Setting up a 120.

[Wags]

Hello all,

Am very excited to begin the arguous journey of getting a beautiful reef aquarium. At the moment my GF and I have just purchased a 120g fatboy with 40b sump.

We would like to acquire all of the neccesities and have everything figured out before we move towards filling and cycling our tank.

We plan on buying a vertex IN-180 skimmer. 2 150watt heaters. 3 powerheads (550, 750, 1250 gph) and an octopus reef 2000 return pump.

These come as a package deal from craigslist and are wondering your thoughts? I worry that the return pump may not be enough?

I have done research and plan on buying 165watt LED x2 as we eventually want coral. Any suggestions here on lighting and such?

to stock we would like a pair of clowns w/ anemone. group of 4 anthius. powder tang (if 120 is enough) chromis, possible some other damselfish. Again we are new so please be nice with the suggestions here we are trying to gather as much info as possible. We will not add any fish until we have cycled the tank at least a month and have added a cleaning crew with success.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

Wags

 

[NY_Sea]

Looks like your off to a good start. Of you are new to the hobby I have a few suggestions. 1- don't start with a powder blue tang. They are prob the most difficult of the tang family to keep and get ich very easily. Not something you want in a new tank
2- lights are very important for a mixed reef tank. Do your research and buy something good. If not you will wind up upgrading sought as well do it right the first time. I am a big fan of t'5s but if you are going led. Look at the kessils ( you'll prob need 2) or try to score some used ecotech radions.
Just my 2 cents. Good luck


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[Fish76]

+1 on the Kessils. I'm also in the process of building a 120 (60" though) and got 2 A360WE's. I did a test fill in my tank for leaks with freshwater and the lighting was pretty awesome and was good coverage over 5'. I also have supplemental LED from a DIY 9 Cree LED build I did on my old tank but didn't have the turned on and it still was sufficient. I'm starting with mostly FOWLR and maybe some zoas later so I feel my lighting is adequate now. You can always add later (Kessils coming out with the A160WE which could be supplemntal if lighting isn't enough). I agree w/PristineWaters, do research so you only have to buy once!

 

[Wags]

thanks a ton for all the info it is great advice! I will make sure to do a lot of research on the lighting aspect.

Do you have any suggestions on other fish that will be reef friendly and good for beginners?

 

[fishroomlady]

coral beauty angelfish, flamehawk, yellow watchman goby and pistol shrimp, midas blenny - these are my favorites once your tank is more established, you may want to try a yellow tang....be careful about damsels - many can become aggressive to new additions, do your research on these and try to add last if you want to try a damsel (no to dominoes and 3stripe/4stripe) - welcome to this wonderful hobby!

 

[Wags]

I have read that angels will nip coral, will this be an issue later on. I know this is premature but eventually I would like to create a pod tank and keep a mandarin wondering if any of these won't be compatable