A question about reef tank conversion.

mccloud

AC Members
Jan 14, 2006
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I have a 90 gallon regualar swim tank that I'm thinking about making into a reef tank. I would like to know what I need to do (and most likley buy)in order to start out successfully in having a reef tank. This tank has been established for about a year know and I can no longer resist the temptation of corals. I currently have two aquaclear 110 hob fiters. A skilter 250 and two 15w uv sterilizers. One 250L ph power head. The tank is 48xL 28xH 18xW. One 48 in 18w atintic blue light strip,and one sun reef 18w strip. I have a mere 6lbs of live rock too somehow. All water is catilina in the tank is catalina shipped.
Fish- hermit crab
- picasso trigger
- yellow tang
-sailfin tang
- bicolor bleeny
- arc eyed hawkfish
- mandarian goby

I do have a problem with this tank, for it does not have any hoses I can connect through the bottom of the tank. So all the equipment I have been using so far has been HOB or submersive. :pc: Is there anyway around this? I love this tank and I would enjoy it even more to have some corals in it. What changes would u make to convert and what skimmers or lighting do you think I should get?
 
Firstly, lots more LR needs to be put into the tank, about 1/3 of the tank should be LR, next is you will need a turnover rate at atleast 30 x per hour, i would suggest a better skimmer something that handles atleast double you tank volume a (deltec MCE600 are the best hang ons), T5 or MH lighting is a must i would go with 2 150 watts DE globes, picasso trigger will have to be sold as it isn't reef safe, and most likely the hermit aswell.
 
Depends on the definition. Hermits tend to kill snails while 'house hunting', and can irritate some corals with their activity. Larger hermits are very destructive, and can knock corals over just crawling around, bad for corals.

The hawk might have to go as well--safe with corals, but often not safe with inverts, like shrimp.
 
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