55G New Salt Water Tank Reef Build Help

EazyyD · 07/06/2011, 10:09 PM

Hey guys,
I am new to the salt water aspect of fish, ive had a fresh water but now moving on to salt water.
I was wondering what i would need for my 55Gallon Salt Water Tank right down to the detail.

[]Protein Skimmer
[]ATO
[X]Heater
[]Return Pump
[]Refractometer
[]Live Rock
[]Live Sand/Crushed Coral
[]Soft Coral (Easier to keep alive)
[]1-2 PowerHeads (Not sure how many gph i need)
[]Overflow Chamber
[]10G Sump Pump filtration refugium(Plan on making myself - Designs would be appreciated)
[]FISH

Now i will update this thread to items i have acquired and also to what you fellow ReefCentral Members suggest i need and so on. Basically the best route but also good on money.

Thanks for the Help!

lacosta28 · 07/06/2011, 10:18 PM

You will need a little more stuff to start off with. Some are not necessary and are just recommended to make life a lot easier on yourself.

Lights (not the cheap ones that come with freshwater tanks)
ATO (highly recommended)
RO/DI unit to make your own water
Return pump
Heater
Stuff for plumping it all together
buckets to mix your salt for water changes (brute trash cans recommended)
Maxi-Jet pump to mix the salt water for 24 hours prior to water change
Refractometer
Water test kits
Tools to clean the glass

That's all I can think of for now but as you go you will notice there are more things you will need or want.

EazyyD · 07/06/2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lacosta28

You will need a little more stuff to start off with. Some are not necessary and are just recommended to make life a lot easier on yourself.

Lights (not the cheap ones that come with freshwater tanks)
ATO (highly recommended)
RO/DI unit to make your own water
Return pump
Heater
Stuff for plumping it all together
buckets to mix your salt for water changes (brute trash cans recommended)
Maxi-Jet pump to mix the salt water for 24 hours prior to water change
Refractometer
Water test kits
Tools to clean the glass

That's all I can think of for now but as you go you will notice there are more things you will need or want.

The refractometer is the hydrometer right? to measure the salinity?
and you have an specific designs for the sump pump tank?

lacosta28 · 07/06/2011, 10:58 PM

That's correct about the refractometer. Except you really want to purchase a refractometer as it is far more accurate. You can save money up front and get a hydrometer but I guarantee you will end up buying the refract sooner or later. No point in wasting money to save a few bucks now.

Check out the DIY forums and you will find plenty of designs there.

kstate · 07/07/2011, 08:45 AM

You might not need the heater if your tank is similar to mine. I have a 56 and the reef store I went to told me that mine would be large enough to not need a heater as long as my home temp wasn't changing drastically. My temp stays between 80 and 78 and I have never used a heater. I am new to the hobby as well, but I thought I would let you know hopefully before you purchased. Might save you $20.
Good luck

LSUJosh · 07/07/2011, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kstate

You might not need the heater if your tank is similar to mine. I have a 56 and the reef store I went to told me that mine would be large enough to not need a heater as long as my home temp wasn't changing drastically. My temp stays between 80 and 78 and I have never used a heater. I am new to the hobby as well, but I thought I would let you know hopefully before you purchased. Might save you $20.
Good luck

I would suggest getting one just in case something happens and it gets real cold. That $20 bucks could save you hundreds in livestock death.

ryeguyy84 · 07/07/2011, 08:52 AM

i'd still recommend a heater... I live in Jersey though, and in the winter I keep the house around 70. I don't think residual heat from pumps and light will keep the temp very stable, especially at night.

lacosta28 · 07/07/2011, 08:57 AM

Also depends on where you live. If you are in some tropical environment year round then maybe yeah skip the heater. As LSU suggested though, it is better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it. Weather can be unpredictable and even tropical places get bad weather sometimes.

BIG_KAHUNA · 07/07/2011, 11:02 AM

lots and lots of research. I look back on it now and wish I had started like you are. Plan EVERYTHING! Impulse buys can be really bad in this hobby. Look up reviews on all equipment! You can never stop learning

07/06/2011, 10:09 PM	#1
EazyyD Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 3	55G New Salt Water Tank Reef Build Help Hey guys, I am new to the salt water aspect of fish, ive had a fresh water but now moving on to salt water. I was wondering what i would need for my 55Gallon Salt Water Tank right down to the detail. []Protein Skimmer []ATO [X]Heater []Return Pump []Refractometer []Live Rock []Live Sand/Crushed Coral []Soft Coral (Easier to keep alive) []1-2 PowerHeads (Not sure how many gph i need) []Overflow Chamber []10G Sump Pump filtration refugium(Plan on making myself - Designs would be appreciated) []FISH Now i will update this thread to items i have acquired and also to what you fellow ReefCentral Members suggest i need and so on. Basically the best route but also good on money. Thanks for the Help! Last edited by EazyyD; 07/06/2011 at 10:48 PM.

07/06/2011, 10:18 PM	#2
lacosta28 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 632	You will need a little more stuff to start off with. Some are not necessary and are just recommended to make life a lot easier on yourself. Lights (not the cheap ones that come with freshwater tanks) ATO (highly recommended) RO/DI unit to make your own water Return pump Heater Stuff for plumping it all together buckets to mix your salt for water changes (brute trash cans recommended) Maxi-Jet pump to mix the salt water for 24 hours prior to water change Refractometer Water test kits Tools to clean the glass That's all I can think of for now but as you go you will notice there are more things you will need or want. __________________ Tanks: 150g Reef Tank and 93g Frameless Marineland Reef ready cube. EcoTech pro ligths, M1 Return pumps and MP40QD's on both tanks managed by a Reeflink. Neptune controller manages everything else. Current Tank Info: 150g and 93g Rimless, both reef tanks.

07/06/2011, 10:58 PM	#4
lacosta28 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 632	That's correct about the refractometer. Except you really want to purchase a refractometer as it is far more accurate. You can save money up front and get a hydrometer but I guarantee you will end up buying the refract sooner or later. No point in wasting money to save a few bucks now. Check out the DIY forums and you will find plenty of designs there. __________________ Tanks: 150g Reef Tank and 93g Frameless Marineland Reef ready cube. EcoTech pro ligths, M1 Return pumps and MP40QD's on both tanks managed by a Reeflink. Neptune controller manages everything else. Current Tank Info: 150g and 93g Rimless, both reef tanks.

07/07/2011, 08:57 AM	#8
lacosta28 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 632	Also depends on where you live. If you are in some tropical environment year round then maybe yeah skip the heater. As LSU suggested though, it is better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it. Weather can be unpredictable and even tropical places get bad weather sometimes. __________________ Tanks: 150g Reef Tank and 93g Frameless Marineland Reef ready cube. EcoTech pro ligths, M1 Return pumps and MP40QD's on both tanks managed by a Reeflink. Neptune controller manages everything else. Current Tank Info: 150g and 93g Rimless, both reef tanks.

07/07/2011, 11:02 AM	#9
BIG_KAHUNA Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: 4.815 S 162.342 E Posts: 478	lots and lots of research. I look back on it now and wish I had started like you are. Plan EVERYTHING! Impulse buys can be really bad in this hobby. Look up reviews on all equipment! You can never stop learning __________________ Scott

07/07/2011, 08:45 AM	#5
kstate Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: KCK Posts: 14	You might not need the heater if your tank is similar to mine. I have a 56 and the reef store I went to told me that mine would be large enough to not need a heater as long as my home temp wasn't changing drastically. My temp stays between 80 and 78 and I have never used a heater. I am new to the hobby as well, but I thought I would let you know hopefully before you purchased. Might save you $20. Good luck

07/07/2011, 08:52 AM	#7
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	i'd still recommend a heater... I live in Jersey though, and in the winter I keep the house around 70. I don't think residual heat from pumps and light will keep the temp very stable, especially at night.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Reef build	em9468	Reef Discussion	10	07/24/2011 05:09 PM
New to reefs and saltwater	bassplaya12	New to the Hobby	64	06/21/2010 10:41 AM
distilled water for salt water tank?	moonyrat	New to the Hobby	23	02/01/2010 07:34 AM
Reef or plain salt water tank lingo,slang	inachu	New to the Hobby	3	03/29/2008 08:59 PM