Used 120

[Steven91]

Hey everyone,

I just got an awesome deal on a display tank from my lfs and wanted some advice on what I should do once I have the tank in my house. I got the stand, heater, and sump included with it. Just need to get a light and protein skimmer for it. I was going to do a softy/lps tank. Would love any and all advice

 

[Paullawr]

Hiya Steven

Well both light and skimmer can wait until tank is cycled. So you can save in the meantime.

Choice is yours really.

Live rock?
Dry rock?
Artificial seeded?
Artificial unseeded?

My recommendation is go for dry rock ie Marco.
Dump it in a bucket with some fresh water and bleach to get rid of any crap that's on it. Leave over night.

Rinse a few times. Then I'd leave it soak again for another 24.

Buy a bottle of microbacter 7.

Buy some reef grade dry sand. Rinse it well until it's running as clear as you can (read bothered) to get it.

Add sand and rock. Fill with saltwater.

Dose your mb7 for a good month. After week three add some amipods, copepods, mini bristle stars.
Feed them!

Check params end of week four then if all ok add a defrosted prawn see leave overnight. If testing remains ok add your first first.

Inbetween read up as much as can. Not just forums. Get some books!

 

[JoshH]

Inbetween read up as much as can. Not just forums. Get some books!

Can't stress that one enough, I'm getting into the hobby slowly. Been spending countless hours scrolling through forums, asking questions, coming up with a plan e.t.c. What did you have in mind for stocking?? A 120 gives you lots of options luckily. In this hobby there seems to be endless choices and decision's and endless arguments over which choice is the right or wrong one. You've made an excellent choice joining up here, there are fantastic members here with a TON of knowledge and skill's that could answer pretty much every question you could possibly think of (No stupid questions either). Just take things slow, do your research and don't get super discouraged when something doesn't work out the way you planned it.

Welcome to R2R!!

 

[Axifuga]

Also make sure that the stand that it is on is level, if not get something to shim the legs of the stand

 

[Steven91]

Can't stress that one enough, I'm getting into the hobby slowly. Been spending countless hours scrolling through forums, asking questions, coming up with a plan e.t.c. What did you have in mind for stocking?? A 120 gives you lots of options luckily. In this hobby there seems to be endless choices and decision's and endless arguments over which choice is the right or wrong one. You've made an excellent choice joining up here, there are fantastic members here with a TON of knowledge and skill's that could answer pretty much every question you could possibly think of (No stupid questions either). Just take things slow, do your research and don't get super discouraged when something doesn't work out the way you planned it.

Welcome to R2R!!

Currently I don't know what I want to stock in the tank, I know I was thinking of shrimp for sure. But other than that I don't really know what I want to stock. I'm up for ideas

 

[JoshH]

Well there really isn't a crazy long list of thing's you can't put in there. Anything that really catches your eye? Clowns are always a classic, maybe a tang or some mandarins(Going to have to wait a little bit for those though, but gorgeous fish!)

 

[Steven91]

The only other fish, this is one my dad wants, is a sand shifting goby

 

[patrsnracn]

"Just take things slow, do your research and don't get super discouraged when something doesn't work out the way you planned it."

been at this now for 1.5 yrs, now running three tanks 75g FOWLR, 40g breeder coral reef tank & sump with bells & whistles and a now new 40 breeder (~ 6 moso far) FOWLR soon to ad sump and set up as a 2nd coral reef tank.

By nature I'm not a patient person (i'm an engineer not a Dr.) , my wife says this new hobby is perfect in that for me in that Everything takes weeks and months, not hours or even days

watch out it's addicting

Have fun!

 

[Steven91]

I'm actually really excited, it's gonna be a few months before I can actually really start up the tank, just trying to get ideas now.