613ReefGuy
Reefing newb
Hi everyone, My girlfriend and I have decided that we both really enjoy the look of a salt water tank. I am more about the coral and rock, while she enjoys the fish (I am not that boring, I do enjoy the fish also, I just really like the look of a tank filled with everything).
So it was boxing day when we made the decision that we were going to attempt a 120 gallon tank. We dropped this heavily after realizing the costs involved with getting started, and I didnt want to risk the money without being confident we could do it.
We started with some live rock in a 15 gallon tank. We didnt have a glass top, and the salt levels were through the roof......we killed all but one hermit crab, and none of our turbo snails lived :( We began to get discouraged as we have both been reading all kinds of different information and we cant seem to get a set answer from our LFS. This past weekend I asked her if she wanted to keep moving forward, and if so we should step it up to her 65 gallon tank that she had, and we would learn how to use the 15 gallon as a sump.
The 65 is now set up on a metal stand, and we have added some additional live rock (approx.25 lbs now).
I am really torn right now after doing some reading tonight. Should I just go all out and go buy the 120 Gallon before I get to dedicated to this 65 Gallon (Oh by the way, she says its 65, but I swear I only measured 50 when adding the water.) From what I read the 65 (50?) would be a sufficient tank for a sump, and I have now seen some much cheaper DYI stands that I could easily turn into something nice as I come from hardwood flooring sanding.
What are your guys thoughts? Should I not get carried away and keep things simple, or just go all out for the 120 Gallon?
Before I make that final decision, has anyone here had to break down their tank to move. How did that go? I picture us getting a 120 tank finally set up and building it up over a year and a half to only turn around and move somewhere else. Can this be a relatively painless procedure, or do I risk killing everything?
If at all possible I would like to use this thread for all of my problems and questions. My first question would be.....What the heck is a Fuge?
I can use the old 15 gallon and turn that into a sump should you all advise that i stick with the 65(50?). I plan on buying a Coralife super skimmer, but the rest of the sump makes no sense to me at all. I do know from readings that I dont want to mess around with bio balls, but I would like to include a U.V sterilizer. I was thinking of Coralife turbo-twist 9w. Could someone please post a link that you may know of that will help me come up with a proper design, while explaining what individual compartments do? If I use the tank that is full right now I unfortunately cannot do a nice plumbing set up that I saw someone named lilreefgirl do. I could do this on the 120 tank though, but in the meantime I guess I need to focus on a HOB or something like that?
Would really appreciate all of your knowledge guys and gals. I am ready to build the sump any day, so that we can confidently continue add some more live rock, and eventually be able to send in the cleaning crew.
Thank you very much everyone
So it was boxing day when we made the decision that we were going to attempt a 120 gallon tank. We dropped this heavily after realizing the costs involved with getting started, and I didnt want to risk the money without being confident we could do it.
We started with some live rock in a 15 gallon tank. We didnt have a glass top, and the salt levels were through the roof......we killed all but one hermit crab, and none of our turbo snails lived :( We began to get discouraged as we have both been reading all kinds of different information and we cant seem to get a set answer from our LFS. This past weekend I asked her if she wanted to keep moving forward, and if so we should step it up to her 65 gallon tank that she had, and we would learn how to use the 15 gallon as a sump.
The 65 is now set up on a metal stand, and we have added some additional live rock (approx.25 lbs now).
I am really torn right now after doing some reading tonight. Should I just go all out and go buy the 120 Gallon before I get to dedicated to this 65 Gallon (Oh by the way, she says its 65, but I swear I only measured 50 when adding the water.) From what I read the 65 (50?) would be a sufficient tank for a sump, and I have now seen some much cheaper DYI stands that I could easily turn into something nice as I come from hardwood flooring sanding.
What are your guys thoughts? Should I not get carried away and keep things simple, or just go all out for the 120 Gallon?
Before I make that final decision, has anyone here had to break down their tank to move. How did that go? I picture us getting a 120 tank finally set up and building it up over a year and a half to only turn around and move somewhere else. Can this be a relatively painless procedure, or do I risk killing everything?
If at all possible I would like to use this thread for all of my problems and questions. My first question would be.....What the heck is a Fuge?
I can use the old 15 gallon and turn that into a sump should you all advise that i stick with the 65(50?). I plan on buying a Coralife super skimmer, but the rest of the sump makes no sense to me at all. I do know from readings that I dont want to mess around with bio balls, but I would like to include a U.V sterilizer. I was thinking of Coralife turbo-twist 9w. Could someone please post a link that you may know of that will help me come up with a proper design, while explaining what individual compartments do? If I use the tank that is full right now I unfortunately cannot do a nice plumbing set up that I saw someone named lilreefgirl do. I could do this on the 120 tank though, but in the meantime I guess I need to focus on a HOB or something like that?
Would really appreciate all of your knowledge guys and gals. I am ready to build the sump any day, so that we can confidently continue add some more live rock, and eventually be able to send in the cleaning crew.
Thank you very much everyone