First Reef Aquarium Build

[conejo]

Hi all.

I am going to be taking on building a reef tank. I am super excited (I've wanted one since I was a kid). I have a 55 gallon fresh water tank now and have recently acquired a 75 gallon tank with a built in overflow for free (traded for it).

I will post pictures of this build as I do it and would appreciate any tips. I am in a research stage and realize I will spend a decent amount of money.

This will not be a quick build as I am planning to buy a house and don't want to start setting it up only to move it.

I will be attaching a picture of the tank and the goodies I got with it. I'm happy to have joined this group because I have been learning a lot.

 

[conejo]

That is a custom built stand.

 

[Trueerfan]

Looks like you have a great start. I'll be following along.

 

[Sniperhank]

Check out the taotronics LEDs. They are the cheapest lights you'll find and you'll be able to keep anything you'd like (lighting wise atleast). You'll need to of them to cover the area of a 55 and/or 75.

 

[conejo]

Awesome.

I will check those lights out.

Well this is my sump I just picked up

 

[Sniperhank]

Looks good. You might want to put the skimmer in the first section rather than the return section.

 

[conejo]

Will do thank you.

Do you guys have any suggestion on the size of the return pump I would need?

 

[Big Tex]

looks really good, especially the stand it looks well made, ill be sub'd to this thread, waiting on the updates. and these are the leds bud, these will grow pretty much any coral you can buy (mostly)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310738524708#ht_3177wt_932

 

[conejo]

Yeah it will be a slow process but I'm excited to get it going eventually.

My question with the lights would I also need night lights or just dim them?

 

[Big Tex]

Yeah it will be a slow process but I'm excited to get it going eventually.

My question with the lights would I also need night lights or just dim them?

since you have a 75g its 48" wide, and since these lights cover 24" a piece you need 2 fixtures, and you can just dim out together or just dim the white out or switch the white completely off for a "nightime" mode

 

[conejo]

Awesome thank you so much. Any tips or help to save some cash is very appreciated.

 

[Mebbid]

Looks like you're off to a great start already

Any ideas on what you want for fish?

 

[conejo]

I haven't put too much thought into it but I know I would like a yellow tang and two clown fishes for sure. I am definitely open to suggestions.

 

[Big Tex]

I haven't put too much thought into it but I know I would like a yellow tang and two clown fishes for sure. I am definitely open to suggestions.

a yellow tang is a gamble in that tank, they need ALOT of room to swim, they get to the size of a dinner plate, so imagine a plate trying to turn and swim in there along with live rock.. you can have one but would eventually have to rehome him which sucks, ive been through it and you get attached to your fish rehoming sucks

 

[conejo]

Well eventually I would be upgrading to a larger Tank and moving my fresh water set up into the 75 gallon. I do see your point and most likely will stay away from tangs because I get very attached to any animal. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[conejo]

I found 40lbs of once live Florida reef dry rock for $40 is that a good deal?

 

[Jolee0722]

Yes that is a really good deal.

 

[Big Tex]

I found 40lbs of once live Florida reef dry rock for $40 is that a good deal?

$1/lb hell yeah

 

[conejo]

Consider it bought

 

[conejo]

Okay so here is the pictures of the rock I picked up for $1/lbs.