Getting back in the water after 30 years

[NanCrab]

Hi, my name is Nancy. My husband and I are finally going to start a new, long awaited reef tank. I’ve been trying to read the questions and replies on the forum but since just about everything has changed (other than fish still have gills), I’m feeling overwhelmed. We purchased a used 125 gallon tank that came with a nice cabinet and sump system. Problem is we’ve never used that before and I’m totally lost as to how to set it up.
It didn’t come with anything else. We want to do this 100% right from the get go.
so:
We have a 125 g tank with a sump system
We’re thinking about the CaribSea Arag Alive substrate
We want to have mostly frags, shrimp and a handful of fish that are a good fit and not aggressive
give me ideas on what else we need...which is everything! We aren’t rich so budget friendly would be appreciated. We are going to be patient and intentional with this as we’re old now haha.
we are planning on going to ReefAPalooza in Orlando in April unless I get feedback that it isn’t worth it.

Thank you for reading this! Your expertise is appreciated
Nancy and Dave

 

[york1]

Welcome!
You should post some pics of the tank and anything you got with it. We can then give you an idea of what you have and what you need.

 

[NanCrab]

Yes I will do that. Thank you.

 

[york1]

Do not be afraid to ask any questions. The ARC members have tons of experience/knowledge and are happy to help.

 

[bhodges82]

Welcome back! For using the sump you will need a return pump to get the water back in the tank. A quality protein skimmer is recommended, I have always used one that is rated for more tank than I have as it's easier to adjust it down than it is to add to it. Many reefers now use refugium as a form of nutrient reduction, if you have a section in your sump for macro algae I would suggest using it as a refugium, you will need a light to grow the macro algae down there. Speaking of lights, which lights are you planning for your build?

When you post pics of what you have we can make more/better recommendations.

 

[ActiveAngel]

In the past 30 years, one of the biggest changes would be in lighting. LEDs have replaced halides and T5, which each still have their advantages. It’s worth some investigation.

But you don’t really need lights to start cycling some water! Great starting size you have chosen; that will make it easier.

Carib Sea Arag-Alive Special Reef Blend is probably the most popular sand. It’s not very fine grains, but it won’t blow all over your tank either.

Welcome back!

 

[ichthyoid]

Welcome back!
We can now grow corals! All kinds.
Will you be wanting to keep corals? If so & what kind will determine a lot.
Otherwise, you will have a fish only with live rock (aka fowlr) System which is much less demanding in most aspects.
We can also help with suggestions & maybe some cheap or free stuff to help get you started.

 

[NanCrab]

Welcome back!
We can now grow corals! All kinds.
Will you be wanting to keep corals? If so & what kind will determine a lot.
Otherwise, you will have a fish only with live rock (aka fowlr) System which is much less demanding in most aspects.
We can also help with suggestions & maybe some cheap or free stuff to help get you started.

YES CORALS! We want a coral reef system. I probably misspoke about frags.

 

[NanCrab]

Pictures as requested. A couple are from the sellers listing, the rest are here. We have the tanks on the porch so they can be thoroughly cleaned (suggestions welcome) This is everything. I don’t have anything electrical. Need pumps, lights...everything.

 

[popsbjd]

That sump seems small for a 125 (just my opinion).

As for cleaning, White vinegar has been my go to but recently switched to citric acid.

 

[NanCrab]

That sump seems small for a 125 (just my opinion).

As for cleaning, White vinegar has been my go to but recently switched to citric acid.

Thank you!

 

[bzb]

Whew you got some cleaning to do! Be gentle in the corners on the silicone. A Magic Eraser will do just fine with a diluted vinegar bath, then just rinse it a few times. I'd fill it up and let it sit for a couple days to ensure it's water tight still. If not, resealing isn't a big deal... just another project for you!

 

[Shawn]

That sump seems small for a 125 (just my opinion).

As for cleaning, White vinegar has been my go to but recently switched to citric acid.

I second the citric acid. It's amazing! I use that and a magic eraser (original, not the scented/dish crap) and everything comes squeaky clean. Do you have a protein skimmer or algae reactor? I'd highly recommend one of those. Other than lighting (that's a whole different ballgame if you're planning on having corals) you should be set to get it up and running at least! I use CaribSea Arag Alive in my tank, but you'll need a good 160 lbs or so in that tank. And rock... haha. I love this hobby

 

[Adam]

Hi Nancy, Welcome to ARC.

You've gotten some good advice so far and getting everything cleaned up is the 1st step. Citric acid is also what I recommend you can get it here.
You can also use new razor blades to remove the stubborn stuff. But take care around all the silicone. Once the tank is clean I also recommend filling it and let it sit for several day to be sure there are no leaks. You'll want the four corners well supported and the tank completely level when you fill it. 125 gallons of water is slightly more than 1000 pounds.

The list of things you're going to need to start with are. New heaters, a return pump, lights, a skimmer, powerheads, a refractometer to test salinity and test kits.

From the pics it looks like the tank was a freshwater system before you got it. You can discard the rock and substrate from that setup.

 

[NanCrab]

I second the citric acid. It's amazing! I use that and a magic eraser (original, not the scented/dish crap) and everything comes squeaky clean. Do you have a protein skimmer or algae reactor? I'd highly recommend one of those. Other than lighting (that's a whole different ballgame if you're planning on having corals) you should be set to get it up and running at least! I use CaribSea Arag Alive in my tank, but you'll need a good 160 lbs or so in that tank. And rock... haha. I love this hobby

I am planning on a beautiful coral reef. I joined this club to tap into the vat knowledge and expertise of you and others. I literally have bought nothing and am looking for recommendation. I have whatever amount of time it takes, or until I die, whichever comes first . I want to know what pumps, which lights, skimmers, flow pumps for water movement. None of this stuff existed 30 years ago. Under gravel filters, air pumps, small tanks and instant ocean..no wonder it was so hard back then! I really need to relearn everything.

 

[NanCrab]

Hi Nancy, Welcome to ARC.

You've gotten some good advice so far and getting everything cleaned up is the 1st step. Citric acid is also what I recommend you can get it here.
You can also use new razor blades to remove the stubborn stuff. But take care around all the silicone. Once the tank is clean I also recommend filling it and let it sit for several day to be sure there are no leaks. You'll want the four corners well supported and the tank completely level when you fill it. 125 gallons of water is slightly more than 1000 pounds.

The list of things you're going to need to start with are. New heaters, a return pump, lights, a skimmer, powerheads, a refractometer to test salinity and test kits.

From the pics it looks like the tank was a freshwater system before you got it. You can discard the rock and substrate from that setup.

Thank you, I thought so too but they said it was saltwater so who knows. It was all taken apart. Can we use any of the pvc shown or should we just start with new stuff?
Thank you!

 

[Adam]

Thank you, I thought so too but they said it was saltwater so who knows. It was all taken apart. Can we use any of the pvc shown or should we just start with new stuff?
Thank you!

The PVC is the least expensive part of the hobby. Probably best to replace it and make sure it's done right from the beginning.

 

[NanCrab]

The PVC is the least expensive part of the hobby. Probably best to replace it and make sure it's done right from the beginning.

Thank you for the link to the citric acid, I ordered that. Will clean as advised and let water sit in it a few days on the porch. I’m not planning on being able to add any livestock for a while. Im on a budget and want to set it up the right way from the start, not necessarily the fastest or cheapest way. If something is more than I have to spend I will wait until I can afford it. I’d rather prevent problems than play whack a mole because of impatience

 

[camellia]

Hello, welcome back Nancy!
You’ve come to a know group of people, you’ll do great

 

[wake125122]

It looks like you are going to need to reseal the tank. Not sure I would trust those seals. Don't worry it is very easy! You can go to homedepot and get GE Silicone I. Don't get GE silicone II it has anti-fungle stuff in it. I would toss all of the bio balls and the colored rocks in the sump. Also a good return pump without breaking the bank is Jabeo/jebco. Also go a bit oversize on these. These can always be turned down as well. Also something you might want to look into is instead of a fuge run an algae scrubber. Same principle as the fuge but in my opinion I believe it is more effective and easier to run and just less hassle all around. Auto top off will help you out. Make sure to keep track of your big 3 elements. (alk, cal, mag). Helps to keep an eye on N03 and PO4 as well.