125 gallon build and what do I need?

fng_71 · 04/25/2012, 03:45 PM

I've recently bought a 125 gallon tank stand and some misc. parts for $250. So far I sold the hob overflow, 2 ballast, and a gen x hp pump. Sold all that for $230. So far I'm doing good got the tank stand and another gen x pump left over. I bought a glass-holes 1500 gph overflow with 2 3/4" returns with the flared nozzle. I know I want a refugium but from there I'm a little lost. I just read a great thread posted here by sk8er which explained a lot about calcium magnesium and alkalinity. But do I dose manually or get a Kalk reactor. I guess I should tell you what I want. I want to have a mix of softies and mushrooms and sort and work upto the lps maybe sps some day if I get daring but I want to start simple and work my way up. But I don't want to buy supplies I don't need. I don't want to cut corners. I just don't want to throw money away. For lighting so far I like the Orphek LEDs and I think I read they're looking to make them dimmable.

Sorry for such a long post. Equipment and suggested manufacturers would help thank you

fng_71 · 04/25/2012, 06:10 PM

even the crickets are quiet.

anyone bueler bueler

Palting · 04/25/2012, 06:25 PM

I started planning on a 125, but ended up with a 150. Here's my build thread, with the equipment list in the first post: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1853170.

With regards to calcium and alk and dosing, the need to dose usually does not arise until well into the hobby. Regular routine water changes will suffice to maintain alk and calcium for a surprisingly long time. There's is no immediate need for a kalk reactor. With 10% water changes weekly and maintaing salinity at 1.026 with Reef Crystals, I did not need to dose at all for almost 18 months. At that point, my mixed reef was heavy on SPS, LPS and a few NPS, and the demand had skyrocketed.

fng_71 · 04/25/2012, 07:52 PM

thanks, it will take awhile to read all the info on that thread. i like the idea of the 10% weekly changes over the kalk reeactor for now. on that thread why 2 maxi jet pumps? i see that often. refugiums are still a bit chinese to me. every time i feel i figured it out something new pops up. i was planning the overflow to a 3 chamber fuge. the order of the chambers is still up for grabs.

Palting · 04/25/2012, 09:19 PM

I didn't mean for you to read the whole thread. You are welcome to read the whole thread for other reasons, but I posted the link to answer your question. You asked about equipment, and that was in the first post of that thread.

I had 2 reasons for the twin return pumps. One was that I would maximinze the twin overflows with the two pumps, and second was that there would at least be one pump running should one pump quit. I became too noisy with 2 pumps. 1 pump was just right, so I switched to one pump, and made up the flow with multiple powerheads within the DT.

You can plan on a refugium, but it is not that needed in the beginning. You can always plumb a remote one in, or convert a section of the sump at a later date. As for sump designs, there are tons of threads here at RC. You can do a search, or start a new thread.

BTW, have you checked out the stickies at the top in the newbie forum? Lots of good info in there.

fng_71 · 04/26/2012, 12:19 PM

thanks again. i agree with the stickies. i've come across quite a few good ones

fng_71 · 04/26/2012, 07:16 PM

cleaned the tank today and doing a water test today at work. hopefully it will be full of water in the morning with no catastrophic failure or leaks. althought i can fix a leak.

Lynnmw1208 · 04/27/2012, 12:28 PM

you can take a look at my thread as well. I started a 125 gallon a year ago about. I would recommend to drill that tank! soooo glad I did!!! also if you can build your own, better stand, I would. The ones that come with these tanks are just sooo low. I have a hard time doing anything under mine.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1917666

bongarone · 04/27/2012, 03:09 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about Ca, KH and Mg. They're very easy to test for and very easy and CHEAP to replenish (kalkwasser, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate).

Most important is to get a good skimmer. Maybe a Super Reef Octopus XP2000 or similar. If you decide to try carbon dosing to lower nitrate/phosphate, a good skimmer is integral to the effectiveness of the dosing.

fng_71 · 04/29/2012, 10:48 AM

thanks for the replies. the tank is water tight. i replaced the top frame since it was cracked. word of advice. when you're scraping off the silicon, don't take off your gloves. just a small cut from a rough edge. now i have to wait a few days while my tank sits upside down while the new silicon cures. got the glass-holes kits in. little nervous about driling but can't wait. also got an eshopps cone skimmer the s-150.

fng_71 · 04/29/2012, 05:15 PM

lynn, i knew your name looked familiar. your build thread is the first one i saw. that's why i joined rc. i've even painted the trim on my tank. next is the glass holes kit then paint the back of my tank. although the link you gave me has far more than the first thread i saw. thank you for a lot of the ideas i have for my tank.

04/25/2012, 03:45 PM	#1
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	125 gallon build and what do I need? I've recently bought a 125 gallon tank stand and some misc. parts for $250. So far I sold the hob overflow, 2 ballast, and a gen x hp pump. Sold all that for $230. So far I'm doing good got the tank stand and another gen x pump left over. I bought a glass-holes 1500 gph overflow with 2 3/4" returns with the flared nozzle. I know I want a refugium but from there I'm a little lost. I just read a great thread posted here by sk8er which explained a lot about calcium magnesium and alkalinity. But do I dose manually or get a Kalk reactor. I guess I should tell you what I want. I want to have a mix of softies and mushrooms and sort and work upto the lps maybe sps some day if I get daring but I want to start simple and work my way up. But I don't want to buy supplies I don't need. I don't want to cut corners. I just don't want to throw money away. For lighting so far I like the Orphek LEDs and I think I read they're looking to make them dimmable. Sorry for such a long post. Equipment and suggested manufacturers would help thank you

04/25/2012, 06:25 PM	#3
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I started planning on a 125, but ended up with a 150. Here's my build thread, with the equipment list in the first post: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1853170. With regards to calcium and alk and dosing, the need to dose usually does not arise until well into the hobby. Regular routine water changes will suffice to maintain alk and calcium for a surprisingly long time. There's is no immediate need for a kalk reactor. With 10% water changes weekly and maintaing salinity at 1.026 with Reef Crystals, I did not need to dose at all for almost 18 months. At that point, my mixed reef was heavy on SPS, LPS and a few NPS, and the demand had skyrocketed. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

04/25/2012, 09:19 PM	#5
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I didn't mean for you to read the whole thread. You are welcome to read the whole thread for other reasons, but I posted the link to answer your question. You asked about equipment, and that was in the first post of that thread. I had 2 reasons for the twin return pumps. One was that I would maximinze the twin overflows with the two pumps, and second was that there would at least be one pump running should one pump quit. I became too noisy with 2 pumps. 1 pump was just right, so I switched to one pump, and made up the flow with multiple powerheads within the DT. You can plan on a refugium, but it is not that needed in the beginning. You can always plumb a remote one in, or convert a section of the sump at a later date. As for sump designs, there are tons of threads here at RC. You can do a search, or start a new thread. BTW, have you checked out the stickies at the top in the newbie forum? Lots of good info in there. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

04/27/2012, 12:28 PM	#8
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	you can take a look at my thread as well. I started a 125 gallon a year ago about. I would recommend to drill that tank! soooo glad I did!!! also if you can build your own, better stand, I would. The ones that come with these tanks are just sooo low. I have a hard time doing anything under mine. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1917666 __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

04/25/2012, 06:10 PM	#2
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	even the crickets are quiet. anyone bueler bueler

04/25/2012, 07:52 PM	#4
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	thanks, it will take awhile to read all the info on that thread. i like the idea of the 10% weekly changes over the kalk reeactor for now. on that thread why 2 maxi jet pumps? i see that often. refugiums are still a bit chinese to me. every time i feel i figured it out something new pops up. i was planning the overflow to a 3 chamber fuge. the order of the chambers is still up for grabs.

04/26/2012, 12:19 PM	#6
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	thanks again. i agree with the stickies. i've come across quite a few good ones

04/26/2012, 07:16 PM	#7
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	cleaned the tank today and doing a water test today at work. hopefully it will be full of water in the morning with no catastrophic failure or leaks. althought i can fix a leak.

04/27/2012, 03:09 PM	#9
bongarone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Posts: 423	I wouldn't worry too much about Ca, KH and Mg. They're very easy to test for and very easy and CHEAP to replenish (kalkwasser, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate). Most important is to get a good skimmer. Maybe a Super Reef Octopus XP2000 or similar. If you decide to try carbon dosing to lower nitrate/phosphate, a good skimmer is integral to the effectiveness of the dosing.

04/29/2012, 10:48 AM	#10
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	thanks for the replies. the tank is water tight. i replaced the top frame since it was cracked. word of advice. when you're scraping off the silicon, don't take off your gloves. just a small cut from a rough edge. now i have to wait a few days while my tank sits upside down while the new silicon cures. got the glass-holes kits in. little nervous about driling but can't wait. also got an eshopps cone skimmer the s-150.

04/29/2012, 05:15 PM	#11
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	lynn, i knew your name looked familiar. your build thread is the first one i saw. that's why i joined rc. i've even painted the trim on my tank. next is the glass holes kit then paint the back of my tank. although the link you gave me has far more than the first thread i saw. thank you for a lot of the ideas i have for my tank.