Starting planning to get into reef keeping.

M

Megatron

Dog trainer
Nov 22, 2004
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Toronto canada
Im putting a bar into my basement in the next couple months and want to put a crazy tank into it. Having been into freshwater for quite somtime I've become extremly interested in marine aquariums and reefkeeping recently so I want to do a reef tank in my bar. As it will be my first marine/reef tank i figure go big and do it right that being said im thinking 125 or 180 gallon is probable a good place to start. But as I said I still have lots to learn about the hobby.... so I was wonder if you there is any recommended reading, links etc... I could check out to help further my knowledge.

Also as im still learning about species of fish, corals, and inverts I would like to get some input on what I should stock/ what has worked for you in the past.

Also input on what sort of system you people think I should investigate would be much apreciated also. With all of this im willing to spend the money were I need to but don't want to blow it as I will be on somewhat of a budget (considering I figure even though I get it wholesale live rock will put me back about a grand for 300 lbs or so!)

Thanx in advance!

Julian
 
Do you want a reef tank with corals... or just a fish only tank with live rock (FOWLR)?

The filters deff. depend on those. I would have a custom tank made, then have overflows that drain into a few 100gallon rubbermaid sumps, this will get all the equipment away from your nice bar area. I'd get a large skimmer no matter what with that size tank. You don't want to mess with 2-3canister filters or what have you.

I guess you'd have to throw the budget idea away, I'm setting up my 65gallon tank and its already been 1,300+ for equipment and rocks. I still need to spend at least 700 then i can start to spend money on corals, ugh.

So let us know what you WANT to keep now, and what you would LIKE to eventually do with the tank.
 
You don't want to mess with 2-3canister filters or what have you. .[/QUOTE said:
i think having canister filters might be best. this way you dont have to worry about the sump over flowing and flooding your nice bar. plus it will lower the price of the tank. but as you may have experinced with your freshwater tank there is always going to be a mess in the beginning. and as the tank gets bigger so does the mess. but if you can get the pluming into a diffrent room get a sumpit adds tank capcity which is always good. go for the reef tank you'll love it.
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I definatly want to have tons of corals but also inverts and invert friendly fish.... i want it to be crazy.... the nicest fish with the nicest corals, inverts etc etc...... i Figure if your going to do somthing do it right.

I also may be able to get some custom glass work cheap.... im sort of thinking of building the whole thing myself as the tank alone is going to cost me $ 900 canadian and im thinking a friend of mine can get me glass for cheaper. Basically im not setting it up until aftre christmas so im just planning.
 
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If your going all out... then no canister filter. Why mess with taking them apart to clean them and change the small amout of filter resin they can hold? You can just get a 100gallon rubbermaid tub for around $120 and put some equipmet in there. For a reef tank that big your going to need an overflow to pull things into the sump and I just dont think any combination of canister filters will suffice. Expecially if you want to keep the top agitated.

If you want to go all out... I'd sugest reading this forum.... you won't be let down. Again, no budget :)

Large Reef Tanks 180+ gallons
 
yeah no real budget... just want to save money where I can through DIY and such. I'm currently reading reef secrets by Alf Jacob Nilsen and Svein A. Fossa and according to them they say the best filtration is a good skimmer and tons of live rock along with 5-10% per year waterchanges.... what do you people think about that idea and the book in genaral?
 
i love that book... picture wise... but not so much for some other things. i do a 5% water change every week or 2. it has alot of good information though.
 
If you want to know of "no budget" and "crazy" is, check out the following couple of guys to put things into perspective:

http://www.melevsreef.com/
http://www.oregonreef.com/

Then check out reefcentral.com where most of the reef psychos congregate. Your "big" 180g tank is barely considered a large tank in those circles.

I don't mean to be condescending or patronizing (heck, I've just got a 46 gallon LPS/softies tank), but you must realize the complexities and expense (oh god, the expense) of what you intend to get into.

Brand names that you may be familar with from FW (such as the Coralife lights you ask about) are often scoffed at by reef snobs. Get to learn names such as "Iwasaki", "Euroreef", "Giesemann" and "Starphire" as "the best" out there.

That being said, if you want high light corals such as acropora, the 150W HQI MH lights from the Coralife lights aren't going to cut it. Look at getting a 250W MH setup (at least) supplemented by either VHO or T5. Some people go all the way up to 400w. And a sump/refugium is pretty much standard for a tank of the size you want.
 
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