan is to have a tank in the middle of 2 rooms, so that i can see the fish from both sides, that left me with only the 18" on one of the sides for the filtration system, well, i will also use the space below of the tank. I see that a emperior is about 12", so i have only 6" to play with for the rest of the equipment...
what do you think? how can i set this thing up with the better filtration system? what about a protein skimmer? i read that it will be needed too...
thanks a lot!!!

Lupin

Hi Pescao,

The small tank will serve as sump which is actually a filter so your small tank is considered a filter.:D
Yes, you'll need protein skimmer too to purify the water off its harmful substances like heavy metals.
Marine tanks will require an almost "overfiltration" system as the inhabitants won't tolerate much of the harmful substances as other freshwater inhabitants do.

Good luck, Pescao.:D I can see your tank will fluorish quite well.
Looking forward to your marine pics soon.

usmc121581

Not to under mind blue, but your sump tank should be at least 20 gallons on a 90 gallon tank. If for any reason the pump was to stop working in the sump tank this 20 gallon sump will allow the water that will back flow from the main tank to have room to fill the sump without flowing. Yes I do have pics. if you look in the saltwater picture forum it is labeled usmc121581's 120 reef setup.