Looking to start first saltwater aquarium

Ok_cowboy1 · Aug 25, 2016

so I have been researching and price salt water setups for about a month. I'm trying to get in the hobby somewhat inexpensive but I don't want to cut corners. I want to get it right the first time. My question is for a beginner, is it best to have an over the top filter system or a sump and refugium? I know the sump is more expensive but is it more beneficial for a beginner?

cromag27 · Aug 25, 2016

Sump with a drilled overflow.

Ok_cowboy1 · Aug 25, 2016

how much difference does it make? Easier and cheaper to maintain?

cromag27 · Aug 25, 2016

You're using subjective words so it's hard to answer. first, I don't trust hob overflows and that's why I said drilled overflow. second, a sump is beneficial in several ways - adds additional water to your overall system, a place for your skimmer, reactors and other equipment, you can add a fuge for algaes, extra media/rock and you can even keep livestock in your sump.

Only you can determine if a sump would make things easier for yourself.

dbl · Aug 25, 2016

cromag08 said:
You're using subjective words so it's hard to answer. first, I don't trust hob overflows and that's why I said drilled overflow. second, a sump is beneficial in several ways - adds additional water to your overall system, a place for your skimmer, reactors and other equipment, you can add a fuge for algaes, extra media/rock and you can even keep livestock in your sump.

Only you can determine if a sump would make things easier for yourself.

What he said...I was actually typing the same information when his post popped up. You won't regret going with a drilled tank and sump.

Ok_cowboy1 · Aug 25, 2016

Thank you, I'm just a little nervous about the 2500.00 start up investment for my first tank!

dbl · Aug 25, 2016

You will get varying opinions on this, but do you have a local club near you? Or an active Craigslist community? Often times people have to take systems down for a plethora of reasons, and sometimes you can find great deals when that happens. You might be surprised at what you stumble on. You obviously need to be careful of what you're buying, but it might prove beneficial to at least explore those markets.

cromag27 · Aug 25, 2016

Well, you mentioned that you wanted to do it right and not cut any corners. maybe post the equipment you're looking at.

Ok_cowboy1 · Aug 25, 2016

I posted this in another area on the forum but here goes!

Brew12 · Aug 25, 2016

Ok_cowboy1 said:
Thank you, I'm just a little nervous about the 2500.00 start up investment for my first tank!

Craigslist is your friend! Well, as long as you have patience getting started. Check out my thread linked in my signature. I picked all of that equipment up for $1k. People are always getting out of the hobby and you can pick up stuff for cheap if you are patient. Oh.. and don't mind putting in a ton of clean up work!

Ok_cowboy1 · Aug 25, 2016

Brew12 said:
Craigslist is your friend! Well, as long as you have patience getting started. Check out my thread linked in my signature. I picked all of that equipment up for $1k. People are always getting out of the hobby and you can pick up stuff for cheap if you are patient. Oh.. and don't mind putting in a ton of clean up work!

I have already searched craigslist and I missed one good deal, other than that I have called all reef shops to see if they had people that traded in old systems, and they did but were smaller than 65 gallon!

cromag27 · Aug 25, 2016

I would skip the Mag and go with something else like a Sicce. mags put out a lot of heat. I'm guessing the wavepoint is for your fuge? might not be necessary right away. The orbit light isn't very good if you plan on having corals. not sure what the adv100 filter is. you can find a cheaper skimmer that would perform just as well, like a bubble Magus.

cromag27 · Aug 25, 2016

Buying used is a crapshoot. I would never buy a used tank, but I would buy used pumps, skimmers, etc.

Ok_cowboy1 · Aug 25, 2016

cromag08 said:
I would skip the Mag and go with something else like a Sicce. mags put out a lot of heat. I'm guessing the wavepoint is for your fuge? might not be necessary right away. The orbit light isn't very good if you plan on having corals. not sure what the adv100 filter is. you can find a cheaper skimmer that would perform just as well, like a bubble Magus.

I would like to have corals, what light do you recommend?

cromag27 · Aug 25, 2016

For lps any led would work. the issue I've noticed about the orbits is they just don't have enough leds to penetrate deeper tanks. so it really depends on the size of your tank.

For sps I stick with a custom t5/led combo. or a custom mh/led combo.

Ok_cowboy1 · Aug 25, 2016

cromag08 said:
For lps any led would work. the issue I've noticed about the orbits is they just don't have enough leds to penetrate deeper tanks. so it really depends on the size of your tank.

For sps I stick with a custom t5/led combo. or a custom mh/led combo.[/QUOTSo I have to ask, since I'm new what is lips and sps? The tank is a 65 gallon, 3 foot long but not sure how tall!

RJinPV · Aug 25, 2016

I started almost 2 years ago. Drilled returns with a sump. I don't regret it for all the reasons mentioned. However, the return pump will be a lot of watts (40 to 100 watts), always dumping heat into the water. What is the warmest your house will get in the summer? If you don't have AC and can keep the room to ~80deg F max you will likely need a chiller. Your tank will always run a few degrees hotter than room temp because of all the pumps. At the very least go plan on where you would put one if you had to quickly go buy one and plumb it in.

I also regret getting an acrylic tank. It scratches too easily. With all the gravel, live rock and coralline algae scraping it has lots of opportunity to get scratched. I will go with glass next time.

Ok_cowboy1 · Aug 25, 2016

Sorry I did that wrong, I don't know what sps and lps?

Ok_cowboy1 · Aug 25, 2016

RJinPV said:
I started almost 2 years ago. Drilled returns with a sump. I don't regret it for all the reasons mentioned. However, the return pump will be a lot of watts (40 to 100 watts), always dumping heat into the water. What is the warmest your house will get in the summer? If you don't have AC and can keep the room to ~80deg F max you will likely need a chiller. Your tank will always run a few degrees hotter than room temp because of all the pumps. At the very least go plan on where you would put one if you had to quickly go buy one and plumb it in.

I also regret getting an acrylic tank. It scratches too easily. With all the gravel, live rock and coralline algae scraping it has lots of opportunity to get scratched. I will go with glass next time.

I keep it 68 degrees and the tank will be near an air vent, will that hurt or help?