help me setup my 125

dragon guppy · 10/16/2008, 11:17 AM

Its been 2 years since I quit this hobby but its time again to return back and need great help from
Fellow RC friends to give me a refresher course.

I use to have a 46g back then but wants to move on to a bigger tank now. Here is what i am thinkg of including in my tank and need your advice with.

125 or larger tank but no more than 180:
What kind shold i get starfire or glass or any other kind
What is a good size ?
Any good store with nice deals

100 lbs rocks:
What kind should i get (fiji or other kind)
where can i find a good deal on them
is 100 lbs good amount for 125-180 ??

Salt and other stuff ??
What kind of base should I get? Sand or crushed coral
What is a good amound of Sand ?
How much Salt is needed to get kick started ? what kind or company?

What other additives i need to start the tank healthy like testing kits or crabs and stuff
before adding first fish

How long do I need to wait beofe adding first fish? how long does it usually takes for the
water levels to make fish livable.

What do you thnk is the total budget I should set aside for the whole project ??

Sorry for asking so many question at once.

dragon guppy · 10/16/2008, 01:16 PM

bump

AbraxasFrog · 10/16/2008, 02:23 PM

Congratulations on starting up a new tank! That is great...

Lots of questions (and everytime you get an answer it leads to two more questions).

A great place to start is WaterKeeper's series of articles about setting up a new tank. You can find that here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=239848.

It will answer those questions that you need.

Zac

dragon guppy · 10/17/2008, 06:32 AM

I think I have very specific questions where as the link has very general info for a beginner.

Tswifty · 10/17/2008, 07:37 AM

Its been 2 years since I quit this hobby but its time again to return back and need great help from
Fellow RC friends to give me a refresher course.

Welcome back

125 or larger tank but no more than 180:
What kind shold i get starfire or glass or any other kind
What is a good size ?
Any good store with nice deals

6' tank is a good start, and a 125 is a nice size. IMO look for a REEF READY TANK. It will save you headaches in the long run. Deals will vary among the stores in your area. Personally, I like to purchase used and use sites like craigslist. You'd be surprised some of the deals that are out there.

100 lbs rocks:
What kind should i get (fiji or other kind)
where can i find a good deal on them
is 100 lbs good amount for 125-180 ??

I like using ALL live rock although some people mix in base rock. 100lbs is a good start. I like just aquascaping to your preference, and try not to get wrapped up in a number. Most of the time after you're done, you'll be in the 1lb to 1.5lb per gallon area.

Salt and other stuff ??
What kind of base should I get? Sand or crushed coral
What is a good amound of Sand ?
How much Salt is needed to get kick started ? what kind or company?

Dry medium grade aragonite sand... not the super fine stuff. Avoid crushed coral IMO. There's a sand bed calculator on the homepage. A 2"-4" sandbed usually looks good, and will allow you ample room for burrowing livestock.

As far as salt goes, I would buy twice what your tank requires to start. Instant Ocean, or ReefCrystals are popular... along with Tropic Marin, or Tropic Marin Pro if you want to spend a little more. I personally use ReefCrystals, and www.drsfosterandsmith.com is the best place I've found to order it from.

What other additives i need to start the tank healthy like testing kits or crabs and stuff
before adding first fish

Test Kits... Salifert or API
- pH
- Ammonia
- Nitrite
- Nitrate
- Alkalinity
- Ca
- Mag

(Off hand I think that's all of them

)

Also, you should pick up a refractometer (hydrometers are junk) and calibration fluid.

How long do I need to wait beofe adding first fish? how long does it usually takes for the
water levels to make fish livable.

You need to wait for your tank to finish cycling, which can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. I usually wait 8 weeks just for the heck of it.

What do you thnk is the total budget I should set aside for the whole project ??

Depends... I look for used stuff as much as possible, and DIY everything I can. So depending on how involved you plan to get, the cost can vary significantly.

MISC:

GOOD SKIMMER... For a 125 I would recommend the Marine Solutions MSX-200 or MSX-250. By far, the best bang for your buck in a skimmer.

FLOW... I recommend picking up 2 of the Modded Maxi-Jet 1200's with the "Sure Flow" mod. Avoid Koralia's... a lot of people use them, but I think they are absolute junk for larger tanks.

LIGHTING... will depend on what you want to keep. If you want a FOWLR, then any lighting will do. If you intend to keep corals, I would recommend the IceCap VHO retrofit kits. They will allow you to keep anything you would like from Clams & SPS on down.

SUMP... As large as you can fit under the tank. If you feel like dropping money on a pre-manufactured one, there are some nice ones out there. Stay away from the Wet/Dry filters that use Bio Balls though. Also, it's much cheaper to build a sump out of a smaller aquarium yourself. A 30g long would work nicely on a 125g tank.

Sorry for asking so many question at once.

Ask away, that's what were here for. Good luck.

Seriously... check out waterkeeper's articles, they do help out a lot.

dragon guppy · 10/19/2008, 09:30 AM

bump

10/16/2008, 11:17 AM	#1
dragon guppy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 9	help me setup my 125 Its been 2 years since I quit this hobby but its time again to return back and need great help from Fellow RC friends to give me a refresher course. I use to have a 46g back then but wants to move on to a bigger tank now. Here is what i am thinkg of including in my tank and need your advice with. 125 or larger tank but no more than 180: What kind shold i get starfire or glass or any other kind What is a good size ? Any good store with nice deals 100 lbs rocks: What kind should i get (fiji or other kind) where can i find a good deal on them is 100 lbs good amount for 125-180 ?? Salt and other stuff ?? What kind of base should I get? Sand or crushed coral What is a good amound of Sand ? How much Salt is needed to get kick started ? what kind or company? What other additives i need to start the tank healthy like testing kits or crabs and stuff before adding first fish How long do I need to wait beofe adding first fish? how long does it usually takes for the water levels to make fish livable. What do you thnk is the total budget I should set aside for the whole project ?? Sorry for asking so many question at once.

10/16/2008, 02:23 PM	#3
AbraxasFrog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 42	Congratulations on starting up a new tank! That is great... Lots of questions (and everytime you get an answer it leads to two more questions). A great place to start is WaterKeeper's series of articles about setting up a new tank. You can find that here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=239848. It will answer those questions that you need. Zac __________________ Hey there dead bird...hey there. Current Tank Info: Just purchased a 180G, details to follow!

10/17/2008, 07:37 AM	#5
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Re: help me setup my 125 Its been 2 years since I quit this hobby but its time again to return back and need great help from Fellow RC friends to give me a refresher course. Welcome back 125 or larger tank but no more than 180: What kind shold i get starfire or glass or any other kind What is a good size ? Any good store with nice deals 6' tank is a good start, and a 125 is a nice size. IMO look for a REEF READY TANK. It will save you headaches in the long run. Deals will vary among the stores in your area. Personally, I like to purchase used and use sites like craigslist. You'd be surprised some of the deals that are out there. 100 lbs rocks: What kind should i get (fiji or other kind) where can i find a good deal on them is 100 lbs good amount for 125-180 ?? I like using ALL live rock although some people mix in base rock. 100lbs is a good start. I like just aquascaping to your preference, and try not to get wrapped up in a number. Most of the time after you're done, you'll be in the 1lb to 1.5lb per gallon area. Salt and other stuff ?? What kind of base should I get? Sand or crushed coral What is a good amound of Sand ? How much Salt is needed to get kick started ? what kind or company? Dry medium grade aragonite sand... not the super fine stuff. Avoid crushed coral IMO. There's a sand bed calculator on the homepage. A 2"-4" sandbed usually looks good, and will allow you ample room for burrowing livestock. As far as salt goes, I would buy twice what your tank requires to start. Instant Ocean, or ReefCrystals are popular... along with Tropic Marin, or Tropic Marin Pro if you want to spend a little more. I personally use ReefCrystals, and www.drsfosterandsmith.com is the best place I've found to order it from. What other additives i need to start the tank healthy like testing kits or crabs and stuff before adding first fish Test Kits... Salifert or API - pH - Ammonia - Nitrite - Nitrate - Alkalinity - Ca - Mag (Off hand I think that's all of them ) Also, you should pick up a refractometer (hydrometers are junk) and calibration fluid. How long do I need to wait beofe adding first fish? how long does it usually takes for the water levels to make fish livable. You need to wait for your tank to finish cycling, which can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. I usually wait 8 weeks just for the heck of it. What do you thnk is the total budget I should set aside for the whole project ?? Depends... I look for used stuff as much as possible, and DIY everything I can. So depending on how involved you plan to get, the cost can vary significantly. MISC: GOOD SKIMMER... For a 125 I would recommend the Marine Solutions MSX-200 or MSX-250. By far, the best bang for your buck in a skimmer. FLOW... I recommend picking up 2 of the Modded Maxi-Jet 1200's with the "Sure Flow" mod. Avoid Koralia's... a lot of people use them, but I think they are absolute junk for larger tanks. LIGHTING... will depend on what you want to keep. If you want a FOWLR, then any lighting will do. If you intend to keep corals, I would recommend the IceCap VHO retrofit kits. They will allow you to keep anything you would like from Clams & SPS on down. SUMP... As large as you can fit under the tank. If you feel like dropping money on a pre-manufactured one, there are some nice ones out there. Stay away from the Wet/Dry filters that use Bio Balls though. Also, it's much cheaper to build a sump out of a smaller aquarium yourself. A 30g long would work nicely on a 125g tank. Sorry for asking so many question at once. Ask away, that's what were here for. Good luck. Seriously... check out waterkeeper's articles, they do help out a lot.

10/16/2008, 01:16 PM	#2
dragon guppy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 9	bump

10/17/2008, 06:32 AM	#4
dragon guppy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 9	I think I have very specific questions where as the link has very general info for a beginner.

10/19/2008, 09:30 AM	#6
dragon guppy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 9	bump