Ive kept freshwater aquariums off and on since I was a kid...44 years, and have really been interested in starting a saltwater setup for the last few years now. Been reading books, countless saltwater magazines and checking out the online forums during that time and am about ready to take the plunge....so to speak..lol.
The plan is for as large a tank as I can afford...at least 125 gal though probably larger, dsb, lr, ro/di unit...etc. Will set it up with the sandbed and do a fishless cycle, add cured live rock and see if there is another smaller cycle....then start adding a few fish. For lights, I plan to use whatever setup comes with the tank until it is established, then build my own hood and light setup (vho) when I decide to add corals... after the setup is ready for them.
Now for the questions. Ive used regular household ammonia to cycle freshwater tanks so am assuming this is acceptable for saltwater as well? Or are raw shrimp the way to go?
Any thoughts on a "reef ready" tank with drilled holes and built in overflows vs. siphon fed overflows to get water to a sump? I am wondering about losing the siphon and all the water from a sump being pumped into the main tank and thus....a flood. Am considering one of the Aqua C in sump skimmers but perhaps there are some hang on models out there for a large tank and forego the sump altogether? I just want to make sure I do this right the first time, to avoid spending alot of money only to find out I should have gotten something else or done it differently. Ill save my lighting question for later....lol.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice.
The plan is for as large a tank as I can afford...at least 125 gal though probably larger, dsb, lr, ro/di unit...etc. Will set it up with the sandbed and do a fishless cycle, add cured live rock and see if there is another smaller cycle....then start adding a few fish. For lights, I plan to use whatever setup comes with the tank until it is established, then build my own hood and light setup (vho) when I decide to add corals... after the setup is ready for them.
Now for the questions. Ive used regular household ammonia to cycle freshwater tanks so am assuming this is acceptable for saltwater as well? Or are raw shrimp the way to go?
Any thoughts on a "reef ready" tank with drilled holes and built in overflows vs. siphon fed overflows to get water to a sump? I am wondering about losing the siphon and all the water from a sump being pumped into the main tank and thus....a flood. Am considering one of the Aqua C in sump skimmers but perhaps there are some hang on models out there for a large tank and forego the sump altogether? I just want to make sure I do this right the first time, to avoid spending alot of money only to find out I should have gotten something else or done it differently. Ill save my lighting question for later....lol.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice.
