55 Gallon setup need input

Alatriel · 05/03/2006, 03:22 AM

55 gallon w/ overflow
20 gallon sump/ refugium w/ light
coralife super skimmer 65
6x65 watt power compact lights 2 20k actincs, 2 10k, 2 50/50 w/ 8 moonlights
825 gph flow
110 lbs LR ( to be ordered)
60 lbs LS

Livestock (undecided)
2 True Perculas
1 1/2 inch Regal Tang (to be moved to 125 tank in 8 months)
Mandarin (no earlier than 6 months from end of cycle) ??
RBTA??

Corals (undecided)

Asst Zoa's, mushrooms, xenia, ricordia, sun coral and ??

Will the lighting be enough for a RBTA or sps??
Will a mandarin thrive in this setup? Don't wanna have it just survive.

Any suggestions or comments would be helpfull..

Thanks

reefnetworth · 05/03/2006, 03:35 AM

you have the right equiptment. first tank is to small for tang, especially from 125. they need room to swim, they are nonstop. with amount of livestock wanted, you will need a larger skimmer, the more $ for the best will pay off in the long run. sps are very picky about clean water. lighting is enough for all mentioned, but do it slow and let your bio adjust with introductions. mandarin goby will need lots of copepods, that is their main diet. thats why so many do not do well in a small tank unless you purchase and let them breed for at least 4-6 months, they need food too.

reefnetworth · 05/03/2006, 03:42 AM

sorry i just read back over your ? about lighting. i thought i saw 10K MH am i correct? if not your sps will not survive long. my appology. REEF-ON!!!

Alatriel · 05/03/2006, 03:47 AM

nano4brains thanks for the reply. The Regal will only be in the 55 for max 8 months. We are remodeling to fit a 125 in the house. I was just wondering if it would be ok for 8 months until the 125 was finished.

reefnetworth · 05/03/2006, 03:49 AM

i dont know it might stress it alot. like you being put in a smaller room for a long period. tangs grow pretty fast and swim that way as well.

Kurt03 · 05/03/2006, 07:09 AM

have you looked into t5ho lighting? corals and such might do better with t5's with a reflector on each instead of the pc lights. Also i would look into the larger corallife ss. I got the 220 for my 55gal because i was told to spend what i could and not skimp on the skimmer. i would get the 125 or the 220, 220 if you can afford it. You can also check out the selling forums here. What light are you using for your fuge and what do you plan on having in there? Heres a good link about cheap fuge lighting, http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html i just got the 5100k bulb so cant tell you how good its working yet but it has worked well for many others. And like everyone else said, take it slow. think of it as an excuse for your wallet to recover

mdisalvo55 · 05/03/2006, 01:00 PM

Get the CSS 125, you might as well, it's what I have on my 55, seems to work pretty well with a few mods.

shirley martin · 05/03/2006, 01:29 PM

can anyone help i'm new to this just checked water everything is why up only got 2 little nemos, 2 damsels and some snails tank been running aprox 1 month its 55gals what am i doing wrong

shirley martin · 05/03/2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shirley martin
can anyone help i'm new to this just checked water everything is why up only got 2 little nemos, 2 damsels and some snails tank been running aprox 1 month its 55gals what am i doing wrong

Kurt03 · 05/03/2006, 07:27 PM

is there live rock in the tank ? if so its probabley uncured and you need to cure it before you add any fish.

bigfruits · 05/04/2006, 06:51 AM

id get the 125 skimmer instead. i think you will be happier with it. if money is a concern save up and buy it last. you wont need it while your tank is cycling. (unless you cure your liverock in the tank which i dont recommend.)

you dont need that much live sand. mix some in with regular aragonite sand and it will all become live sand. the liverock will help with that as well.

good luck.

shirley martin · 05/04/2006, 12:25 PM

thanks will get some more

05/03/2006, 03:22 AM	#1
Alatriel Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MD Posts: 48	55 Gallon setup need input 55 gallon w/ overflow 20 gallon sump/ refugium w/ light coralife super skimmer 65 6x65 watt power compact lights 2 20k actincs, 2 10k, 2 50/50 w/ 8 moonlights 825 gph flow 110 lbs LR ( to be ordered) 60 lbs LS Livestock (undecided) 2 True Perculas 1 1/2 inch Regal Tang (to be moved to 125 tank in 8 months) Mandarin (no earlier than 6 months from end of cycle) ?? RBTA?? Corals (undecided) Asst Zoa's, mushrooms, xenia, ricordia, sun coral and ?? Will the lighting be enough for a RBTA or sps?? Will a mandarin thrive in this setup? Don't wanna have it just survive. Any suggestions or comments would be helpfull.. Thanks

05/03/2006, 03:35 AM	#2
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	you have the right equiptment. first tank is to small for tang, especially from 125. they need room to swim, they are nonstop. with amount of livestock wanted, you will need a larger skimmer, the more $ for the best will pay off in the long run. sps are very picky about clean water. lighting is enough for all mentioned, but do it slow and let your bio adjust with introductions. mandarin goby will need lots of copepods, that is their main diet. thats why so many do not do well in a small tank unless you purchase and let them breed for at least 4-6 months, they need food too. __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

05/03/2006, 03:42 AM	#3
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	sorry i just read back over your ? about lighting. i thought i saw 10K MH am i correct? if not your sps will not survive long. my appology. REEF-ON!!! __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

05/03/2006, 03:49 AM	#5
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	i dont know it might stress it alot. like you being put in a smaller room for a long period. tangs grow pretty fast and swim that way as well. __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

05/03/2006, 03:47 AM	#4
Alatriel Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MD Posts: 48	nano4brains thanks for the reply. The Regal will only be in the 55 for max 8 months. We are remodeling to fit a 125 in the house. I was just wondering if it would be ok for 8 months until the 125 was finished.

05/03/2006, 07:09 AM	#6
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	have you looked into t5ho lighting? corals and such might do better with t5's with a reflector on each instead of the pc lights. Also i would look into the larger corallife ss. I got the 220 for my 55gal because i was told to spend what i could and not skimp on the skimmer. i would get the 125 or the 220, 220 if you can afford it. You can also check out the selling forums here. What light are you using for your fuge and what do you plan on having in there? Heres a good link about cheap fuge lighting, http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html i just got the 5100k bulb so cant tell you how good its working yet but it has worked well for many others. And like everyone else said, take it slow. think of it as an excuse for your wallet to recover

05/03/2006, 01:00 PM	#7
mdisalvo55 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 764	Get the CSS 125, you might as well, it's what I have on my 55, seems to work pretty well with a few mods.

05/03/2006, 01:29 PM	#8
shirley martin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: england Posts: 3	can anyone help i'm new to this just checked water everything is why up only got 2 little nemos, 2 damsels and some snails tank been running aprox 1 month its 55gals what am i doing wrong

05/03/2006, 07:27 PM	#10
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	is there live rock in the tank ? if so its probabley uncured and you need to cure it before you add any fish.

05/04/2006, 06:51 AM	#11
bigfruits Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: NOVA Posts: 406	id get the 125 skimmer instead. i think you will be happier with it. if money is a concern save up and buy it last. you wont need it while your tank is cycling. (unless you cure your liverock in the tank which i dont recommend.) you dont need that much live sand. mix some in with regular aragonite sand and it will all become live sand. the liverock will help with that as well. good luck.

05/04/2006, 12:25 PM	#12
shirley martin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: england Posts: 3	thanks will get some more