Help Me, first tank.

[jlsschmidt]

Ok I have a 55 gal. tank, Penguin 350 BIowheel filter, 20 lbs. arag-alive aragonite reef sand, 14.5 lbs. coralife salt, 200 watt visi-therm aquarium heater, and a Therma Temp standing thermometer. I've read some books on the subject of keeping a reef tank, but I'm afraid to take the first step. Please help me, I feel so clueless.

 

[watertight]

I would mix the water, or buy filtered seawater and fill the tank, turn everything on, set the heater temp, check that there is good circulation around the tank, then add a few peices of uncured liverock to start the cycle off. I would test the water every day and record the parameters in a diary. Once the cycle is finished I would add a small fish or maybe 2. Do you have powerheads in the tank? A skimmer?

 

[jlsschmidt]

I have neither powerheads or a skimmer. Like I said, I'm a little clueless. What are the best kinds for me to get?

 

[watertight]

Powerheads I don't think it really matters much, just get 2 or 3 and position them around the tank so that there's no dead spots (Places with no water movement). Try and get one rippling the surface and one blowing across the top of the substrate, and, if needed, a 3rd that's somewhere inbetween. They should be putting a good stream of water over your liverock as well.
As for the skimmer, I don't know a lot about brands, etc., plenty of ppl here have personal choices. You shouldn't need one just yet, if you're still in the cycling stage IMO, by then you'll have had plenty of advice from others on what the best brand is, etc. I'm just using an old second hand in-tank one atm, but will be upgrading as soon as my bank account recovers from Xmas!

 

[mikeyjer]

Like the posts above have mentioned. Just position the powerheads as needed, but just watch for the type of corals you want for the placement of the powerheads and corals. You have to wait for quite sometime before getting into a reef anyway. You need stablility!!! Need good water condition, temp, and good lighting for certain type of corals. If you want just softies, then regular lighting is fine. I love my Aqua C Remora Protein skimmer except for the prefilter box which is wayyyyyyy over sized!!! Just be patient until everything is conditioned and well established before you get into reef. :happyfish