Brand new

[FrugalReefer]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[awrig]

You don't have to drill it but in my opinion it is by far the best option. They make hang on the back siphon overflows but those can easily overflow onto your floor.

You also have to make sure that the aquarium you are buying doesn't have a back panel made of tempered glass or it will shatter.

But if you are up for it all you need is a drill and a diamond coated drill bit that matches the size of your bulkhead fittings.

Here is a link to some bits with a guide about what fittings they match
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diamond-coated-glass-drill-bits.html

Here is a video on how it works if you want to see if it's for you.

Thank you!

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome, glad you are here!

 

[awrig]

You don't need to drill a hole. You can always use hang on the back equipment. However that type of gear is more prone to overflowing. You would just want to make sure you keep it clean and well maintained.

A other option would be to buy something called a reef ready aquarium. They have internal overflow towers built in and the bottoms are pre drilled.

Here is an example of what it would look like.

Wow there are a lot of options with saltwater. I’m just starting to dive down this rabbit hole and I really appreciate your help!

 

[awrig]

This a meet and greet forum so you might not get a lot of answers. If you re post in the general discussion forum you will get all the information you can handle.

Thanks I think I’ll do that!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

 

[Petcrazyson]

Welcome to the community!!!

 

[Stephen8169301]

 

[Wolf8895]

Welcome aboard! If you are buying used, you can most likely find one already drilled.

 

[RIreefer3686]

Hi, I am brand new to aquariums. I had a small freshwater aquarium growing up but now I’m wanting to get a large saltwater aquarium for my kids. I’m don’t even know where to begin. Do I need one with a built in sump or is there a difference between the physical aquarium between salt vs fresh and how do I get everything set up? I’m not really concerned about cost, just don’t know where to get started really. Think I’ll probably buy a used aquarium off Craigslist but other than that I don’t know what to look for. I’m thinking 200 gallons or more, and I would greatly appreciate any advice. I am a complete novice so any help is appreciated, really want to do this to get my kids involved. Thanks!

WELCOME!!!

 

[awrig]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!

You can certainly start with an aquarium from Craigslist. Just make sure you leak test it before you buy it.

You don't need an aquarium with a sump it just makes a convenient place to keep gear like heaters and protein skimmer out of sight so you can better enjoy the beauty of your tank. I have never seen an aquarium with a built in sump(aio or all in one style) in the 200 gallon range you are looking for.

An aquarium that large would usually be drilled and then fitted with an overflow plumbed to a sump below or in another room if you want to get fancy with plumbing.

So I posted in the other forum about new builds. Thanks for your help. Do you think this one is a decent deal to start with?

125gal Aquarium Reef - general for sale - by owner

Located Near here 11002 S Sam Houston Pkwy W Houston, TX 77031 United 125gal Reef Aquarium Includes: * 125gal custom reef ready trimmless Aquarium! 82” x 18 x 21” * Black Background * Crushed Coral...

houston.craigslist.org

 

[awrig]

This a meet and greet forum so you might not get a lot of answers. If you re post in the general discussion forum you will get all the information you can handle.

I posted in the other forum like you suggested. I’m thinking about maybe using this as a starting point.

125gal Aquarium Reef - general for sale - by owner

Located Near here 11002 S Sam Houston Pkwy W Houston, TX 77031 United 125gal Reef Aquarium Includes: * 125gal custom reef ready trimmless Aquarium! 82” x 18 x 21” * Black Background * Crushed Coral...

houston.craigslist.org

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R and hopefully into the salty world. Great for the kids. Take things slowly. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.

 

[AScientificReefer]

Welcome! another good place to find a tank would be on Offerup or the facebook marketplace theres alot of people who broke down a tank they had and have everything pretty much geared up and ready to go to make life easy. Some provide pretty great deals and other not so much! its worth taking a look if you prefer not to do all the manual plumbing yourself.

 

[JC1977]

 

[awrig]

Welcome! another good place to find a tank would be on Offerup or the facebook marketplace theres alot of people who broke down a tank they had and have everything pretty much geared up and ready to go to make life easy. Some provide pretty great deals and other not so much! its worth taking a look if you prefer not to do all the manual plumbing yourself.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Buckster]

Hello and Welcome to R2R! I have a 180 and the sump is separate in the cabinet below the tank. I also built a hood with doors which I like because the fish that jump don't end up on the floor just the overflows (contained inside the tank)

 

[Nano_Man]

welcome to r2r one big family

 

[paragrouper]

I posted in the other forum like you suggested. I’m thinking about maybe using this as a starting point.

125gal Aquarium Reef - general for sale - by owner

Located Near here 11002 S Sam Houston Pkwy W Houston, TX 77031 United 125gal Reef Aquarium Includes: * 125gal custom reef ready trimmless Aquarium! 82” x 18 x 21” * Black Background * Crushed Coral...

houston.craigslist.org

There’s always risk when buying used. I recommend you inspect carefully. The comment regarding the lights may be an issue. It might be something fixable or you may find yourself spending a bit more then you thought replacing them, as adequate lighting is crucial.

For reference, I recently upgraded my lights on a 32 gallon tank. The price was $680.

 

[j.falk]

I wouldn't buy a used tank if I was just starting out. That's buying other people's problems...there's a reason they are getting rid of it and it's not always just because they no longer want it.

I'd also recommend cutting your teeth on something smaller first to get a feel for how saltwater is set up and maintained before diving into a large tank. Large tanks = costly to fill = costly losses if you don't know what you are doing.