Starting the saltwater journey

[rawhideshaba]

Ok so I am going to start my saltwater journey over the winter and I am unsure of what to do. My buddy is in all of the local clubs and has a great setup so he will help me begin the process and let me pick his brain of course. My main concerns are what size tank I should attempt first. I have a 110, 120, 55, and 10. And I am almost done sealing a 265. I want to run just 1 tank saltwater and 1 tank freshwater so the wife doesn't stab me in my sleep. So I was planning to either go 265 fresh or salt and the 120 as the latter. I have everything a person would want for a saltwater setup except for the protein skimmer, chiller, rodi unit, and all forms of live rock/sand. Lighting could be upgraded but my current lighting will support a minimal coral growth.
With that being said the initial price of rock, sand, salt, and the above missing items (plus or minus a chiller since not sure on stocking) will hit me in the pocket hard. So should I go straight for a 265 gallon saltwater tank or start a bit smaller as I am not getting rid of the big tank anytime soon.

Background on current items in current tanks that would be used in the saltwater setup are as follows.
Vectors m1 pump
Geo reef R series SU36R sump
Life reef overflow boxes(tank not drilled)
Maxspect Gyre XF150 X 2. (2nd gen)
4ft T5HO 6 bulb light
4ft 15k led light
3ft 15k led
(Lighting may need upgraded)
50 gallon drums for premixed water
Box of airpumps
Tons of filter media from normal to questionable in saltwater ie: (ceramic rings, bioballs, and k1 media) being the questionable ones due to nitrates.

So where to start and what tank to use is my main question.

Sent from my SM-J727V using Tapatalk

 

[MurphyLong]

Just my $.02 (in no particular order)

1. Just bite the bullet and go with the bigger tank for salt. You'll be glad you did later.
2. Get what you need, bit by bit. You don't have to buy all your sand and rock at once. You can cautiously get used rock, but I'd bleach/acid wash it before using it, and only if I saw it in a running tank with inverts beforehand, to ensure there's no copper.
3. DRILL THE TANK IF YOU CAN! If you can't do it, see if it's tempered. If it isn't get a local glass shop to drill it for you, and install an overflow. It will save you LOTS of headaches; overflow boxes aren't reliable enough (IMHO.)
4. Take your time. Seriously. It's a LONG road to get going, and it's worth planning out as much as you can ahead of time, and avoid the "Oh I should've done this" situations when it's too late.
5. Depending on your locale and ambient room temperature throughout the year, you may not even need a chiller.


I'm sure someone smarter than I will chime in and correct me/add to the list.

 

[rawhideshaba]

Almost forgot I have the full apex system and C02 setup already too

Sent from my SM-J727V using Tapatalk

 

[ReefMaster48]

Just my $.02 (in no particular order)

1. Just bite the bullet and go with the bigger tank for salt. You'll be glad you did later.
2. Get what you need, bit by bit. You don't have to buy all your sand and rock at once. You can cautiously get used rock, but I'd bleach/acid wash it before using it, and only if I saw it in a running tank with inverts beforehand, to ensure there's no copper.
3. DRILL THE TANK IF YOU CAN! If you can't do it, see if it's tempered. If it isn't get a local glass shop to drill it for you, and install an overflow. It will save you LOTS of headaches; overflow boxes aren't reliable enough (IMHO.)
4. Take your time. Seriously. It's a LONG road to get going, and it's worth planning out as much as you can ahead of time, and avoid the "Oh I should've done this" situations when it's too late.
5. Depending on your locale and ambient room temperature throughout the year, you may not even need a chiller.


I'm sure someone smarter than I will chime in and correct me/add to the list.

+1 very good advise!

Definitely go with the biggest tank you can afford/fit! Saltwater is not something that you wanna upgrade every few months/year. Trust me, it will be worth it!

 

[ReefMaster48]

advice. lol cant spell today.

 

[mikenh77]

Just my $.02 (in no particular order)

1. Just bite the bullet and go with the bigger tank for salt. You'll be glad you did later.
2. Get what you need, bit by bit. You don't have to buy all your sand and rock at once. You can cautiously get used rock, but I'd bleach/acid wash it before using it, and only if I saw it in a running tank with inverts beforehand, to ensure there's no copper.
3. DRILL THE TANK IF YOU CAN! If you can't do it, see if it's tempered. If it isn't get a local glass shop to drill it for you, and install an overflow. It will save you LOTS of headaches; overflow boxes aren't reliable enough (IMHO.)
4. Take your time. Seriously. It's a LONG road to get going, and it's worth planning out as much as you can ahead of time, and avoid the "Oh I should've done this" situations when it's too late.
5. Depending on your locale and ambient room temperature throughout the year, you may not even need a chiller.


I'm sure someone smarter than I will chime in and correct me/add to the list.

I couldn't agree more. Everything you said is gold. Especially in getting a bigger tank. small tanks fill up with specimens wayyyy too fast, and really limit the types of fish you can buy. Plus the extra water volume means there is always a bumper for your parameters. Everything will stay more stable and the specimens will be more healthy.

And drilling the tank will prevent having to use hang on the back siphon overflows that have high potential over overflowing the tank and damaging your floors and everything around the tank.

Just in general, i advise listening all his suggestions because everything he stated is what almost all of us had to learn the hard way. And by hard way, I mean more time and money.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[rawhideshaba]

Yes I currently use 2 overflows with no issue but I am not against having drilled tanks at all. I just will have to do some research on it first since there is no way I'm carrying this 7 foot tank up stairs and off to a glass guy and back without being 100%. Doing it myself is even an option as I am very handy and have the tools. But going big right off the bat does scare me with the prices of the fish, coral and lighting (I'm picky). In due time I guess. But as I have read on this forum I am looking for a 4 inch deep sand bed (live preferred, and live rock to begin) So I will start pricing that and start checking out my upfront costs so that I can sell most of my current freshwater setups to pay for that upfront hit. Upkeep I'm not worried about. I will start a thread when the build begins to keep you all posted. Thanks for the advice reefers.

Sent from my SM-J727V using Tapatalk