55 Gallon equipment list, lighting help!

Newt56 · 01/08/2013, 10:46 AM

I hoped you could critique my list here and let me know if you would do anything different. I will be getting a 55 gallon (wanted at least 75 gallon, but getting the 55 for free from an older gentleman.) Here is what I plan on purchasing:

Skimmer: Aqua C Remora

Pumps: x2 Hydor Koralia #3

Filtration: DIY 20 gallon sump (Very confused on how to build this, luckily my husband is a plumber! I'm sure he can figure it out!) Might have to do a 10 gallon though, not sure how I'm going to fit a 20 gallon under my stand since it will have middle brace.

RO/DI system

50lbs base rock

20lbs live rock (is Marcorocks.com any good to order from?)

Substrate: 50lbs aragonite sand

lighting:?? Help! What would be a decent light for a reef? Planning on softies for a while, but may eventually get into SPS corals.

I live in Northern Maine were electricity costs are OUTRAGEOUS. So I would really like some LEDs as I hear they are cheaper on the electric bill. I'm already biting my nails at how much this tank is going to cost to run per month.

Also will need an overflow since I don't plan on drilling the tank, titanium heater (200 watts be ok for 55 gallon?), test kit, then will eventually get some inverts, fish and corals. But this will be months down the road!!

How am I doing? Am I forgetting anything? Thanks!!

dahc1979 · 01/08/2013, 11:12 AM

I have a 55 gallon mixed reef tank that I grow sps, lps, and softies in and I run a 48 inch 4 buld Tek t-5 light. The light works great, has given me great results and up front cost is a lot less then leds.

joe_himself · 01/08/2013, 12:38 PM

I ran a 55 with a 29 sump for a few years with the middle brace in the back out. You can find ways to strengthen the stand so it doesnt cause an issue with the brace gone. Also like has been said, t5 has a less upfront cost, but leds are the way everything is going.

Dexters Reef · 01/08/2013, 12:46 PM

As an aquac remora pro user for many years, I can honestly say, dont waste your money. It is very picky, noisy, and offers poor performance compared to most other brands. All I can get out of it is a watery wet skim, not a drier thicker skimmate like my Reef Octopus gets. If I smell the skimmate cup on my remora, it smells like plain water. If I smell the skimmate cup on my Reef Octopus...well lets just say it stinks so bad I would never smell it directly again. I KNOW that the octopus is doing a much better job.

Get an in sump model from Reef Octopus, or SWC and you will be much happier.

TheKman · 01/08/2013, 01:08 PM

I completely understand the stress and such. I have a 55 Gallon mixed reef that is in it's newborn stages and I have an aquatic life 4x54w T5's and my power bill went up about $.02, but thats here in Oregon.. The rest of your equipment looks fine to me, i'll link you my build picture page

pictures

password is reefcentral

Newt56 · 01/08/2013, 01:12 PM

Thanks guys!! This is the kind of help a newbie like me truly appreciates. I don't mind paying more up front for LED lights as long as they work for coral and they don't make my electricity bill skyrocket. My husband is concerned most about electricity costs due to what Northern Maine charges for electricity.

It is .19 cents a KWT hour here. Any ideas what that may run me a month to run tank, lights, heater, pumps, etc.?

thegrun · 01/08/2013, 01:22 PM

I've been very happy with the AquaIlluminations SOL Blue LED fixture I've been using on my 50 gallon mixed reef tank for the past two years, but I would upgrade the new AquaIlluminations Vega fixtures if I was starting over (they have additional red and green emitters). Do to the footprint of your 55 gallon tank you would probably need two of them to light the entire tank. With a single fixture the outside edges would be darker then the center of the tank. I agree with the above post, I ran a Remora PRO skimmer for a year, mine skimmed fine but was very noisy. If noise is a big issue for you a Tunze DOC 9002 would work fine but you will get a little better skimming out of the Reef Octopus or SWC skimmers with only a little more noise.

MrClam · 01/08/2013, 01:31 PM

I would say the electricity bill should be the least of your concerns when it comes to cost. Even ignoring the initial startup costs im pretty sure the cost of expendables (food, test kits, salt and water, supplements, livestock ect..) will overshadow the electric bill.

But then again I live essentially right next to a nuclear power plant so electricity may be a little cheaper

01/08/2013, 10:46 AM	#1
Newt56 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Maine Posts: 37	55 Gallon equipment list, lighting help! I hoped you could critique my list here and let me know if you would do anything different. I will be getting a 55 gallon (wanted at least 75 gallon, but getting the 55 for free from an older gentleman.) Here is what I plan on purchasing: Skimmer: Aqua C Remora Pumps: x2 Hydor Koralia #3 Filtration: DIY 20 gallon sump (Very confused on how to build this, luckily my husband is a plumber! I'm sure he can figure it out!) Might have to do a 10 gallon though, not sure how I'm going to fit a 20 gallon under my stand since it will have middle brace. RO/DI system 50lbs base rock 20lbs live rock (is Marcorocks.com any good to order from?) Substrate: 50lbs aragonite sand lighting:?? Help! What would be a decent light for a reef? Planning on softies for a while, but may eventually get into SPS corals. I live in Northern Maine were electricity costs are OUTRAGEOUS. So I would really like some LEDs as I hear they are cheaper on the electric bill. I'm already biting my nails at how much this tank is going to cost to run per month. Also will need an overflow since I don't plan on drilling the tank, titanium heater (200 watts be ok for 55 gallon?), test kit, then will eventually get some inverts, fish and corals. But this will be months down the road!! How am I doing? Am I forgetting anything? Thanks!!

01/08/2013, 12:46 PM	#4
Dexters Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 730	As an aquac remora pro user for many years, I can honestly say, dont waste your money. It is very picky, noisy, and offers poor performance compared to most other brands. All I can get out of it is a watery wet skim, not a drier thicker skimmate like my Reef Octopus gets. If I smell the skimmate cup on my remora, it smells like plain water. If I smell the skimmate cup on my Reef Octopus...well lets just say it stinks so bad I would never smell it directly again. I KNOW that the octopus is doing a much better job. Get an in sump model from Reef Octopus, or SWC and you will be much happier. __________________ 75G RR, Trigger Systems Ruby 30S sump, 2x250 MH and 4x54W T5HO, Octopus Diablo XS160, 4" DSB, 2 x MP40wES, 85 lbs LR, 2 x BRS Dosing Pumps, Finnex 300w titanium heater, Surf2 Algae Turf Scrubber

01/08/2013, 01:08 PM	#5
TheKman Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 227	I completely understand the stress and such. I have a 55 Gallon mixed reef that is in it's newborn stages and I have an aquatic life 4x54w T5's and my power bill went up about $.02, but thats here in Oregon.. The rest of your equipment looks fine to me, i'll link you my build picture page pictures password is reefcentral __________________ 65gallon reef tank - 30gal Sump - Evergrow IT2080 LED - NAC 6 Skimmer - RKL Controller - Jebao WP25 - JBJ ATO \| 2 Clowns, 3 Pajama Cardinals, 1 Hovens Wrasse, Flame Angel, lots of corals.

01/08/2013, 01:12 PM	#6
Newt56 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Maine Posts: 37	Thanks guys!! This is the kind of help a newbie like me truly appreciates. I don't mind paying more up front for LED lights as long as they work for coral and they don't make my electricity bill skyrocket. My husband is concerned most about electricity costs due to what Northern Maine charges for electricity. It is .19 cents a KWT hour here. Any ideas what that may run me a month to run tank, lights, heater, pumps, etc.? Last edited by Newt56; 01/08/2013 at 01:20 PM.

01/08/2013, 11:12 AM	#2
dahc1979 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Rock Island Posts: 78	I have a 55 gallon mixed reef tank that I grow sps, lps, and softies in and I run a 48 inch 4 buld Tek t-5 light. The light works great, has given me great results and up front cost is a lot less then leds.

01/08/2013, 12:38 PM	#3
joe_himself Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 71	I ran a 55 with a 29 sump for a few years with the middle brace in the back out. You can find ways to strengthen the stand so it doesnt cause an issue with the brace gone. Also like has been said, t5 has a less upfront cost, but leds are the way everything is going.

01/08/2013, 01:22 PM	#7
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I've been very happy with the AquaIlluminations SOL Blue LED fixture I've been using on my 50 gallon mixed reef tank for the past two years, but I would upgrade the new AquaIlluminations Vega fixtures if I was starting over (they have additional red and green emitters). Do to the footprint of your 55 gallon tank you would probably need two of them to light the entire tank. With a single fixture the outside edges would be darker then the center of the tank. I agree with the above post, I ran a Remora PRO skimmer for a year, mine skimmed fine but was very noisy. If noise is a big issue for you a Tunze DOC 9002 would work fine but you will get a little better skimming out of the Reef Octopus or SWC skimmers with only a little more noise.

01/08/2013, 01:31 PM	#8
MrClam Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 557	I would say the electricity bill should be the least of your concerns when it comes to cost. Even ignoring the initial startup costs im pretty sure the cost of expendables (food, test kits, salt and water, supplements, livestock ect..) will overshadow the electric bill. But then again I live essentially right next to a nuclear power plant so electricity may be a little cheaper