The big als boxing day (decmber 26) sale is comeing extremely quick and i've decided to go with a 125 gallon setup I would like to do a coral setup with sump and fuge, and besides the tank (72"x18"x22") I need help picking out the RIGHT equipment so If I could get some sujestions that would be great. Keep in mind this is my first saltwater tank and i'm just looking to get some equipment cheep now so i will have all i need when i want to set up a couple of months from now... I need some help please Also If anyone has any sujestions for species to put in the tank for later that would be great
125 gallon saltwater setups HELP
- Thread starter torontoleafs_ro
- Start date
Lighting I would go with T-5's with individual reflectors or MH's, at least 2 Koralia 4's, a PS (protien skimmer) like a ASM, Euro Reef or Octopus, a refugium with a return pump rated at about 500-700 GPH at the proper head heigth and about 150-200 lbs of dry argonite sand and you could get about 75 lbs of dry base rock.
My biggest peice of advice is to honestly tell yourself what you are going to want in the future..
This is very important when it comes to lighting and such.. Alot of people like T5's (I use them myself) But alot of people will argue that if you want SPS corals that MH is the only way to fly.. And Honestly, if you're looking at T5's for a 125 gallon, it's not that huge a jump between the two types.
A TON of information is here, and it's alot easier to find what you need to know, if you know exactly you want.
Archer is right with the Koralia's. I love um, I have 2 in my tank and would never go back to a regular powerhead for water flow.. Not sure about a good Skimmer for that size of a tank.
Also. Quarrentine tank! Get this.. Don't think. just get it, and use it! Don't waste all your time, money, and sanity only to have fish start dying on you.. It breaks the heart
Oh yea, one more thing..
Eventually you will tell yourself "Oh I know I should get/do this, but I don't want to spend the money, or wait the time.. " Don't lisen to that voice hehe. You'll regret it
Good luck!
This is very important when it comes to lighting and such.. Alot of people like T5's (I use them myself) But alot of people will argue that if you want SPS corals that MH is the only way to fly.. And Honestly, if you're looking at T5's for a 125 gallon, it's not that huge a jump between the two types.
A TON of information is here, and it's alot easier to find what you need to know, if you know exactly you want.
Archer is right with the Koralia's. I love um, I have 2 in my tank and would never go back to a regular powerhead for water flow.. Not sure about a good Skimmer for that size of a tank.
Also. Quarrentine tank! Get this.. Don't think. just get it, and use it! Don't waste all your time, money, and sanity only to have fish start dying on you.. It breaks the heart
Oh yea, one more thing..
Eventually you will tell yourself "Oh I know I should get/do this, but I don't want to spend the money, or wait the time.. " Don't lisen to that voice hehe. You'll regret it
Good luck!
this is not a rush project by any means the only rush is i only have one day to get stuff on sale so i need to know at least some of the equipment i need... also do u think a 10 gallon quarantine tank is to small.... and what does anyone think would be a good size sump/refugium for the tank... also if anyone has some specific models for skimmers lighting or any other equipment maybe you could look on the web site and post the links www.bigalsonline.ca thanks for the sujestions keep them coming
The size of the QT depends on what you'll buy. In a 125g you may potentially buy fish that would be of a size at purchase that are too large for a 10g.
Sincerely, the recommendations you get are only going to be as good as the info you give us on what you want to put in the tank and what kind of budget you might have to work with.
Sincerely, the recommendations you get are only going to be as good as the info you give us on what you want to put in the tank and what kind of budget you might have to work with.
I probably have around 1000 to spend at the sale so the 125 galoon tank plus 1000$ to spend maybe more depending on what deals i see... but i would like to have a mixed coral maybe even anemone plus clams and maybe a sea cucumber would be nice... i would probably keep a pair of clowns , and maybe a yellow and blue regal tang, but nothing is for certain they are just ideas
For that I'd want a 55g or so for a fish qt...could also be used for LR qt. I'd want a frag tank as well. And if you're thinking high light species like clams and anemones I'd go with either MHs or T5s with individual reflectors.
Do you plan to use a canopy because if so you can do retro's or a DIY light setup. I didnt really see any lighting or skimmers on Big Als that I would recomend. I checked on another site and for about $840 before shipping you could get a complete DIY 12 bulb T-5 setup and a decent skimmer for your tank.
could you send me a link for the light setup... I went to Big Als early just to check out products and i'm going to get 125gallon tank with holes for overflow also the overflow kit for it... also a custom sump/fuge 36x15"... they recommended i get 2 koralia rated for 1200GPH... also they recommended the coralife turbo sea 1100P for a pump.... and also the seaclone super skimmer 125 or 220gallon version.... just let me know what people think
I think you should avoid the Sea Clone skimmer at all cost here is the link to the lighting
each item, 12 of these https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=335&osCsid=940a7fc31950eda465901854cf9785d3
3 of these https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=224&osCsid=940a7fc31950eda465901854cf9785d3
12 of these plus the mounting brackets https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=117&osCsid=940a7fc31950eda465901854cf9785d3
8 0f these https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=326&osCsid=940a7fc31950eda465901854cf9785d3
and 4 of these https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=594&osCsid=940a7fc31950eda465901854cf9785d3
With this setup you should be able to keep anything you would want and it should give a nice light blue cast to the tank, you could always drop a couple of the 11k's and get a couple of the GE Starcoat 6.5k's and the that would soften the blue and give a little extra punch on the par side.
each item, 12 of these https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=335&osCsid=940a7fc31950eda465901854cf9785d3
3 of these https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=224&osCsid=940a7fc31950eda465901854cf9785d3
12 of these plus the mounting brackets https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=117&osCsid=940a7fc31950eda465901854cf9785d3
8 0f these https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=326&osCsid=940a7fc31950eda465901854cf9785d3
and 4 of these https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop...d=594&osCsid=940a7fc31950eda465901854cf9785d3
With this setup you should be able to keep anything you would want and it should give a nice light blue cast to the tank, you could always drop a couple of the 11k's and get a couple of the GE Starcoat 6.5k's and the that would soften the blue and give a little extra punch on the par side.
