Thinking about purchasing this... opinions?

MiamiLeos

I'm a horrible noobie here, I'm so sorry but I still dont know what all the acronyms are yet lol. I will have to rehome the fish somehow. He wont sell it without them. Do I need an overflow? For some reason I thought that a pipe with a siphon break leading from the tank into the sump/filter below would be ok. Again, so sorry for all the noobyness. I am really trying to figure out how the whole under part of the tank works (I'm not a terribly mechanical person, but once I get the hang of it, it's all good). ReefingMadness - Thank you so much for that list, it will for sure help me immensely!

I do want to do a full reef system with some soft corals and mushrooms. Nothing too sensitive or needing expertise. So I was planning on live sand and live rock, but these are not good to start a tank with? I thought you wanted the hitch hikers and such that tagged along with the live sand/rock?

Would it be better for me to get a new reef ready tank from one of the aquarium stores?

MiamiLeos

Also, it says it has a T5 light, but really, I don't know exactly what that means. I know lights are expensive and I believe T5 is a brand or type of light but since he's running freshwater, how can I know that this light will be good for saltwater too?

MiamiLeos

Theres also a 30 gallon for sale that's already running saltwater, but isnt 30 a bit small for the sake of water stability? I wouldnt be able to put much in it either I dont think..

wake49

What is your proprosed stocking list? And for the life of this tank, without planning a larger one. No tangs, a lot of angels are off limits, most triggers, most puffers, and I think parrots are off limits too. So, what type and how many of each?

MiamiLeos

I havent started a stocking list yet. The only list I have was for a 75 gallon, but I am a bit intimidated by how much space, time, and money it would cost to set up and maintain a tank of that size so I am looking for something smaller. Not set on a particular size though, so I havent started a stocking list.

wake49

Well, always buy a tank based on the fish you are going to buy, never buy a fish based on the tank you are going to buy.

What is that 75 stocking list?

MiamiLeos

Here's what I wanted in the 75. This list was made over a year ago so even if I did get a 75 today, it wouldnt be exactly the same. I've seen a few more fish and reconsidered some, but here's a general idea.

Fish-

Flame Hawkfish
Bicolor Angelfish
2 Clowns
Yellow Watchman Goby
a few Blue/Green Chromis
and eventually Mandarin Dragonet

Inverts-

Electric Blue Hermit Crab
Red/Marbled Sea Star
Banded Trochus snail
Spiny Star Astrea
Orange Turbo Snail
Astrea Turbo Snail
Yellow Banded Coral Shrimp
Feather Duster

Corals (I would pick a few of these)-

Trumpet/Candy Cane
Red Candy Cap
Button Coral
Sunflower Coral
Chili Coral
Pipe Organ Coral
Toadstool Mushroom Leather

Plants-

Smooth Kelp on Rock
Shaving Brush Plant
Mermaids Fan Plant

92smokeaccord

that t5 light is pretty much perfect for coral and anemones.things are crazy expensive new and still high up there used because ppl always want them.for a easy reef set up for a sump with out going nuts is a overflow and a return pump with a long enough hose to reach the top of the display tank.

MiamiLeos

If I had the space and the guts to go for it I would really like something like this:

75 gallon fish tank with everything

wake49

Stocking list looks good for fish, except I would stay away from the dragonet. You need a very well established aquarium with a lot of live rock. They only eat copepods and amphipods and can devour thousands (that might be an exageration, but you get the idea). They are hard to keep alive.

Inverts are fine as far as I see.

Stay away from the sunflower and maybe the pipe organ. The sunflowers are hard to keep alive even by seasoned aquarists. They are kept by feeding them, and are not as dependant on light as they are on food. The pipe organ can also be challenging.

I know nothing about sea grass.