Need help. First timer starting a 55 gallon tank

njhcnwk · 06/04/2009, 10:08 AM

Hello everyone,
I'm new here and am looking to start up a 55 gallon tank. The tank dimensions are 48x13x20. The tank is not drilled for a sump. All I currently have is the tank and stand. I've been researching equipment and all I end up with is more questions. My goal is to set up a reef tank where I won't have to repurchase and upgrade equipment much in the future. I don't want to have to find out that i can't grow a piece of coral because I skimped on something. I would prefer to incur the additional expense now and not have to worry later. I know absolutely nothing about what equipment I need to get this tank started. I'm looking for brand and model recommendations as well. If someone said buy a 55 gallon filter, i would have no clue what is a good filter to purchase. Also looking for recommendations on how many pounds of live rock to use. I was thinking 80-100? I'm looking to purchase as much as possible online as you can bargain shop on different sites as oppossed to paying whatever price tag a store sells for. Anyway, thanks for readying and I look forward to any insight that can be offered.
Brian

thegrun · 06/04/2009, 10:30 AM

Welcome! Well, youâ€™re starting at the right spot-read all you can and remember nothing good ever happens fast in a salt water aquarium! Take your time. In my opinion, try to avoid saving money skimping on the following items:
Lighting: If you want to keep corals good lighting is the key. Metal Halide lights will give you that great shimmer look and their light will penetrate deeper into the tank but they also run hotter and may require you to get a chiller. If you are sure you will not be upgrading to a larger tank in the future, T5 lights will work fine in your tank.
Skimmer: I tried to save a few bucks and bought a cheap skimmer when I first started-mistake. Buy a high quality skimmer rated at about twice what the manufacturer recommends.
Pumps: You get what you pay for, a good pump runs quieter, more efficiently and creates less heat.

Ask lots of questions, you will get a variety of answers; there is usually more than one right way to do most anything in this hobby.

jbax · 06/04/2009, 01:18 PM

are you looking for a sump setup. if so you will need a overflow box and a return pump.

i wouldn't get 80lbs of rock right away.

this site has the answers you need. if you don't see answer your looking for just ask you'll get one

jhoff · 06/04/2009, 03:56 PM

welcome!

Now these are just a few suggustions.

If your not going to drill the tank lifereef overflow box...
then you will need a sump can just buy one or DIY ...

Lighting T5HO 6bulbs or T5/metal halide combo...

Skimmer bigger is better...rated at 100g or more

return pumps eheim...magdrive...oceanrunner...

powerheads vortech...koralia...

liverock about 50lbs of base rock top off with 30lbs of good live rock something like fiji or http://www.liverocknreef.com/

All i can say is read read and then read some more...

Jim

saltjohnswharf · 06/04/2009, 07:25 PM

Hello!! A fellow 55er.

My experience:
AquaC Remora Hang on skimmer is excellent
There are decent halide fixtures for a good price. dont bother with any other fixtures

SUMP!!! Get an overflow and a sump then plumb a return line
If you use a sump get a skimmer that works in the sump.

The Koralia 3 powerheads seem to be just about perfect for circulation in my 55

40 pounds of LR is PLENTY The dimensions of a 55 are hard to work with. Dont overcrowd with a lot of rock.

I also use an Eheim cannister in my setup. Optional.

My last piece of advice is learn patience, invest wisely, read often, and talk with as many GOOD aquarists as possible. There are a lot of dumbies out there that will try to tell you something that is complete crap. Get as many opinions as it takes and then make your own. Good luck and welcome to our world.

njhcnwk · 06/04/2009, 10:23 PM

Ok, so here is what i gather so far. the overflow box hangs on the side of the tank. it feeds the sump which has the protein skimmer in it. the skimmer then dumps back into the tank itself. if that's correct, how does it return to the tank? is there a way to do this without drilling?

afernandez · 06/05/2009, 12:18 AM

welcome... it can hang from the side or back wall (over flow box)...it drains water from you tank to the sump which you can have your skimmer in. the skimmers then dumps it back into sump; then you have a pump that returns all the water from you sump back into your main tank. you dont need to drill leave the drilling for much later on much much later on..... this hobby gave me some grey hairs lol fair warning lol... my best advise is read and look up how to set up your tank ...patience is a must.. fisrt thing you look into is a ro/di water filter you aqaurium is 100 % water get the best water quality. second filtration sump..canister filters.. you can get ehim its what i use other than my sump and my skimmer then water circulation koralia 3 is good for a 55g ..then lighting t5's are great you should not need better lighting for now..i say for noe b/c you have alot of reading to do lol ......and dont get excited when you go to you local fish store(lfs) ask alot of questions

Catastrophi · 06/05/2009, 01:36 AM

I agree with alfernandez. Definitely the first on your list should be a ro/di system. You're going to have to change the water once every two weeks.

If you're looking for overflow box i recommend Glass-holes. They make an excellent overflow set-up.

PRDubois · 06/05/2009, 02:22 AM

READ READ READ - all the stickies in the begining of this section.

Get the tank drilled

Get or make a Sump with a good pump

Get a RODI filter - Will solve so many problems.

Lights: 4 to 6 bulb - T5 lights will work fineto have anything.

Skimmer: Buy a high quality skimmer rated at about twice what the manufacturer recommends. Buy one for 90gal or more.
If you are not going to drill the tank then get a Octopus 800 HOB skimmer. Dont use a HOB overflow and a sump you could have a flood.

Pumps: You get what you pay for, a good pump runs quieter, more efficiently and creates less heat.

Rock: 60 to 70 lbs are good.

SidCat · 06/05/2009, 06:42 AM

Good luck with your tank! There is a lot of good advise posted here. You're wise to get everything upfront so you don't have to upgrade later.

06/04/2009, 10:08 AM	#1
njhcnwk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: East Windsor, NJ Posts: 75	Need help. First timer starting a 55 gallon tank Hello everyone, I'm new here and am looking to start up a 55 gallon tank. The tank dimensions are 48x13x20. The tank is not drilled for a sump. All I currently have is the tank and stand. I've been researching equipment and all I end up with is more questions. My goal is to set up a reef tank where I won't have to repurchase and upgrade equipment much in the future. I don't want to have to find out that i can't grow a piece of coral because I skimped on something. I would prefer to incur the additional expense now and not have to worry later. I know absolutely nothing about what equipment I need to get this tank started. I'm looking for brand and model recommendations as well. If someone said buy a 55 gallon filter, i would have no clue what is a good filter to purchase. Also looking for recommendations on how many pounds of live rock to use. I was thinking 80-100? I'm looking to purchase as much as possible online as you can bargain shop on different sites as oppossed to paying whatever price tag a store sells for. Anyway, thanks for readying and I look forward to any insight that can be offered. Brian

06/04/2009, 07:25 PM	#5
saltjohnswharf Conscientious Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 524 Blog Entries: 1	Hello!! A fellow 55er. My experience: AquaC Remora Hang on skimmer is excellent There are decent halide fixtures for a good price. dont bother with any other fixtures SUMP!!! Get an overflow and a sump then plumb a return line If you use a sump get a skimmer that works in the sump. The Koralia 3 powerheads seem to be just about perfect for circulation in my 55 40 pounds of LR is PLENTY The dimensions of a 55 are hard to work with. Dont overcrowd with a lot of rock. I also use an Eheim cannister in my setup. Optional. My last piece of advice is learn patience, invest wisely, read often, and talk with as many GOOD aquarists as possible. There are a lot of dumbies out there that will try to tell you something that is complete crap. Get as many opinions as it takes and then make your own. Good luck and welcome to our world. __________________ If you had to live the rest of your life in an aquarium what would your minimum tank size be? Think before you buy Current Tank Info: 27 gallon Dying Reef Biotope

06/05/2009, 12:18 AM	#7
afernandez Never Quit!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: new york city! Posts: 1,505	welcome... it can hang from the side or back wall (over flow box)...it drains water from you tank to the sump which you can have your skimmer in. the skimmers then dumps it back into sump; then you have a pump that returns all the water from you sump back into your main tank. you dont need to drill leave the drilling for much later on much much later on..... this hobby gave me some grey hairs lol fair warning lol... my best advise is read and look up how to set up your tank ...patience is a must.. fisrt thing you look into is a ro/di water filter you aqaurium is 100 % water get the best water quality. second filtration sump..canister filters.. you can get ehim its what i use other than my sump and my skimmer then water circulation koralia 3 is good for a 55g ..then lighting t5's are great you should not need better lighting for now..i say for noe b/c you have alot of reading to do lol ......and dont get excited when you go to you local fish store(lfs) ask alot of questions __________________ Arlin- Take your time and do it right. Current Tank Info: 120g Apex controller, (2) mp40w Es ,(3) Mp10W Es, Alfa vertex 170, 8 bulb ATI Dimable Sunpower,REEFOCTOPUS-BB-10000, Tunze Ato . 21G MINI-Reef, 250w MH, Mp10Wes

06/05/2009, 02:22 AM	#9
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	READ READ READ - all the stickies in the begining of this section. Get the tank drilled Get or make a Sump with a good pump Get a RODI filter - Will solve so many problems. Lights: 4 to 6 bulb - T5 lights will work fineto have anything. Skimmer: Buy a high quality skimmer rated at about twice what the manufacturer recommends. Buy one for 90gal or more. If you are not going to drill the tank then get a Octopus 800 HOB skimmer. Dont use a HOB overflow and a sump you could have a flood. Pumps: You get what you pay for, a good pump runs quieter, more efficiently and creates less heat. Rock: 60 to 70 lbs are good. __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

06/04/2009, 10:30 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Welcome! Well, youâ€™re starting at the right spot-read all you can and remember nothing good ever happens fast in a salt water aquarium! Take your time. In my opinion, try to avoid saving money skimping on the following items: Lighting: If you want to keep corals good lighting is the key. Metal Halide lights will give you that great shimmer look and their light will penetrate deeper into the tank but they also run hotter and may require you to get a chiller. If you are sure you will not be upgrading to a larger tank in the future, T5 lights will work fine in your tank. Skimmer: I tried to save a few bucks and bought a cheap skimmer when I first started-mistake. Buy a high quality skimmer rated at about twice what the manufacturer recommends. Pumps: You get what you pay for, a good pump runs quieter, more efficiently and creates less heat. Ask lots of questions, you will get a variety of answers; there is usually more than one right way to do most anything in this hobby.

06/04/2009, 01:18 PM	#3
jbax Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: palm harbor Posts: 1,425	are you looking for a sump setup. if so you will need a overflow box and a return pump. i wouldn't get 80lbs of rock right away. this site has the answers you need. if you don't see answer your looking for just ask you'll get one

06/04/2009, 03:56 PM	#4
jhoff Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Edison New Jersey Posts: 1,082	welcome! Now these are just a few suggustions. If your not going to drill the tank lifereef overflow box... then you will need a sump can just buy one or DIY ... Lighting T5HO 6bulbs or T5/metal halide combo... Skimmer bigger is better...rated at 100g or more return pumps eheim...magdrive...oceanrunner... powerheads vortech...koralia... liverock about 50lbs of base rock top off with 30lbs of good live rock something like fiji or http://www.liverocknreef.com/ All i can say is read read and then read some more... Jim

06/04/2009, 10:23 PM	#6
njhcnwk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: East Windsor, NJ Posts: 75	Ok, so here is what i gather so far. the overflow box hangs on the side of the tank. it feeds the sump which has the protein skimmer in it. the skimmer then dumps back into the tank itself. if that's correct, how does it return to the tank? is there a way to do this without drilling?

06/05/2009, 01:36 AM	#8
Catastrophi Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Beaumont, TX Posts: 326	I agree with alfernandez. Definitely the first on your list should be a ro/di system. You're going to have to change the water once every two weeks. If you're looking for overflow box i recommend Glass-holes. They make an excellent overflow set-up.

06/05/2009, 06:42 AM	#10
SidCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 205	Good luck with your tank! There is a lot of good advise posted here. You're wise to get everything upfront so you don't have to upgrade later.