[robe25m]

So I been in the game 7 months, I have a 30g eclispse lid system, upgraded light etc, now its a sweet reef filled with everything from colt corals to a huge tangs, I have many corals and many fish and love the hobby. Everything went so well and easy with this tank I just knew the real deal large tank soon would be in the works...

Heres the deal, today i bought a 120g tank and stand, just couldent pass it up, $450 bucks..

This tank is just that a tank, no hardware etc.

Now I have no clue where to start in terms of filter, water movement etc.

I will purchase some kind of 60inch high power lighting off the bay, but I'm lost as can be with filter and everything else, I cant run a refugem or anything like that, cant drill this glass either.

So i assume everything will be hang-on, so my question where to start in terms of hardware, what to get, whats the best for me etc.

My only delay before i get her up is hardware, everything else is easy peasy, I cant wait....

safe to say i will be living in this apt for a long time, lol///

My hardware budget is 1k

Will post pics shortly but as of now its simple a wall of glass, I will post new tank and my 30g eclipse..

Sorry for the long post, just excited, cant wait to have multiple tangs and rainbows of color....

[reefnoob1991]

For the record...Tangs need atleast 90 gallon tanks not thirty...so it's good you picked yourself up a 125. Now lets see...you're going to want 12-15x turnover for your tank (how many times per hour it recycles itself through your pump)...So that puts you at about 1500-1875 GPH as far as a return pump. You have the option of having a hang over the back overflow and plumbing that into a sump under your tank...which would be easiest. Water would go into the overflow down into the sump where it would be filtered and pushed back into your tank. A good skimmer will be needed for the tank too and can be placed in the sump, along with a heater, and filter media. You could turn it into a refug also and put live rubble and chaeto to help remove nitrates, ammonia, nitrites, etc. etc. For lighting on a 125 gallon your going to want to keep them high powered so you can have more light demanding corals. Try looking into T-5's or Metal Halides...a tad expensive but worth it.

[robe25m]

No doubt about the tangs, funny thing is LFS sold me a small tang they called a green tang for 20 bucks, (I always knew i would get a large tank so no biggie) well this fish turned out to be a Vlamingii Tang, safe to say these suckers get big fast, I imagine oneday even 120 will be small for this guy...

Problem is my tank stand, please review pic, stand only has 2 small cabinets on each side, so very small ( this sucks ) but i figure where theres a will theres a way and I will make it happen...

I will deff gets a nice protein skimmer, and MH lights looking for 8+ watts per gallon...

Its the filter, water movement that i'm worried about, there is also a rail that goes threw the middle of the tank for its stock lid, I assume this may need to be sawed off..

Just gathering ideas and this is the best place to do it...Thanks to anyone that replys...

[reefnoob1991]

PetSmart - Tidepool Wet/Dry Filter and Accessories by Marineland

You need something like this that flows down into a pump..of course this is only 300-500 gallons but they make larger ones.

[robe25m]

Thanks a great deal, I purchased a TOM Aquarium Products Rapids Pro PS4 Aquarium Filtration System, 1000 GPH

Is there anything wrong with running 2 Wet/Dry Filters?

[reefnoob1991]

I wouldn't think so...but 1000 GPH might be a little bit low for your 125

[reefnoob1991]

I just checked it out...seems like a good deal and it says recommended for 150 gallons so hey I guess they're the experts lol...I'd suggest getting another powerhead or so to keep the water moving and the current multi directional. Did you get the one with the auto top off?

[dfurbee]

rob, you might want to check out this store. I bought a HOB refugium, it is great, and comes with a skimmer. guarantee is lifetime!
Store

[glampka]

Rob, do NOT cut that middle rail from the tank. It's there for a reason. The rail gives the tank support when it bows out from water pressure.

[reefnoob1991]

That would be disastrous

[robe25m]

YES!! you guys are right, that beam is clearly there for structural support and will be staying, I doubt a MH lighting unit will cause it any concern..

dfurbee> thats sweet, I'm all over a HOB refugium, thanks a bunch, I didnt even know this hardware existed, tis site and its hobbyist are true lifesavers..I think I'm going to end up purchasing this exact unit you showed, so far cant find anything better for the price..

I did get the auto top off (4 gallon) I figure this will end up paying for itself....For months I have been topping off with distilled water in the 30g..

Today, I bought 100lbs of seachem Meridian substrate, my total is 140lbs so far. I will purchase 100lbs of live rock off the bay, I eventually will migrate my 30g and its contents to this tank, then placing my 30g for sale..

So my project is up and running, just waiting for shipping.

Now when all is running, live rock is in etc, do i need light to cycle this tank? I would love to cycle for 1 month without light, this would give me a nice buffer to save for a MH lighting unit..

Does light play any effect on a tanks cycle? also would 1 or 2 heaters be recommended??

Guess my pic didnt work, oh well, when shes up I will try again,

Thanks everyone, saved me so much time...

[reefnoob1991]

You can just get one heater recommended for your size tank. And metal halides are separate rectangle lighting structures so it should be able to have one on each side of the bar

[glampka]

Get 2 smaller heaters. Heaters are notorious for going bad. If a larger heater sticks in the on position you can easily cook your fish.

[ncdiablo]

Hey there Robe25m,

I just happened to do the same thing. I bought a 120g tank that also has a center support area of glass that for me happens to be around 18" wide.

I have to clean the tank and also do some work on the base before I get started on the system.

My thoughts so far on equipment:

(2) Krorlia 3 circulation powerheads for water movement.
(1-2) Maxi-Jet powerheads with a spinning attatchment that will vary the direction of the flow for varying flow for the corals.

External overflow box that would bring water down to a sump with a Euro-reef RS-80 protein skimmer. I will also put in a refugium. Not sure the size of the sump or the refugium right now I still have to work with the base and I will figure that out here soon.

Lighting is going to be a bit tricky since we have that center brace. Not sure if I should do a 72" or 2 30" lights. I am still debating between T-5's or Metal Halides. The thing I heard is that the glass will kill and quality of light that's going over the center. Not sure how true that is so I am hoping to hear from you guys on it. I am thinking that I will need to do a bay style arrangement although I was wanting to do more a center mass. So hoping to hear from the lighting guru's.

Robe25m since we are in similar boats I would like to hear what type of equipment you've gone with. Especially the lighting and the circulation.

Congrats on the good buy can't wait to see ours filled.

Steven

[blind1993]

he it is me the person who sold u the fishes and corals seems like the tank is going good sofar.

[robe25m]

I went with a TOM Aquarium Products Rapids Pro PS4 Aquarium Filtration System, 1000 GPH, sometimes think about running 2. I'm in the market now for a HangOn refugium, 2/250 watt visa therm heaters, I found a 1072 watt 60" MH light on the bay and posted about it, rather cheap but possibly to hot?

I will surely get MH lights but may cycle tank without lighting. I'm really going to search out a good light/deal.


Other then that I believe i'm done, adjust flow as I see fit, aquascape, cycle for 1month and let the fun begin/

I buy my water and also mix with distilled, hoped to be filled in 2 weeks, surely will share pics.

My center brace is made of a very hard plastic, I figure nothing we can do but search a good light.

[reefnoob1991]

Read this and decide. Lighting the Reef Tank: A Primer for Beginners by Doug Wojtczak - Reefkeeping.com

[robe25m]

Thats the light, I bought it, 1072 watts for me, I figure sometimes I can toggle between MH and PC, I will surely setup timers.

Actually it came down to price, $550 shipped.

I'm done total tank cost $1,400 without water. Now lets see if it all works.

[reefnoob1991]

Poor fishes...better get some underwater sunscreen!

[kgh9555]

I am fairly to this as well. My 2 boys and I started out with a 45 gallon tank and pumped up to 150 gallon. I have a learned a few things in the past 10 months which I will try and pass on to you.

Lightening: I purchase a 72" light from the fish store. I cam home only to find that I would have to make ajustments in the canopy I made. I also found the same fixture on ebay for half the price. Finally, I purchased 2 36" power compacts, totaling $230. They put out 192 wats each which is on the lower side for corals. I built up the live rock so I can place corals, clams and other thing close to the light. MH lights are great but you will probably have to add a chiller to prevent the water temp form getting too high.

I have wet/dry system with bioballs. I am concerned about the bioballs and have been told to use live rock. I am looking for more information on this. I am also looking for a skimmer. But I am confused as to what size since I want to place it the sump and keep the tank free of anything hanging off the back.

Hope this helps. SInce we are both new to this and got into the bigger tank the same, shot me an email.
Ken