Wanna go saltwater, what do i need??

tap

tap

makin it rain since 93'
Feb 22, 2009
61
0
0
Topcity, Kansas
Hey i currently run freshwater tanks but im planning a HUGE project were im gonna be building a 125 gallon tank into a headboard for my bed and i really think it would look awesome as a saltwater tank and i was talkin to my lfs clerk and he was really gettin me hyped up on saltwater tanks telling me how much better they were than freshwater.........i just wanta kno what the requirments are for a tank of this size, like protein skimmers? uv sterilizers? lighting? filtration? what else?? I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SALTWATER TANKS

THANKS anything will help
 
i know nothing about salt water, but from what i have learned in freshwater it is cheaper to learn new things with a smaller tank lol. that way if it crashes and you start over, you didn't just lose your life savings haha.
 
lol true true but i just started lookin at things over saltwater tonight and the few articles ive dug up have said the opposite saying it will be easier to run a larger tank first because the larger water has less chemical changes or something?? i cant think exaclty how to put it....basically just like how larger freshwater are easier to maintain
 
That is correct. If you have a larger tank, it is easier to keep your water parameters in check as little changes won't have as dramatic of an effect. I have a 28 gallon reef tank and if you don't keep up on it, things will turn very quickly.

You will definitely want to have a protein skimmer if it is 125 gallon tank. Do you have any idea of what you would like to keep in it? Fish only? Coral? With saltwater it really pays to have a plan of what you want to stock in the tank and then plan everything around that.
 
Go slow stocking the tank and your patience will pay off in a big way. One successful mentor of mine would allow six weeks before adding each new species. It gave the bacteria time to grow and handle the larger bacterial requirements of saltwater fish tanks.

I think U.V. sterilizers are a good perk if you can afford them. Some pet stores I know go completely without them, but having one will ease your mind if you are worried about diseases.
 
yeaaa thats what ive been reading up on to and im really liking the look of the reef setups.....i still definantly want fish but ive been looking into it all and finding all the fish that are reef cmpatible.....it does suck how long it will take to get it looking as awesome as i want it to but i think itll be worth it......is it hard to move an established tank??? like say i move cross country how would that work?
 
in general - research, research, research

and

$$$
 
$$$ being the biggest thing right now. For a 125G tank, if you want it to be a good reef tank, your looking at probably $3000 in equipment easily, on top of livestock.

Live Rock, 1lb per gallon = 125lb @ $5lb = $625
Sump setup w/ overflow box if not built in = $400 if you DIY
Lighting, 2x250w MH or equiv T5HO setup minimum for reef = $500+
Protein Skimmer = $300+
and the list goes on and on...
 
... power heads, extra pumps, lots of chemicals, mixing vessel for replacement water, RO water source...
 
You are building a tank into your bed frame? Can you go more in more detail with this idea?
 
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