need help, tips on SW aquarium.. just starting

nightrider

hello.. im from the philippines and i'm new i this hobby, i havnt started yet, i only have the aquarium that was used before when our arowana was still alive.. anyway, im a newbie and has very little knowledge about this so i need tons of your advice, tips etc.. by the way, our tools here in the philippines are not as advanced not like in your place.. so bear with me.. tnx..

nightrider

by the way, i have a 150 gallon aquarium.. its dimensions are 56x31x20.. im planning to setup a reef tank..

bobo

alright some things you deffinitely need are

Sufficient lighting (for a reef it may be 5-6 watts per gallon)
A good powerful skimmer
A few powerheads
heater / chiller depending on your temperatures there

And if you can - get a sump for your tank.

** and lots and lots of patience :P

nightrider

i see.. what kind of lights do i need?? the HO,VHO? what skimmer can you recommend?? our weather here is tropical, we do not experience winter or very cold weather and during summer, its not that hot.. i really want to set-up a sump but i've read something that during power blackout or no electricity the sump tends to get flooded?? is it true?? and here in our city, i think we experience 3 blackouts in a month.. lol so it may be a major headache.. plus i really dont know whats the main purpose of the sump, please enlighten me.. thanks a lot.

nightrider

up..

robjiii

i would like to see some answers to the above questions. i am also new at this and looking a doing a 125 gal live rock tank and i do have the same question about the sump, skimmers, heaters, lighting(i live in north Alabama)........

it would be great to have this info from people that have had tanks longer. i just do not like going by what the pet shops have to say.

thanks