Starting for the first time.

I just wanted to say hi and to let you guys know that im starting a salt water tank for the first time so i will probably be asking a lot of questions so here goes.The first question is i have a 125 gallon tank with no other iteams to go with it so im starting from scratch. i was talking to somone and they said i should have an under sand filter but do i need one? will it help? and how do you keep the small sand fron going thru it. thanks and please dont get bored with my questions because you have probably heard them before thanks.

 

Welcome to 3reef Salty, Dont worry about asking any kind of questions thats what we're here for. If your talking about an under gravel filter, Those are used in FW and I REALLY dont recommend using that in a SW tank. If you can get the tank drilled, I would do so. Luna

 

welcome to 3reef!!!! i agree with Luna, and ask as many questions as your fingers can handle

 

Welcome to 3reef Keep us posted on your progress!

 

welcome to 3reef.....You cant find a better place for knowlage

 

Thanks i like the imput. my tank is glass so i dont know if it can be drilled is this so you wont see the pipes in the tank?

 

Ever since I hade a bulkhead crack and dump 120gal on the floor I stick with custom hang on plumbing

 

hi welcome no its drilled to install a overflow. A over flow is a box with a pipe in the middle. which has the surface of the water fall down into it which is in turn sends it to the filter/sump. the reason you want the surface water to go into the filter is because thats the dirtiest part. it is the dirtiest part of the water because waste(protien) is water loving on one end and water repelling on the other. so it naturally gravitates to the top of the water.

also a drilled overflow will prevent tank flooding 99% of the time. and the sump is like you suggested a good place to hide equipment. depending on how indepth you go in to the hobby you may have tons of equipment or very little.

one must have piece of equipment is a protien skimmer. THIS IS A MUST IN MY OPINION. you need a good one too so dont just buy the cheapest thing that comes along. btw the protien skimmer will be your mechanical filtration for the most part.

welcome again sorry if my post was long i just made alot of mistakes when i first started and i don't want others to repeat my mistakes

 

Welcome to 3Reef!!!!

 

This only happens when you OVER tighten the bulkhead, this rarely happens. Sorry that you had a bad exp. Luna