[BlueCornerPalau]

new /used 90 gal tall tank, 30 gal sump mixed fish and Live Rock (some more reef inverts later)

1. How do I run this sump system quietly without flooding my house? LOL
The water running down the overflow thingy is loud. Then when it drops into the sump tank its loud.
I tried filling up sump tank to the tip of the down pipe then that was nice and quiet? Then I closed the valve to the sump a bit until the overflow column filled up. Then everything was nice and quiet but still flowing. I went out for a smoke, feeling good, when 2 min later I heard splashing in the house and water was flowing over top of aquarium over the stand and onto the floor!!! LOL Need to find some instructions or something.

2. Whats best salt, Instant Ocean, Red Sea or other?
These two seem to always be available at LFS so I might stick with one of them so its available for water changes. Can I stich some kind of spone thing into the overflow column thing to quite the water down?

3. Whats best subtrate?
Can I get med size grain substrate and add/mix in one bag of live sand to seed it?
Or dont seed it with anything? Can I mix med and fine sands. I dont think I want the real fine powdery stuff, may get too cludy too easily. Too large a grain and it might trap too much ditritous stuff.

4. T5's or PC's?
If I get 4 HO T5's can I get 2 blue actinic and 2 white ones?
Are they as good as PC's?

[Poppinthekap]

I can only accurately answer #2 and 4.

2. Tropic Marin is the best sea salt. Quickly dissolves. Great for fish and coral.

4. Any hyalide lights are great for any coral you can find.

[emccullough1]

Rather then raise the water level add a coupling and piece of pipe to get it under the water level. If you have a in tank overflow you my want to add a Durso stand pipe. Here a link to make one . if you want to parches one look at the links at the top of the page.

Build your own Durso Standpipe ™

[Jeremy0322]

I am pretty sure with the substrate that you dont want to use crushed coral. It can hold bad stuff from the tank that will cause problems later down the road. That is just my opinion/understand though. I would more than likely go with sand but the grain size depends on what you want in the tank i think.

[BlueCornerPalau]

Good info Thanks.

I can extend the pipe a few inches.

Killer standpipe idea, I think I'll have to try that.

I'm still investigating sand types, mostly the grain size.
I think the Aragonite is just crushed coral right?

[Jeremy0322]

Im pretty sure that is what crushed coral is, yeah.