Help newbie please!!

[cme030603]

Okay guys from just visiting this site i see alot of amateur's asking the veterans for help!Well guess what i'm no different!
Okay i have been studying,reading,evaluting as much as i can and here is what i would like to do for a system and i would like input, cause i already got some from in my oppion neutral source.
1: 55G all glass aquarium 2: Preferably glass canopy 3: Now i know i need,recomended live sand/live fiji rock so will get that most definately.
4: Lighting was going to go with a current usa dual satelite 4x65w system(2 10k lights,2 acitinic, and the 2 lunar leds or whatever is included) 5: Filtration i figured to cut out powerheads and still get a motion in the tank and is on sale ( $85.00) get the pentair lifegard complete filtraion kit including 4000h quite one pump, af94 mechanical module, and spray bars,adapters and in lines included.Than was going to add on to it with a af93 chemical module,a double heater module. 6: Heater from reviews and accuracy a jager titanium 300w submersiable heater. 7: Stuck on is protein skimmer,Was originally leaning to a red prizm deluxe hang on, but than was told by neautral party they have a history of overflowing.So this party suggested an AquaC Skimmer. So i was looking at the AquaC hang deluxe with a maxijet 1200 pump and drain fitting.He said this model is better and less likely to overflow.So my question is thoughts and suggestions.
Keep in mind i will slowly be buying everything due to budget constraints.But my main purpose for tank is reef/fish.It's more for my 3 yr old that is amzed by obviously "finding nemo" .Now i have study up on fish which ones can keep together and not.I was thinking well the percula clown?that right guys? The bluee hippo tang, and yes i know can only have one tang in a tank. Also certain clams and their colors have perked my interest, especially i believe the blue tear drop?
so i'm looking for insight on the skimmer portion, my filtration.Cause no offense guys just this stuff is digesting still and will be a timely thing and i'm not gonna rush as said have to do in stages due to budget, but i want to stay away from the sump bit as live on 3 rd floor in apt. building.
So any help will be appreciated guys.

 

[who dey]

Originally Posted by cme030603
Okay guys from just visiting this site i see alot of amateur's asking the veterans for help!Well guess what i'm no different!
Okay i have been studying,reading,evaluting as much as i can and here is what i would like to do for a system and i would like input, cause i already got some from in my oppion neutral source.
1: 55G all glass aquarium 2: Preferably glass canopy 3: Now i know i need,recomended live sand/live fiji rock so will get that most definately.
4: Lighting was going to go with a current usa dual satelite 4x65w system(2 10k lights,2 acitinic, and the 2 lunar leds or whatever is included) 5: Filtration i figured to cut out powerheads and still get a motion in the tank and is on sale ( $85.00) get the pentair lifegard complete filtraion kit including 4000h quite one pump, af94 mechanical module, and spray bars,adapters and in lines included.Than was going to add on to it with a af93 chemical module,a double heater module. 6: Heater from reviews and accuracy a jager titanium 300w submersiable heater. 7: Stuck on is protein skimmer,Was originally leaning to a red prizm deluxe hang on, but than was told by neautral party they have a history of overflowing.So this party suggested an AquaC Skimmer. So i was looking at the AquaC hang deluxe with a maxijet 1200 pump and drain fitting.He said this model is better and less likely to overflow.So my question is thoughts and suggestions.
Keep in mind i will slowly be buying everything due to budget constraints.But my main purpose for tank is reef/fish.It's more for my 3 yr old that is amzed by obviously "finding nemo" .Now i have study up on fish which ones can keep together and not.I was thinking well the percula clown?that right guys? The bluee hippo tang, and yes i know can only have one tang in a tank. Also certain clams and their colors have perked my interest, especially i believe the blue tear drop?
so i'm looking for insight on the skimmer portion, my filtration.Cause no offense guys just this stuff is digesting still and will be a timely thing and i'm not gonna rush as said have to do in stages due to budget, but i want to stay away from the sump bit as live on 3 rd floor in apt. building.
So any help will be appreciated guys.

1. I have a 55 gallon all glass. 2. Tops are over rated ( have to clean em all the time and reduces exposure to corals) 3. LS is a must and Fiji rock provides great nooks and crannys for beneficial bacteria and not to mention the beautiful purple coraline algae it provides! 4. Lighting sounds ok, I run 2- 110 watt VHO's one white one blue and my corals are thriving like mad! 5. As far as filtration I will tell you I have had hell of problems with anything but wet-dry's and refugiums. Make sure your filtration is pumping at least 600 GPH. My new set-up is pumping around 850 (overkill is a great thing!!) Sump is the way to go for many reasons 6. 300w heater is great ive had mine for 3 years and it's remarkable. 7. Aqua c does seemed preferred as far as hang on goes. back when i was a biowheel filter guy i had sea-clones and prizms and they both sucked. I found a good skimmer needs to cost you at least 200 bucks to do any justice (sorry) 8. I live on the 9th floor and have had more flood/excess water problems with hang on stuff than i've ever had w/my sump. Careful w/dori. I've had a powder blue tang in my 55 for 2 years and seems very happy but they really need a larger tank of about 6ft in length after about 3 years (if you get them at a small size)
Hope this helps

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by cme030603
Okay guys from just visiting this site i see alot of amateur's asking the veterans for help!Well guess what i'm no different!
Okay i have been studying,reading,evaluting as much as i can and here is what i would like to do for a system and i would like input, cause i already got some from in my oppion neutral source.
1: 55G all glass aquarium 2: Preferably glass canopy 3: Now i know i need,recomended live sand/live fiji rock so will get that most definately.
4: Lighting was going to go with a current usa dual satelite 4x65w system(2 10k lights,2 acitinic, and the 2 lunar leds or whatever is included) 5: Filtration i figured to cut out powerheads and still get a motion in the tank and is on sale ( $85.00) get the pentair lifegard complete filtraion kit including 4000h quite one pump, af94 mechanical module, and spray bars,adapters and in lines included.Than was going to add on to it with a af93 chemical module,a double heater module. 6: Heater from reviews and accuracy a jager titanium 300w submersiable heater. 7: Stuck on is protein skimmer,Was originally leaning to a red prizm deluxe hang on, but than was told by neautral party they have a history of overflowing.So this party suggested an AquaC Skimmer. So i was looking at the AquaC hang deluxe with a maxijet 1200 pump and drain fitting.He said this model is better and less likely to overflow.So my question is thoughts and suggestions.
Keep in mind i will slowly be buying everything due to budget constraints.But my main purpose for tank is reef/fish.It's more for my 3 yr old that is amzed by obviously "finding nemo" .Now i have study up on fish which ones can keep together and not.I was thinking well the percula clown?that right guys? The bluee hippo tang, and yes i know can only have one tang in a tank. Also certain clams and their colors have perked my interest, especially i believe the blue tear drop?
so i'm looking for insight on the skimmer portion, my filtration.Cause no offense guys just this stuff is digesting still and will be a timely thing and i'm not gonna rush as said have to do in stages due to budget, but i want to stay away from the sump bit as live on 3 rd floor in apt. building.
So any help will be appreciated guys.
Welcome to SWF.com!!!!!! You have come to the right place. It looks as though you have done some research which is great! You are off to a great start and any questions you may have along the way feel free to ask!!

 

[mikeyjer]

The lighting your wanting to get would be fine for low lighting corals. Mainly softies. That means no Clams!! If you want Clams, you need a well established tank to own one and eventually upgrade your tank size cause they will grow, same with the hippo tang!!! Plus the lighting needs to be MH lighting to keep Clams and other SPS, LPS, etc. The Glass canopy will cause some problems if you keep it on while the light is on. It will prevent gas exchange, over heat of your tank, and prevent enough lighting going through your tank. You 300w heater is a bit over kill, I would go 200w instead. I run 200 w heater on my 55. A sump isn't all that bad if you maintain it properly and it will not overflow if you follow directions!! The sump isn't very expensive to setup and it is very helpful to a reef tank! Aqua C Remora Skimmer is an excellent choice, that's what we're running on our 55 reef for 2 years. Very easy to operate and it's a good starting skimmer price wise. Filtration system is up to you, some people run it some people don't....I would run it....Clowns would be an excellent first timer's choice of fish, I would personally stay away from damsels.....Chromis are another nice choice for beginner fish. Do lots of research and good luck!! IF you ever have any questions, don't be afraid to ask!! :happyfish

 

[who dey]

Almost forgot... Welcome to the site!!

 

[cme030603]

Okay thanks guys so far input is great.Only reason i was trying to stay away from sump bit is to be frank i don't understand that setup at all.Second i'm getting an all glass aquarium that won be drilled out for that setup.Now for lighting so is it general recomendation not to go with hoods or glass canopies?Now if i do a MH setup do i have to go with the full 48" setup or would a 30" work?Cause as stated budget unfournately! Has anyone had problems with AquaC overflowing, espeically with a drain fitting?

 

[who dey]

Originally Posted by cme030603
Okay thanks guys so far input is great.Only reason i was trying to stay away from sump bit is to be frank i don't understand that setup at all.Second i'm getting an all glass aquarium that won be drilled out for that setup.Now for lighting so is it general recomendation not to go with hoods or glass canopies?Now if i do a MH setup do i have to go with the full 48" setup or would a 30" work?Cause as stated budget unfournately! Has anyone had problems with AquaC overflowing, espeically with a drain fitting?
Mine isn't drilled either. Systems come with hangon overflows which work great. I'm afraid i cannot offer any info on canopies w/ MH lighting. I have a great canopy from all-glass that houses my VHO's with venelation. I know Halides get hot as hel# and probably require a taller canopy to accomodate the heat.(just an assumption)

 

[cme030603]

hey who dey, yeah i forget who, but someone posted i shouldn't use the glss canopy bit cause it would prevent gas exhausting and etc.so that's what i was inquiring bout was that the lighting hangs over tank with no hood system in place?not the actual aquarium furniture canopy.So you can set up a sump system using an overflow box?Would you happen to have a pic to give me an idea?As for lighting i wanted to use a dual satelite setup, but someone posted if i wanted other than softer coral,and to go with clams an etc i would need to go with metal halide.

 

[who dey]

Originally Posted by cme030603
hey who dey, yeah i forget who, but someone posted i shouldn't use the glss canopy bit cause it would prevent gas exhausting and etc.so that's what i was inquiring bout was that the lighting hangs over tank with no hood system in place?not the actual aquarium furniture canopy.So you can set up a sump system using an overflow box?Would you happen to have a pic to give me an idea?As for lighting i wanted to use a dual satelite setup, but someone posted if i wanted other than softer coral,and to go with clams an etc i would need to go with metal halide.
clams need MH and yes you can get a hang on the back overflow. I will snap some photos of mine tomorrow. I need to pass out "im hammered" got meetings in the am

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by cme030603
hey who dey, yeah i forget who, but someone posted i shouldn't use the glss canopy bit cause it would prevent gas exhausting and etc.so that's what i was inquiring bout was that the lighting hangs over tank with no hood system in place?not the actual aquarium furniture canopy.So you can set up a sump system using an overflow box?Would you happen to have a pic to give me an idea?As for lighting i wanted to use a dual satelite setup, but someone posted if i wanted other than softer coral,and to go with clams an etc i would need to go with metal halide.
I have both hang on the back overflow box and Reef Ready tank. I prefer reef ready cause hang on the back overflow box can be a pain sometime. But if you know what your doing, it works just fine. When I first started, I didn't know a thing about it either until I got one to try out, I learn as I go....What you mean by glass canopy? Glass tops that covers the tank right? You can not use those cause they will keep in heat and overheat your tank plus it prevents gas exchange and insufficient lighting that got diverted by the glass top. There's numerous options to go with, just shop around for the best deal on metal halides. You should look to see if there's a local reef club near by you and find a local reefer to show you how things work. That's how I learn about some of the stuff is by looking at other people's setup. IF I had the time I would take some pictures, but I've gotta be at work early tomorrow and I work 12-14hr shift....Good Luck!! :happyfish

 

[madman33]

1) Buy as big of a tank as you can/afford. If 55 is all then thats fine but i would recomend stepping up to a 75 or 90 as i have found my 55 is too narrow to do any cool aquascaping 2) sounds good(i think you mean just glass tops/covers not actually a canopy) 3)good 4) what kind of a tank are you planning on and if reef what kinds of corals and invertabrates? 5)not really sure what it is but it sounds good 6)people are going to say dont buy anything jager(havent had a problem with mine but everyone else has) might as well just go with a company with a good reputation 7) go for the aquac...have heard bad things about the prizm. As for fish clown fine...blue hippo tang most definetly not...can grow quite large and needs tons of swimming space, 55 gallon will be no where near enough for it. clams are most likely going to need more light then what you have listed above(preferably mh's) As for the plan to go slow....sounds like a good one to me lol

 

[cme030603]

Hey guys, thank you so far for all the helpful tips!Okay here's few more questions.I was kinda shocked to hear about the MH lighting situation and even more shocked at PRICES!!lol. So what about doing a retrofit kit, instead of buying the whole setup with hood? Now if i did that A: Could i use it in stock flurescent strip housing or would i have to make my own housing? B: If i did in existing standard hood flurescent strip or my own,should i do 2 24" kits ?Meaning having 2 MH bulbs?Also watts been reading temp of bulb creates different color, now is there anything wrong with 20,000k?For nice blue?And if went that road should i do 2 175w or 1 400w?Now next thing is heard people saying go with sump setup, thoughts theories?This is one are haven't done much homework on cause was hoping to avoid it!Can i use an acrylic euro fil sump to set up a sump system?