First reef tank, and I'm doing it right!!!

mixtimp

mixtimp

Member
I decided that a 75 Gallon reef tank would suit my needs perfectly. I am looking for a 'community' of fish that can be like my second pet, and also something that looks nice in the living room. I've had several fresh water fish tanks in the past and this is my first saltwater. I bought a great looking pre-drilled tank, and I refinished a stand that looks brand new now.
I'm not trying to cut any corners and I want my fish to be perfectly healthy, and I want my tank to be perfectly clear so others can enjoy my tank. I purchased a wet/dry elite series filter big enough for a 125 gallon tank, and now I need some advice.
I am going to be running a lot of life-rock and a sand bed on the bottom. What else do I need to purchase in way of filtration to keep my fish healthy and my tank looking clear?
Thanks in advance!
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
do you want corals?
either way a very very good skimmer(berlin or aquaC remora pro, and if i might suggest try and get a refugium, so that you may be able to get a mandarin!
 
mixtimp

mixtimp

Member
I am going to want corals. I'm not sure what a refugium or mandarin are, so I'm going to go do a search on them right now. So you think the only thing I'm missing is a protein skimmer?
 
mixtimp

mixtimp

Member
Good. This was starting to get expensive, between the $180 tank, $200 stand and canopy, plus all the live rock, sand and lighting I'm going to have to buy, before I even beging to add fish.
So once I have the skimmer and wet/dry hooked up, then I am ready to begin cycling the tank, correct?
BTW, thanks for your quick responses!
 
carshark

carshark

Active Member
Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
you can add on the refugium, to your system, but it isn't neccesarry. :jumping:
where would I go to find a good amount of info of creating a sump/fuge combo out of a 29 gal for my 75 gal...?? i dont have a drilled tank, so i could do one of two things. I could drill it, or there has to be a way to get returns and intakes over the top...
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
well you could have it below the tank, and from your displays overflow just the tube goes into the sump, and you have a pump that pumps the water back up. Can't you do that? :jumping:
 
carshark

carshark

Active Member
Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
well you could have it below the tank, and from your displays overflow just the tube goes into the sump, and you have a pump that pumps the water back up. Can't you do that? :jumping:
Id have to build an overflow....this tank is old I have had it for a better part of 6 years, and it was originally my massive african cichlid tank!!!!!!! so here in lies the question what to do...
so it seems I need to build in an overflow, there has to be another way...my tank has rock, sand, and fish!!!! i cant empty the entire tank to build an overflow
 
carshark

carshark

Active Member
Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
i thought your display was drilled? :notsure:
nope never said it was, I wish
 
carshark

carshark

Active Member
Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
then you can buy an overflow box, right? :notsure:

ahh see very good. keep in mind, I have had this tank strictly in mind of just doing a FOWLR, and never did research on refugiums and sumps, because it wasnt going to be neccessary. well after endless research and such, i have come to the conclusion. well I have some bucks to spend and I need to do this for a benefical reef... yeah well about that
kinda changing direction here....so I am buying a 400 watt MH 20,000K Radium with mogul socket, coralview ballast, and spider reflector, for dirt dirt cheap, so then Im thinking, well I am going for corals now.. ok well now I need to set up a fuge/ sump, perfect Ive got a 29 that'll work for a 75..so now here I am...
 
carshark

carshark

Active Member
Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
sorry carshark i don't really see the problem?
like I said never seen an overflow box.....I never knew they were sold that way. most Ive seen came with it already....see? I didnt know any better.. but if I cant drain the tank, how does the box install?
 
fishamajig

fishamajig

Member
you dont need a refugium, mandarins arent that cool anyway to justify an added piece of equipment to the system you have to clean, noone mentioned lighting which will probabley be your biggest expense, noone mentioned powerheads or a future closed loop. you have a bit more to consider before you start the reef.
(1) the wetdry- is a good filter, people are going to

[hr]
and say that they build up nitrates and all of that but all you got to do is clean it from time to time and it aint going to be that bad.
(2) SKIMMER- do not skimp out on a cheaper skimmer, I did it and it was a really bad scene. learn from MY mistakes and get a large skimmer.
(3) live rock and sand bed-, remember the sand and the live rock is going to be your source of denitrification. if you go with a deep sand bed (which i personally do not like but understand their purpose) it is going to be a bit more stable than a shallow sand bed. and you should get at least 1 pound per gallon of live rock for your tank.
(4) powerheads and or a closed loop- you are going to need moderate to strong current in the tank depending on what corals you keep. plan out in advance what you want to keep and then select your powerheads accordingly
(5) LIGHTING- probabley the most important in the tank- also depending on the type of corals you keep will dictate if you are going to need power compacts or metal hallides. reasearch this allot because it can get REAL expensive real fast, stay away from jebo products.
thats it !
 
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