True or false?

m2434, 2in 10 and face of deceite you guys are helpful. Alright so tell me if this would work. 125g or 75g with 8 bulb t5 lights, 2 hob filters, 10lb live 70lb dry and a bit of live sand to seed a lot of dry sand to just start out cycling the tank? then as budget forms i can buy a skimmer and start adding livestock? let me know your opinions.

 

yup, this will be a reef tank.

 

Yeah, seeding dry sand works just as well as starting with live sand.

As to the HOB filters, the only thing you really need is Granular Activated Carbon and Possibly Granular Ferric oxide. However, if you get a decent skimmer, you may not need these right away. If you do run these, a reactor is better. On a budget, I'd look into the Two little Fishes Phosban 150 reactors or the Bulk Reef Supply reactors are okay. There really isn't a need for filter floss or filter pads in a reef. Everything is food for something and will get eaten. When they get filtered out, unless you switch out the filter media every few days, they tend to get nasty and cause problems. A protein skimmer will remove everything uneaten fairly well.

Other brands are Reef Octopus and Bubble Magnus. For a 75-125g tank, you can probably get a decent skimmer for around $150. Maybe less if you find something used. That would be a much better investment than 2 hob filter.

Lights can always be upgraded latter, there are a lot of corals that don't really require tons of light.

 

4x54W bulbs will be all you need on a 75. I agree with m2434's post.

 

You guys have restored my faith. How will I use a skimmer without a sump?

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Corrected

 

A sump isn't too much more to add. However, if you go sumpless, you can get a Hand On The Back (HOB) skimmer. Reef Octopus (RO) makes some very good ones, that could definitely work for you. Also there is a company called Aquamaxx that makes excellent skimmers and has one that probably would work. I think Eshops has an HOB rated for up to 100g, which would probably be okay for the 75. There is a member reefmonkey, who probably know everything there is to know about the Eshops skimmers.

I'm more familiar with the ROs, and can tall you their HOBs are always highly praised. As is the Aquamaxx, although it is sort of a sleeper in the hobby. I'm not sure if Bubble Magnus has an HOB. Vertex is another good company, I'm not sure if they have an HOB though.

You get more options with in sump skimmers. For a sump, you just need a predrilled tank and a small tank. Especially if buying used, it doesn't necessarily add much. It's not as critical as people say though, but does help hide equipment and make things look nicer. Also, you can grow macro algae in it, if you glue in some baffles, which is a cheap way to filter your water.

 

what size sump would be good for a 75? and i will take a look on hob sumps vs making a sump, is it easy to drill a tank?

 

also what forum is the appropriate one to ask about diy stands? i think i might go that rout on a stand if i cant find a cheap 75 with one included

 

you can do a skimmer as a HOB skimmer just fine there are some that work better then others and I've heard that in sump skimmers work better (but I believe it's just because you cant see it) =P as a mostly first timer my self I'd say INVEST IN A RO/DI unit you can get them cheaply at several of our sponsors sites. They will save you from the hair pulling moments in tank life.

EDIT: IF your going to go the route of drilling a tank DON'T buy a tank that has tempered glass. you will regret it forever!

 

You can find alot of posts on the DIY stands in the "I made this!" area. Thats where I went to get ideas for mine.