help me please.

liz071982 · 10/06/2011, 08:36 PM

So... I just got a 55 gallon tank that I am going to make into a saltwater fish and reef aquarium. I am not going to start out having advanced coral so that being said: help me. I am clueless on what to do but I am smart and I learn fast. I am planning on building my own sump, but after that I don't know what to get. Some questions that I have, here it goes and excuse my ignorance:
1. I have a 55 gallon so what type of lights should I get, how many, and how do I hang them. Do I even need to hang them?
2. After I make the sump, how do I connect it together
3. What type of heater should I get.
4. How many powerheads should I have.
5. How do I hook up the protein shimmer to the sump. Lol.
6. Does the sump work as a filter or do I need a filter too.
7. What type of pump do I need, where do I put it, and how does it all fit in with everything else.
8. Should my sump be bigger then a ten gallon tank if I have a 55 gallon tank?.

mjhall85 · 10/06/2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liz071982

So... I just got a 55 gallon tank that I am going to make into a saltwater fish and reef aquarium. I am not going to start out having advanced coral so that being said: help me. I am clueless on what to do but I am smart and I learn fast. I am planning on building my own sump, but after that I don't know what to get. Some questions that I have, here it goes and excuse my ignorance:
1. I have a 55 gallon so what type of lights should I get, how many, and how do I hang them. Do I even need to hang them?
2. After I make the sump, how do I connect it together
3. What type of heater should I get.
4. How many powerheads should I have.
5. How do I hook up the protein shimmer to the sump. Lol.
6. Does the sump work as a filter or do I need a filter too.
7. What type of pump do I need, where do I put it, and how does it all fit in with everything else.
8. Should my sump be bigger then a ten gallon tank if I have a 55 gallon tank?.

Bigger the sump the more volume so if you can go bigger go bigger. Is your 55 gallon drilled with a overflow box? there is a bunch of threads up above that were a lot of help for me I just started my tank the other day did a lot of research this forum and google is your friend lol. How many powerheads just depends on how you have your plumbing setup for your return from the sump. I'm sure many others will chime in on what to do.

dowtish · 10/06/2011, 08:44 PM

try to use the search key on here. you will find multiple answers to all your questions, and then you decide what you want to do.

liz071982 · 10/06/2011, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjhall85

Bigger the sump the more volume so if you can go bigger go bigger. Is your 55 gallon drilled with a overflow box? there is a bunch of threads up above that were a lot of help for me I just started my tank the other day did a lot of research this forum and google is your friend lol. How many powerheads just depends on how you have your plumbing setup for your return from the sump. I'm sure many others will chime in on what to do.

No, it doesn't have an overflow box

Thanks!!!

ReeferBill · 10/06/2011, 08:51 PM

A 4 or 6 bulb T-5 would be a good light , an Ebo-Jager heater made by Ehiem, a 20 or 29 gallon sump would be better with a Mag 5 or Mag 7 water pump to return water from your sump to the display. The sump is your filter and you can add a refugium if you have the room. Skimmers go in the sump and come with their own pumps to add air bubbles and water to them. All the equipment goes in the sump so it does not clutter the display. You will also need an overflow box to ssupply water to the sump if your tank is not drilledand reef ready. Start reading !!!!

CRAZYFIZH · 10/06/2011, 09:05 PM

frist you need to decide what coral you will have in your dt that will determine how meny or what sisw power heads you will need.
for me i would buy the best heater that you can afford
if you have room under the dt i would put the biggest skimmer you can fit and do not skimp on quality find a skimmer that is at the top of you price range and then go a little more but that is just me.
yes the sump can work as a filter in more than one way have to decide what you want in your sump exp internal or external pump
your pump goes on how much flow you want to have and how much drain you can accommodate exp to big of pump= overflow of tank or one or two hob/w u tube
reserarch reserch and more reserch

kingfisher62 · 10/06/2011, 09:32 PM

I started my marine experience with a 55G over 8 years ago and I am still skimmerless and sumpless but You are definitely making the right choice starting with both. You do not really hook up the protein skimmer to your sump it just sits in it. Using the sump as a refugium is a good idea . You grow macro algae in there and as they grow they pull excess nutrients such as nitrates and phosphate out of the water so that they will not feed problem algaes in your display tank.
If I were you I would start with softies and LPS corals and hold off on SPS's which are more delicate and demanding.

The more circulation the better, 20X would be a good start. So if you got 2 powerhead that move a combined 1100 (GPH) gallons per hour.

Your main biological filtration will be your live rock so I would start with at least 70 pounds of that.

The 216W T5's are a great choice.

kingfisher62 · 10/06/2011, 09:44 PM

Here Is a pic of my ( low tech tank) just to give you an idea on some of the softies and LPS's that you can grow under 216W of T5's.
It is not as beautiful as some of the other member's tanks , but it suits me.

sporto0 · 10/06/2011, 11:32 PM

But don't think your going to start out with a tank as nice as Kingfisher62's, even though his reef is mostly "easy care" corals, it's takes years of experience, trial & error to build a tank that nice. The best part about reef keeping to me is the process, it's not a race to the finish line, there is not really an end point. This hobby takes patience & most of all a commitment to regular maintenance & attention to detail. Good luck & go slowly.

izzy123 · 10/07/2011, 09:16 AM

Read the sticky's, they'll answer most of your questions.....

After that read sk8r 's blog, you'll find it very pleasant to read and jammed with very usefull info

Best of luck and welcome to the addiction!

Ivan

srfnhooker · 10/07/2011, 09:42 AM

I have been in the hobby for about 15 yrs. First 9 were fresh water Discus then made the jump to SW. All I can tell you is read, read and read some more. The wealth of info out there is amazing.

10/06/2011, 08:36 PM	#1
liz071982 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 3	help me please. So... I just got a 55 gallon tank that I am going to make into a saltwater fish and reef aquarium. I am not going to start out having advanced coral so that being said: help me. I am clueless on what to do but I am smart and I learn fast. I am planning on building my own sump, but after that I don't know what to get. Some questions that I have, here it goes and excuse my ignorance: 1. I have a 55 gallon so what type of lights should I get, how many, and how do I hang them. Do I even need to hang them? 2. After I make the sump, how do I connect it together 3. What type of heater should I get. 4. How many powerheads should I have. 5. How do I hook up the protein shimmer to the sump. Lol. 6. Does the sump work as a filter or do I need a filter too. 7. What type of pump do I need, where do I put it, and how does it all fit in with everything else. 8. Should my sump be bigger then a ten gallon tank if I have a 55 gallon tank?.

10/06/2011, 08:44 PM	#3
dowtish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 886	try to use the search key on here. you will find multiple answers to all your questions, and then you decide what you want to do. __________________ Sexy Sticks consume my thoughts. Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2339384

10/06/2011, 08:51 PM	#5
ReeferBill Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,906	Newbe ? A 4 or 6 bulb T-5 would be a good light , an Ebo-Jager heater made by Ehiem, a 20 or 29 gallon sump would be better with a Mag 5 or Mag 7 water pump to return water from your sump to the display. The sump is your filter and you can add a refugium if you have the room. Skimmers go in the sump and come with their own pumps to add air bubbles and water to them. All the equipment goes in the sump so it does not clutter the display. You will also need an overflow box to ssupply water to the sump if your tank is not drilledand reef ready. Start reading !!!! __________________ I never realized I had to be a Chemist and a Marine Biologist to maintain a Reef Aquarium!

10/06/2011, 09:05 PM	#6
CRAZYFIZH Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: LARGO, FLORIDA Posts: 220	frist you need to decide what coral you will have in your dt that will determine how meny or what sisw power heads you will need. for me i would buy the best heater that you can afford if you have room under the dt i would put the biggest skimmer you can fit and do not skimp on quality find a skimmer that is at the top of you price range and then go a little more but that is just me. yes the sump can work as a filter in more than one way have to decide what you want in your sump exp internal or external pump your pump goes on how much flow you want to have and how much drain you can accommodate exp to big of pump= overflow of tank or one or two hob/w u tube reserarch reserch and more reserch __________________ IT IS NOT A HOBBY IT IS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE Current Tank Info: 300 dd in the works

10/06/2011, 09:32 PM	#7
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	I started my marine experience with a 55G over 8 years ago and I am still skimmerless and sumpless but You are definitely making the right choice starting with both. You do not really hook up the protein skimmer to your sump it just sits in it. Using the sump as a refugium is a good idea . You grow macro algae in there and as they grow they pull excess nutrients such as nitrates and phosphate out of the water so that they will not feed problem algaes in your display tank. If I were you I would start with softies and LPS corals and hold off on SPS's which are more delicate and demanding. The more circulation the better, 20X would be a good start. So if you got 2 powerhead that move a combined 1100 (GPH) gallons per hour. Your main biological filtration will be your live rock so I would start with at least 70 pounds of that. The 216W T5's are a great choice. __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef

10/06/2011, 09:44 PM	#8
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	Here Is a pic of my ( low tech tank) just to give you an idea on some of the softies and LPS's that you can grow under 216W of T5's. It is not as beautiful as some of the other member's tanks , but it suits me. __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef

10/06/2011, 11:32 PM	#9
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	But don't think your going to start out with a tank as nice as Kingfisher62's, even though his reef is mostly "easy care" corals, it's takes years of experience, trial & error to build a tank that nice. The best part about reef keeping to me is the process, it's not a race to the finish line, there is not really an end point. This hobby takes patience & most of all a commitment to regular maintenance & attention to detail. Good luck & go slowly.

10/07/2011, 09:16 AM	#10
izzy123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Belgium Posts: 504	Read the sticky's, they'll answer most of your questions..... After that read sk8r 's blog, you'll find it very pleasant to read and jammed with very usefull info Best of luck and welcome to the addiction! Ivan

10/07/2011, 09:42 AM	#11
srfnhooker Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Winter Haven, Fl. Posts: 46	I have been in the hobby for about 15 yrs. First 9 were fresh water Discus then made the jump to SW. All I can tell you is read, read and read some more. The wealth of info out there is amazing.