First time Saltwater build, seeking help and advice on everything

Brianc10191 · Oct 21, 2018

Coralreefer1 said:
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!

Thank you I appreciate it!! And it will be on a tile floor with a concrete slab but I hear yah theres so much and thats why I'm coming to yall

Fudsey · Oct 21, 2018

I have the Hanna calcium one but I don't like it. I like the other 2 I have because of their ease of testing. The calcium one is just a little more involved. No ideas on any other Hanna testers though.

Brianc10191 · Oct 21, 2018

Fudsey said:
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.

What style refractometer due you use or recommend?

Fudsey · Oct 21, 2018

That's a toss up really. Want a decent one? Go with the Milwaukee or Hanna. Other than that, the BRS or MD ones are good but remember to get some calibration fluid and calibrate it before every use.

EDIT:
This is the calibration fluid that I use and so do many others. And this is a decent handheld refractometer too. https://aquacraft.net/products-page-2/equipment/refractometer-laboratory-standard/

reef lover · Oct 21, 2018

Welcome to r2r!!

Brianc10191 · Oct 21, 2018

Advice on sump size would it be better to take up my whole stand with a 48" bashea smart series with ato resevior or do the 36" bashea and ato resevior with room on the side of the stand for any reactors I may run or just equipment and controllers?

Fudsey · Oct 21, 2018

I like the 2nd option for the reasons you listed. My waterbox 135.4 sump is only 30" long. Just food for thought.....

Brianc10191 · Oct 21, 2018

Fudsey said:
I like the 2nd option for the reasons you listed. My waterbox 135.4 sump is only 30" long. Just food for thought.....

Thats what Im thinking, I just dont want to over crowd it, I plan on running triton or something similiar and I know they recommend 10% of the gallons and my tank is 125 so I'm thinking this will work but I dont know how many gallons the fuge is

https://premiumaquatics.com/products/bashsea-smart-series-36x18x16-sump-blue.html

stAlphonzo · Oct 22, 2018

Brianc10191 said:
Dry rock from either reefcleaners, marco or billys reef connection

I can't say enough positive things about reefcleaners. The rock is exceptional. It's pourous, has a lot of bigger holes and won't leach anything into your water. On top of that, Jeff is excellent to deal with!