Just purchased 55 gal tank.... now what?

buffin

New Member
I got a really good deal on a 56 gal tank. I'm a beginner and need some insight on what is required to get my tank going. What do I need to start a Fish only set-up? The reefs are cool but I don't want to start there. I have no idea what equipment to get and the people I've talked to at the pet stores seem to be clueless or give me conflicting information. I want to keep the tank as simple as possible too, using only what is essential for the system to operate. I've heard about power filters, canister filters, live sand, crushed coral, live rock, etc. This is all foreign to me and simply purchasing the correct equipment to run a 55 gal tank seems to be a matter of constant debate rather than a matter of fact. What is reliable, well priced, decent quality and sufficient equipment that will get me fish ready? What do I NEED as opposed to what would be nice if I was working with an unlimited budget? I was excited to get the tank because I have read that a 55+ gal tank is ideal to start. However, I'm now lost and keep going in circles on what to buy to get the tank in working order. Also, I'm not picky about the type of fish either. I simply want to get something going and then I will simply add whatever works. I'm desperately searching for some answers on minimum tank requirements and I thank you for any help in advance.
Thanks,
Ryan
 

flower

Well-Known Member

Welcome to the site, you came to the right place. This is a tall request, and I can only offer what I myself use, like the canister filter and live sand.
Have you read any saltwater aquarium books? That really is the best place to start if you have absolutely no idea of what to do.
There are endless books to choose from, I like the saltwater aquariums for dummies book, and it gets you past the basics in really fast and easy to understand language.
If you are not hardly that much of a beginner and have an understanding of freshwater but not saltwater and all you want is equipment…
You need a salt mix, buy a bucket to start.
RO water don’t use tap. Most of us get our own unit but Wal-Mart sells water for 37 cents a gallon. If you must buy your water you will need some 5g jugs. I have 7 I kept refilling until I had what I needed to fill my tank.
Then you need substrate, the choice is yours as to what you want, they even have black sand. I like medium sized live sand best.
You also need live rock, plenty of it like 40 pounds at least, because it is a natural filter. You can buy some live rock and some dead and let it seed, that is the cheapest route. Be careful of what type of rock for dead base rock, it can’t have any trace metals in it like slate, make sure it is rock for saltwater aquariums.
For fish only you need a hood with lights, very basic nothing fancy, like what you would use with a freshwater tank.
You also need two power heads, I like the Koralia brand, and they have a magnet and stay put. Get two smaller instead of one big one. Two number 2s..Fish store will know what that is.
I use a canister filter, there are lots of choices but I think canisters are the simplest and for fish only just fine. Fluval is a really good brand and easy to maintain.
An eraser looking thing called a mag float will make keeping the front glass clear a life saver. Believe me you need it.
Also get a good saltwater master test kit, I like the API brand or Instant Ocean, stay away from Red Sea, the tests are good but hard to read.
Whatever you do, don’t set up the tank and go get fish. Set up your tank follow the instructions for mixing the saltwater. Add your rock. You have to make sure the rocks are stable, twist gently and turn until you feel it “lock” into place with the rocks beside and under it. When it won’t move easy and you can hardly wiggle it then it is safe to continue…take your time, I like a cave. You don’t want your rock stacked too tight, the fish need to swim around and through. Also make sure you build the rockwork in the center of the tank, towards the back. You have to be able to fit the mag float to clean the glass past the rocks.
After the rocks, add your sand…it will be cloudy but will eventually settle, don’t run the power heads or filter just yet.
Once the sand storm settles, like the next day…turn on the power heads and set up the canister filter, it comes with everything you need.
Then it is a waiting time, do water tests because your tank has to cycle. When you reach that point, we can tell you about raw shrimp to kick start a cycle.. DO NOT USE A FISH..I don’t care what anyone tells you.
 

buffin

New Member
Thank you, Flower, for all the helpful information. So, basically I need the salt mix, a decent canister filter, two power heads and some live sand and coral, cleaning supplies and a test kit. Also, any other opinions or examples of personal set-ups will be greatly appreciated. I'm going to purchase something to get going by Friday. Once I've received some more feedback, I will begin set-up and update my tank's progress.
 

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Welcome
IMHO what you should do is first get macro algaes thriving then do the rest. Macro algaes are algaes that kinda look like plants. Because fish and clener crews eat the macros you had best setup some protected environment to keep the macros seperate from the livestock. But that can be just a simple partition.
my .02
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by buffin
http:///forum/post/3298883
Thank you, Flower, for all the helpful information. So, basically I need the salt mix, a decent canister filter, two power heads and some live sand and coral, cleaning supplies and a test kit. Also, any other opinions or examples of personal set-ups will be greatly appreciated. I'm going to purchase something to get going by Friday. Once I've received some more feedback, I will begin set-up and update my tank's progress.

You mean live rock...correct?
Not cleaning supplies, a mag float looks like an eraser, it has a magnet, you hold one side and the other side stays in the tank. On all saltwater tanks a thin film of algae develops, it needs to be rubbed off daily or it becomes a hard crusting algae called coraline, it is hard as rock to remove.
Follow the threads Spanko posted very, very helpful info.
 

buffin

New Member
Thanks for the info and links. Update: I returned my 55 gal tank and purchased a 75 gallon reef ready instead so I can have more space to work with and more tank options. Also, I think I might go with a wet/ dry set up. What is a good brand to look for?
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by buffin
http:///forum/post/3299190
Thanks for the info and links. Update: I returned my 55 gal tank and purchased a 75 gallon reef ready instead so I can have more space to work with and more tank options. Also, I think I might go with a wet/ dry set up. What is a good brand to look for?

No knowledge of a wet/dry since I never had one, but congratulations on the 75g...
Very good choice indeed!
It is allot better space wise than a 55g and it doesn't take up any more space in the home. LOL...Reef ready, does that mean you decided on coral instead of fish only?
 

buffin

New Member
Yes, I think I'm going to mix coral and fish rather than just go fish only. A few places I went to convinced me to go that route in case I want to add coral in the future. Now that I've gone and seen how amazing the tanks look with fish and coral, I want to have the option.
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by buffin
http:///forum/post/3299365
Yes, I think I'm going to mix coral and fish rather than just go fish only. A few places I went to convinced me to go that route in case I want to add coral in the future. Now that I've gone and seen how amazing the tanks look with fish and coral, I want to have the option.

I never had a reef ready tank...does that mean predrilled with holes already in it for a sump filter system???
 

buffin

New Member
It's just a tank set up with the overflow already drilled for a wet/dry filter system. It basically just eliminates the need for anything that hangs. What substrate should I use for a fish only? Do I need live sand, crushed coral...?
 

gemmy

Active Member
I prefer sand...cc can allow detritus to build up and cause fluctuating water parameters. Also, you would not be able to have any sand sifters.
 

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
For any marine tank play sand is fine and most definatly for a FO Tank.
I recommend you build your own wet dry. My wet dry is nothing more then a wastbasket with the bottom replaced by a plastic window screen. For filter material I use crushed oyster shells that cost $8/40 pounds. I rinse it out 2-3 time a year.
Again what will make or break you tank IMHO is macro algaes. I would use plastic storage containers with like a 30g for the refugiums and a smaller one for the sump. You will have to buy the return pumpe and that is expensive. And you still have to do the plumbing which you will have to do anyway. But it not all that hard to do and very rewarding.
Check with locals to see how they have theri system setup.
my .02
 

buffin

New Member
Thanks for the info Beaslbob, I may try and make my own wet/dry. It'll probably be months before I buy everything and actually have my tank up and running.
 
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