after rushing out this week and buying this tank which i love, i have bought some other equipmeent, heater , lites,canister filter, 100lbs of live rock and sand,salt level is 1.023, temp is 76,after slowing way down and starting to really see what involved i feel my equipment will be of little use in a couple months, if anyone could advise me in books, knoledge or anything or any help at all, would be deeply appreciated, love this site ,equipment is 120 gallon tank 48x26x26, lite is36"96 watt4 lamps in 2, daylite 6700k/10000 actinic 420nm/460nm my goal is to have a reef tank with fish,o by the way the filter is a rena xp3 and a 300 watt heater, please no laughing,lol
What kind of coral are you planning to have in the tank? If you want to keep all kinds of coral (hard coral as well) you don't have enough light. Is the tank drilled? Did you set up a sump?
The reef aquarium Vol. 1 is an excellent book for setting up a tank. Vol 2 is about coral.
my tank is not drilled, and i dont have a sump, my understanding is i will need to put in a sump but how do i go about that with no hole and water tank filled?
You will have to use an overflow, which is a pain! I had one and several floods and new tank later, my tank is drilled. My advice to you, and I'm serious - is drain the tank and start over. If this is your dream tank that you want to have forever - start with it drilled and make a sump.
Is there a good saltwater fish store in your area? They could probably advise you.
Let your system run(minus the lights for about 4-6 weeks with the canister, then plumb in a sump/refugium with macro algae and RDL lighting. At this time, you'll begin the lighting cycle, starting at 1-2 hpd and addind an additional hour each week until at the desired photoperiod. At the end of all this, you'll be cycled and ready to begin adding the reef critters. About the lighting... is that 4x 96 watt pc's?(36"ea)? IMO, great start, now a MH retro kit to run with it and you should be great. Lastly, yet most importantly, a quality skimmer... This should begin running when you add your refugium. IMO, an ASM G3 would do a super job. For good reading, Reef Invertibrates by Calfo and Fenner, Natural Reef Aquariums by Tulock, The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Fenner, and Aquarium Corals by Borneman. BTW, glad to have ya here at CR... Now settle down a bit and reach down deep for some patience... it will be the most helpful tool to you.
Repto
_________________
There's nowhere else I'ld rather be... unless, of course, you're buying
need some advise on 120gallon setup
Reply With Quote
