New to the hobby

[mike9515756]

I want to purchase a 120-130 gallon tank. I want it to be salt water and i would like to have live rock. I have been looking around but it seems that every place i go to says something different about equipment needed and pricing. I need expert advice from a non capitalistic person. I suppose this is the right place to ask questions. I have wood floors made out of pine i think and covered with a carpet; How do i know if my floor can hold 1300 pounds or should i put a wood sheet over my carpet floor to hold the 4 legs of the base of the tank to spread out the weight?

technical questions; Eqipment needed:
-130g tank with base

-Filter (what kind, specs and why) average cost?

-water jets to create current; how many: is 1 enough...1 store told me i needed 5

-protein skimmer, (what kind, specs) average cost?

-Lighting: anything specific for live rock, do lights blow often, overheating.  average cost?

- Sand, gravel or coral for tank floor: which is better. I prefer sand

upkeep: i understand that i will have to monitor my tank often and change 33% of the water monthly. some stores claim that i can fill up some buckets of tap water put the anti chlorine solution in it and add the salt and stir check the water and dump it back in the tank. Is this true, doesn't it have to sit for a while?

Is it true that fish die anywhere between 2mo and 1 year?

Is it complicated to maintain the live rock?

Any other equipment i should consider other than salt,  fish food etc.

[yellowtang]

First of all.welcome to the club.............
  Interested in setting a salt water system ha?
  first of all.............Why such a big tank?
  one of the biggest mistakes a first time salt water hobbist makes.
  filtration and lights.
  for a large tank such as the one you want...........live rock at
  $9.99 a lbs x no less than 150lbs.
  a hell of a skimmer.......preferable one with a sump.
  no less than $450.
  power heads at least 1500gpm $60 each
  power flurecents or metal halides
  metal halides with all the trimmings including a fan $700 plus.
  power flurecents at least $500.
  and to start your system salt/ some of the starting equipment
  and perhaps just starting with FISH ONLY TANK. no less that a
  $500. start small and please read lots as this hobby is quite
  expensive.............I started with a 33g tank and it costed me
  $1500 to start..and that is doing most of the work myself.
  good luck and do a research.  good luck

[mike9515756]

I want a big tank so i dont have to upgrade as time goes by and if i make a small mistake my ecosystem wont be toast, also big tanks are nicer than small ones. What about the filter? any specs. What is a sump? by the way i wont buy 150lbs of live rock and fill my tank  in 1 day. I will do this over a 1 year process. I just want to buy all the necessary equipment without getting ripped off and start with 1 fish and maybe 1 live rock and adding evey month. As lighting goes, i forgot to mention that the tank will be right under a huge skylight, do i still need the metal halide lamps or can i go with conventional ones. What about sand; any comments? As far as power heads, how do i determine how many i need? Can you also answer my other questions in the first post. Thanks. Are most members here in fresh water tanks?

[yellowtang]

OK. I determine that you want a big tank..........looks better you
said..........yes it does. With time and money.one rock every month
you will never be able to stabilize this system,as each month you
will be adding a new living organism (live rock). big sky lite.
the only big thing you'll be getting out of this so called light is
lot and lots of algae.
live substrate is better..but much more expensive. .It will take you
at least few months to stabilize this tank.
power heads you need at least two maxi power jets...but since  
you  want the best..go with turbelle power heads. they are the
best in the market. as far as skimmer is concern........berlin XL
classic or better yet go with euroreef skimmers.don't forget
heaters get good ones at least  200watts each.
In this club we all have our own tastes of fish.
there are fresh and salt water collectors.
I have a 55 fresh and a 33 salt.which by the way I'am still
learning...............just remember no question is a dumb question
in the salt water hobby........good luck
ps. you willhave to do a 10% water change
water evaporates quite rapidly in salt water.
you have to let it sit.for a while each time.
always have it ready. at least 20 gallons of it.
light do not blow. not if they're protected  or have ample space
between water and them........you will have to change them
once every 6 to 8 months.they loose their glow and rediance.
 

[slickshooter]

Another issue that I would have if it was my aquarium is using a stand that has 4 legs instead of a runner all the way along the base.The weight of your tank (1400lbs+) will only be distributed amongst those 4 legs instead of more evenly along the floor.You'd want to surely put it along an outside wall and hit as many joists as possible.
Personally I wouldnt put this tank anywhere besides a basement but that is just me.I do however have a 75g in a second story room with no issues (so far)