thinking about starting a reef or fowlr

[smooththg69]

Ive been thinking about starting a saltwater tank for a couple of months now.
and my 75 gallon is taking a dump due to some unknown infection. I got it for the loaches but only ones left. so that gives me the excuse to break it down and convert it into a saltwater tank. I know it involves a lot of money and time but I think I could get it up and running for less than 150 as the tanks previous owner had it setup for SW. I just need to figure out what else I need to convert it back. I currently still have these items.
coralife 18 watt uv
pro clear 150gal wetdry filter
260 watts jbj pc lighting 10K / Blue
water gravity meter
kent nitrate sponge
test kits

and a 35 gallon trash can full of live sand which is dead now but with some good rinseing I belive I could still use it. Im thinking of getting some live rock, salt mix and ro water to throw in it and see how it goes. but im not shure as this would be my first SW setup. any advice thanks.

[labnjab]

We are in the process of starting up a FOWLR. See our journal here [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Its only a 29 gallon, but it should answer alot of you questions. I hope it helps

[oldhead]

You're off to a good start but you're 150 is about enough to get your live rock going. You will need additional funds for other equipment like power heads, a protein skimmer and such. Expensive and time consuming but definitely worth it. I converted my FW to SW in June and can't tell you how happy I am that I did. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. We love tank build threads so be sure to take a lot of pictures and post them up for us to peep at.

[smooththg69]

well the the wetdry filter has a protein skimmer built in so i wont need one depending on how good it is and i have about 3 750gph power heads and one 150gph. the tank has an overflow and the one output on it is really strong. i would probably use one of the high output powerhead i have and split it off into three since its so strong. im just trying to make shure i dont run into problems converting this tank.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

150 won't even get enough live rock for that tank.

Im thinking of getting some live rock, salt mix and ro water to throw in it and see how it goes. but im not shure as this would be my first SW setup. No offense, but this is a sure way to ensure failure. You need to do a lot of reading before you get to that point. I did abount 4-6 months worth of research before I started my first SW tank. A marine tank is not something you rush into, and once you start it it's not something you can rush. Everything about the marine hobby takes patience as it all takes time. Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank. Nothing good happens when any part of a marine tank is rushed, and that includes rushing headlong into setting it up.

[smooththg69]

I dont expect anything to happen fast all i was gonna do is put some liverock and salt mix in it. i wont be adding any fish until i know every things right. as for the 150 worth of live rock its too expensive to spend all that money on some rock i was just gonna get some regular not live rock and put in there while i moniter the condition of the water like nitrate and nitrites , ammonia. and hope the other rock becomes live. also do you have any good online sources for setting up a tank? i have been researching for about 2 1/2 months now just want to get as much info as possible.

thanks

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Regular rock won't cut it in a marine tank. You need to have a good porous rock that can sustain a healthy biofilter in your tank. You can get dry rock, but you will need a small amount of live rock to get it seeded. That tank will need a bare minimum of 75lbs of live rock. 100-125 would be better.