FOWLR to Reef - need help

[tank a holic]

I've decided to go from a FOWLR to a REEF but Im not sure what all I need to change. Right now I have a 125, crushed coral base, about 50lbs of live rock, 2 korilla 3's, a korilla 4 and a 350 gph canister filter.
I know I need more LR but I've also heard you cant do reef very well w/ CC base because of trates - is this true?
Do I need a sump / fuge to do reef or can I just add a skimmer (also needed I know) and let the canister do the rest?
Also I currently have florescent lights, I'm looking into MH lights now, just kinda shopping around, but I'm looking at a 175 watt 10,000k setup is that ok or should i go 250?
Thanks for the help and if you see anything I've missed please feel free

 

[blue eye]

I would do more live rock, live sand for the base and take out the CC, het a skimmer, what size tank do u have.
I dont use a sump on my reef tank, but i would like to get one. MH lights are great. Ur powerheads are also good. Get a nice skimmer dont go cheap on them if u can.

 

[life~reefer]

I would wait for some more responses till you make your final opinion. Not to be rude but the person above me did not even bother to read what size tank you have.
You can go CC if you want but most that have it always want to change it later on.
And yes you are right about getting more live rock.
You do not need a refugium but they Are natural filtration.
Don't go cheap on light(I would definitely go with MH) or filtration.
As for wattage for the bulbs wait for someone else. I have forgotten the rule of thumb for this. It is some wattage per gallon.
Hope this helps!
Can't wait to see your stocklist!
LIFE~REEFER

 

[blue eye]

With all do respect the 125 could be the size of the tank or how much crushed coral he has in the tank. he did not say that was the size of the tank

 

[jswan10]

For a reef tank its not necessary to MH Lights, your lighting depends on the type of corals and inverts you wanna keep. If you do get MH lights consider at least 2 bulbs, anything from 150-250 watts per bulb. but consider what corals you want to keep first.
Adding live rock would be a great idea, also, what are your readings now with the CC? are your trates high now?
a sump/fuge is always a good idea, but that could be added at anytime. manage your money now if you have to.
Dont under estimate a good skimmer, spend the extra money and get a good one.
good luck

 

[squishyfish]

Originally Posted by tank a holic
http:///forum/post/2932028
I've decided to go from a FOWLR to a REEF but Im not sure what all I need to change. Right now I have a 125, crushed coral base, about 50lbs of live rock, 2 korilla 3's, a korilla 4 and a 350 gph canister filter.
I know I need more LR but I've also heard you cant do reef very well w/ CC base because of trates - is this true?
Do I need a sump / fuge to do reef or can I just add a skimmer (also needed I know) and let the canister do the rest?
Also I currently have florescent lights, I'm looking into MH lights now, just kinda shopping around, but I'm looking at a 175 watt 10,000k setup is that ok or should i go 250?
Thanks for the help and if you see anything I've missed please feel free

Obviously there are quite a few factors to take into account when switching over to a reef. Someone mentioned more LR. The rule of thumb I have always used is 1 pound of LR to each gallon (minimum). There are lots of people who are very successfully with a much lower ratio than 1:1, but it has always worked very well for me.
Something else you will want to keep in mind. Any LR you put into your tank will need to be 100% cured.
You want more LR for two simple reasons, biological filtration and more room for corals.
I would really encourage you to take the CC out of the tank now. Its going to be much easier to take out before you start adding coral, and believe me..there will come a day when you want it out of the tank.
Again, like curing the LR, something you will want to keep in mind is the fact that right now, the CC is a major part of your bio filter. Removing it all at once would not be good.
I don't recommend mechanical filtration, but that is just my personal preference. I like to run my tank as close to a natural environment as possible. But, at the same time, there is nothing wrong with a simple canister filter.
Lighting is not my specialty at all...I'll pass that along to someone else, but on the practical side. You know that we tend to upgrade every chance we get. (as your doing now) Which means...the likelihood of you staying at a 175 is iffy. If your like me, you'll be upgrading those lights in a year or so. If you can afford it, go with the 250's.
The old watts per gallon rule is a bit antiquated. It doesn't take into account the depth of the tank, nor the par requirements for different corals (I.E. a mushroom vs a birds nest).

 

[tank a holic]

First of all THANK YOU all for the help

Now... jswan 10, I don't know yet what all I want but I'm thinking LPS, anemone's and MAYBE softies. I do know that with experience I'll want to keep more and harder to keep species eventually so I want to have capable lights when I get to that point. So If I get the good stuff now, I won't need to upgrade later
My trates are holding at about 10 - 20 now but I have a small bio-load and figure it will get worse I may be wrong though -- however -- I think I like the look of sand anyway so I'm pretty sure I'm going to change.
squishyfish, I'll definitely to 1/4 of my CC at a time and have 100% before I add anything else to tank
I've heard the 1:1 _ LR : gal ratio (even 1.5:1) but I'm just going to add here and there (cured LR only ) until I have the desired look
How big of a sump do I need? my tank is not drilled but I've monitored the DIY threads on how to make one but I also don't have a tank so I'll need to buy one
What kind of skimmer is good and how big for a 125? I know you get what you pay for but I don't want to pay good money for a name and no product!
again THANK YOU

 

[pumper]

Originally Posted by tank a holic
http:///forum/post/2932218
First of all THANK YOU all for the help

Now... jswan 10, I don't know yet what all I want but I'm thinking LPS, anemone's and MAYBE softies. I do know that with experience I'll want to keep more and harder to keep species eventually so I want to have capable lights when I get to that point. So If I get the good stuff now, I won't need to upgrade later
My trates are holding at about 10 - 20 now but I have a small bio-load and figure it will get worse I may be wrong though -- however -- I think I like the look of sand anyway so I'm pretty sure I'm going to change.
squishyfish, I'll definitely to 1/4 of my CC at a time and have 100% before I add anything else to tank
I've heard the 1:1 _ LR : gal ratio (even 1.5:1) but I'm just going to add here and there (cured LR only ) until I have the desired look
How big of a sump do I need? my tank is not drilled but I've monitored the DIY threads on how to make one but I also don't have a tank so I'll need to buy one
What kind of skimmer is good and how big for a 125? I know you get what you pay for but I don't want to pay good money for a name and no product!
again THANK YOU

Don't get rid of the cc, just add some sand to it. In my 120 i have two dif. types of cc, pink argonite sand and regular argonite sand. If you have the money, get a euroreef skimmer.

 

[tank a holic]

how deep should the sand be on top of the CC? 2-3 inches??
also are there different sizes of skimmers?

 

[pumper]

Originally Posted by tank a holic
http:///forum/post/2932258
how deep should the sand be on top of the CC? 2-3 inches??
also are there different sizes of skimmers?
Well, you will add it to the top of the cc but eventually it will all settle. If you're looking for a sandy bottom look, add as much sand as their is coral that way it will settle evenly. If their is 2'' cc add 2'' sand an so on. I just dont see any reason to throw out good cc. Also cover maybe 1/4 of the crush coral with sand at a time. This way you won't smother all you beneficial bacteria, if thats possible.