55 gal

dbowma · 06/24/2008, 06:25 PM

How much would a real good set up run? Any suggestion for good all around lights maybe even a clam or two under them?How big of sump 20 gal?Which skimmer most bang for the buck Octopus?Thanks guys Dennis.

dbowma · 06/24/2008, 07:19 PM

TTT

Fish_wiz2 · 06/24/2008, 07:20 PM

Good would be in the grands for me

Good lights would be halides (keeps unlimited types of corals if correct wattage is applied)

A good sized sump would be 20 gals and up

Octopus would be the best bang for your buck (getting one too for my 75)

ahullsb · 06/24/2008, 08:03 PM

I would skip the 55 and go for a 75 at least. 55's are very narrow and are not well suited for reef tanks. They are hard to aquascape and tend to look like rock walls. A 20 gallon sump should be enough for you. Lighting could run you anywhere from $400-900 dollars depending on what you get. Many people recommend retrofits or pendants. I bought an all in one, mh's, t5's and moonlights. Check out Outer Orbit, Aqua Medic, etc. Check the lighting sponsors on the main page. Skimmers are personal preference but I think you would be fine with the Octopus.

korova29 · 06/24/2008, 08:09 PM

listen to ahullsb, I started w/ a 55 and it was a pain. Now I'm running a 90g w/ sump in the basement. 90g is easier to take care of then the 55 due to the extra water volume...

D to the P · 06/24/2008, 08:26 PM

75 would be easier to work with and aqua scape. Either way the lighting will be the same over top of it. If you really want clams I would recommend metal halides. T5's would work, especially if you retrofit the system because you can get really good reflectors and ballast (like ice cap), but if you want to buy a pre made system than metal halides would be the way to go. You could do 150 watt, but 250 watt wouldn't be too much. Obviously if you go more you might run into heat issues, but clams do like to be abused by light. If you need to put the sump in the stand of the tank, than you might only be able to fit a 30 gallon, but if you can put the sump behind the wall or somewhere else than get a sump as big as you can afford. The octopus skimmer from what I heard is really good, but I know ASM's are also recommended, as well as many other brands.
Depending on how you go I would think the system would end up costing close to $1500-$3000 (give or take). And in my opinion that's being conservative (tank and stand may cost about $500/600, light might cost $400-800, skimmer may cost $300-400). So, make sure you balance your check book before you get too far into this

06/24/2008, 06:25 PM	#1
dbowma Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38	55 gal How much would a real good set up run? Any suggestion for good all around lights maybe even a clam or two under them?How big of sump 20 gal?Which skimmer most bang for the buck Octopus?Thanks guys Dennis.

06/24/2008, 07:20 PM	#3
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	Good would be in the grands for me Good lights would be halides (keeps unlimited types of corals if correct wattage is applied) A good sized sump would be 20 gals and up Octopus would be the best bang for your buck (getting one too for my 75) __________________ -The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond

06/24/2008, 08:03 PM	#4
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	I would skip the 55 and go for a 75 at least. 55's are very narrow and are not well suited for reef tanks. They are hard to aquascape and tend to look like rock walls. A 20 gallon sump should be enough for you. Lighting could run you anywhere from $400-900 dollars depending on what you get. Many people recommend retrofits or pendants. I bought an all in one, mh's, t5's and moonlights. Check out Outer Orbit, Aqua Medic, etc. Check the lighting sponsors on the main page. Skimmers are personal preference but I think you would be fine with the Octopus. __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics

06/24/2008, 08:26 PM	#6
D to the P Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Amishville, USA Posts: 2,047	75 would be easier to work with and aqua scape. Either way the lighting will be the same over top of it. If you really want clams I would recommend metal halides. T5's would work, especially if you retrofit the system because you can get really good reflectors and ballast (like ice cap), but if you want to buy a pre made system than metal halides would be the way to go. You could do 150 watt, but 250 watt wouldn't be too much. Obviously if you go more you might run into heat issues, but clams do like to be abused by light. If you need to put the sump in the stand of the tank, than you might only be able to fit a 30 gallon, but if you can put the sump behind the wall or somewhere else than get a sump as big as you can afford. The octopus skimmer from what I heard is really good, but I know ASM's are also recommended, as well as many other brands. Depending on how you go I would think the system would end up costing close to $1500-$3000 (give or take). And in my opinion that's being conservative (tank and stand may cost about $500/600, light might cost $400-800, skimmer may cost $300-400). So, make sure you balance your check book before you get too far into this __________________ Nature V.S. Nurture: Nature Always Wins. Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Aquapod reef with LED's, multiple nano's at work.

06/24/2008, 07:19 PM	#2
dbowma Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38	TTT

06/24/2008, 08:09 PM	#5
korova29 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Elmira, NY Posts: 65	listen to ahullsb, I started w/ a 55 and it was a pain. Now I'm running a 90g w/ sump in the basement. 90g is easier to take care of then the 55 due to the extra water volume...