First time Saltwater build, seeking help and advice on everything

[Brianc10191]

Hello, my name is Brian and...

I have a 125 Gallon SCA custom aquarium drilled for a Synergy Shadow overflow, the DIMS on the tank are 60"L x 24"W x 20"H.

The stand is powdercoated steel 60"x24"x40"H

I'm going to buy everything and start building this tank in a week or two when I'm done moving.

I'm new to saltwater and have ideas and questions on everything from plumbing, lighting, corals, fish, equipment, filtration and etc.

Anyone willing to help would be amazing!

 

[JumboShrimp]

Wonderful! Have you started the BRS (Bulk Reef Supply) 52-week online video series? It’s soup-to-nuts. And of course, R2R is your new best friend! Welcome...

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R
Looks like a fun build
Do you have any sumps in mind? Sump, skimmer, heater, return pump, lighting, powerheads...the list goes on. I would recommend checking out some members build threads in the members tanks forum to check out different equipment and their assessments of them also be sure to start your own build thread so we can follow along with your tanks progress
Check out these threads as well, a wealth of information
Supreme guide to starting a saltwater aquarium
Cycling an aquarium
The guide to acclimation and quarantine

 

[JasonK84]

Great start! Welcome to R2R!!

What are your plans for the tank?

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!! I second the BRS 52 week 160 gal tank build series, it helped me out alot when I started the journey into reefing.

 

[Brianc10191]

Wonderful! Have you started the BRS (Bulk Reef Supply) 52-week online video series? It’s soup-to-nuts. And of course, R2R is your new best friend! Welcome...

No I havent yet but ill look into that! Thank you

 

[Fudsey]

Welcome to R2R ! ! !

 

[Brianc10191]

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R
Looks like a fun build
Do you have any sumps in mind? Sump, skimmer, heater, return pump, lighting, powerheads...the list goes on. I would recommend checking out some members build threads in the members tanks forum to check out different equipment and their assessments of them also be sure to start your own build thread so we can follow along with your tanks progress
Check out these threads as well, a wealth of information
Supreme guide to starting a saltwater aquarium
Cycling an aquarium
The guide to acclimation and quarantine

As of now im looking at the following equipment

Bashea smart series sump 48" for triton method

SB reef lights 45" Ultra LED

Reef Octo varios 8 pump

Maxspect gyre

Dry rock from either reefcleaners, marco or billys reef connection

Simplicity 240 protien skimmer

Tunze 3155 ATO

Thats all I've got so far haha

 

[Brianc10191]

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R
Looks like a fun build
Do you have any sumps in mind? Sump, skimmer, heater, return pump, lighting, powerheads...the list goes on. I would recommend checking out some members build threads in the members tanks forum to check out different equipment and their assessments of them also be sure to start your own build thread so we can follow along with your tanks progress
Check out these threads as well, a wealth of information
Supreme guide to starting a saltwater aquarium
Cycling an aquarium
The guide to acclimation and quarantine

Check my reply to crabs and I'm mainly wanting to do soft corals, LPS and maybe some other stuff

 

[Crabs McJones]

Check my reply to crabs and I'm mainly wanting to do soft corals, LPS and maybe some other stuff

Solid list you've done some homework

 

[Brianc10191]

Welcome to R2R ! ! !

Thank you!!

 

[Brianc10191]

Solid list you've done some homework

I'm trying my best haha, I'm basically retired from the Army after my deployment so I have alot of free time so I'm hoping this tank helps with my issues and has always been a dream of mine to build one and now I finally can!

 

[JumboShrimp]

For success: No matter how slowly you think you are proceeding, slow that down by 1/2... and then slow THAT down by 1/2. All along the way, read, read, read, and enjoy! Welcome

 

[Brianc10191]

For success: No matter how slowly you think you are proceeding, slow that down by 1/2... and then slow THAT down by 1/2. All along the way, read, read, read, and enjoy! Welcome

Nothing good happens quick! And I appreciate it, any suggestions on salt, testing kits, dosing pumps, and other things I may not be thinking about?

 

[JumboShrimp]

My 2-cents: Buy it now, or buy it later— but one day you will want to run copper in a QT/hospital tank, and you will be glad you bought a Hanna Copper Checker and not a traditional test kit for copper (boo! hiss!)

 

[Clownfish2]

The Varios Pump is an excellent pump and is SILENT! I have a varios 4 pump which can deliver 500gph to my 110 gallon. I got a second pump (Jebao 12000) installed for redundancy in case one stops and I am not home to notice it. Got both pumps turned down so I am flowing 500gph collectively through the sump.

I highly recommend quarantine your fish and inverts in a 10 gallon or 20 gallon and have medications on hand before introducing them to your big tank.

When I started I didn’t medicate my fish in a quarantine tank and got Ich and Velvet in my 110 gallon. I am on my second time of going fishless in my 110 gallon for 2.5 months each time to starve out the parasites.

BRS videos on YouTube are a great place to learn reefing.

 

[Fudsey]

Nothing good happens quick! And I appreciate it, any suggestions on salt, testing kits, dosing pumps, and other things I may not be thinking about?

Here's what I use
Hanna checker for dkH and ULR Phosphorus
RedSea for pH, Calcium and Mag
NYOS for Nitrate
And get yourself a decent refractometer too.

 

[Coralreefer1]

First of all...Welcome to R2R! Great family of aquarists here to offer you valuable advice, help and guidance to make you chances of success in this wonderful and rewarding hobby greater.
First off, make sure that where you place this aquarium is able to handle the shear weight of the equipment, water, aragonite, live rock etc.
You definitely have an uphill climb with regards to researching, selecting and buying all the components for setting your aquarium up and running. Then, decisions need to be made as to what you would like to stock your tank with? How many? Coral placement? Fish, coral and invert compatibility issues. Then you have water parameter, maintenance, husbandry and feeding matters to be aware of.
Their is obviously more to being successful in the marine hobby, but these key areas will help you as well as what others have chimed in on.
I don’t say this to scare you...but to help you to be successful and enjoy this awesome and rewarding hobby and have healthy and happy livestock.
Make sure to read, ask questions, research and don’t cut corners or do things too abruptly...go slow, think things through and the you will be amazed at what transpires before your eyes with a little piece of a coral reef in your own home.
GOOD LUCK!

 

[Brianc10191]

The Varios Pump is an excellent pump and is SILENT! I have a varios 4 pump which can deliver 500gph to my 110 gallon. I got a second pump (Jebao 12000) installed for redundancy in case one stops and I am not home to notice it. Got both pumps turned down so I am flowing 500gph collectively through the sump.

I highly recommend quarantine your fish and inverts in a 10 gallon or 20 gallon and have medications on hand before introducing them to your big tank.

When I started I didn’t medicate my fish in a quarantine tank and got Ich and Velvet in my 110 gallon. I am on my second time of going fishless in my 110 gallon for 2.5 months each time to starve out the parasites.

BRS videos on YouTube are a great place to learn reefing.

What did you use for a QT setup? And that makes sense!

 

[Brianc10191]

Here's what I use
Hanna checker for dkH and ULR Phosphorus
RedSea for pH, Calcium and Mag
NYOS for Nitrate
And get yourself a decent refractometer too.

Is it worth it to get the hanna kit that checks 4 things like alk and etc?