55gal recommendations/ideas

baddraw · 03/13/2006, 10:34 PM

Hello i'm new to saltwater, i have a empty 55 gal i plan to setup for salt and looking for recommendations for how i should do so. been doing freshwater for many years and think i'd like to attempt salt but need to get a feel for what i'm getting into.

Gargausius · 03/13/2006, 11:30 PM

What are your "plans"? Are you going reef or fish only?

mg426 · 03/13/2006, 11:51 PM

Thats the first thing to decide. That will tell you what direction you wuill be going as far as gear.

petermai · 03/14/2006, 12:29 AM

overshoot with all of your hardware because you're going to get the "i need a bigger tank syndrome" shortly like i.

chip721 · 03/14/2006, 10:26 AM

Visit your local library and read or buy a good referene book. A couple that come to mind are "The New Marine Aquarium" by Mike Paletta and "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Bob Fenner. Continue to read and ask questions on this forum before spending any money. Your local fish stores aren't necessarily a bad guide, but remember their goal is to sell stuff. If you're not sure about what you need (or don't need), you'll pay dearly for it. There are some distinct differences in FW and SW. IMO, lighting, filtration, water quality/chemistry, and flow are the biggest. You'll also need to investigate an RO unit. At the outset it can seem like a daunting task. But if you go slow and ask lots of questions, you can enjoyably work your way into a decent setup at a reasonable cost. My first tank was a 54g. It looked so big in the store. Hah, how little did I know. I'm working on a RR 90g now. The key is planing and patience. Good luck. And...

To Reef Central

six.line · 03/14/2006, 11:13 AM

I agree with all these guys.

There's a learning curve to hit, and you're going to want to make sense of a lot of terms, ideas, and concepts. It's not that they're hard, just that they might be foreign to you.

I have the Conscientious Marine Aquarist and I think it's a good book-- although the author's a bit of a doom's day author.

Reeftanks can be fun, enjoyable, and highly rewarding. They can also be a pain in the neck, expensive, and take up all your free time.

I think the biggest part is deciding you want to do that.

Good luck!

baddraw · 03/14/2006, 05:27 PM

My plan is reef and fish, i'd like to diy as much equipment as i can. there is so much info here its very overwhelming and difficult to figure out a starter setup. Lfs is out of the question as far as help goes, my exp with them in freshwater is they will say anything to sell you something you may not necessarily need. Right now i have a 55 gal glass tank i plan to use(may change depending on equip as it has no holes for overflow and such). and i have a fluval canister filter i plan to use, thats about it for now.

MCary · 03/14/2006, 05:48 PM

My experiance, don't order or buy anything until you have a budget and a plan. I had to send so much stuff back after I found this website.

If you plan to develop into a reef someday then plan now on a FOWLR Fish only with liverock to start with. Start your research there. If you use local petstore, tell them you are going to start with a Fowler tank and if they don't know what you mean, don't accept any more of their advice.

If your not set on using the 55 I would jump to a 80 or 90 right away. It has a very small increase in footprint and uses most of the same equipment, Mainly the light which are going to be expensive as you upgrade. The canister is good for running carbon but thats about all. If you have good flow and plenty of Liverock then you only need a good skimmer and you have enough filtration.

Get advice here before you buy your big ticket items, skimmer, pumps, lights, any type of reactors or dosing systems and contollers. Don't be a beta tester, let others share their mistakes with you.

If you set it up right the first time you'll love this hobby. Fish won't die and algae won't make you curse.

Before I stop I want to tell you the secret weapon of fishkeeping. Keep this under your hat. REVERSE OSMOSIS, Shhhhhhhhhh...its a secret.

Mike

baddraw · 03/14/2006, 05:59 PM

Mcary thanks for the info 80-90 is not doable cause i already have a 55 gal i bought used for $10. No way i'm gonna find an 80-90 for anywhere close to that.

03/13/2006, 10:34 PM	#1
baddraw Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 93	55gal recommendations/ideas Hello i'm new to saltwater, i have a empty 55 gal i plan to setup for salt and looking for recommendations for how i should do so. been doing freshwater for many years and think i'd like to attempt salt but need to get a feel for what i'm getting into.

03/13/2006, 11:51 PM	#3
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Thats the first thing to decide. That will tell you what direction you wuill be going as far as gear. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

03/14/2006, 11:13 AM	#6
six.line Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Logan, UT Posts: 775	I agree with all these guys. There's a learning curve to hit, and you're going to want to make sense of a lot of terms, ideas, and concepts. It's not that they're hard, just that they might be foreign to you. I have the Conscientious Marine Aquarist and I think it's a good book-- although the author's a bit of a doom's day author. Reeftanks can be fun, enjoyable, and highly rewarding. They can also be a pain in the neck, expensive, and take up all your free time. I think the biggest part is deciding you want to do that. Good luck! __________________ This post approved by Mrs. Sixline. assign <= six.line(#FFFFFF && string("nerdy")) Current Tank Info: 30 gallon with 10 gallon sump

03/13/2006, 11:30 PM	#2
Gargausius Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,223	What are your "plans"? Are you going reef or fish only?

03/14/2006, 12:29 AM	#4
petermai Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: san francisco, ca Posts: 191	overshoot with all of your hardware because you're going to get the "i need a bigger tank syndrome" shortly like i.

03/14/2006, 10:26 AM	#5
chip721 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alexandria, Virginia Posts: 1,260	Visit your local library and read or buy a good referene book. A couple that come to mind are "The New Marine Aquarium" by Mike Paletta and "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Bob Fenner. Continue to read and ask questions on this forum before spending any money. Your local fish stores aren't necessarily a bad guide, but remember their goal is to sell stuff. If you're not sure about what you need (or don't need), you'll pay dearly for it. There are some distinct differences in FW and SW. IMO, lighting, filtration, water quality/chemistry, and flow are the biggest. You'll also need to investigate an RO unit. At the outset it can seem like a daunting task. But if you go slow and ask lots of questions, you can enjoyably work your way into a decent setup at a reasonable cost. My first tank was a 54g. It looked so big in the store. Hah, how little did I know. I'm working on a RR 90g now. The key is planing and patience. Good luck. And... *To Reef Central*

03/14/2006, 05:27 PM	#7
baddraw Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 93	My plan is reef and fish, i'd like to diy as much equipment as i can. there is so much info here its very overwhelming and difficult to figure out a starter setup. Lfs is out of the question as far as help goes, my exp with them in freshwater is they will say anything to sell you something you may not necessarily need. Right now i have a 55 gal glass tank i plan to use(may change depending on equip as it has no holes for overflow and such). and i have a fluval canister filter i plan to use, thats about it for now.

03/14/2006, 05:48 PM	#8
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	My experiance, don't order or buy anything until you have a budget and a plan. I had to send so much stuff back after I found this website. If you plan to develop into a reef someday then plan now on a FOWLR Fish only with liverock to start with. Start your research there. If you use local petstore, tell them you are going to start with a Fowler tank and if they don't know what you mean, don't accept any more of their advice. If your not set on using the 55 I would jump to a 80 or 90 right away. It has a very small increase in footprint and uses most of the same equipment, Mainly the light which are going to be expensive as you upgrade. The canister is good for running carbon but thats about all. If you have good flow and plenty of Liverock then you only need a good skimmer and you have enough filtration. Get advice here before you buy your big ticket items, skimmer, pumps, lights, any type of reactors or dosing systems and contollers. Don't be a beta tester, let others share their mistakes with you. If you set it up right the first time you'll love this hobby. Fish won't die and algae won't make you curse. Before I stop I want to tell you the secret weapon of fishkeeping. Keep this under your hat. REVERSE OSMOSIS, Shhhhhhhhhh...its a secret. Mike

03/14/2006, 05:59 PM	#9
baddraw Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 93	Mcary thanks for the info 80-90 is not doable cause i already have a 55 gal i bought used for $10. No way i'm gonna find an 80-90 for anywhere close to that.