Mjarrett4
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2013
- Messages
- 24
Hello all!
I am a fairly experienced former freshwater tank owner, interested in building a saltwater coral and fish system. Living in Montana I am finding the web to be a wealth of information, as we'll as a wealth of confusion! I am trying to make a go of this on a very limited budget, don't want the wife to kill me, but I have always wanted to do this. I have been into the only salt water fish shop in my area, and I think it is a pretty good shop. They have led me down a path that may be doable, the cost is still a little high, and I still don't know what I will do for sure. I am fairly handy, and building/assembly interests me a lot. I would like to go used as well, to save some cash.
Here is what I am thinking so far:
I would like to place the display tank in a wall of my basement that backs into my mechanical room. From here I can connect easily to power, and my r.o. System.
The lfs has a used tank that I believe is 36" x 24" x 18". I can't go 48" as the wall is too short. I think the used tank would work well, but might be a little tall?
I then am thinking about a 75 for a sump and refuge, and am really confused by all of the different options that a sump entails, the lfs owner seems very experienced and has said he can do the design, I am just trying to understand, whilst trying to see the future, to know what is coming.
He mentioned a 1900 gph pump
Live rock
Live sand
Led lighting
Water movement pumps in the display
Auto top off
Bulkheads and drilling the tank
And a few other things I cannot remember at this time
I know that he hadn't mentioned a skimmer, is that necessary at this time?
Any advice anyone may have is welcomed, I think I have opened a can of worms, but I am excited to get this going and watch it come to life!
I am a fairly experienced former freshwater tank owner, interested in building a saltwater coral and fish system. Living in Montana I am finding the web to be a wealth of information, as we'll as a wealth of confusion! I am trying to make a go of this on a very limited budget, don't want the wife to kill me, but I have always wanted to do this. I have been into the only salt water fish shop in my area, and I think it is a pretty good shop. They have led me down a path that may be doable, the cost is still a little high, and I still don't know what I will do for sure. I am fairly handy, and building/assembly interests me a lot. I would like to go used as well, to save some cash.
Here is what I am thinking so far:
I would like to place the display tank in a wall of my basement that backs into my mechanical room. From here I can connect easily to power, and my r.o. System.
The lfs has a used tank that I believe is 36" x 24" x 18". I can't go 48" as the wall is too short. I think the used tank would work well, but might be a little tall?
I then am thinking about a 75 for a sump and refuge, and am really confused by all of the different options that a sump entails, the lfs owner seems very experienced and has said he can do the design, I am just trying to understand, whilst trying to see the future, to know what is coming.
He mentioned a 1900 gph pump
Live rock
Live sand
Led lighting
Water movement pumps in the display
Auto top off
Bulkheads and drilling the tank
And a few other things I cannot remember at this time
I know that he hadn't mentioned a skimmer, is that necessary at this time?
Any advice anyone may have is welcomed, I think I have opened a can of worms, but I am excited to get this going and watch it come to life!