setting up my first salt-water tank... Help!!!

[zipperfish45]

Setting up my first salt-water 90g need some help.
Its a 90 gallon surfline and I'm wanting to do a reef setup so any
advice would be appreciated.

 

[highrpm8]

here are the must have for a reef, if that is what you want to do.

good lighting - don't go cheap - at least VHO or PC, maybe halides
live rock - I would go with walt smith fiji
sand - lots of it

what kind of filtration are you looking at? is your tank predrilled?

 

[Cuba_Libra]

This sounds kinda lame when i say it, but theres about 100 plus threads similair to this, just use the search feature. I'd also recommend you take a peek at www.reefcentral.com

 

[guppy]

Hiya zipperfish, welcome to MFK.
I am moving this to the saltwater forum where you are more likely to get responses from people who have just done this. While you are there check out some of the past threads about new salt tanks and cycling. I strongly advise a basic beginers guide to saltwater like the DUMMIES GUIDE TO SALT WATER AQUARIUMS, It will help you prevent some common mistakes.

 

[zipperfish45]

i think i have read about 10 or twelve books on the subject like fish compatability and whatnot... i recently purchased a 48" inch icecap 4 bulb setup but the biggest question do
i need metal halide and if i do what wattage should i use and what is the best salt mix
available. Just want to do it right out of the gate. i am wanting to grow coral so lighting is a must.

 

[highrpm8]

depends on what kinds of corals you want, any sps/lps/clams, you are going to need halides. I would think 2 175watt or 2 250watt would be plenty for your tank. probably run 2 of your VHO's as actinic, and the other 2 as super whites.

I use instant ocean salt, but red sea and the others are fine too. just go with what you can get easily.

also need to look at how you are going to add calcium to the tank for the corals, either through kalkwasser drip or a calcium reactor.

 

[ogre929]

your lighting is sufficient for all soft corals and large polyped stony corals. If you can fit them metal halides are great. I ran one 400 watt 20k over my 50 gal (36 long x 24 wide x 14 tall) and it was awesome. but 660 watts for your tank will be good. sps aren't nearly as easy to keep as soft corals and lps. Check out www.reefcentral.com like cuba_libra said. They've got TONS and TONS of information. also check out reefs.org. Another really good site for information.