New to Salt Water Taking all Advice :)

[wt*jayjay]

Hi all! So after messing around with fresh water for 8 months or so I've decided it's time to take the plunge into salt water. I have 2 55 gallons and a 120 and I've always herd when starting out bigger is better so I'm making the 120 a comunity reef tank.

As far as lighting goes I've got 4 high output 36" t5's in my canopy right now. I've herd t5's are good enough for most soft coral so I think I'm goin to get 4 more. What would you guys saggest?

And for my sump and skimmer i'm hoping to find used stuff in here. I've seen home made sumps also so I've thought about turning my ertra 55 into a sump cuz it would fit perfectly under everything. Also I work for a company my dad owns (deals with waste water in big plants) so I may be able to get some pretty powerfull return pumps for cheap. Don't know if they would work the same as pumps that are made for this though. So I'd like some input in that idea as well.

So as of now the only known prices I've got for everything are;

Salt- $50
Live Sand- $100
And I plan in getting most of my live rock off someone who's breaking a tank down.

So how much do you think I'd be spending on a propper sized sump return pump and skimmer? I've been told 4-500 for everything new but would perfer to get used stuff.

 

[swfk44]

welcome jay, you've come to the best place for used stuff, check the for sale section

and amberjack thank you for your service to our country
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[gmpolan]

Welcome...

 

[smoothie]

Welcome and great name!
55 would be a great sump for the 120. Enjoy the club and always feel free to post questions.

 

[mockery]

Welcome to ARC! If you need help just ask.

As for using a pump from your dads work. I personally would not. Could have a number of things in it. I would pick up a used one from here save you from possible problems.

 

[wt*jayjay]

thanks guys!

whats the minimum sump size i should go with if i dont use the 55?

 

[eric b]

Welcome to the club!

I had a 180 gallon set up with a custom made 30 gallon sump in the past. If you have an extra 55 then sumps are not that hard to make.

 

[rockdog]

as far as sump size, the bigger the better....... if you want another 55 let me know. I posted this in the other thread too...

Jason

 

[drnecropolis]

Welcome.. Just wondering.. Is the 120 a normal 120(48x24x24)? If so, it might be more of a challenge to use a 55 as a sump, and also 4 36" T5's might not be the best road to travel also.. At any rate.. Welcome to the club!! We love pictures!!

Edit: just noticed you said you would possibly get more t5's.. Ignore comment about the lights..

 

[wt*jayjay]

No, it's actually a 120 long. I for get the exact size, but it's 6ft long. The way I have it set up right now I'm pretty sure the 55 will slide right under and between the two main stand supports. I'll put some pics up of my current set up when I get the chance.

And yeah I've got two 36" t5 housings that both hold two bulbs. So I'm thinking about getting 4 more so I'd have a total of 12 bulbs .

Anyway I'm sure that would be more then enough for soft coral, but would it support hard? If not I'll just hold back on coral until I can pick up some metal halides

 

[drnecropolis]

I would say 12 T5's would be quite enough.. LOL.. In that case of the length of the tank a 55 would be great.. One caution though. Coming from someone who had a 55 as a sump before.. Make sure the stand is high enough that you can get equipment in and out and that its possible that you can reach the bottom of the sump with ease.. LOL I spent 2 hours one day trying to fish out a pair of tongs that I dropped in the dang thing.. I was twisted in all kinda bad ways and it was a nightmare

 

[bobz]

Welcome! My suggestion would be to see if you can visit some of the folks close to you and see how their set ups work, especially at this stage before you begin the process of setting up the system. I run a 210 with a 55G sump and another 55G which I use as extra volume right now (it was my refugium). There are any number of configurations, and all have their adavantages and disadvantages. I saw you mention a skimmer in your list of equipment, besides the lighting, that is probably the most critical "next" piece of equipment you should be thinking about. Once again, I would check out a few in different peoples setups to see what will work best for you. Is the tank a "reef ready" or drilled tank with overflows? If not, you will need an overflow box as well. Best of luck and keep asking questions!

Bob

 

[wt*jayjay]

Thanks for the advice guys! Yeah Im thinking I may have to revamp my stand a little just for that reason. But eitherway I'm going to make a wooden frame with some really strong casters on it for the 55 to sit on. So even if everything just barley fits atleast I can role it out to get to everything. (I have laminate hardwood floor so pulling it out will be a breeze)


And my buddy who actually told me about this site has tought me most everything. He's got a 55 reef set up with a 20gallon sump and 10gallon refugium. I'm actually so new to all this that I just went to his house a few days ago and h showed me how everything works.

Oh and my tank isnot drilled so I will b getting an overflow. What is the advantage of drilling vs useing an overflow? And is there an easyway to do it yourself without cracking the glass?

Sry for all the noob questions but I just wana get all this rght before I start buyng stuff

 

[drnecropolis]

Nothing wrong with asking questions.. Its the only way to learn.. As far as the overflow I couldn't say.. All the tanks I have had were drilled. As far as drilling you have to make sure the glass isn't tempered. If it is and you try to drill it.. KABOOM! Well maybe not like that but it would be a bad scene.. As far as moving it with ease.. I thought that also.. Those tanks can weigh more than you think..

 

[wt*jayjay]

Ha in that case I'll just get an overflow. And yeah I figgure if the sump is full it will be close to 500lbs. With good casters it shouldn't be too bad for me. Now if I had carpet that would be a differnt story..

 

[gametrackers]

Before you decide that the T-5's will be good enough determine what you want to put in your tank. Talk to a bunch of sponsors and other people on this forumn and check out their tanks. You might decide you want to go with a complete different setup of corals after seeing them. Light does matter at that point. Keep in mind corals like flow so if you have someone drill the tank think about setting up with 1 return and a closed loop pump. Also powerheads in your list of items. Make sure that the skimmer will fit in your sump before you start setting it up. Get a skimmer that you want that will fit under the tank and design the sump to it and you could have a refugium set up in your sump also since you are using a 55. Check out a couple setup and go from there. It is always going to be a try it one way then do it another way process till you find what you like. Heck It took me 3 times setting up my tank and breaking it down in the past year to just get it the way it is now.

 

[oldschool52]

Welcome

You have a good idea for rolling out your sump, just remember your talking about 400 to 500 lbs when full (lots of weight to roll around). The pumps your Dad has may be ok but they need to be salt water compatible. I tried a 3500 gph pond pump, really did a number on it with salt but was able to repair it. Again depending on what you guys have been pumping it would probably be better with one designed for salt water. Like said in previous post get a good skimmer. I have found that you don't need the most expensive don't get one just because it is cheep. You can ask here with people who have a similar size set-up what works good for them. I run drilled and non-drilled with overflows. Drilled tanks are much easier to plumb. I personally like not having stuff hung on the back, but they both work. If you know how to drill glass you can do-it-yourself but you can pay some shops that do it and not worry about cracking your tank. I do know Chris at Fish Scales can drill a tank. You may find a place closer to you that can do it. I'm thinking about drilling a 30g but I don't think I would attempt a 120 cause if you crack it replacing the glass is a headache and more expensive.

Main thing is to take your time and ask questions. If you don't get in a big hurry it will pay off in the long run.

Hope this helps.

 

[drnecropolis]

My main worry with moving it would be stress on the seams.. 1 good little splash could be worse case possible.. Not trying to be a negative nelly.. Just might be more to it than what appears at surface level.. I think its a good idea and very possible.. Just wonder what all would have to go into it to make if safe.. Is your estimate of 500lbs based on just water in the tank or total weight of everything?

 

[wt*jayjay]

Thanks for the advice on the lights! Since I'm always at optimum I'll just have to go talk to Greg ad get him to show me what all will and won't grow with sertian lights. Butnthen again I might just go with the good stuff first thing so I can add anything I want later down the road. Oh and I forgot to mention I already have two pretty powerful power heads, forget what they are rated at but they were the biggest ones petco had when I got them and if some of my lager cichlids got to close to them you would see them getting pushed around a good bit .

I think I'm just goin to go with the over flow for now as well. But I might change my mind on that tomorrow ..

And yes my estimate of 500lbs was with everthing maybe give or take 20 lbs. I did the math at each gallon at 8.3lbs pluss the tank and everthing else. Pluss thats the weight with the tank filled to the verry verry top..

 

[drnecropolis]

I think its going to be closer to around 600 or so.. saltwater weighs about 8.556lb/gallon..at 50 gallons only thats at around 427lbs plus sand,rock,stand,light,canopy.. LOL.. you get the point..