Hoping to do this right....

[supervisor404]

Hi Guys, just combing through a couple threads on here trying to get caught up on a few things and I ran across Rich's build from like 2011...Man what an inspiration!! I mean seriously. I have had my tank for close to 4 year just a 125 and skeleton for a stand I bought in Acworth and its been in my basement collecting dust, but this year I am determined to be as frugale as possible and get this thing running. Would really love to have your insight and knowledge on process, ideals, and ways to gather equipment without going broke which has been one of the main reasons I have shunned away from the project for so long. Looking forward to hearing from and meeting everyone.

 

[nickh06]

Start small, make friends, and subscribe to the free stuff forum. One way to save on start up is to go bare bottom even though sand is cheap it saves a few bucks. If you don't have too many fish you can go skimmerless. I would get a sump from the Petco sale and put your own baffles in it for a fuge. Pretty much the cheapest filtration you can get. I've seen plenty of simple tanks do well. Lights will be a factor though. Can't grow much without some decent ones. Just a few ideas for ya. Good luck!

 

[redstang]

Just as an FYI Petco's sale ends on the 24th or 25th. If you want one of those deals you gotta be quick.

 

[mikesmith34]

Keep yours eyes peeled on the forums for good used equipment. When you see something you need for a good price. Jump....the stuff goes quick. You can save a lot of money on preowned equipment. Don't get caught up in the hype. Some of these guys don't have a budget and their systems are full tilt. Good luck and welcome

 

[rdnelson]

All good advice here. Exactly what I did on my build. Almost nothing was new and I had no problems with anything I bought from members.with the exception of lighting, if I didn't buy it used I built it myself.


I know you all think I have no heart but now I have an ultrasound to prove it.

 

[supervisor404]

Great Advice guys and thanks for the motivation. I will post some pics this weekend as I start in on the stand build first...got a long way to go....lol

Edit: Is that Petco sale at a certain location or all locations?

Edit:

Mikesmith34;928966 wrote: Keep yours eyes peeled on the forums for good used equipment. When you see something you need for a good price. Jump....the stuff goes quick. You can save a lot of money on preowned equipment. Don't get caught up in the hype. Some of these guys don't have a budget and their systems are full tilt. Good luck and welcome

Hi Mike, I am from Albany and my mother in law now lives in Leesburg...great to see neighbors so far away....lol

 

[stacy22]

There is a big difference between "cheap" and "inexpensive". In reefing, "cheap" can be very bad. There are some things for which you just don't want to skimp on quality. Many people end up spending more because they try to start with crap they have to replace it with properly-sized, quality equipment. It is possible, however, to have a nice tank without spending a fortune.

Good luck!

 

[supervisor404]

How big of a sump tank would I need for this 125...I was thinking 55 gal...what do you guys think? or is that to big?

 

[indecloudzua]

one thing to consider when you are trying to cut costs as much as possible is that you will eventually want to upgrade later and you will end up spending more money in the long run. in my experience, its best to take your time and do it the way you really want to do it the first time. have fun! im sure you already know its quite addicting.

 

[ringo®]

Supervisor404;929113 wrote:
Edit: Is that Petco sale at a certain location or all locations?

Act quick on that. I think it's only going on for 2 more days.

 

[mikesmith34]

Supervisor404;929113 wrote: Great Advice guys and thanks for the motivation. I will post some pics this weekend as I start in on the stand build first...got a long way to go....lol

Edit: Is that Petco sale at a certain location or all locations?

Edit:

Hi Mike, I am from Albany and my mother in law now lives in Leesburg...great to see neighbors so far away....lol

Hey that's great !! hit me up any time you need something. We reefers are far and few between around here. I'm right here.

I just noticed you don't live here

 

[supervisor404]

will do Mike..thanks so much.

Edit: The avatar is so funny Stacy22..my daughters are still cracking u.....lol

Edit: need some advice on lighting guys. The lights are quite expensive!!! Please share your knowledge on what you think I should do...remember I am very frugal....

 

[k3nnyp]

Supervisor404;929117 wrote: How big of a sump tank would I need for this 125...I was thinking 55 gal...what do you guys think? or is that to big?

40g breeder is pretty common and you can silicone in some baffles pretty easily. I bought mine used with a box built into it already but it's just some plexiglass cut and siliconed into place to make an area for return pumps. That separates any rock/macro algae from the returns.

 

[jennm]

40 breeder is the same width as a 125... so unless your stand is wider and has extra space on the inside it won't fit.

A 55 (48x13) will fit under a 125 - maybe - depending on how the stand is constructed/supported.

Supervisor - is your tank reef-ready? (Factory drilled with overflow boxes?)

Pix would be helpful.

Stacy is right. Huge difference between "cheap" and "inexpensive". I'm sure many of us have a salvage box of JUNK we bought in an attempt to "save" money, and ended up putting good money after bad, when we realized that the cheap stuff was crap.

Research - spend once, spend on quality. You can find good deals on pre-owned equipment, but make sure you are buying quality, not somebody else's mistake.

Example - buying a good quality skimmer from somebody who upgraded to bigger and needed a bigger skimmer is a good buy. Buying somebody's Seaclone because they bought a piece of crap in the beginning, is a bad buy

Lighting and skimmers are two things you shouldn't skimp on. Other stuff, you can, for the most part.

Jenn

Jenn

 

[supervisor404]

Thanks for the advice guys. I see it takes alot of researching prices and product requality as well as reviews. I an going to get those pics up soon. Next question is do I want a skimmer that is rated for the tank or can I get a bigger one and not have to worrying about upgrade later?

Edit: Oh by the way guys yes the tank is reef ready...overflow and drilled.

Edit: what exactly do you all call a breeder tank?

 

[jdavid]

stacy22;929116 wrote: There is a big difference between "cheap" and "inexpensive". In reefing, "cheap" can be very bad. There are some things for which you just don't want to skimp on quality. Many people end up spending more because they try to start with crap they have to replace it with properly-sized, quality equipment. It is possible, however, to have a nice tank without spending a fortune.

Good luck!

This is the truth. I started out on a budget (still on a budget now) and ended up spending way more than what I could have if I bought the right stuff the first time.

Edit: And to answer your question "breeder" just refers to a certain size and dimensions. The 40 breeder is shorter and wider than the 40 long

 

[jennm]

Supervisor404;930047 wrote: ... do I want a skimmer that is rated for the tank or can I get a bigger one and not have to worrying about upgrade later?

Short answer: It depends. Some brands are over-rated, some under-rated. Confusing, I know.

Used to be if it said it was rated for tanks to 100 gallons (for example) - it might do fine up to and including a 50-55 gallon.

Some of the higher-end skimmers nowadays, are rated for say, 100 gallons, but in reality are fine for up to maybe 200 gallons (depending on the brand).

You don't need to spend the equivalent of a used car on a skimmer, but you want to get one that's decent. If/when you find one you like, post about it here and those with experience with that particular brand/model etc., will happily chime in with their experiences and opinions.

My suggestion would be to get the biggest one that will fit in your sump, with the best rating. Ratings are usually based on medium bioload as well so if you have a lighter or heavier bioload, you should govern yourself accordingly.

Jenn

 

[shanepike]

Jenn, what's your experience with jumping right in with a tank that large as your very first tank? I know I was glad I started really small to get my feet wet (and they've gotten wet lots of times, literally and figuratively), but I have no experience from the other side -- starting large right from the very beginning.

 

[jennm]

It's an impossible question to answer, because people and tanks are all individuals. Over the years I've seen people start with tiny tanks, or start with 200+ gallons. Depends on the person, their budget and time and what their goals are.

If you can be successful with a small tank, you can be successful with a large one. That is to say, it's more difficult to keep water quality in check in a small tank, more water is more forgiving. Having said that, though, one has to be willing/able to put in the required maintenance to keep said tank where it needs to be. No sense getting a 200 gallon tank if one isn't prepared to do 20 gallon water changes (or more), once a week or 40 every two weeks, or whatever it takes to keep the water good.

There's no cookie cutter answer, really, other than don't bite off more than you can chew - and that applies to whatever the size and cost of the tank, in time and money.


Jenn