Stan & Debbie's Step-By-Step 92 Gallon Reef Tank Set Up Process

Step 8: Install the Lights, and Start a Tank Log

Step 8 - Install the Lights, and Start a Tank Log

Photo © Stan & Debbie Hauter

With our new 92 gallon aquarium all set up and running, we installed the lights by putting the fixtures into place, plugged them into the power center timing device and turned them on.

• Lighting Selection Tip: To achieve the desired 3.5 to 4.0 watts per gallon to keep the many types of soft corals and some select stony species planned for, when selecting the equipment for this system we determined we needed two high output fixtures. Working with the odd shape of our tank, we calculated that using a 24" Coralife Lunar Aqualight Strip placed behind a 36" unit on top of the aquarium would give us a total of 322 watts. This equated into 3.58 watts per gallon (322 ÷ 90 gallons), which met our lighting requirements.

Next we began a tank log on the computer, making notes on everything that has been done to as well as transpired in our aquarium from this point on.

• Introduction & System's Equipment List
• Step 1: Put the Aquarium Stand Into Place
• Step 2: Place the Sump in the Aquarium Cabinet
• Step 3: Put the Tank on the Stand, and Apply a Background
• Step 4: Connect the Sump
• Step 5: Add Water and Test the System
• Step 6: Add the Salt and Substrate
• Step 7: Add the Starter Rocks and Fishes
• Step 8: Install the Lights, and Start a Tank Log
• Step 9: Let the Aquarium Cycle, and Turn It Into a Dream Reef