New to saltwater picked up a tank today and have questions

[Bcsader]

Hi guys I am new to saltwater and have some questions about how to set up my tank. The tank is 150 gallons and has six bulkheads in the bottom. How should I plumb these and what too. Also is there any way to use these for a protein skimmer. And lastly where locally can I get bulkheads I messed up a couple during transport Any help is appreciated.

Thanks
Brian

[evsalty]

Depending on where the holes are in the bottom of the tank they could be either for closed loop use or as drains and returns into and out of a sump/refugium tank. Do you have any picks and measurements of the holes. Is there any type of overflow setup around any of the holes? Usually the larger holes will be for drains and the smaller holes used for returns. In closed loop this can change based on how many drains vs returns you have.

[RoganTerrance]

Welcome

[fishbooy]

what side of town are you on?

[Reeefer]

Welcome bro. Share some pics. It will help us help you!

[Bcsader]

Im in Gilbert off of Cooper and Guadalupe. I will work on getting some pics for you guys. There aren't any overflows all the bulkeads are just in the bottom and all appear the same size. At this point I just want to plug them off and leak test the tank. Can I get new bulkheads at the hardware store or where do I get them.

[reefstew]

Most of the lfs will have bulk heads. Aq. Arts or Az. Sea Bottom might be the closest store for you.

[ebrewer]

Aquarium Arts seems to have a lot of tanks set up for closed loop. I would check with them. I can't remember his name but the owner I believe will explain the loop system and exactly how to set it up as he is a big closed loop guy!

[cabinboy]

I don't know if you need sch80 but I have 2, 1" and 2 ,3\4" bulkheads ill sell you for 20$

[Bcsader]

Thanks Cabinboy but I already went to aquarium arts and bought a couple. The tank came with two Seaclear canister filters and two pumps are they any good. So I can guess that the two outermost holes that are set back a little are for the returns and then two holes went to each canister inlet. Does that seem like it would work. Also does anyone know how to make a screen to go in the bottom over the bulkheads. Thanks


Brian

[cabinboy]

A screen will never hold.you can get pvc plugs you can glue or thread in
And you want them going in the hole inside the tank ,lots of pressure going down.

[Bcsader]

No I mean if I hook up the two canister filters and do undergravel filtration I am gonna need a screen right. I got 3/4 plugs to put in the bulkheads for now for the leak test.

[cabinboy]

sorry misunderstood you.
you can get a plastic one that slips into the bulk head it looks like a cone


They look like this

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/...5/category.web

[Bcsader]

Well the tank holds water so that is good. What do you guys think about ocean clear canister filters. The tank came with two of them but they need cartidges and parts to work. Are they worth fixing up or no?

[dmorel]

Originally Posted by Bcsader

Well the tank holds water so that is good. What do you guys think about ocean clear canister filters. The tank came with two of them but they need cartidges and parts to work. Are they worth fixing up or no?

First off, welcome to the hobby, RC, and the local FRAG forum.

just a couple of thoughts on this thread so far...

Under gravel filtration and canister filters are not really part of the modern reef... I wouldn't even consider them myself.

The (overwhelming) majority of us use biological filtration in the form of live rock and sand, with mechanical filtration really being limited to things like protein skimmers.

You should probably do a lot more research before you spend money on any thing more.

From what you've posted so far, I would suggest you need some pumps and plumbing for a closed loop, you need a sump, a return pump, a protein skimmer and lighting, plus test kits, heaters, and a bunch more.
You'll need sand, live rock, salt, an RODI water to get started.

If that sounds overwhelming, just wait! It gets worse

Depending on what animals you want to keep (fish, corals, etc) the proper set up can change drastically. And if you decide now that you want to do one thing and later change your mind you may end up buying a whole bunch of the same equipment, just of a different caliber, later on...

Seriously, this is a super hobby but it's also a very slow moving one. There is a TON to learn, many of us have been doing this for years, decades even and still we're learning new things everyday.

I do want to urge you to do a tremendous amount of research before you go any further.
Tell us what kind of set up you're looking for, what kind of animals you want to keep and we might be able to make some more specific recommendations.

And the last thing I want to emphasize is a lesson often repeated in this hobby that we all learn sooner or later, nothing good happens fast in this hobby (as opposed to bad things which can happen in moments)...

again, welcome.

[Bcsader]

Thanks for the welcome and i understand that there is a lot to learn. I have looked all over the web and after reading so many different opinions and trying to differentiate between setups I don't really feel like I know much more than when I started. When I first decided to do saltwater it was just for the fish. My daughter loves Nemo so I wanted to get a clown fish or two. I was told by someone that I couldn't have a clown fish without doing a coral tank. I guess right now I just want to get the tank up and running and add live rock over time as I can afford and eventually get fish. I figured it would be best to start out with a fowlr and see how it goes

[ScrubberOTanky]

FWIW if you want to just do fish, and only have a "Swim" tank, I would use undergravel plates that Aquarium Arts can have made for you, a good UV sterilizer, and a closed loop and canister filter. A hang on protein skimmer wouldn't be a terrible investment either. This would be your basic Saltwater "Fish Tank"

On the other hand if you want a reef and corals and other inverts, I would seriously consider getting a tank with an overflow and re-evaluating everything sooner rather than later. You will need a lot of what Dmorel suggested an then some. Expensive lights, and much more equipment and money

I guess put it this way: a swim tank with just fish can be up and running with a minimal investment and knowledge base, but a reef is an entire different scenario.

Oh yeah... WELCOME!

[Reeefer]

I'd recommend checking out a few local peoples setups just to get an idea on what appeals to you. That will determine what type of equipment you need. I'm sure most people here would love to show off their tank to someone that appreciates the hobby. Unless you have a money tree, it's best to ge it right the first time. Do your research and shop around, including here, Craigslist, and the LFSs. A swim tank is certainly nice, but if you are only going to have one tank you have to have a reef!