Looking to start an aquarium

[michelled]

Hello -
I've been reading this forum, purchased books, etc and doing what I can to learn about the hobby. I'm planning on purchasing a 120 gallon tank to begin. I can't afford to buy brand new so I'm shopping around for used a used tank and equipment. From your experiences, what should I look for?
Thanks in advance for replies!
Michelle

 

[eric b 125]

welcome to the boards! i wish i'd have found this place before getting started. better late than never i guess. what do you want to keep in your tank? some equipment is better bought new, in my opinion, but you can get away with some used and there are plenty of ways to cut cost but will require a bit more patience on your part, i.e. base rock, etc..

 

[florida joe]

while in this hobby I feel bigger is better, in your case I would think about down sizing maybe a 75 and buy new

 

[tank a holic]

I disagree, I started with a used 125
Make sure you leak check the tank before you buy.
no leaks = no problem
plus you dont need to upgrade later. which will be a PITA
if you know what you want..... build it from the start, why build something you dont want then tear it all down and then build what you want later?
bigger tanks help newer hobbiests anyway because small problems arent as catostrauphic as would be in smaller tanks
get a used 30 gallon for a sump while you're shopping
with what eric said, usually yes, new equipment is better
just make sure everything works before you buy it
the biggest reason new is better is because of unkown chemicals used it prior setup's i.e. copper

 

[florida joe]

most if not all used tanks that are for sale have no water in them. I do now think you will get many people filling up their 125s with water to due a leak test for you

 

[tank a holic]

the guy that sold me mine did....
just sayin I think if you can get a good buy and know the tank doesn't leak then why not?
when called the guy I asked if he would have it full when I got there and he did
if not, keep looking.... to me its worth the hundreds you'll save

 

[michelled]

Thanks for all of the responses and welcomes. Our friend, who has introduced us to saltwater, offered us a reasonable price for a 55 gallon tank with all of it's equipment but we can already forsee ourselves go bigger in the long run so that is why we want to just begin with a large tank.
I defintely prefer to begin with my own rock, sand and fish..afterall, to me, that's what it's all about.
I have a list of corals and fish that I want and there are a few reputable stores around to buy product from.
Besides the tank being leak proof, I wasn't sure if there was anything else I should keep my eye out for.
Thanks very much.

 

[mkroher]

Originally Posted by MichelleD
http:///forum/post/3168161
Thanks for all of the responses and welcomes. Our friend, who has introduced us to saltwater, offered us a reasonable price for a 55 gallon tank with all of it's equipment but we can already forsee ourselves go bigger in the long run so that is why we want to just begin with a large tank.
I defintely prefer to begin with my own rock, sand and fish..afterall, to me, that's what it's all about.
I have a list of corals and fish that I want and there are a few reputable stores around to buy product from.
Besides the tank being leak proof, I wasn't sure if there was anything else I should keep my eye out for.
Thanks very much.
You'll probably want to buy someone else's live rock. It's (usually) cheaper that way. You can check CL for people breaking down tanks, and buy their rock. it's MUCH cheaper than buying it all at $8/lb in a local store.

 

[gill again68]

I would make this suggestion. Have your local reef store, or your friend build you a list of all the equipment you need to run X Y Z tank. Each tank size will offer you a different start up and maintenance cost. I would say once you see that investment you will understand from there what will be best. I agree that starting off with the largest tank you can afford will probably be better money spent in the long run. However at some point for everyone the cost limits you on what you can do. I can foresee a day that my 90 gal will be my second tank and a 200 to 300 will have to be in the house. Its just so darn pretty and interesting. But for me, to provide the fish and coral the very best for their health I had to start off smaller. Thats just me. Good luck with you tank. Keep us posted on how it goes.

 

[michelled]

Well, I went and looked at a used tank and fell in love. This was the ad: 90 gallon tank; 30 gallon refugium; includes oak wood display case, 48" 610W Metal Halide Aquarium Reef Light; ASM G-3 Protein Skimmer SSPAX-000G3; many chemicals and fish food; many accessories such as scraper, claws, electronic thermometer, hydrometer, small pump for nitrogen/phosphorus filter, and filter; heaters, 1250 in-sump pump; 950 backup in-sump pump; pure-flo water filtration system; 25 Gallons salt; Includes live rock and a couple of fish and corals.
I've been looking at other tanks and the lighting seems so much better that what this was put out. Keeping in mind that I'd like to add various corals - What are your recommendations on a good lighting set-up? I just am not sure what where to begin with shopping for lights. Thanks so much for your help!
Michelle

 

[raymond2688]

welcome
that tank set up sounds nice....i think that the lighting system is great for coral tank...im no expert i only have 6 months in the hobby. good luck and keep us posted

 

[wifishman1]

the lighting depends on what coral you want to keep. if you want sps,clams,anomone's that kinda thing then i would suggest 8 bulb t5 or mh. if your doing zoos and softies then a good pc should work.

 

[flukes]

The one in the add sounds like an awesome set up, but you didn't include the price. If you decided to go with that one then the lighting that comes with it would be great for whatever you wanted to keep. If you are shopping for lights for a different aquarium then I would suggest the nove extreme pro's, it is a t5 lighting that you can find for under $400. Many people say that they have about the same par as MH but use less electricity and doesn't get as hot. I use the nove extreme pro in my tank and love it.
Originally Posted by MichelleD
http:///forum/post/3168773
Well, I went and looked at a used tank and fell in love. This was the ad: 90 gallon tank; 30 gallon refugium; includes oak wood display case, 48" 610W Metal Halide Aquarium Reef Light; ASM G-3 Protein Skimmer SSPAX-000G3; many chemicals and fish food; many accessories such as scraper, claws, electronic thermometer, hydrometer, small pump for nitrogen/phosphorus filter, and filter; heaters, 1250 in-sump pump; 950 backup in-sump pump; pure-flo water filtration system; 25 Gallons salt; Includes live rock and a couple of fish and corals.
I've been looking at other tanks and the lighting seems so much better that what this was put out. Keeping in mind that I'd like to add various corals - What are your recommendations on a good lighting set-up? I just am not sure what where to begin with shopping for lights. Thanks so much for your help!
Michelle

 

[oneradtek]

how do you know you're going to like this hobby? you should definitely start with a 75 and get better equipment. that way you'll have a 75 gal tank instead of a 120 in case you dont like it. Everyone ends up upgrading in the end if you end up loving the hobby. JMO

 

[michelled]

I'm going with a 90 gallon tank instead of a 120. As far as knowing if I will enjoy the hobby or not? I've had tropical fish aquariums since I was an early teenager. I've been wanting a saltwater aquarium for almost 20 years now and I finally have the oppertunity to do it.
Originally Posted by oneradtek
http:///forum/post/3170016
how do you know you're going to like this hobby? you should definitely start with a 75 and get better equipment. that way you'll have a 75 gal tank instead of a 120 in case you dont like it. Everyone ends up upgrading in the end if you end up loving the hobby. JMO

 

[gill again68]

Michelle, I was the same way. Always did fresh water and wanted, just like you, for 20 years to do salt. I have a 90 that is almost at the end of its cycle. I like the 90 vs 75 because as I understand this hobby, more water means less concentration and that allows for a little more forgiveness with mistakes. I also think that you can go to big. I am about $4000.00 into my system already and I built the stand myself and bought stuff on line to cut cost. I too was going for the 120 but when I put all the math to it I thought hmmmmm, Ill just get the 220 next when I am ready!
Good luck.

 

[flukes]

Im sure that you are very excited now! Take some pictures and post them up for us to see too.
Why was you questioning the lights that come with the 90 gallon? 610W Metal Halide Aquarium Reef Lights is a ton of light.

 

[michelled]

Originally Posted by Gill again68
http:///forum/post/3170108
Michelle, I was the same way. Always did fresh water and wanted, just like you, for 20 years to do salt. I have a 90 that is almost at the end of its cycle. I like the 90 vs 75 because as I understand this hobby, more water means less concentration and that allows for a little more forgiveness with mistakes. I also think that you can go to big. I am about $4000.00 into my system already and I built the stand myself and bought stuff on line to cut cost. I too was going for the 120 but when I put all the math to it I thought hmmmmm, Ill just get the 220 next when I am ready!
Good luck.

Thank you Gill again!
Originally Posted by Flukes
http:///forum/post/3170144
Im sure that you are very excited now! Take some pictures and post them up for us to see too.
Why was you questioning the lights that come with the 90 gallon? 610W Metal Halide Aquarium Reef Lights is a ton of light.
Hello Flukes -
I am contemplating the lights that come with this because we saw a light set-up in a friends tank that was awesome. He had 250w hqi orbits with 130w power compact lunar by Current. I'm fine with the lights that are coming with the tank and will 'settle' with those but my husband is pushing for a similar setup that his friend had.
Lighting seems to be one of the trickiest topics for me to get. I just want lights that are healthy for the fish and corals that I'd like to put into the tank.

 

[jstdv8]

Michelle, That 90 gallon you went and looked at sounds like agreat deal if its within your price range. Thats a good amount of light for that size tank so you should be able to grow a good variety of corals with that. I got a similar setup but it only had a 110w power compact for a light and now im scrambling to find a good light that i can afford that will grow me some healthy corals. Other than the heat issues with the metal halides it sounds like you cant go wrong with thier light output. I paid 500 for my set up and am allready looking at at least another 400 for the lights i need, so if you can get the tank with it for a reasonable price Id say go that route. just remember if hes had the lights for over a year they probably need bulb replacements which can get spendy too.

 

[nel621]

send me a pm Im sell ing my 125g