New to saltwater and need help with tank ect

depending on the what 'flourescent' fixture means, either pc, T5 or normal output bulbs, you will probably need to upgrade the lighting. Honestly I agree with Packleader, I would rather purchase everything separately and get exactly what you need. I was able to get my protein skimmer and other equipment of Ebay to save some money. It will seem like a daunting task to buy everything separately, but I believe it is better in the long run. If you would like a list of basics for a tank that size I can post one, or you just ask anyone here, they would be glad to help.
Also, you will need patients, or you will be screwing yourself out of more money than you need to. Good luck!

 

Ya the more I think about the more I know its a bad idea that im going to have to up grade constantly. I do want a tank with a built in wet/dry area on the back of the tank tho, it sounds like with that all I have to do is put a skimmer in there and the water pumps(really not sure about these haven't done any research about them, assuming that they hook up with the wet/dry area). And also with a wet/dry it sounds like it would be quite easy to create a refegeum (sp) with the help of a light.
How wrong am I about this.
Also don't think I am going to get any other filtration other then the live rock and the protein skimmer, just doesn't seam nessary and I might not change it enough and have poisons going back in to the tank.

 

The best deals are on Craigslist.
For a few hundred more you could get an established reef like this:
120 Gal. Saltwater Aquarium, INCL. FISH & REEF!!

 

The lighting on that tank is just fluorescent, and would need to go. The filter it has is inadequate. The way the backs are designed, it limits you to specific heaters/skimmers a lot of the time. The skimmers you have to get are inadequate. Again, if you got this tank, you just paid $600 dollars for just the tank, nothing more, as everything else either needs to still be purchased or thrown out. Also, creating a refugium in the backs of those can get pretty complicated and costly, not too mention very limiting on the size.
You can get a 50 gallon tank/stand on craigslist for under $100 dollars. Addition of a overflow box, then making a sump/refugium out of a 20 gallon or so tank will run you another 100, probably less again. Right there for $200 dollars max, you have way more of a tank then the one in the link. Add on T-5 lights, a good skimmer, heater, etc, and you will have all the stuff you actually need for a lot less than going the combo road.

 

Dont want to scare anyone out of this hobby but if you dont do your research first your bond to fail, As for money this is the wrong hobby if your worried about money. If you go cheap your just going to get frustrated and give up. As everyone here has said take your time buy a tank predrilled with over flow and bulk heads, Next buy a tank to go under for Sump/Refug and a pump to pump the water back up once you have that get her filled up and do more research. I cant stress research enough i did almost almost 10 years of research before i attempted my first aquarium and it almost crashed. Luckly i got on here and did alot more research.

By the way Welcome to 3reef glad to have you.
hope we can help each other along the way.

Antagonist

 

10 years of research! wow, that's a lot, a little excessive? But really, the best research is probably this site, first hand experience beats books any day I believe.

 

well I did pick up the conscintious marine aquarist and it is helping quite a lot. My only question is that do you guys prefer a built in wet/dry place or the sump?

 

Sump!!! Built in=more to break and harder to fix. If that wasn't the case we'd all buy uniquariums and be done with it!

Gin

 

Another option you have instead of a sump/refugium is a Canister Filter, for example a rena xp2.

which is what i have and seen some of the other guys on here run them, search it up. it is a less complicated way of getting started, you will however need to clean it often about every 1-2 weeks but hey its not hard.

they cost around 100-150 brand new and do a good job and very simple and basic to operate/maintain, and are a little less intimidating than setting up a sump/fuge with all of the pumps and pplumbing and drilling etc etc.

the canister is simple, set it up (put pieces together) prime with some water then turn on. very simple

i am also just getting started and heres what i have running my tank now...

its a 55 gallon tank
-rena xp2 canister filter
-200 watt heater
-current sattelite light system 130watt (little low but it was alot cheaper and will still work well)
-2 Koralia 2 powerheads (waterpump)
-tetra whisper air pump
-and i have 65lbs of live rock in there now and 45lbs of live sand, u can use less rock its reccomended about 1-1.5 lbs per gallon of your tank.

--- gonna be looking to get a skimmer somtime in the future but not right away.

everything is working great , SUPER quiet, and my water parameters are all good so far, i have some zoanthids growing quite nicely in the tank so she works :

hope this helps and good luck with your tank

 

Ok I am even more confused about filtration then I was before I started reading the conscientious marine aquarist. A protein skimmer needs an additonal pump to work?

I would write more but just confused at every turn about everything, lifters, do I need a pump and a sump for air agitation or what and if I do is there a sump that comes with the pumps needed to put the water back in the tank or is that what a canister does?

Can some one just give me a good outline of products to get? Im just so overwhelmed and I know that it really shouldn't be as hard as im making it.