Just taking a look at salt water/reff aquariums...

dax29 · 08/16/2009, 12:09 PM

Hi there.

I have been keeping cichlids for 5 years know and I'm starting to look at salt water tanks more and more. I can't get the queen angel I saw at the lfs out of my head either.

I have many tanks which are:
125 (72X18X20)
100 (60X18X20)
3 75s (48X18x20)
55 (48X12X20)
50 (36X18X19)
20L (30X12X12)

I'd like to go to just two tanks with saltwater fish, the 125 and the 100. I'd like to use the other tanks as sumps and/or for making RO water. The 125 and 100 aren't drilled, and I'm a little squeemish about getting them drilled and I'm not sure they have the right kind of glass in the bottom anyway. I'd probably go with a lot of skimmers, live rock and live sand. I can get the lights changed and all. Anyway, I've read the 9 page article and I'm a little intimidated. Are saltwater tanks a big deal to maintain? I already do weelky waterchanges on all the above tanks.

joeychitwood · 08/16/2009, 12:24 PM

If you have maintained that many tanks with cichlids, I'm sure you can handle salt water reef tanks. Monitoring the water chemistry is a bit more involved, but once you become accustomed to the routine, it's not very difficult. If I can do it, anyone can.

Mathfreak71 · 08/16/2009, 12:25 PM

I started my 75 in April. I don't have an ATO so on a daily basis I have to add water (1 to 1.5 gallons a day). I do a 5 to 10 gallon water change weekly. I have to empty my skimmer cup 3 times a week. Twice a month I clean the filter sock. When I am doing my water changes I clean the sump and tank a little. I would say I spend maybe 30 minutes a day on average on cleaning and maintenance.

dax29 · 08/16/2009, 12:30 PM

The 125 and the 100 are not pre-drilled. Is that a huge deal? I was planning on using a couple of 75 gallon tanks to make my RO water. Is that how its done? Anyone have experience with the hang on the back refugiums? I'm just taking stabs right now.

Henry Bowman · 08/16/2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dax29
The 125 and the 100 are not pre-drilled. Is that a huge deal? I was planning on using a couple of 75 gallon tanks to make my RO water. Is that how its done? Anyone have experience with the hang on the back refugiums? I'm just taking stabs right now.

Not having the tank drilled is not that big a deal. I would recomend that you use sumps on your tanks. You can get over the top "overflows" that work pretty well. You can check Lifereef and or CPR overflows, I have used them both without any issues.

Hang on the back refugiums are a neat concept, they can be used to house cheatomorpha algea for nitrite / nitrate reduction. You can easily build a refugium into a sump under the tank as well.

For the RO water, many folks use brute or rubbermaid trash containers. If you have room, you could definitely use an old tank for it. There has been conversation recently of hobbyists that have measurable phosphates after storing water in brute containers? An old tank would obviously negate that issue.

Keep the questions coming AND keep reading. Salt water as posted above just requires a few more tests, good husbandry and patience.

dax29 · 08/16/2009, 01:04 PM

Thanks. Is there a way to make sure that the over the top "overflows" don't cause an overflow disaster? How big of a sump would one need for a 125 or 100 gallon tank? Are saltwater sumps much like freshwater sumps? I guess you could add live rock and all to a sump. I'm really new to all of this. Probably be months before I make any moves. Any articles or things I could read would be nice. Are there guides to stocking reef tanks? Obviously the queen angel is out of the question, but I'm sure I could combine a few smaller fish that are really colorful. I want the tank to be clean too, with little to no growth on the glass. Whew. There is so much to know about saltwater. Are there some good books available that the members here can recommend.

Henry Bowman · 08/16/2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dax29
Thanks. Is there a way to make sure that the over the top "overflows" don't cause an overflow disaster? How big of a sump would one need for a 125 or 100 gallon tank? Are saltwater sumps much like freshwater sumps? I guess you could add live rock and all to a sump. I'm really new to all of this. Probably be months before I make any moves. Any articles or things I could read would be nice. Are there guides to stocking reef tanks? Obviously the queen angel is out of the question, but I'm sure I could combine a few smaller fish that are really colorful. I want the tank to be clean too, with little to no growth on the glass. Whew. There is so much to know about saltwater. Are there some good books available that the members here can recommend.

The two overflows I recommended wont cause disasters. They are designed to stop flowing when the power goes off and then kick back into action when the power goes on.

Saltwater sumps are similar to fresh in that they are contained under the stand and house most of the equipment and sometimes a refugium (fuge).

The rock "can" go in the sump, but for architecture and asthetics,most always it goes in the main display tank (DT).

Here are a couple links...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1031074

That is a message with clickable links.... many articles and information.

You can keep posting questions here and get lots of answers. Reef Central is a great knowledge base for all things saltwater.

Hope that helps.

dax29 · 08/16/2009, 01:14 PM

Thanks again. I've found some good stuff in the online magazine Reefkeeping.

Mike31154 · 08/16/2009, 03:34 PM

If you're not in a big hurry to get set up, I think it might be worth looking into getting the tank you wish to use drilled for an overflow. It's not that difficult, I drilled a used 65 just recently that I plan to use as a sump/refugium. If you know the tank manufacturer, that will be a first step in determining if any panes are tempered glass, which is not drillable. Generally the bottom panes are, but it can vary. There are ways of finding out if a pane is tempered using polarizing filters (sunglasses & notebook computer screens).

Poeticlydead · 08/16/2009, 03:57 PM

With your selection of tanks here is one possibility that would utilize them all and cover all your bases:

125 DT
75 sump/fuge

100 DT
55 sump/fuge

2 75s could be used for ro water storage and salt water mixing/storage

50 gallon could be saved as a hospital/quarintine tank

20L could be frag tank

dax29 · 08/16/2009, 06:16 PM

Good ideas all. The wife wants me to downsize though. Does a quarantine tank need much to be effective? I can't get a 75 under the 125 as it is not on a conventional stand.

08/16/2009, 12:09 PM	#1
dax29 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tifton, GA Posts: 66	Just taking a look at salt water/reff aquariums... Hi there. I have been keeping cichlids for 5 years know and I'm starting to look at salt water tanks more and more. I can't get the queen angel I saw at the lfs out of my head either. I have many tanks which are: 125 (72X18X20) 100 (60X18X20) 3 75s (48X18x20) 55 (48X12X20) 50 (36X18X19) 20L (30X12X12) I'd like to go to just two tanks with saltwater fish, the 125 and the 100. I'd like to use the other tanks as sumps and/or for making RO water. The 125 and 100 aren't drilled, and I'm a little squeemish about getting them drilled and I'm not sure they have the right kind of glass in the bottom anyway. I'd probably go with a lot of skimmers, live rock and live sand. I can get the lights changed and all. Anyway, I've read the 9 page article and I'm a little intimidated. Are saltwater tanks a big deal to maintain? I already do weelky waterchanges on all the above tanks.

08/16/2009, 12:25 PM	#3
Mathfreak71 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Marion, Illinois Posts: 253	I started my 75 in April. I don't have an ATO so on a daily basis I have to add water (1 to 1.5 gallons a day). I do a 5 to 10 gallon water change weekly. I have to empty my skimmer cup 3 times a week. Twice a month I clean the filter sock. When I am doing my water changes I clean the sump and tank a little. I would say I spend maybe 30 minutes a day on average on cleaning and maintenance. __________________ Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something. - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75 gallon 3-sided starfire reef tank with 3 AI sol blues

08/16/2009, 03:34 PM	#9
Mike31154 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,555	If you're not in a big hurry to get set up, I think it might be worth looking into getting the tank you wish to use drilled for an overflow. It's not that difficult, I drilled a used 65 just recently that I plan to use as a sump/refugium. If you know the tank manufacturer, that will be a first step in determining if any panes are tempered glass, which is not drillable. Generally the bottom panes are, but it can vary. There are ways of finding out if a pane is tempered using polarizing filters (sunglasses & notebook computer screens). __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 77g sumpless sw with rock, sand, a few critters, fishes & polyps. Lights, pumps.....

08/16/2009, 03:57 PM	#10
Poeticlydead Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 414	With your selection of tanks here is one possibility that would utilize them all and cover all your bases: 125 DT 75 sump/fuge 100 DT 55 sump/fuge 2 75s could be used for ro water storage and salt water mixing/storage 50 gallon could be saved as a hospital/quarintine tank 20L could be frag tank __________________ No, I can't spell and no I don't care how it is spelled. Current Tank Info: 90gal reef tank, 40g FOWLR, couple of nanos

08/16/2009, 12:24 PM	#2
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	If you have maintained that many tanks with cichlids, I'm sure you can handle salt water reef tanks. Monitoring the water chemistry is a bit more involved, but once you become accustomed to the routine, it's not very difficult. If I can do it, anyone can.

08/16/2009, 12:30 PM	#4
dax29 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tifton, GA Posts: 66	The 125 and the 100 are not pre-drilled. Is that a huge deal? I was planning on using a couple of 75 gallon tanks to make my RO water. Is that how its done? Anyone have experience with the hang on the back refugiums? I'm just taking stabs right now.

08/16/2009, 01:04 PM	#6
dax29 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tifton, GA Posts: 66	Thanks. Is there a way to make sure that the over the top "overflows" don't cause an overflow disaster? How big of a sump would one need for a 125 or 100 gallon tank? Are saltwater sumps much like freshwater sumps? I guess you could add live rock and all to a sump. I'm really new to all of this. Probably be months before I make any moves. Any articles or things I could read would be nice. Are there guides to stocking reef tanks? Obviously the queen angel is out of the question, but I'm sure I could combine a few smaller fish that are really colorful. I want the tank to be clean too, with little to no growth on the glass. Whew. There is so much to know about saltwater. Are there some good books available that the members here can recommend.

08/16/2009, 01:14 PM	#8
dax29 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tifton, GA Posts: 66	Thanks again. I've found some good stuff in the online magazine Reefkeeping.

08/16/2009, 06:16 PM	#11
dax29 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tifton, GA Posts: 66	Good ideas all. The wife wants me to downsize though. Does a quarantine tank need much to be effective? I can't get a 75 under the 125 as it is not on a conventional stand.