Just starting 55G. Need Help!

[Dustyy]

I am new to the salt water tanks and been reading for a few months trying to understand everything. I have a 55g tank that i had for fresh water in before and I don’t have any of the equipment i need for a saltwater system and wanted to get some help in knowing what I need or what I might be missing out on in my reading. So all I have is just a plan tank with nothing. I will be starting out with live sand and live rock, I was wandering if I can add both at once to start the cycle. I saw I can and cant. Just trying to make sure I do it right from the start. And this is a list i put together that I was thinking I needed if I missed something please let me know and thanks in advance.

Going to have live rock, live sand, corals, and fish

1. I got tank 55g.

List I think I need.

2. Good lights
3. 2 heaters 150watts each
4. Sump with refugium with top off
5. Good skimmer
6. R/o
7. Filter? Do i need a filter with having a sump and live rock and sand in the tank.
8. Blowers i think i called this right to keep the water moving was thinking 2 on each side.
9. Nope didn't forget this part lol a QT

[bertoni]

To Reef Central

7. You won't need a filter, although a simple canister or hang-on can be useful for running activated carbon.

8. A couple of powerheads should be fine.

This thread has a lot of pointers to useful information:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1031074

[M. L. Fish]

Looks like a good start, but how are you getting water from the display to the sump and back. (overflow and return pump). You don't need a filter, but filter socks on your display drain are a good idea. What are putting in the refugium? Don't forget test kits (very important) Remember to take your time, continually monitor water conditions, and research any purchases before you buy. Good Luck!

[Aquarist007]

rinse your sand well, and add it to your tank, add your live rock and let the tank cycle.

[Dustyy]

Bertoni Thanks for the info and link. I am still reading it from early too hehe..

M. L. Fish Thanks Yeh i have been looking at pumps that i should add to pump the water back to the tank from the sump. Trying to put my price list together and still reading and looking around trying to find the best i can get. The Refugium part im still looking at what i will end up having in it maybe some plants and live sand small live rock.

Capn thanks for the tips on that.

[Aquarist007]

there are alot of 55 gal builds as example for you
check this link:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...6#post12055086

also Melev has a 55 gal build on his site:

http://www.melevsreef.com/

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by Dustyy
I am new to the salt water tanks and been reading for a few months trying to understand everything. I have a 55g tank that i had for fresh water in before and I don’t have any of the equipment i need for a saltwater system and wanted to get some help in knowing what I need or what I might be missing out on in my reading. So all I have is just a plan tank with nothing. I will be starting out with live sand and live rock, I was wandering if I can add both at once to start the cycle. I saw I can and cant. Just trying to make sure I do it right from the start. And this is a list i put together that I was thinking I needed if I missed something please let me know and thanks in advance.

Going to have live rock, live sand, corals, and fish

1. I got tank 55g.

List I think I need.

2. Good lights
3. 2 heaters 150watts each
4. Sump with refugium with top off
5. Good skimmer
6. R/o
7. Filter? Do i need a filter with having a sump and live rock and sand in the tank.
8. Blowers i think i called this right to keep the water moving was thinking 2 on each side.
9. Nope didn't forget this part lol a QT

1. Is the tank drilled or not?

2.. Lighting is gonna cost a little... look towards T-5 or MH units... Good arguments for both, you just need to make sure any T-5 unit you look at has individual reflectors for each bulb.

3. 2 heaters is a good choice, this way you have a backup if one fails.

4. It's very easy and a TON cheaper to make a sump yourself, and you don't need a crazy light for your fuge.

5. Stay away from SeaClones... I recommend Octopus Needlwheels.

6. Ro/DI units are a great purchase... Check out http://www.thefilterguys.biz

7. You will not need a filter... your LR, Sand, and Refugium will provide all your filtration needs. A lot of people add phosban reactors further down the road and fill them with phosban or carbon to keep the water clear. Starting up you shouldn't need one.

8. Blowers... aka powerheads... the size and flow of these will also be dependent upon what you intend to house. Koralia's are good units. I had 2 in my 55g.

9. QT tank is a MUST... nothing crazy... just a barebottom tank with a small powerhead for water movement, heater, and I also like to use spongefilters in them.


That's just a real brief explanation, based on my opinions, and you no doubt will get a million other opinions.

Best of luck to you.

Here's my build thread if you wanna check out a tank build starting from scratch.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1310919

[VeralteAquatics]

Is the tank glass or acrylic? missed that part??

[Dustyy]

Thanks Tank is glass not drilled o and i spend most of my time in my store where i will put it and the sump will be sitting to the side of the tank as i have no room under it because it is built inside the counter where people check out. and i spend most of my time here and i thought it would be relaxing more than the fresh water hehe

[stingythingy45]

WELCOME to the 55 club.
Oh and R.C.
A lot is going to depend on how much $$$ you have and where you want to go with this set up.Like what kind of fish/corals if any.
What you might want to get implented first.
Might want to spend good money on a skimmer,or maybe spend it on lighting.The blowers(powerheads)...lol
You can buy Caddy's or a Chevy in this hobby.
Live rock and Lights can take a big chunk of change.

[Dustyy]

I was thinking about starting with around $1000 to get start and go from there as i buy fish and other things maybe start with $1500. I been putting together a spread sheet in exel of all the things i would like to have in the long run but dont have it completed yet i will try to finish that up and post it later tonight.

[stingythingy45]

Well,that's a good amount of money to get you going.
Is there any reason you're going with a 55 gallon?
Does it fit on the counter at the store that you mentioned?
I started with a HOB skimmer and a Aquaclear 50 filter running carbon.You can see some of where I've been with my 55 in my gallery.It's been 8 months now and I'm pretty happy with it.

[Tswifty]

The 2 places where you want to spend your money are:

Protein Skimmer
Lighting

Everywhere else... there's a million different ways to get by without breaking the bank.

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by Tswifty8
The 2 places where you want to spend your money are:

Protein Skimmer
Lighting

Everywhere else... there's a million different ways to get by without breaking the bank.

Let me rephrase that...

The 2 places you definately get what you pay for are skimming and lighting.

Didn't want it to sound like I was telling you what to do

[Dustyy]

thanks

yeh its where i had the tank before i got a hole cut out for it to fit the tank that i have and i thought it would be a good starting point to learn. But when i finish my house that im building. i am going to put a 200g to 300g in there. So i thought the 55 would give me a good start to learn and try things out with the equipment that i start with.

[Dustyy]

This was a list i put together that i was thinking about getting in the future at some point. Most of my stuff i have to get online because the LFS doesn't have much other than just fish. Unless i get freed up to drive about 2 hours away. But if anyone had some good experience with some of this or had some tips with some of these or dont see something on my list of things and you think i should get it to help the system all comments welcome. Thanks

Aquacultured Red Mangrove Propagules
This one i didn't know if it would grow big out of the water because i have about a 1 foot space for it to grow up even thought about putting it in a refugium.

Red Algae Plant

Caulerpa

Maidens Hair Plant

Flame Polyps
(Zoanthus sp.)

Fluorescent Green Star Polyps
(Pachyclavularia sp.)


Orange Paddle Sponge
(Clathria sp.)


Blue Devil Zoanthids
(Palythoa sp.)

Electric Torch Coral
(Euphyllia glabrescens)


Red Veil Sea Fan
(Gorgonia sp.)

White Lightning Sponge
(Ptilocaulis sp.)

Blue Tuxedo Urchin
(Mespilia globulus)

Blue Tuxedo Urchin
(Mespilia globulus)

Green Brittle Starfish
(Ophiarachna incrassata)

Hot Aussie Lord
(Acanthastrea lordhowensis)

Snake Eye Aussie Lord
(Acanthastrea lordhowensis)

Banded Longfin Basslett
(Belonepterygion fasciolatum)

Royal Gramma
(Gramma loreto)

Lawnmower Blenny
(Salarias fasciatus)

Bluespotted Jawfish
(Opistognathus rosenblatti)

Randall's Goby
(Amblyeleotris randalli)

Ornate Wrasse
(Halichoeres ornatissimus)

Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
(Cirrhilabrus exquisitus)

Filamented Flasher Wrasse
(Paracheilinus filamentosus)

Ocellaris Clownfish
(Amphiprion ocellaris)

[bertoni]

I would cut the fish list in half.

This book should help with picking corals:

[ericsbook]

[Dustyy]

Thanks alot yeh those are just some that my lady likes and me as well i thought i would end up cutting them down a bit. Im actully going to get the book now learning new things is allways a good things. Thanks for the link.

[Aquarist007]

also, Aussie Lords are not a beginners coral--they are expensive and you have to have a well established stable tank for them
The torch, zoos, and gsp's are a great joice as would be most of the leather corals and mushrooms.

[Dustyy]

Im glade you bring that up because i was a bit scared on those and was looking those up because of the price. Thanks tip noted.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Dustyy
Im glade you bring that up because i was a bit scared on those and was looking those up because of the price. Thanks tip noted.

what I do with most purchases of corals now is I have a buddy and we share the cost and frag it in half--works out great.
If you pay 50-70 bucks for a good size coral--you still get a good size frag each for half the cost

[Dustyy]

I was reading this link about some sand beds. and was saw this.

http://ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU ADD "SAND-SIFTING" ANIMALS SUCH AS BURROWING SEA STARS OR SOME GOBIES. These animals are "sifting" the sediment to eat the sand critters that you need to have thrive. From this point, gradually add more animals up to the desired level.


So is it something i have to really look out for to keep my tiny live creatures stocked or is it that big of a worrie. It was the first time i saw this type of statment and was just wandering more into why.

[bertoni]

If you want a functioning live DSB, sand sifters are a very bad idea. Most people don't want one, in my opinion.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Dustyy
I was reading this link about some sand beds. and was saw this.

http://ronshimek.com/Deep%20Sand%20Beds.htm

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU ADD "SAND-SIFTING" ANIMALS SUCH AS BURROWING SEA STARS OR SOME GOBIES. These animals are "sifting" the sediment to eat the sand critters that you need to have thrive. From this point, gradually add more animals up to the desired level.


So is it something i have to really look out for to keep my tiny live creatures stocked or is it that big of a worrie. It was the first time i saw this type of statment and was just wandering more into why.

this is another one of his articles-it may or not be in the link you provided

how sand beds work:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-0...ture/index.php

[skaterzero22]

here is my 55 if ya need some ideas

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1325021