Building an aquarium set up
I personally get the most enjoyment out of the aquarium hobby by starting my fish tank from the ground up. I have built many different aquarium set ups from fresh water aquariums, fish only salt water fish tanks, mixed reef tanks, and even terrarium fish tanks inside my iguana cage.
For this article I will take you through my latest build of a 120 gallon salt water mixed reef tank. This set up is being built with a very stingy budget. I will be exampling what I believe are some of the most inexpensive ways to build an aquarium set up. In my examples I will link to some high end gear so we can compare the end results from my budget set up.
The List
If your going to start from the ground up your going to need a list. After we have a list we can start from the begging with what ever funds we have to get the ball rolling. This list should be completed after you have chosen what size and type of aquarium you choose to set up. Make sure to cater your list to your needs and specifications for the size tank, and set up type you go with.
- Choose an aquarium.
- Build the stand and hood.
- Build the sump.
- Install the protein skimmer.
- Install sump accessories.
- Plumb the fish tank.
- Install the return pump.
- Lay the base live rock.
- Add sand bed to the aquarium and mud to the refugium.
- Add lighting and Macro algae to the refugium.
- Add copapods, hermits and some snails
- Cycle the fish tank and prep the aqua scaping.
- Install lighting into the hood.
- Add fish and Coral.
- Install the chiller.
- Install the calcium reactor.
- Add frags and watch them grow.
Aquarium set up list
Choose an aquarium or fish tank
I choose a 120 gallon 4'x2'x2' mixed reef tank for several reasons. I was looking for a tank that would be big enough to have some decent depth for coral growing and large enough to have some decent choices on fish. I did not want it so large that maintaining it would be a second job and need a third job to support it.
I chose a 120 gallon 4'x2'x2' mixed reef tank for several reasons. I was looking for a tank that would be big enough to have some decent depth for coral growing and large enough to have some decent choices on fish. I did not want it so large that maintaining it would be a second job and need a third job to support it.
The water changes with a 120 are not so bad especially since I will be running a refugium to help pull out the nitrates naturally. Ill need about a 15% to 20% water change (20 to 30 gallons) about once a month. As the coral needs start to demand I will add supplements to the tank. As far as feeding goes variety always seems to be the best. In my tanks the populations of species are diverse.
Costs for setting up a 120 gallon tank are in the midrange of spending when it comes to the aquarium hobby. I bought used because I am trying to get the most bang for my buck. I went onto my local online reef tank community and in the WTB (want to buy) forums I posted what I was looking to buy. I posted I would buy the 4'x2'x2' with built in overflow fish tank for $225 and was looking for it to come with tank, stand, hood, and sump. I got a response and I bought the 120 gallon "Visio aquarium". It came with a hood he had built out of pine, a stand that was framing only that would support the tank when full, and a 60 gallon sump. $225 is a great price for what I bought and this my friends is what you call a diamond in the rough.
Build the stand and hood
To be continued....