First time saltwater

[Gill Roy]

I have had freshwater tanks all my life and was always intimidated by saltwater and never tried it.
Now I am ready to take the plunge and give it a go.

I have a 120 gal tank I found on Craigslist, however it is not drilled. Came with 2 Emperor 400's but I would like to have a sump/refugium system. So I need some tips or advice because I don't know if the bottom is tempered glass or not.
Maybe someone knows how to tell?

I would like to make this tank a FOWLR setup at first then after a year or so start to add some inverts and such.
I also need some direction on where to find the bulkheads and all. How to build a sump/refugium and what size is needed for this tank. Also what kind of pumps and plumbing.
Water params and test kits...
Lighting.....
Water circulation issues....
Compatibility amongst the fishes
Stocking ideas......
ect; ect....

I really need to know all there is to know so I can make this a successful venture.

Thanks,

 

[Almondsaz]

Starting with FOLR is a great idea, but you need to be careful that when you make your investment is has room for growth. Such as buying a little bigger skimmer, what to do for flow - powerheads, closed loop, etc. Lighting isn't too important for FOLR. Once you transition to reef then it becomes a key component. Simply put: softies will thrive under PCs but clams, anems, sps all need MH and then is it 150w-250w? To get you started with your research here is a good, reliable intro to the different elements. Then once you have that info down, we can all help to clarify some of the points and offer detailed advice. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/index.htm

For sump info from how it works to design you can't beat Melev's reef: http://www.melevsreef.com/ just click on the site map (left button) and you will get a lot of info.

Test kits: i prefer API for the basics and then add Salifert for Calcium, Mag, Alk and Phosphates.

Make sure you get a refractometer to measure the salt - can find them cheap and reliable on ebay.

Hope this helps, also. For fish selection that is another tricky one. If you are going to go reef at some point then the fish you start with should have that in mind. There are a lot of beautiful wrasses, but not all are reef safe.

Since you are going to drill your tank once you determine if it is tempered or not. You might want to research a closed loop system. I have a 125 and I would consider that if I was starting again. What are the dimensions of your tank. Makes a little difference in suggestions if it is long and narrow or a bit more on the square side.

 

[Gill Roy]

Thank you for the quick reply.

The tank is 48"x24"x24"
Has a twin standard tube light on it now and plan on upgrading when the time comes to start introducing reef specimens.
I am not in a big rush to stock the tank full and would rather take my time and do this right.
I just want to start simple and have some of the more common and popular fishes that are colorful and lively. Don't care for fish that like to hide all the time.

 

[Almondsaz]

Have you decided if you want a predator tank or a trigger tank or just a mixed? One thing to pay attention to is that some of the fish you might decide on should be added last - it is a dominance thing. Reduces the likelihood of a "fight" if they are added last so they aren't the big fish in the tank.

With the dims on your tank I would certainly consider the closed loop since you have to add bulkheads, reduces the need for powerheads if designed to generate the right flow.

At the top of this forum, there are several stickys on beginner fish and fish to avoid, certainly worth the read.

BTW: beautiful 135 - if that is an indication your FOLR is going to be killer.