How practical are large FO tanks?

[TheAntiEggroll]

Ill try to keep this as short as possible so bear with me. Im TRYING to do a large fish tank on somewhat of a budget. Ive already purchased a 120 gallon tall and planned on doing a freshwater tank but my roommate keeps sticking the idea of a salt tank in my head. I also have 2 Biowheels which I know work well in salt tanks and a Fluval 404 which I heard wasnt a great choice for salt tanks. Anyways if I wanted to do an aggressive tank is this going to be more effort thank its worth? I also personally feel that my choices for fish are a bit limited due to the 18 inch depth.

Thanks in advance for any replies. :bum:

[stevebydac]

It is usually better to spend more $$$ and get more equipment. That said, if you are on a budget, you CAN keep a very nice FO tank. Your options are just a bit more limited.

Your tank is approx. 48L x 30H x 18W, correct? At those measurements and at 120g, I would keep fish that will only get to about 8" max.

Since you are new to saltwater, I would stick to fish that are generally regarded as "hardy" and can take less-than-perfect water conditions. There are a hundred choices of hardy fish under 8". Pick 10 or so out that you like and ask us which ones will get along together, and how many of them should be kept in that size tank. Get on some vendor sites now, and then crosscheck their adult sizes with www.fishbase.org Fishbase has the most accurate measurements on fish - much more trustworthy than most vendor sites.

A Fluval 404 and Biowheels can work, but the Fluval especially can be labor intensive. Plus these are not as effective as sump/refugium systems. BUTTTT -- you are on a budget, so for now keep what you have, understanding that you have to do weekly water changes, change your filter media religiously, and monitor and test all the time. You have less room for error.

Given your system, skip corals, shrimp, crabs, etc. which are not as hardy as most fish. As a bonus, you can keep regular NO lights on your tank, you won't need PC or metal halide.

Once you get rolling and are having success, you can upgrade 6-12 months down the road if you wish. But for now, YES you can have a nice FO tank on a budget -- as long as you accept the limitations of a non-fancy system.

Best of kuck to you! :)

[TheAntiEggroll]

Thankyou for the excellent first reply. If I were to get some live rock whats the minimum I could get that would still be beneficial for the tank? I can afford more I just set myself a budget before starting this and would like to keep it. :(

[stevebydac]

Any amount of live rock is beneficial to the tank. :) So add a few pieces at a time as your budget allows. Make sure the rock is cured though. If it is not, then cure it in a separate container. If you aren't aware of the curing process, you can look all over the web on the subject, or on this site if the search engine is working. :p

[dc1718]

I sent you a PM

[dc1718]

you could also buy a small amount of live rock and seed base rock very cost effective. I set my 125 up for under 500.

[TheAntiEggroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6639098#post6639098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dc1718
I sent you a PM Thanks for the PM. I will definitly get back to you depending on which route I go. Should I plan on a 2 month incubation perdiod before the tank is ready for fish?

[TheAntiEggroll]

If I built a sump I would only use that and not the 3 other filters with the sump correct?

[stevebydac]

If you go with a sump, you still need a means of filtration. Technically, a sump is just a container of water. So then you should go (if you have the $$) protein skimmer, then live rock.

A good protein skimmer should be your first major purchase if you go the sump route.

[hopkisag1]

Correct. You would need an overflow or drilled tank, return pump and a skimmer for the sump. Well either way you would need the skimmer. Some powerheads for water movement would be nice too. In my 125 I have a mag9.5 for return, and 2 Seio 1500s.

[aquaman67]

Hey TheAntiEggroll,

[welcome]

[TheAntiEggroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6640419#post6640419 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquaman67
Hey TheAntiEggroll,

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big> Thanks but as you can tell from the join date Ive lurked here for quite a while. I just decided to make my first tank an African Cichlid tank instead of salt so I went to other boards. ;)

[aquaman67]

I did the cichlid and lurking thing too. I was going by post count to welcome you here. It's a great place for info.

I still keep some angles and silver dollars I can't part with.

[gastone]

The first book I purchased when starting a saltwater tank was this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1890087025/sr=1-2/qid=1138838126/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-8815522-2918405?%5Fencoding=UTF8

I highly recommend. Mr. Fenner doesn't support one methodology in keeping saltwater tanks, and in fact, offers many different perspectives and viewpoints, discussing the pros and cons of all. I used a Fluval 404 on my first tank and later, after I added a sump, continued to use, minus the sponges, to run carbon and provide extra circulation.

Good luck.

Garrett.

[LRS078]

Going either straight base rock or a small bit of LR with the rest base works great. Just remember that if you have to treat the tank later with copper or some other chemicals live rock turns to dead rock. Also over time base rock turns to cultured rock...not the same exactly as LR but very similar in function.

You can also look at wetwebmedia and go over their depth of info in both new tank setup, filtration, and especially DIY stuff for top notch budget equipment.

Welcome!

[3rotorFD]

:hay: antieggroll! WELCOME to RC!!!
I know you from somewhere:noes: LOL. If you are doing fish only.
I'd say get some LR and DITCH the biowheel. the fluval sounds fine. I keep 2 RENA filstar 2 canisters in my 120 "no filter media" I put some small LR pieces in there and a Charcoal bag in one of them.
" that's all i have And a small hang on FUGE w/ some chaeto". I do a 5 gallon water change every 2 weeks and it's been working GOOD! for about 3 months........and my sandbed is about 2-3 inches.(no skimmer)
livestock.....
1 SF eel
1 Striped dogface puffer
1 Dwarf lion
1 white ribbon eel
2 HUGE mexican turbos
about 20 blue legged hermits
and I just got a small NIGER trigger today :hsugh:

:D welcome again!

[TheAntiEggroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6647344#post6647344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 3rotorFD
:hay: antieggroll! WELCOME to RC!!!
I know you from somewhere:noes: LOL. If you are doing fish only.
I'd say get some LR and DITCH the biowheel. the fluval sounds fine. I keep 2 RENA filstar 2 canisters in my 120 "no filter media" I put some small LR pieces in there and a Charcoal bag in one of them.
" that's all i have And a small hang on FUGE w/ some chaeto". I do a 5 gallon water change every 2 weeks and it's been working GOOD! for about 3 months........and my sandbed is about 2-3 inches.(no skimmer)
livestock.....
1 SF eel
1 Striped dogface puffer
1 Dwarf lion
1 white ribbon eel
2 HUGE mexican turbos
about 20 blue legged hermits
and I just got a small NIGER trigger today :hsugh:

:D welcome again! :run:

[3rotorFD]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6647418#post6647418 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheAntiEggroll
:run: :mamoru:
:edit: i didn't notice your join date LOL or the other posts :mixed:
I guess i'll take that welcome back :bowrofll: ........you've been here longer then me....... You can welcome me instead :WTC:

[WantaBeReefer]

I have a non RR 125 FOWLR. I do have a lot of live rock for bio-filter (100lbs). I use a fluval 404 (carbon only), a pequin bio-wheel 330, and a aqua c remora pro skimmer. I also have 1 Seio 2600 and another powerhead of equivalent flow on the opposite end. I consider what I have as the minimum needed to keep things going smoothly, but my tank has been up 1 yr 2 months without any issues. I am BB which makes things easier to maintain as well and saves some money. If you go with a sump, you can get rid of all of the junk hanging in the tank though.

[TheAntiEggroll]

After careful review I THINK Im going to stay freshwater and just buy myself a Nano-Cube or something similar for salt.

[Ironsheikh]

I had a fish only 20 with just a emperor 400 w/ biowheels for 4 years. sea glass for substrate no heater, no light even for a couple months --

don't get discouraged or flustered reading everyone's posts --just do what you like.

don't overstock, use live rock, protein skimmer would be great, keep up on water changes -- you're good

i run a superskimmer, rena canister, and eheim wetdry for my tank for mine
I have a couple ricordia in my tnak for color
enough said