New to saltwater

[Krysta]

hey!! My husband recently bought me a 100gallon tank.. Im really wanting to start a reef tank. I've done fresh water for years..

Ive been reading lots on them, but I'm getting mixed reviews.. So I have a couple (let's be honest, a lot of them lol) questions.

Do I really need a sump? And what does a sump actually do besides increase water volume?

I have a fluval 4x5 canister filter, I've heard canisters are bad for nitrate?

Do I have to have supplement reactors if I am very strict on water changes to replinish nutrients?

What are absolutely needed in terms of equipment, in keeping a reef tank?

My tank and filter are used, no copper meds were used in tank, how can I clean my tank before changing to salt... Vinegar and water ran through?

Also, with so many saltwater mixes out there, how do I go about choosing the right one?

 

[helen ann]

Hi!!! Here is a good link to start with https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/.
There are tons of people on R2R to Help!

 

[nervousmonkey]

Welcome to R2R!!! and we are glad you are joining us all in this hobby!
*Edit: @helen ann just gave you the definitive link. Thanks Helen!!!
Luckily, you will get a LOT of answers here, and you'll decide what's best, what you can afford and what you like. There are a lot of options. #reefsquad help always welcome. The Reef Squad is made up of members that know a ton about tanks, so listen to the reefsquad when they give advice, but you will still ultimately have to make your own decisions...
Let's break this down into what your tank inhabitants need:
1. Light
2. Flow
3. Clean Water with good chemical parameters
4. I'm forgetting something that someone will add here. o_O

1. You need different kinds of lighting for a reef tank than FW, which you know already. Research a LOT before making a decision. You don't have to go expensive now, but you will eventually spend money on better lighting. I personally recommend ATI T5 fixtures.. There is a big push for LED only right now, but be careful when purchasing one. Some are cheap and some expensive, but make sure to research a lot: spectral diversity and intensity. Color doesn't matter; color and spectrum do not belong in the same sentence. Look at PAR output of your lights and ask the manufacturer for a chart of PAR readings to help you choose.
2. Flow. Corals need flow, so get some powerheads and a good return pump. Don't break the bank here, it's your first tank. Research return pumps and powerheads.
Flow plays into #3 Clean Water too, which includes filtration.
A sump certainly adds water volume, but it allows you to put the various pieces of equipment in the tank that you need:
Protein skimmer
Potentially GFO reactor, or just a bag of it to save upfront costs
Carbon, or GAC
Heater
That's good enough for now for starting.

I use a canister filter to clean my sump, not for constant use. Except on my quarantine tank, which doesn't run all the time like my DT.
Canisters can be nitrate factories, as they suck up waste that breaks down in the canister and then releases nitrates into your system. Good for FW, very bad for SW... You can use a canister but have to take it apart and clean it weekly or else it'll make your tank a mess.
You need some sort of nutrient export. The GFO will help remove phosphates, but nitrates will be a concern.
With a really strict water change schedule (10% weekly is sufficient for me, although sometimes I'll do a bigger one if parameters are off). And you DON'T need to supplement anything with good WC schedule. Stay very strict with your husbandry of the tank and you'll have an awesome tank!!!
also get a refractometer to measure the salinity of your water and mixed up salt water for WC's. Make sure to keep it at 35 ppt or 1.025 to 1.026, or close to natural sea water levels, and your WC's will replenish needed supplements. As your tank grows, WC's may not keep up, but that will be a long time from now, so just do weekly water changes of 10 gallons to 15...
Start with Reef Crystals (RC). They are common, cheap and everyone has used them and most still do. Red Sea Coral Pro is another choice, but this will come down to what you want in your tank and the parameters you need RC have high alkalinity, which shouldn't matter to you initially, but may as you add corals and other things that thrive with different parameters...

I hope this helps!! Good luck! We are really happy you joined us!!!!

 

[Diesel]

Welcome @Krysta
If you start up your tank and have any questions how to or what to you better off to start a build thread

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/member-tanks.52/

Mean while look around and read a lot and ask as many questions you want.
By doing that it will save you lots of trouble or and fish and coral loss.
Do you have a LFS (local fish store) in your area you can visit and just watch and learn and ask questions.
If the owner or employees in the store as giving you time to explain you have a good store, yet remember what they tell you as many just want to sell you products they carry or get you ASAP started on a tank.
You need to know how a tank need to be cycled and how to test for that and what you all need on the basic to do so.
We all looking forwards to your success in this hobby as it will pay off both ways.

 

[john.m.cole3]

welcome aboard! we're super happy to have you here. 100 gallons is a great start. the first choice you need to make is sump or no sump. That will determine your plumbing and will dictate how much space you will have for equipment in it. the sump acts as a house for your heater and various forms of filtration. I personally would never have a tank without a sump. My protein skimmer is the heart of my filtration. My advice is to buy a good skimmer and a sump. You can plumb the sump in and get your cycle going as soon as you get rocks and decide if you want sand or not. This is a great community and the members here are more than happy to help. I see you know how to make a post, so you should be good to go. Sign up for the emails and read as many of them as you can. All the lingo may not make sense to you know, but I promise by Thanksgiving next year you will be talking the talk and walking the walk.

 

[ahiggins]

Hi!!! Here is a good link to start with https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/.
There are tons of people on R2R to Help!

AHH its christmas blenny!

 

[bairdimusprime]

Welcome to the GREATEST PLACE ON EARTH!
as well as the greatest hobby on earth.
us here at R2R especially #reefsquad members are here to help! never hesitate to ask

 

[Chrisfish]

Welcome to R2R, as you can see you've come to the right place:)

 

[Squirrel_reefer]

Welcome!

You've found the right place to ask questions

 

[Krysta]

Welcome to R2R!!! and we are glad you are joining us all in this hobby!
*Edit: @helen ann just gave you the definitive link. Thanks Helen!!!
Luckily, you will get a LOT of answers here, and you'll decide what's best, what you can afford and what you like. There are a lot of options. #reefsquad help always welcome. The Reef Squad is made up of members that know a ton about tanks, so listen to the reefsquad when they give advice, but you will still ultimately have to make your own decisions...
Let's break this down into what your tank inhabitants need:
1. Light
2. Flow
3. Clean Water with good chemical parameters
4. I'm forgetting something that someone will add here. o_O

1. You need different kinds of lighting for a reef tank than FW, which you know already. Research a LOT before making a decision. You don't have to go expensive now, but you will eventually spend money on better lighting. I personally recommend ATI T5 fixtures.. There is a big push for LED only right now, but be careful when purchasing one. Some are cheap and some expensive, but make sure to research a lot: spectral diversity and intensity. Color doesn't matter; color and spectrum do not belong in the same sentence. Look at PAR output of your lights and ask the manufacturer for a chart of PAR readings to help you choose.
2. Flow. Corals need flow, so get some powerheads and a good return pump. Don't break the bank here, it's your first tank. Research return pumps and powerheads.
Flow plays into #3 Clean Water too, which includes filtration.
A sump certainly adds water volume, but it allows you to put the various pieces of equipment in the tank that you need:
Protein skimmer
Potentially GFO reactor, or just a bag of it to save upfront costs
Carbon, or GAC
Heater
That's good enough for now for starting.

I use a canister filter to clean my sump, not for constant use. Except on my quarantine tank, which doesn't run all the time like my DT.
Canisters can be nitrate factories, as they suck up waste that breaks down in the canister and then releases nitrates into your system. Good for FW, very bad for SW... You can use a canister but have to take it apart and clean it weekly or else it'll make your tank a mess.
You need some sort of nutrient export. The GFO will help remove phosphates, but nitrates will be a concern.
With a really strict water change schedule (10% weekly is sufficient for me, although sometimes I'll do a bigger one if parameters are off). And you DON'T need to supplement anything with good WC schedule. Stay very strict with your husbandry of the tank and you'll have an awesome tank!!!
also get a refractometer to measure the salinity of your water and mixed up salt water for WC's. Make sure to keep it at 35 ppt or 1.025 to 1.026, or close to natural sea water levels, and your WC's will replenish needed supplements. As your tank grows, WC's may not keep up, but that will be a long time from now, so just do weekly water changes of 10 gallons to 15...
Start with Reef Crystals (RC). They are common, cheap and everyone has used them and most still do. Red Sea Coral Pro is another choice, but this will come down to what you want in your tank and the parameters you need RC have high alkalinity, which shouldn't matter to you initially, but may as you add corals and other things that thrive with different parameters...

I hope this helps!! Good luck! We are really happy you joined us!!!!

I thought you wanted a light with more blue hue (so 10,000 or more) in it or the corals will look washed out? I was thinking of the orbit marine pro, I think is the name of it anyway. It's LED, but I don't even know where I can fine replacement bulbs for it.. Moot even on the website. So now I'm leaning toward something else.

Would I not be able to just put carbon and a bag of GFO in my canister? I clean it fequently anyway, so that's not a worry for me.

 

[Brew12]

I thought you wanted a light with more blue hue (so 10,000 or more) in it or the corals will look washed out? I was thinking of the orbit marine pro, I think is the name of it anyway. It's LED, but I don't even know where I can fine replacement bulbs for it.. Moot even on the website. So now I'm leaning toward something else.

Would I not be able to just put carbon and a bag of GFO in my canister? I clean it fequently anyway, so that's not a worry for me.

If you want a reef tank I would advice against the orbit pro. It has some nice gimmicks and may work on a shallow tank but it's not good for the average reefer.
If you post your tank dimensions I'm sure we can give you some options on more appropriate light fixtures.

 

[4FordFamily]

Welcome home, you will love it here!

It looks like you're already getting some great advice!

 

[Krysta]

If you want a reef tank I would advice against the orbit pro. It has some nice gimmicks and may work on a shallow tank but it's not good for the average reefer.
If you post your tank dimensions I'm sure we can give you some options on more appropriate light fixtures.

So it's a 100gallon, it's 48 inch long, 24 inch tall and 18 inch deep.

 

[jsker]

Welcome to R2R, and the wonderful world of reefing :)

• I have ran for many year without a sump, and now that I have a sump the only way I would not run without a sump is room. I have ran tank with a canister, and they are a pain to clean and keep clean. I have also run hang on the back filter with much success along with a remote skimmer. Picture your sump as the place to keep all of your equipments out of sight of our main tank. In my sump I have my skimmer, heater, probes for my controler, reactor, media, and my filter socks. All I have in my tank is powerheads/pumps and a nice clean look.

• As far as lighting, if the lights that you have are not working correctly go with new. There will be a lot of sales in the next month and you can take advantage lower pricing, but do not go cheap on lightings. I have LED's (AI Hydra 26 HD's for my 72) if I were going to go T5's I would go Gessemann, low profile and a great light.

• Reef Salt, I have used a few and now using Aquaforest reef salt and I am very happy with the consistency and how the tank looks. I also use the 1+2+3+ Aquaforest Balling Method link with an auto doser which makes life so much easier with a busy schedule.

• You will need some good test kits, Red Sea a salifert are good test kits.

• No copper if you are running a reef/corals in the system.

In closing Please feel free to ask a question here on R2R and there are many members here that will offer different views to help guide you to a positive reef experience:)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving:)

 

[john.m.cole3]

Welcome to R2R, and the wonderful world of reefing :)

• I have ran for many year without a sump, and now that I have a sump the only way I would not run without a sump is room. I have ran tank with a canister, and they are a pain to clean and keep clean. I have also run hang on the back filter with much success along with a remote skimmer. Picture your sump as the place to keep all of your equipments out of sight of our main tank. In my sump I have my skimmer, heater, probes for my controler, reactor, media, and my filter socks. All I have in my tank is powerheads/pumps and a nice clean look.

• As far as lighting, if the lights that you have are not working correctly go with new. There will be a lot of sales in the next month and you can take advantage lower pricing, but do not go cheap on lightings. I have LED's (AI Hydra 26 HD's for my 72) if I were going to go T5's I would go Gessemann, low profile and a great light.

• Reef Salt, I have used a few and now using Aquaforest reef salt and I am very happy with the consistency and how the tank looks. I also use the 1+2+3+ Aquaforest Balling Method link with an auto doser which makes life so much easier with a busy schedule.

• You will need some good test kits, Red Sea a salifert are good test kits.

• No copper if you are running a reef/corals in the system.

In closing Please feel free to ask a question here on R2R and there are many members here that will offer different views to help guide you to a positive reef experience:)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving:)

great information here

 

[Krysta]

Welcome to R2R, and the wonderful world of reefing :)

• I have ran for many year without a sump, and now that I have a sump the only way I would not run without a sump is room. I have ran tank with a canister, and they are a pain to clean and keep clean. I have also run hang on the back filter with much success along with a remote skimmer. Picture your sump as the place to keep all of your equipments out of sight of our main tank. In my sump I have my skimmer, heater, probes for my controler, reactor, media, and my filter socks. All I have in my tank is powerheads/pumps and a nice clean look.

• As far as lighting, if the lights that you have are not working correctly go with new. There will be a lot of sales in the next month and you can take advantage lower pricing, but do not go cheap on lightings. I have LED's (AI Hydra 26 HD's for my 72) if I were going to go T5's I would go Gessemann, low profile and a great light.

• Reef Salt, I have used a few and now using Aquaforest reef salt and I am very happy with the consistency and how the tank looks. I also use the 1+2+3+ Aquaforest Balling Method link with an auto doser which makes life so much easier with a busy schedule.

• You will need some good test kits, Red Sea a salifert are good test kits.

• No copper if you are running a reef/corals in the system.

In closing Please feel free to ask a question here on R2R and there are many members here that will offer different views to help guide you to a positive reef experience:)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving:)

Ok so this is probably a very stupid question, but how big of a sump should i have for the 100G? Also, I see all these tanks with sumps that are "pre drilled" I am not too keen on drilling into my tank... Lol

 

[Krysta]

If you want a reef tank I would advice against the orbit pro. It has some nice gimmicks and may work on a shallow tank but it's not good for the average reefer.
If you post your tank dimensions I'm sure we can give you some options on more appropriate light fixtures.

I'm not sure why it didn't post here, but the dimensions of the tank is 48" long, 18" deep and 24" tall.

 

[Brew12]

I'm not sure why it didn't post here, but the dimensions of the tank is 48" long, 18" deep and 24" tall.

It posted, I've just been away from my computer! :D

The Orbit Pro's will struggle with the 24" depth. I recently picked up a pair of SBReeflight.com's 32" pro timer lights. So far I am impressed with them. If you go this route you would probably want 2 16" fixtures.

Unless of course price isn't an option, then I would go with a T5 LED combo unit! ;)

 

[melypr1985]

You've already gotten great information so I'll just say "Welcome to R2R!!" We are glad you are here.

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and your new journey.