Plans for a 90g

[wharyat]

Hello,

This is my first thread, hopefully it works.

I'm kind of a noob at sw, I have successfully ran a 20H for a little over a year now, no fish mortalities. I've kept fw for about 10 years.

I have started to plan (and save money) for a new 90 gallon AGA, probably within the next few months. My 20g is starting to get full. I am going to build my own stand and hood and have started preliminary drawings in cad for them, will post those later.

For lighting I will probably go with 2 250 watt 10,000k MH and 2 actinic/2 50/50 65 watt pc's, and building a moon light with blue and white leds, 60 or so. Does the lighting sound fine? I am going to keep mostly sps a few lps and softies.

I want to drill it myself, will practice first, and build my own tank wide overflow. Having it drilled at the lfs would run around 20 a hole, so I'll just spend the $ on my own bit. Should 2 1" overflows be fine? I am estimating that they should flow about 900gph each.

Im putting together my own filter/sump/refugium; I may try macro algae, but need to study more first. Are bioballs still recommended?? I have seen a few filters with just lr or no media. I will run a skimmer. What would be the best skimmer for a 90?

I would like to try a closed loop system, but am not sure if that many holes can be drilled in a glass tank, about 6-8 in the middle and bottom of the back. Anyone with experience in this?

What brand of pumps do you recommend? I was thinking a cl pump @ around 600-1200gph and a return pump @ 1200 or more, Quiet One brand is what I was thinking about.

Any advice will be appreciated

[tims]

Wow, you have some major working to do...

I have started to plan (and save money) for a new 90 gallon AGA

if you are going to drill make sure that it is not tempered glass...
your lighting should be good to go i think.
the bioballs are out now days... if you are ready to do it then try a DYI skimmer.. or make sureyou get a very good skimmer.

with the CLS you can go over the top if you do not want to drill again. or make the holes smaller for it..
the two over flows should be great to move the water..

HTH

[wharyat]

Anyone know if the sides of an AGA 90 are tempered??

[tims]

this is from there web site. it says the bottom is usally tempered but does not say anything about the sides. you might want to give them a call.
http://www.all-glass.com/products/aquariums/index.html

[wharyat]

Good idea, tried their email but it is'nt working; I'll call them tomorrow since everybody is closed today

Here are some preliminary drawings for the stand...


I know its overkill but 2x4's are cheap, darker wood is 2x6 (bigger for looks, not support) everything else is 2x4.


Skinned with furnature grade plywood.

Will draw and post the hood later.

[tims]

that looks great! what software did you do that with?

[wharyat]

I used AutoCAD, drafting/designing software... only thing is its a lot easier to build the stand on the computer.

[tims]

but ya gota love the smell of saw dust!!

[wharyat]

I decided on Little Giant pumps, any one have these; how's the noise, temp transfer, quality? Im going with a 4-MDQX-SC - 1325gph main pump @4-5' and a 3-MDQ-SC - 1100gph for the cls, probably 5-6 returns; how's this sound??

4-MDQX-SC 1325gph main pump

4-MDQX-SC 1325gph main pump

4-MDQX-SC 1325gph main pump

4-MDQX-SC 1325gph main pump

4-MDQX-SC 1325gph main pump

[wharyat]

where did all that extra stuff come from??

[Cosine]

Nice looking stand
but what did you mean by all that extra stuff?

[wharyat]

Originally Posted by wharyat

Must have hit paste and not realized it, thats what i meant about extra stuff.

[Cosine]

oh

missed that somehow

[yardboy]

I'd suggest a redesign to get rid of that center post. One bigger door in the middle is better than two smaller doors on the sides, for access.

[wharyat]

I was thinking about that, with that design I wouldn't be able to take out the sump without moving the main tank. I'll still make the doors look the same I just like the 2 door look.