Early in the planning stages

[Brinait]

I'm thinking around a 75ish gallon tank (big enough to get most of the fish I want, but not so big I'll be overwhelmed by maintenance). I do want corals.

Is it more cost effective to buy everything separately or to buy a plug and play system like SC aquariums has?

Also can someone point me in the right direction to read up about the plumbing? That's something I'm clueless on.

I'm guessing it'd be a good idea to put it on it's own circuit for electricity?

I am at least 9 months from starting to purchase things. So plenty of time to make up my time. Also, I have lots of experience with freshwater, but no saltwater experience.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I'm thinking around a 75ish gallon tank (big enough to get most of the fish I want, but not so big I'll be overwhelmed by maintenance). I do want corals.

A 75g is a nice size and shape. I had one for several years before I went to a 180g and now I'm downsizing and have a 125g. The biggest factor to keeping coral is good water, stable conditions (which can take some time to get good at) and good light.

Is it more cost effective to buy everything separately or to buy a plug and play system like SC aquariums has?

If you are buying everything new, it's probably better to get a package deal like CADLight, Red Sea or SCA. But the package deals often don't have the best of everything. So it's 6 of one and a half dozen of the other IMHO. I got a CADLight 125g and it's a nice system. The plumbing was easy, the tank and sump are great, the stand is very nice, the return pump is very good and the skimmer is OK but fussy about water depth. A similar Red Sea system would cost $700 more and has less included hardware unless you buy the top of the line set up and pay a lot more.

Also can someone point me in the right direction to read up about the plumbing? That's something I'm clueless on.

You should see if there is a local club you can join. That was a HUGE help for me. There is a list of a lot of clubs here at RC. Here is a link:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=80

I'm guessing it'd be a good idea to put it on it's own circuit for electricity?

That's a excellent step in the right direction. I installed 2 new circuit breakers and ran 2 dedicated lines to the tank. and both have GFI outlets.

I am at least 9 months from starting to purchase things. So plenty of time to make up my time. Also, I have lots of experience with freshwater, but no saltwater experience.

Take your time and ask lots of questions. You'll find a lot of people here willing to help.

 

[Brinait]

Thanks for the reply.

Ideally I'll be able to pick up a setup second hand. I'm just trying to be prepared for there being nothing available when I'm ready to dive in (I should finally be in my house in a month, and I want to replace the flooring before I set up a saltwater tank, ugly carpet). I'll probably start trolling craigslist once I'm in but not set up anything until that floor is taken care of. I'm going to have to have a line ran for a dishwasher, so might as well get one ran for an aquarium while I'm at it.

Looks like there are two clubs based an hour from me, excellent, I know where to hit up fish store suggestions now. No one sells Marine fish locally, but I should have a good selection an hour-ish drive either north or south.

 

[Ab129]

http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/#bestpractices

This link was a huge help to me in deciding on and setting up my plumbing.
It is dead quiet.

 

[accordexi]

One suggestion i would give to a new Member is that you should do a few things first

1) read all that you can before you go and buy
2) Ask questions.
3) buy all the best equipment you can afford. or buy it slowly ( saves you a lot on maintenance)

 

[ReefEco]

Hey there - I'd look at a 120g if you can swing it - same width as a 75, but a few more inches in other dimensions and some more water volume for stability. No more expensive in terms of lights, pumps, etc. than a 75 either as the lighting foot print is the same and skimmer/circulation choices are comparable.

First investment would be a solid RO/DI unit, especially if you are coming the freshwater side of things - don't go the treated tapwater route. Great that you are starting research now if you are 9 months away - very smart.

If you are new to saltwater, an all-in-one pre-fab aquarium as suggested might be the easier, albeit usually more expensive route. It can take away some of the setup headaches however, and lets you focus on keeping your critters alive and healthy initially. Then when you get obsessed and upgrade : ) you can piece together your system based on what you've learned.

One of the largest purchases will be lighting - so I would advise going with a system that is modular - rather than purchasing a system that fits your 4 foot tank, that can't be easily used on a larger tank. So, for instance, buying 2-3 smaller "pendant" lights (radions, kessils, AI hydra, etc.) will allow you to just buy 1-2 more if you upgrade, rather than buying an entire new fixture. Same logic holds for pumps - buying a slightly oversized DC return pump can simply be turned down for this tank, and stay with you if you upgrade by just turning up the flow.

 

[Frank H]

I agree with buying the tank secondhand. I ordered my tank from my local store and during the month that I waited for the stand to be made I seen many tanks that I should have bought instead listed used on local pages.