Just Got A Oeanic 125. Total Newb Need Help Getting Going

[buffmaxwell]

Hey guys ive been into aquariums and fish for sometime now. i have a 50 gal cichlid tank and a planted tank, and i feel like im pretty experienced in those fields however i just stumbled across an Oceanic 125 thats already pre drilled for a sump and everything with two heaters, full lights and two filters for 400 bucks so i couldnt pass it up. and im planning on doing a salt water tank and eventually getting into corals.

I had some questions though about what all ill need. I know im going to need live sand and i was planning on doing Carib Sea Arag Alive black. But i also know im gonna need live rock too! I was wondering if you guys knew of any places that sold it in bulk for pretty cheap seeing as im probably gonna need over 100 lbs.

Another thing is that i am planning on getting into corals eventually but i was wondering if for right now since it will be fish only, if i could just use by marinland 350 can, with a marineland 60 HO for filtration right now. I know when i get into corals im gonna probably have to get a wet/dry and the sump and everything set up before i get into those but for right now if what i have will work for fish only.

Another question i have is about lighting? Im planning on going the LED route because halids are pretty energy inneffecient. But i was wondering what kind of LED would work for it. Ive looked into the Marineland Reef Ready LEDS but ive also heard problems with them bleaching out corals pretty bad too. Like I said im a total Newb in this dept, so i was wondering if you guys had any insight that could help me out.

Thanks

 

[techen]

You don't need live sand, you can use coral gravel as well. I use live sand as it makes a quick cycle that lasts a good few days if not a week before you can start adding a clean up crew. You will need a lot of live rock as thats the main filter of a marine.

Filters tend to make huge nitrates spikes which is bad for marines, you want no nitrates or a tiny bit in marine. I suggest you look more into filters for marines before shoving them in!

If your going down the LED route be ready to spend over 200-300 quid in a unit, They are not cheap and the cheap ones will not help coral growth.

 

[buffmaxwell]

what kind of filters would you recommend?

 

[techen]

I take it that tank is 125L in size?

 

[buffmaxwell]

yeah its a 125 long. if thats what you meant

 

[techen]

no its 125 gallon.

Holy coooooow, That's a biiiiiig tank.

I suggest sumping it then, you're sump will be your filter. You can add filters just to use the media as it makes nitrates, A ton of live rock and really powerful powerheads will do you good as well. Just make sure there enuff live rock and powerheads to deal with it.

You'd need around 52kg for that tank really.

 

[buffmaxwell]

im slightly confused to rig up a sump/refugium for it seeings as it has 2 overflows