Salt Water Reef Tank

[DiabolicZ]

I have a 125 gallon salt water reef tank that has been going since June of 09. If any of you guys think that welding is an expensive hobby, do not get into reef tanks!

My tank consists of about 175lbs of live rock and about a dozen different corals. I have three 250 watt metal halides and 8 39 watt T5 actinic lights (bright blue).

I have a blue tang, yellow tang, two clown fish (one black and white, the other orange and white) a starry blenny, a fire fish, purple psudochromis, royal gramma, fire shrimp and a bunch o snails and hermit crabs.

[Rugar]

Very nice! I always wanted to get into saltwater tanks, but just don't have enough time for all the up keep on it.

[DiabolicZ]

Very nice! I always wanted to get into saltwater tanks, but just don't have enough time for all the up keep on it.

It completely depends on what kind of salt water tank you get into.

Fish only is easy. It is as easy as any fresh water tank. Just water changes.

Fish only with live rock is the same as above, just add expensive lighting and expensive rocks.

Full on reef tanks get really expensive and takes lots of time and chemistry to keep everything going flawless.

[Jason]

That tank is awesome. My brother has a large fresh water tank but I never thought to make my own. Maybe when I get a house of my own I will have to find time to make a nice Salt water tank as you have there. I grew up with fresh water tanks in our home for most of my life but never did they look like you have there. A couple friends have them and I tend to like them for some reason. On average, about how much time do you spend tending to that tank?

[DiabolicZ]

Well, to be honest... I do not spend as much time on it as I should.

For a reef tank of my size (125g) I should proably be spending anywhere from 4-8 hours a week. Testing water, adding water from evaporation, changing water, cleaning the tank. Stuff like that. I am on the very low side of that number. I spend around 2-4 hours a week on it.

Don't let anyone tell you that a reef tank is self sustaining once you get it set up either. It takes work to keep it in good shape.

[SeanMurphy265]

Those salt water aquariums are beautiful! I have had friends who have tried them over the years, unfortunately they all gave up on keeping the tank going. Did you purchase the reef or grow it?