Hey everyone!


If everyone has time can you let me know exactly what i would need to successfully run a 118 gal saltwater tank. I have several questions and when I say "several" I mean SEVERAL!! ha Right now I have a 20 gal nano cube that has all of the filtration built into it, and now I am ready to go bigger. I would like to go corals and fish, so I would like to set it up more as a reef tank. I have been doing some research all over the web and reading some books. on saltwaterfish.com and its superstore, you can buy the hardware also, which looks like they are fairly priced. i would rather go and buy all of the top selling stuff or almost at the top than settle for something thats just ok and have it not work like i want it to. I know the basics and how they work but I just need further assistance into some of the finer points. I am wondering if it would be good to get a chiller for the tank, a calcium reactor, a uv sterilizer, reverse osmosis machine, auto topoff? Or is it not necessary? I like to keep my house fairly cool at all times which often drops my tanks temp so i had to add a heater to the nano, so I am kind of figuring in for the same on the new tank. Another question is I have been having some recent issues with high nitrate levels, should I continue to do several water changes like the local fish store has told me or should i get a nitrate reducer in the nano? If I do get a chiller, uv sterilizer, and ca reactor, reverse osmosis machine, auto topoff...which sizes should I get to suffice for a 118 gal tank? What size sump should I get, and what do you recommend as far as how the sump is set up? I was also looking at getting a wavemaker...is that something I would need? I will have a lil extra money coming here real shortly so I figured I would try to find and buy everything I wanted before my girlfriend realizes that her shopping money has aready been spent!! Another question I have is about the cleaner crews....Will it hurt a tank by having several different cleaners in it? Such as my nano, I only have 4 blue legged crabs, 1 nassarius snail, 1 turbo snail, and a red starfish, I would like to add quite a few more? Your thought? ANd on the 118 gal tank I saw that saltwaterfish.com offers combo packs for cleaner crews, I am wondering if it is smarter/cheaper to go with the combos? Is the Fiji LR really as good as the reviews give it, or does it not really matter what kind of LR I am getting? Whats the difference between a 14k light and a 10k light and which one is better? I want my lighting to be the highlight of my tank besides the fish and corals, because i truly think a good or bad light can be a make and break on a nice saltwater tank setup, as far as ive seen. how many total watts and what are some good brands i could go with for the lighting? what kind of pumps will i need to run the tank, i have read some people have 2 and others only have 1? What kind of a protein skimmer should I get? I found a sump with a built in skimmer? Is that a good idea or bad? Anything else anyone can tell me that would help me out in what seems like its going to be a long journey it would be really appreciated!! If you read this please respond back with any ideas or suggestions, or if you would like to answer everything that would even be better!! I have already learned that the more suggestions the more I can mold it into my own ideas with the help of you! Also if you respond back throw some pics in of your own tank, Im always interested in other pics of tanks!! Thanks again...Cody

wow...........thats quit a tall order, lol

IMO...........the KISS theory works the best for salt tanks {keep it simple stupid} as these monsters are complex enough..................

from what ive read the answer to all your questions is yes...............you have done a lot of research and have good information - saltwaterfish.com is a very good site, you might look at reef central, petsolutions and drs. foster and smith for more info and parts and pieces..............

I am setting up a 120 gallon tank right now, so ill give you my set up plans and then you can go from there. evrything you listed is good and will work but not all is "needed"

my tank has 2 overflows and returns built in going through the bottom {ive built it into an island seperateing the living room and diningroom, with everything going through the floor into a tank room in the basement}

from there ill run into my first sump witch will have a filter sock in it with carbon bags and the skimmer {mines a euroreef series 3 rated for up to750 gallon tanks} its a submersable verseres a dry unit {sits in the water as opposed to a pipe running to it}

from the sump ill run into another tank which will be a refugium and the return

i do have a UV sterilizer but not sure if im going to use it, if so it will go into the return section with heaters if i need them

i have an RO/DI system for water, i got a deal on a 150gpd unit but wouldnt have bought a new one that big, once the tank is full ill need top of water and water change water and a few days running on a smaller unit will make plenty of water for me or you in this case, but big isnt bad, just costs more, lol

IMO, good water to start with good filtration and good skimming are the keys to water quality

lighting, i will be useing a 150 watt metal halide pendant and 4 10,000k T5 single bulbs and a couple 460nm actinic single bulb fixtures

being that im running into the basement wich is cooler than the house and im moveing a massive amount of water { close to 250 gallons} im hopeing a chiller isnt needed -i would wait untill your up and running to see if you need one, very expensive to buy and to run.

thats a start, you may not be running into a basement but the principles are the same, i like to use the rule of 3rds for sumps so in your case 39.9 gallons -that doesn't mean a 29 gallon tank isnt going to work for you its just my opinion, im running into a 55 and a 29 with my 120, but ive got alot of room to play with in the basement..................keep asking questions we will all try to answer as many as we can - - -you picked a very good personal site to join,

Welcome to the addiction !!!!


Snowboss

HOLY COW. thats a long post.

Okay agreed with Boss. Keep it simple. All you REALLY need is some good porous live rock power heads and a good quality skimmer. Everything else is extra. (besides lights) If you want corals........dont buy ANYTHING BUT halides. You will be sooooooooo happy you did. I have had PC bulbs..........VHO bulbs.........and now Ive bought Metal Halides.......after waisting about 500 in lighting. Do it right the first time. You want to do an auto top off if you can......it will help you out tremendously!!!! I dont have one yet.......and it sucks. As far as cooling goes.....Computer fans work wonders. :) As long as your house is between 72-76 you should be okay. I personally run a heater and computer fans to keep the temp constant. You dont want temp swings. I would focus on those first......and you would be fine. Im about to sell my overflow if your interested. :) Ill let it go for $50+ shipping, Mind you I paid 130 for it. Its a CPR C-sipohon, and Ill throw in a pump to suck out the air. :) Its made for up to 180gallon tank. Thats if you want to run a sump. I would go with at least a 20 long and another 20 (since you have the room) for a refugium. This will filter your water and make your life a LOT easier. :)

20000k bulbs in halides top of the spectrum, give you a blue colour

what are some websites that everyine recommends to buy all of my stuff from minus corals and fish??

awesome i really appreciate it i am going to be running a closed hood but not 3 250's what would you recommend for a lighting system setup? i want to have the best lighting possible-something with a blue tint to it and something that is going to maximize my coral growth and healthy for my fish.....where did you find how to build your own sump and refugium??? or can you show me how you set yours? happy 4th by the way to everyone!