Brand New to Reef Keeping, Need Feedback

[Mirelyght]

hello all,

i haven't started a tank yet (wife was against it for the past decade, surprised me this month with seed money for our anniversary ), so i'm in the research and planning stage. i'm going to throw my ideas and plans at you guys and see what advice you can give me.


looking to do a 50-75 Gallon tank (torn between glass and acrylic....if i go acrylic i will go rectangular but if i go glass it will prolly be a bowfront. the wife found the acrylic bowfronts to be hard to look at and i want her happy heh). the tank is the hardest decision right now because of the plumbing i'm considering.

tell me if i'm way off here but i'd like the sump drain and the return to go through the back rather than the bottom to save space and have a durso fitting that will be easily accessible, as well as having the pipes on the outside will allow me to have more room for bypass valves and shutoffs (i read that more experienced reef keepers stick valves wherever they can).


it seems its easier to have acrylic drilled and plumbed the way you want but i'm stumped on who to buy from and what the differences in quality are between acrylic tank companies. if anyone can advise me on who the most reliable companies are with decent prices i'd be very grateful.


my other design decisions are pretty basic....under tank sump with refugium, LED's, Coral focused tank with a few fish....mostly look at invertebrates since i love them so much. Protein skimmer, tank controller, and then other add-ons as i can afford them (i.e. calcium reactor, U.V. sterilizer and such). Was hoping to do a mix of LPS's and SPS's with maybe a nem knocking around and possibly a clam.

 

[Snookin]

To long of a post.....but basically go glass for that size tank. Acrylic will scratch easy and your wife will hate the look of a scratched 50g tank.


Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Welcome to R2R and the addiction!!! As far as tanks go, I would go with glass. Acrylic can scratch easily. What area are you from? There are some tank manufacturers around that can make a tank to your specs. You might want to consider joining a reef club in your area as well. You might be able to find a great deal on a tank and equipment there. Also, you might find some locals to help you get started.

 

[Reefing Madness]

You've got some sound ideas there. But I'd go with Starphire Glass, its alot cleared than reg glass. Acrylic scratches, even if your careful. You can have a glass company drill the holes for you for your overflow.

 

[Mirelyght]

huh.....i figured acrylic was the way to go. the glass will certainly save me a LOT of cash. i just love the rounded corners on acrylic. alrighty thanks guys! i'm somewhat close to Milwaukee, WI.....there must be some local reef clubs....but i don't know where to start on finding one, guess i'll just google.

 

[Snookin]

Rounded corners of acrylic are also very hard to keep clean and not scratch. The last thing you néed to be worried about is the outside of your tank. The inside holds the real beauty. Other then that your other ideas are fine. Skimmer, lighting, etc.


Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

 

[Mirelyght]

if the water line comes up to the bottom of the frame how far below the water line is ideal for my overflow to be installed?

 

[Snookin]

So you already have a tank?


Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

 

[fragmatic]

The overflow needs to be below the water line, opinions from there will vary. I would like to suggest a couple of things. Glue in an overflow box. If you buy one of them it will tell you where to drill and what size hole for what size tank. The return doesn't have to be under water, but most do.

Don't forget to look at Craig's List. I got my main display from Craig's List and it cost me far less and was drilled and ready to go. Plus I got my first skimmer, the sump, and lots of other stuff tossed in. That way I got the stand too and all for much less than just a tank new. If you get a used one scrub the devil out of it. Sometimes you can even get your live rock in the deal. With a used reef tank you may be lucky like I was and it will be drilled and ready to go. Remember, you don't have to buy the first one that comes available. Wait for the one you really want. If you pass up a couple or so you will be learning how to and what to look for at what price, it all counts.

Check local reef tank clubs too, if you get lucky you will get the whole nine yards and assistance as a welcome aboard help from members, just for a few $$ and a membership. You will be glad to have their helpful guidance during your start up.

In your money thinking don't forget you need over a pound of live rock for every gallon of rated tank water. A large portion of it can be base rock (dried out live rock) but the larger share that is really living rock the better head start you get.

Next, hit garage sales. Aquarium hardware is really common in the sizes used for sumps and refugiums. I got both my refugiums, my RODI canisters, and some pumps at garage sales and spent almost nothing. This stuff is cheap in those, because lots of folk buy small aquariums and don't have the self discipline to maintain them.

I recommend you start with a sump and a separate refugium right out of the starter's gate. Bye the time you have it up and going you will have learned the advantages.

You will need a skimmer, new, used, DIY, or indifferent.... you need to have a good skimmer. Yes many start without them but most end up with a skimmer. The magic is in lots of living rock and a good skimmer. The rest can be managed in several ways or disciplines, but most all of us now days run plenty of LR and a good skimmer.

Good luck.... TAKE YOUR TIME, and think it through .... that is Rule #1 !!!!

 

[Mirelyght]

heh, pretty much everything you said is what's in my plan currently...except for looking for used equipment. i was feeling leery of used stuff so figured i'd shop around for deals on new but i'll check craig's list. i'm not going to rush this because i don't have the space or funds to run multiple tanks no matter how much i want to. so i'm going to make my purchases count and try and do as much as i can "right" the first time which means lots of planning. glad to know i'm on the right track so far....a decent refugium was something i figured i'd have to actually build myself for proper dimensions.

mike paletta had a pretty straight forward sump/refugium in one of his videos that i took a liking to. was going to sort of plan around that but i know there's lots of plans online....this weds i'll be getting a ton of reference material in the mail so i'll have some good reading for the next couple of weeks and a better idea of how exactly i want my set-up to work. i saw someone use an on-line aquarium planner and figured i'd post my ideas once i get it down better so you guys can tell me where i go wrong with plumbing (not one of my strong points).

thanks