Newbie new to sw building tank

psychadelicdrea

psychadelicdrea

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Oct 6, 2004
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Ok i'm going to be starting a saltwater tank, but im still in the planning stages.
i currently have two tanks a 55 gallon and a 125 gallon which is currently f/w i was toying with the idea of buying a 75 gallon reef ready and eventually making it into a reef....but then some were suggesting that i use my 125 for s/w ...i was gonna use my 55 but i feel its to narrow and the 125 give more room for larger/more fish but i've been reading the forums and i hear alot of differnt things...but currently im filtering my 125 with 2 emp 400s and to powerheads.....a friend that works at a lfs said i could just add a canister and a skimmer and it should work fine for filtration....i was thinking about a overflow but he disfavors them for flooding reasons and cost.....and am i going to have to purchase a ro/di unit .....i cant use tapwater? so can anyone give me some advice on which route to go....suggestions on filtration and such general info anything to help in my new adventure with s/w....i like my freshwater but i find s/w is more active and eye pleasing
 
i would read a couple of books first "Conscientious Marine Aquarist" which i found to be vary helpful,would be a good start(although some of the info maybe outdated already).As for the tank the bigger the better but the more money it takes.as for the overflow there's more advanges than disadvanges IMO.also check this site out it has a ton of info

http://www.wetwebmedia.com

as for the ro/di you might want to get that up running as it will take a while for it to produce 125 gallons of water mine is rated at 50g day but only makes about 15-20 gallons a day(temp,psi,and how impure the water going in all affect the output)plus it probally woundn't hurt your FW if your tap water is that bad.it maybe worth looking into.hope this helps
 
Well i've never had a problem useing tap water...no fish deaths and the fish i had i had them for over 2 years.....my 55 gallon i broke it down after two years running becuse i moved and i wanted to go a differnt direction with it so i just traded the fish in at the lfs for credit.....i was going to use my 55 for a saltwater it would be cheaper to set up i assume .....but i was asking if i had to get a ro/di becuse i live in a apt and its not feasable to hook it up to the tank buy plumbing it to the tank.....and im moving to a second level apt so im concerned about weight issues......i duno i might try to keep a ground level so but anyways.....i was just curious cause i was told the wet/dry system is expensive and the return pump is costly to so .....and the risk of water possible overflowing on the floor is a greater concern for me as im in rental property.......so thats why i'm asking and looking around for the best setup
 
moving to an apartment with that kind of weight i would double check with the landlord and if they ok it then i would go on the safe side and get a high risk insurance, some apt buildings require it for 55 gallons and over.

the Ro/di unit will work but you will need to add water treatment, oh what is it called, something that replinishish the water minerals and i wouldn't recomend using it for fw, my opinion it is just to expensive.

i don't know much about sumps but have seen excellent tanks just on canister filters and power heads.
 
oh yea you'll need a skimmer but not right away. make sure you do a lot A LOT of research prior to even purchasing.

Research and Plan then research and plan again and again and again and then think some more and then maybe save some money and then rethink and then you can buy a fish or what so. have fun.
 
oh yes i am reading and planing it will prolly be a month or 2 before i even start.....the 125 im planing on useing is currenly freshwater.....and at my old residence so i gotta set up my 55 gallon and xfer the fish in my 125 to the 55...i never really got going on stockin the 125 with larger fish with exception to a oscar but i traded him in and someone bought him all is left is a green terror ..so i can set him up nice in a 55 gallon maybe some more tankbuddies but thats all blah.........i need to figure out the filtration on this tank as cause i dotn really wanna drill holes in the tank for stuff.....maybe some retro fit kits to expand my lighting to higher watt and dual for atinic lighting..and toyin with the idea of painting the back of the tank black or so ..ive read alot about people doing that....
any suggestions are welcome and encouraged
 
oh yes i am reading and planing it will prolly be a month or 2 before i even start.....the 125 im planing on useing is currenly freshwater.....and at my old residence so i gotta set up my 55 gallon and xfer the fish in my 125 to the 55...i never really got going on stockin the 125 with larger fish with exception to a oscar but i traded him in and someone bought him all is left is a green terror ..so i can set him up nice in a 55 gallon maybe some more tankbuddies but thats all blah.........i need to figure out the filtration on this tank as cause i dotn really wanna drill holes in the tank for stuff.....maybe some retro fit kits to expand my lighting to higher watt and dual for atinic lighting..and toyin with the idea of painting the back of the tank black or so ..ive read alot about people doing that....
any suggestions are welcome and encouraged
 
for filtration on the salt water 125 g right i would use two canister filters and for lighting you really need to find out what type of livestock (not fish) you'll be looking into to choose the best lighting possible, and if i remember correctly you wanted a reef tank right? in this case you are already looking for a medium to high light intensity.
Im not sure what kind of watts per gallon a marine tank needs.
 
Well yes eventually i thought about reef but as i read up about it i might not....the fowler type or whatever sounds pretty good.....i dont really have to have the coral and such but live rock and inverts star fish stuff like that...perhaps to canister filters power heads a skimmer and such..i also have a uv sterlizer i can hook up to it.........i was also poking round dr fosters and smiths site and saw this hang on the said refigums they look pretty neat and serve as a nice place to aclamate fish in
 
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