My first tank... suggestions?

lsc4910

lsc4910

Member
So I've been following the message boards on this site for about a year now, after falling in love with my cousin's 125 gallon. My wife and I are purchasing our first home and are two weeks away from closing and, as a house-warming gift, my mother bought me a 60 gallon tank. Score!
I want to make it into a reef tank, but it's going to have to wait until my truck is paid off a year from now (but it's possible it may just be a month or two from now) before I can TRULY make the plunge and afford the proper lighting. For now, I'm going to go with a FOWLR (probably) in preparation for the corals that will eventually come with time.
I'm simply looking for suggestions on preferred equipment from the experts (you guys!). I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for," so money isn't going to be the biggest obstacle for me. Money IS going to be tight until I can get this truck paid off, but I am planning on taking things slowly anyways.
SO
Any suggestions or ideas on equipment? Stock lists? What would you guys do if you were handed a brand new 60 gallon tank and had all options open? Tank dimensions are 48-1/2" L x 12-3/4" W x 28" Tall
Thanks in advance,
Caleb
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Welcome to the site,
I just posted this same message to another person, but the advice is good…From the basic fish only with a hood light, I upgraded to a power Compact $300.00, then a better PC $400.00, then metal Halides $1000.00. So on my next tank I got a little wiser. I purchased a T5HO 2 X 39W 10.000K with a 420 actinic, linkable Xs 3.
Each upgrade costs for my 36” tank $119.00 First $119.00 will allow mushrooms and soft corals, a 2[sup]nd upgrade will allow LPS corals, and the 3rd[/sup] will allow SPS and an anemone…basically anything I want to keep and the total cost will be only $357.00. 48” will be just a little more but still much lower in price than the route I first took.
That way you can build slow and not break the bank. When dealing with corals, lighting is the most expensive piece of equipment.
Have you ever had any kind of fish tank before? The next piece of advice…set up the tank at least 7 to 8 inches from the wall. You won’t notice the space but it will help a ton on being able to maintain your tank and add stuff as you build. Watching this forum for a year...I don’t have that kind of patients.
 
lsc4910

lsc4910

Member
Hey Flower -
Thanks for the reply. I had a small freshwater tank when I was 8 or 9 (22 now) but Mom did most of the work. When you talk about upgrading your lights, what exactly do you mean? I find it a bit strange that each upgrade costs the exact same amount, but maybe that's just my inexperience. I have done a ton of research, but need to refresh my memory before getting started. I want to do things the right way.
Any other tips you may have for a newbie? Thanks again for your time.
Caleb
 
lsc4910

lsc4910

Member
Hey Flower -
Thanks for the reply. I had a small freshwater tank when I was 8 or 9 (22 now) but Mom did most of the work. When you talk about upgrading your lights, what exactly do you mean? I find it a bit strange that each upgrade costs the exact same amount, but maybe that's just my inexperience. I have done a ton of research, but need to refresh my memory before getting started. I want to do things the right way.
Any other tips you may have for a newbie? Thanks again for your time.
Caleb
 
lsc4910

lsc4910

Member
My mother is taking me shopping Saturday morning to get all the equipment needed to get the tank up and running. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I need to get, or what brands are preferred? I don't want to forget anything, as my LFS is about a 45 minute drive for me, and work and school (both full-time) make it difficult for me to find the time to get there.
Thanks in advance,
Caleb
 
lsc4910

lsc4910

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/384080/my-first-tank-suggestions#post_3369606
Is your current tank drilled or do you plan on drilling it?
It is not drilled. I know drilling it would make life easier, but it would also void the warranty. What would you suggest? I'm not too fond of the stand it came with, either. The cabinets are small, and I'm worried about drilling into the top of it for an overflow if I drill the tank because I don't want to compromise the weight capacity. Like I said, my mother bought it as a surprise to me, so I had no input on it. I can post a picture of it later tonight when I get off work, if that might help.
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
so not drilled, you will need an hang on back overflow. - Sump or small tank that will fit in your stand - return pump to go with over flow
a couple of powerheads - (koralia are a good brand) mag float to clean the glass,
Lights, go with a good t5 or mh t5 combo. a 6 or 8 bulb t5 will let you keep just about anything.
Test kits
Sand
Base rock - Live rock
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by TeresaQ http:///forum/thread/384080/my-first-tank-suggestions#post_3369620
so not drilled, you will need an hang on back overflow. - Sump or small tank that will fit in your stand - return pump to go with over flow
a couple of powerheads - (koralia are a good brand) mag float to clean the glass,
Lights, go with a good t5 or mh t5 combo. a 6 or 8 bulb t5 will let you keep just about anything.
Test kits
Sand
Base rock - Live rock
That stuff plus these:
Heater (but this might not be needed in your area, but I would recommend one to keep stable temps and you might need a chiller down the road in the hot summer months)
Thermometer
Salt mix (to start I would just get a bucket of Instant Ocean when you move to a reef tank you can get reef crystals)
Refractometer (much more accurate than a hydrometer)
I know I'm missing somethings, but this is a good start.
 
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