Setting up a 120g saltwater tank

[melypr1985]

Well the skimmer holds less than what my tank holds.

What I meant was: when you look up a skimmer online it will tell you that it's rated for up 75 gallons or up to 150 gallons (as an example). You have a 120 gallon display so I would suggest getting a skimmer that - at a minimum- is rated to handle up to 150 gallons, with bigger being better. That just means it can properly clean that amount of water, not that it holds that amount of water.

 

[Sophie031]

Diz is my skimmer. Is it ok or get one a little bigger?

 

[Justiful]

Diz is my skimmer. Is it ok or get one a little bigger?

Looks really good. Reef Octopus a good name brand. You didn't go cheap on that lol.

 

[melypr1985]

Its big enough and a good brand. If you go with a sump then you might want a skimmer that fits inside the sump so you don't have to look at it, but that's up to you too.

 

[Justiful]

Oh correct me if I am wrong guys, but she needs to take the carbon filter out of her canister filter until tank is cycled right?

 

[steve&mari]

It's a decent skimmer but as said one that will sit in a sump will be better and a lot easier to maintain. The hang on back skimmer works but is limited by its compact design vs a stand alone skimmer. We run a 40 breeder with a 29 gallon sump that running holds about 17 gallons or so. That leaves room for tank to drain into it when powers off without flooding. In the sump I've got the filter sock, skimmer, fuge with live rock, macro algae, ph and temp probes, 2 heaters, n return pump which also feeds our reactors water flow. The brs dual reactor drains into filter sock also. Tunze Ato is ran in last chamber as is return pump. I run phos guard and matrix carbon in first reactor then purigen in the 2nd reactor then dumps into filter sock.

 

[gaz]

Carbon is fine when cycling it's only to help clear the water and remove any chemicals that are in or have been used on your tank so shouldn't have any adverse effect when cycling

 

[Justiful]

Remember this sophia, there is always a better or more expensive way to do things. You need to decide what components you want to spend money on that will do what you want, without falling into the rabbit hole of buying extra stuff that offers marginal benefit. LAfishguys episode 80 is a good example of a rich guy with too much money making things "better", it is in 12 parts... end results thousands of dollars worth of equipment (and new fish and corals) to be right back where started.

I looked at what you have... I am not an expert I am new also. But the one thing you are missing that I did not see in the tank is Wavemaker. That is why your fish crowded the heater, the water wasn't moving around the tank, it likely also caused bad stuff to form inside. That is a cheap item that is 100% needed.

 

[steve&mari]

That's correct flow baby flow lol. You need good random flow throughout tank for a healthy system. This allows the rock to filter ect. Keeps heat even throughout tank gives current for fish to swim in and corals to receive food and wash away things from them.

 

[Sophie031]

I have two power heads for each side of the tank. I haven't put them back in yet. But I definitely will put them in tonight.

 

[Sophie031]

Diz tank been running like diz for almost 3 months and been using diz product for a while now. I feel I'm not ready for any fish or corals yet. I still have a little more to go then lol. I really don't want to mess up again lol

 

[Justiful]

Diz tank been running like diz for almost 3 months and been using diz product for a while now. I feel I'm not ready for any fish or corals yet. I still have a little more to go then lol. I really don't want to mess up again lol

The cheapest fish to get are Green Chromis. $3-5 per fish. I added 3 to my tank to be certain everything was good. 3 weeks now and they still alive and appear healthy. I would start with those, and if they die you are only out 3 weeks to cycle the tank again and about $12 dollars.

 

[Sophie031]

I had diz tank for a year and all my fishes were fine til da very end. I have 10g freshwater tank too lol and I have a molly. I no molly can change from fresh to salt so imma start with diz Lil guy first. U think I can start like that? For my saltwater I had clownfish, domino's, green chromis. Pajamas cardinals. I miss them.

 

[gaz]

Yes you can mollies are a brackish species that can be acclimatised to fresh or salt but you need to do it slowly or it will shock the fish

 

[Sophie031]

Yes you can mollies are a brackish species that can be acclimatised to fresh or salt but you need to do it slowly or it will shock the fish

Ok.

 

[Sophie031]

Thank you everyone who help me n gave me a lot of information. Wen Im ready to put my fishes in I will take pictures n post it

 

[john.m.cole3]

I put a molly in my reef tank as an experiment. I did not acclimate, but just dumped that guy in there. He survived and was in the tank for 2 months. I had to take him out b/c he was constantly harassing my yellow tang, and the yellow tang ended up dying. the molly had to go after that. I gave him to a buddy of mine with an established freshwater tank. He dumped him in there and has been fine for 3 months now. Happy Reefing!

 

[Amit Kumar]

3 power heads are good. 2 in the back of the tank in opposite directions and another one moving the surface water.

 

[Amit Kumar]

I had diz tank for a year and all my fishes were fine til da very end. I have 10g freshwater tank too lol and I have a molly. I no molly can change from fresh to salt so imma start with diz Lil guy first. U think I can start like that? For my saltwater I had clownfish, domino's, green chromis. Pajamas cardinals. I miss them.

Stop
Don't add mollies. They ruined tanks. I've had them as you can see. One is GREAT BUT NOT A PAIR YOU DON'T WANNA REDO UR WHOLE TANK AGAIN TRUST ME.

 

[Sophie031]

Ok. I'll start with a green chromis then