Help a noob with a 125gal mixed reef

[Zbc1969]

So I’ve been doing research for a few days and could use some help. First off, I bought a 125 gallon used that isn’t drilled for a sump. I’ve been doing research on HOB style skimmers and refrigs but I’m having trouble finding any skimmers that would be large enough for this tank. Also, I want to run charcoal, can I just use a canister filter without the filter part and put a bag of charcoal in the canister? Any suggestions on a HOB skimmer that would work?

I know I could get the tank drilled and run a sump but I would like to avoid that because it seems like a risk to drill an old tank like this and putting a 40ish gallon sump under the tank makes me nervous about the added weight as this will be on the second floor.

Lastly for the setup, tell me where I’m wrong here. I get the tank filled with live sand, live rock, and salt water, turn on the power heads and throw a clown fish in to start the cycle. Then after the cycle finishes I can turn on the skimmer, refrig, and lights, and slowly add new fish and corals? How slowly do I need to add other fish and corals?

 

[WIReefer]

First off welcome to R2R!!! This article should help you understand more about cycling!

Cycling an Aquarium

Cycling a new aquarium. One of the earliest topics a new aquarium hobbyist needs to learn is how to properly cycle their aquarium. There is a ton of information on this process and many different methods on how to accomplish it. There are many different chemical and biological cycles our tank...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Zbc1969]

First off welcome to R2R!!! This article should help you understand more about cycling!

Cycling an Aquarium

Cycling a new aquarium. One of the earliest topics a new aquarium hobbyist needs to learn is how to properly cycle their aquarium. There is a ton of information on this process and many different methods on how to accomplish it. There are many different chemical and biological cycles our tank...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks a bunch! I’ll read through that

 

[WIReefer]

Thanks a bunch! I’ll read through that

No problem! And using a hob overflow people will say there own thoughts but if you keep up with Maintance they are all good I’ve been using one for some time now. I think in the end you will appreciate having a sump especially for that size tank.

 

[Zbc1969]

No problem! And using a hob overflow people will say there own thoughts but if you keep up with Maintance they are all good I’ve been using one for some time now. I think in the end you will appreciate having a sump especially for that size tank.

By hob overflow do you mean the skimmer and refrig?

 

[a4edwin]

I have a 36g bow front with hob refugium and hob skimmer and I hate it. I wish I knew then what I know now. But I’m upgrading to a 100g sca plumbed so everything is underneath out of sight.

 

[WIReefer]

By hob overflow do you mean the skimmer and refrig?

Hang on the back overflow so water can travel down to sump without the need to drill the tank. That way you can have all equipment for example heater, skimmer under tank and out of the display tank.

 

[Zbc1969]

Hang on the back overflow so water can travel down to sump without the need to drill the tank.

Oh I get ya, but then I run into the issue of weight putting it on the second floor. I feel like I’d be pushing my luck

 

[WIReefer]

Oh I get ya, but then I run into the issue of weight putting it on the second floor. I feel like I’d be pushing my luck

Can you support the floor? Can you add more support?

 

[Zbc1969]

Can you support the floor? Can you add more support?

No, unfortunately

 

[Flippers4pups]

How old is the house? Will the tank sit perpendicular to the floor joists?

 

[Zbc1969]

How old is the house? Will the tank sit perpendicular to the floor joists?

It’s a townhome built last year. I think I’ll be able to set it up perpendicular to the joists. Do the joists run the same direction on every floor? My basement is unfinished so I can look down there to see which direction they run

 

[Pistondog]

So I’ve been doing research for a few days and could use some help. First off, I bought a 125 gallon used that isn’t drilled for a sump. I’ve been doing research on HOB style skimmers and refrigs but I’m having trouble finding any skimmers that would be large enough for this tank. Also, I want to run charcoal, can I just use a canister filter without the filter part and put a bag of charcoal in the canister? Any suggestions on a HOB skimmer that would work?

I know I could get the tank drilled and run a sump but I would like to avoid that because it seems like a risk to drill an old tank like this and putting a 40ish gallon sump under the tank makes me nervous about the added weight as this will be on the second floor.

Lastly for the setup, tell me where I’m wrong here. I get the tank filled with live sand, live rock, and salt water, turn on the power heads and throw a clown fish in to start the cycle. Then after the cycle finishes I can turn on the skimmer, refrig, and lights, and slowly add new fish and corals? How slowly do I need to add other fish and corals?

1000 lbs is a lot.
Get a good test kit and watch parameters as you add fish.
Welcome
You could put the fuge on the 1st floor, below the 125.
More room

 

[Flippers4pups]

It’s a townhome built last year. I think I’ll be able to set it up perpendicular to the joists. Do the joists run the same direction on every floor? My basement is unfinished so I can look down there to see which direction they run

I have a 125, 6' in my living room and that room is a long span for floor joists. It sits perpendicular to the floors joists and on a concrete foundation wall. Water alone is 1000 lbs. Tank, water, stand, rock and sand your pushing around 1300 lbs.

I sistered my floor joists under the tank and added floor Jack's to support the weight and keep it from bouncing when people walked by.

I will say you will be happier with a sump long term.

Here's my build thread:

Build Thread - Flippers reef 125 gallon

The story of Flippers reef started long ago.......... In a time before a thing called "The Internet"existed. Land locked Missouri, mid western U.S.A. back in 1993. I had just got out of the army in 1992 and got busy starting a family. See, I had fresh water tanks off and on since I was very...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Super Fly]

So I’ve been doing research for a few days and could use some help. First off, I bought a 125 gallon used that isn’t drilled for a sump. I’ve been doing research on HOB style skimmers and refrigs but I’m having trouble finding any skimmers that would be large enough for this tank. Also, I want to run charcoal, can I just use a canister filter without the filter part and put a bag of charcoal in the canister? Any suggestions on a HOB skimmer that would work?

I know I could get the tank drilled and run a sump but I would like to avoid that because it seems like a risk to drill an old tank like this and putting a 40ish gallon sump under the tank makes me nervous about the added weight as this will be on the second floor.

Lastly for the setup, tell me where I’m wrong here. I get the tank filled with live sand, live rock, and salt water, turn on the power heads and throw a clown fish in to start the cycle. Then after the cycle finishes I can turn on the skimmer, refrig, and lights, and slowly add new fish and corals? How slowly do I need to add other fish and corals?

Welcome & u were smart to start w a 125, my first tank was a 60 cube which I upgraded to 93. Now wife won't let me upgrade to bigger tank...
Just FYI - cycling a tank with live fish is frowned upon these days and considered "old school". Instead folks use defrosted frozen shrimp or Dr Tim's to add bacteria and kick start the cycle. IME, after cycle I add 1-2 fish then wait at least couple of weeks if not more to allow tank's bacteria to catch up for sustaining additional livestock. Please be patient in the early stages to help minimize tank issues down the road. Those who rush usually end up with problems very often.

 

[Zbc1969]

Welcome & u were smart to start w a 125, my first tank was a 60 cube which I upgraded to 93. Now wife won't let me upgrade to bigger tank...
Just FYI - cycling a tank with live fish is frowned upon these days and considered "old school". Instead folks use defrosted frozen shrimp or Dr Tim's to add bacteria and kick start the cycle. IME, after cycle I add 1-2 fish then wait at least couple of weeks if not more to allow tank's bacteria to catch up for sustaining additional livestock. Please be patient in the early stages to help minimize tank issues down the road. Those who rush usually end up with problems very often.

Yeah I read that write up that WIReefer posted and I’ll cycle it without a fish. I think I remember BRS guys talking about using a bottle of bacteria that you can buy at the LFS.