crownpoolskenny Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Just finishing up my 135 gallon. I'm switching it over from a cichlid tank to a reef tank. I needed more of a challenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Welcome! You certainly have picked a challenge! Pretty good group of people here. I would encourage you to get a copy of Delbeek and Sprung's "The Reef Aquarium" Vol III (it's available on ibook now). They discuss the most common filtering methodologies from the simple pumpless, sumpless and skimmerless systems by Lee Chin Eng and Dr. Jaubert to the very complex "Mesocosm" by Dr. Adey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crownpoolskenny Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 Thanks will do. I've been doing a lot of reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mako Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Welcome, There is a wealth of information and knowledge here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Welcome to the club! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sascha D. Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Welcome I did the same thing with my 180g thirteen years ago. I love my SW tank 10x more than I ever did my FW tank. Success in this hobby leads to a great deal of satisfaction. However, I will say it takes a great deal more effort and equipment to maintain a reef than it does a FOWLR or FO tank. The lights alone on a 135g will set you back $200-1000, depending on if you want to keep hard corals. You'll also have to make the choice of T-5's, MH or LEDs. I recommend drilling your tank and adding a sump. When I first converted I didn't use a sump and later moved to an overflow system. Trust me and save the headache by having the tank drilled right the first time. I also think a skimmer is essential equipment, but I wouldn't ask for opinions because some people get crazy when the subject comes up. Fair warning. Above all, have fun and good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madsalt Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Welcome to the SW addiction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizzy Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 There's quite a few folks here that made the switch from cichlids...myself included. Google, this site and its members will become your best friends. Definitely ask questions!! As an aside, if I could start all over, I'd start with dry rock. My live rock brought in fireworms and a polyclad flatworm... Suck. Other than that, your first equipment purchase should be a refractometer (the $40 one that you drop water on). I was using the little plastic one with an arm for awhile and when I went to "real" refractometer, discovered my salinity was at 1.33. Be sure to check out http://www.austinreefclub.com/topic/21658-cheap-tricks/ - in a hobby that is costly, this will help a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madsalt Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 There's quite a few folks here that made the switch from cichlids...myself included. Google, this site and its members will become your best friends. Definitely ask questions!! As an aside, if I could start all over, I'd start with dry rock. My live rock brought in fireworms and a polyclad flatworm... Suck. Other than that, your first equipment purchase should be a refractometer (the $40 one that you drop water on). I was using the little plastic one with an arm for awhile and when I went to "real" refractometer, discovered my salinity was at 1.33. Be sure to check out http://www.austinreefclub.com/topic/21658-cheap-tricks/ - in a hobby that is costly, this will help a lot. Thanks for posting that link to the other forum, I did not know it existed, I just found some good information. I agree with the dry rock. I did that on this build and no critters. You will over time get the good critters in your tank not too mention you can add them when you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Welcome to the group. Did someone mention starting a build thread? I also went back and read most of the build threads for tanks about my size before I really got started with anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardlaw Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Welcome. Get ready to make mistakes. Go slow and learn from experience. There are lots of noobs like us here, and a great deal of experienced and helpful people as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvrEnuf Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Hi welcome to the SW addiction, please open your wallet! Don't worry, it's worth every penny! No really, it is!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crownpoolskenny Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 Yeah I've already decided to sell my race car to feed the addiction. Lol my hardest thing is learning the patients part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crownpoolskenny Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 Is there anywhere in town that sells mag 24. If not I'll just have to order it offline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 I saw a thread the other day with someone either wanting to sell or buy a mag 24. I didn't pay much attention it as I amn't looking to buy or sell one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crownpoolskenny Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 I saw a thread the other day with someone either wanting to sell or buy a mag 24. I didn't pay much attention it as I amn't looking to buy or sell one. Yeah that was my post. I ordered one offline. Should have it in a few days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 I saw a thread the other day with someone either wanting to sell or buy a mag 24. I didn't pay much attention it as I amn't looking to buy or sell one.Yeah that was my post. I ordered one offline. Should have it in a few days.Oh, ha. So not helpful on several fronts then . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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