Equipment and setup advice

Tidal Gardens
Jump to Last
Top Shelf Aquatics
Tidal Gardens
Is this an acrylic cube? If so and if your willing to sacrifice a little space you could always use some acrylic to partition off the rear of the tank and make an AIO (all in one).

This will allow you to surface skim possibly add a nano skimmer (be careful as many haven't seen great consistent performance out of nano skimmers), or a small refugium. Plus nice out of place area for heaters and allow for easier water top up.
 
WWC
James M said:
I would run everything in vinegar before switching and you don’t need a sump
Click to expand...

I agree. HOB's are easy to maintain, and should work on a tank that size. I would go larger than you think you need though. Once you clean it up, the cycling process should take care of the rest.
 
Auquanut said:
I agree. HOB's are easy to maintain, and should work on a tank that size. I would go larger than you think you need though. Once you clean it up, the cycling process should take care of the rest.
Click to expand...
Sick so would i be limited on stocking choices er am I good as long as nothing gets to large?
 
Eric Meza said:
Sick so would i be limited on stocking choices er am I good as long as nothing gets to large?
Click to expand...

With the smaller tanks, you're always limited on stocking choices. What did you have in mind? In my 29 biocube, I have one pajama cardinal and one long nosed hawkfish. I'm sure there's room for one or maybe two more, but the hawk does NOT like new tank mates.
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
Auquanut said:
With the smaller tanks, you're always limited on stocking choices. What did you have in mind? In my 29 biocube, I have one pajama cardinal and one long nosed hawkfish. I'm sure there's room for one or maybe two more, but the hawk does NOT like new tank mates.
Click to expand...
Honestly I’m not even sure I do have a 120 I just wanted to make sure this is something that really wanted to get into before I went all out. Could I grow out corals in the cube and just eventually move everything over?
 
Eric Meza said:
Honestly I’m not even sure I do have a 120 I just wanted to make sure this is something that really wanted to get into before I went all out. Could I grow out corals in the cube and just eventually move everything over?
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I set up my 125 about 8 months after starting the 29. You will have to go through the normal cycle in the 120 before moving things from the smaller tank. I have found that the larger tank is much easier to keep stable and MUCH more expensive to set up and maintain.
 
Luno said:
Is this an acrylic cube? If so and if your willing to sacrifice a little space you could always use some acrylic to partition off the rear of the tank and make an AIO (all in one).

This will allow you to surface skim possibly add a nano skimmer (be careful as many haven't seen great consistent performance out of nano skimmers), or a small refugium. Plus nice out of place area for heaters and allow for easier water top up.
Click to expand...
Am I going to need a skimmer ? It’s not acrylic it’s all glass
 
Tidal Gardens
Auquanut said:
Absolutely. I set up my 125 about 8 months after starting the 29. You will have to go through the normal cycle in the 120 before moving things from the smaller tank. I have found that the larger tank is much easier to keep stable and MUCH more expensive to set up and maintain.
Click to expand...
Cool thank you for the tips I will be back and post pictures and stuff s soon as I get all setup and ready to go
 
Eric Meza said:
Honestly I’m not even sure I do have a 120 I just wanted to make sure this is something that really wanted to get into before I went all out. Could I grow out corals in the cube and just eventually move everything over?
Click to expand...
I went super cheap with my 40 build. My equipment includes: marineland emperor 400 (40$), instant ocean hob sea clone (50$), red sea coral pro salt (30$), reef breeders photon v2+ (sweet light 400$) light would depend on types of corals you'd like, and 2 coral box qp5 power heads (180$). I run filter floss (polly fill) in my hob and change every 2 days as we as the filter comes with 2 grey media holders i run a couple tablespoons of carbon i change once a month. Lotta options, you'll just have to find what fits your budget honestly. :)
 
Eric Meza said:
Am I going to need a skimmer ? It’s not acrylic it’s all glass
Click to expand...

Oh fair enough you could still do it with glass but will be a little more difficult. If your going for super simple may not be a better option.

It's very difficult in this hobby I understand that you want to just get your feet wet to try out salt water. But without doing things properly in this hobby it can spell disaster from the start. That's not saying very simple setups are not successful, but it can be tricky.

Skimming is not necessary but Is a very useful part of nutrient control and filtration in this hobby.

Sounds to me like you might benefit from a little more research into the setup guides of salt water I'll find you some links to read through. But again you definitely can get started with just a tank, but you will need some form of nutrient control or do larger consistent water changes. You will need water movement you may be able to achieve this from filters of what you already have wave makers are considered a better option though. Anyway have a read and think about what you would like to do. And keep asking questions here if your unsure and the people here will give you a range of advice and help [emoji1] also don't get overwhelmed just yet!!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

https://www.google.com.au/amp/www.saltwateraquariumblog.com/how-to-set-up-a-saltwater-aquarium/amp/

https://m.liveaquaria.com/article/39/?aid=39
 
Last edited:
Luno said:
Oh fair enough you could still do it with glass but will be a little more difficult. If your going for super simple may not be a better option.

It's very difficult in this hobby I understand that you want to just get your feet wet to try out salt water. But without doing things properly in this hobby it can spell disaster from the start. That's not saying very simple setups are not successful, but it can be tricky.

Skimming is not necessary but Is a very useful part of nutrient control and filtration in this hobby.

Sounds to me like you might benefit from a little more research into the setup guides of salt water I'll find you some links to read through. But again you definitely can get started with just a tank, but you will need some form of nutrient control or do larger consistent water changes. You will need water movement you may be able to achieve this from filters of what you already have wave makers are considered a better option though. Anyway have a read and think about what you would like to do. And keep asking questions here if your unsure and the people here will give you a range of advice and help [emoji1] also don't get overwhelmed just yet!!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

https://www.google.com.au/amp/www.saltwateraquariumblog.com/how-to-set-up-a-saltwater-aquarium/amp/

https://m.liveaquaria.com/article/39/?aid=39
Click to expand...
So I got a fluval HOB and my cousin is going to give me his sea clone HOB skimmer I’m going to order some black dry rock because I thought it was cool and I don’t mind spending the extra money. I’ma use a live substrate on the bottom is there anything else I am missing besides reading up on the whole cylcing process?
 
Eric Meza said:
So I got a fluval HOB and my cousin is going to give me his sea clone HOB skimmer I’m going to order some black dry rock because I thought it was cool and I don’t mind spending the extra money. I’ma use a live substrate on the bottom is there anything else I am missing besides reading up on the whole cylcing process?
Click to expand...

- either an ro/di filter (can cost a little bit mine was like $350) or find a local source for your ro/di water that you trust. Sometimes they don't change the membranes very often and the quality may not be as good.
- salt mix
- basic testing kits to do alkalinity (im not a big fan of testing ph others are so decide it you want to test ph) nitrate, phosphate, calcium and magnesium. You will also need to test ammonia and nitrite for during the cycle, but rarely needed after so if your cousin or someone you know has these you can get away with just borrow their testing equipment for these ones but it never hurts to have them yourself.
- refractometer (it measures salinity cheap and accurate and easy to recalibrate)
- heaters/chillers/fans or if you keep your home at a certain temperature you may be able to get away with that level or temperature control. Either way some temperature reader to know the water temp.
- water movement, your filter output may be ok but the idea is to have enough water movement there is little to no deadspots (low to no flow) so you may need an extra power head. For a Fowler tank the general numbers are 20 times tank volume turnover, LPS and softy coral 40x tank volume turnover and upto 100x times turnover for sps but don't worry about sps yet.
- lighting (plenty of threads out there for that)

Umm of the top of my head that should get you started I've probably missed something though
 
Tidal Gardens

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
See comments…

New Posts

World Wide Corals
Dinkins Aquatic Gardens
TCK Corals
Chewy.com
Nutramar Foods
Deltec
Tidal Gardens
Top Shelf Aquatics
New Posts
Back
Top