A few questions

[FLESHY]

I would also recommend 2 fish. Properly selected and introduced, they will almost certainly pair. (I could do this with 99.9% accuracy, and you can too!)

Your freshwater test kits will be no good for your SW tank.

Mollies should always have some salt in their water, and are probably best kept as a brackish water fish. That being said they can be kept in full SW as well.

 

[Chrisplosion]

So mollies would be good to cycle/test the tank? So could I keep a pair of false perculas in a 20 gallon? How would I go about selecting a pair?

 

[STXman]

So mollies would be good to cycle/test the tank? So could I keep a pair of false perculas in a 20 gallon? How would I go about selecting a pair?

is this going to be a FOWLR if so then two clowns is best in a 20 gal and i would go for live sand personally i got a reef so idk about FOWLR you should cycle your tank first and get some good eqiupment ( quality heater, CURED LIVE ROCK!!!!, and pick your stock to your comfort zone) if you do this it will look amazing but wit my experience it is easier to maintain with a bigger tank...so go for the 20 gal

 

[Chrisplosion]

Had to search what FOWLR is but yes.

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

when you're done, can you give me a ballpark of what this set up cost you? i'm just curious as i'm considering creating a rimless salt tank

 

[Chrisplosion]

when you're done, can you give me a ballpark of what this set up cost you? i'm just curious as i'm considering creating a rimless salt tank

Might have to put this project on hold if I get the free 125 gallon tomorrow.

Well while not including tank, filter and light so far its gonna be:

Salt $18
Substrate $12-23
Live Rock $3.99 LB so $20-40

All I can think of right now. Our stores sell False Perculas for $13.

 

[BigO6687]

Might have to put this project on hold if I get the free 125 gallon tomorrow.

Well while not including tank, filter and light so far its gonna be:

Salt $18
Substrate $12-23
Live Rock $3.99 LB so $20-40

All I can think of right now. Our stores sell False Perculas for $13.

pet store pre mixed water 64 cents a gallon
substrate 6.49 for 10 lbs
live rock depends on ur area

do mostly base/lace rock and seed it with some live rock and it will spread

 

[FLESHY]

Get raw rock. (Its cheaper)

Get dead sand. (Its cheaper)

You have a greater chance of biodiversity if you cut off the middle man LR wise.
That being said, you can use the curing process of your LR in your tank to cycle it, thereby nixing the cost of cycle fish, and not killing fish or putting them through undue stress.

 

[Heathd]

I highly reccommend you just nix the whole idea of LR and go with dry rock through someone like BRS or Marcorocks. The cycle time of your tank will be increased, but the amount of pest that will hitch hike on LR is a huge PITA. Nothing worse the fighting red bugs, aiptasia, mojanos, etc...

As far as live sand goes, there is only one kind of true live sand, and thats from a currently established tank or from IPSF.

IPSF = clean, good live sand activator with plenty of microfauna. You add it to your bulk dry sand.

Someone elses tank= bad news. Loaded with crap and potential pest, probably not the best way to go unless you really know the person and trust them.

"Live sand" in a bag= See my sig.

We had a guy locally find out that the live sand he bought from some one elses tank had be used in a tank that was dosed with copper. Not funny at all...

 

[Chrisplosion]

I thank everyone for there help but I will have to put this project on hold for a bit. I just got a free 125 gallon. I have to do is replace the bottom piece and that should be easy since its a rimless aquarium.