new reef question...

[snowboarding69]

I've had a salt water tank before but never tried a reef tank. I am getting a standard 55Gal tank but am not sure as to what pumps filters i need. Does anyone use the Fluval canister filters, the 304 model would work for a 55 Gal tank. Also how good of a protein skimmer do I need. I know they are expensive but how much should I spend to get a good one? From reading, it looks like you just need to keep the tank levels stable, pH, alkline, calcuim, salt, temp.... Im also not sure what kind of lights to use. I see people use the VHO lights and possible 2 red with 1 blue combination of these. I think i need 2 or 3 powerheads to circulate the water and live rock/sand. Can I buy regular sand and just cover the top couple inches with live sand? Or how much live sand/rock should I start with? I would like to get all types of corals once the system is stable so any help would be great!

 

[david s]

snow as far as a filter your live rock would be your filter I would start with at least 1lb per gal then you can allways add more if you find some good cured stuff next to set it up there are many ways sump /no sump the way I did my tank because of my wallet was I started with powerheads no sump with a berlin hang on skimmer then later I got a sump and a overflow and put the skimmer in the sump. as far as deep sand bed go at least 3 inches deep maybe more of reef sand not playsand the sand matters alot then you could seed it with 10lbs of live sand . powerheads I recomend maxijet 1200"s
as far as lights do alot of research with a 55 were it is not a deep tank you could go vho but I bet within a year you will upgrade to metal halied and for color go 10k with 7100 atinic (blue)

 

[msb27]

If you can, get a standard 75 gal instead. With a 55 gal. you are very very limited on the size under the tank( sump size). The only thing that I could get under there that would hold any amount of water was a 15 gallon high wich is pretty pricey. Since I have built an acrillic sump(20 gallon). The 75 gives you more options. I learned the hard way.
scott

 

[mlm]

I also agree with getting a 75 over a 55. Not only can you not put anything under it it is hard to arrange the live rock due to being so thin from front to back.

 

[newsaltyman]

forget the canister.......it tends to be a nitrate factory in a reef tank....unless you take out all the media..and use it for only circulation...then go ahead with the canister.........lots of live rocks....dsb....and a really good skimmer is all u need

 

[arkman]

Do a DSB and a good protein skimmer need to go together?

 

[fshhub]

No, but work outstanding as a team.
If you are asking to have a skimmer and no dsb, ok
But if you are looking to have a dsb and no skimmer, I would reccommend not to. A skimmer is a great tool and you would be wise to have one. In a new aquarium for a beginner, I would definitely have a skimmer, at least until you learn and your DSB starts working well.
HTH

 

[arkman]

ok...what a bout with a refugium? I'm under the impression that the skimmer would pull refugium "food"/nutirients out of the water?

 

[fshhub]

I f you plan on going skimmerless, then i would defintely go with a refugium. a skimmer to start would not hurt, until it all gets workign together. And yes it would pull nutrients, but unless you have 0 nitrates I would not worry about it being an issue to be concerned with.

 

[arkman]

I plan on going with a refugium. Still not sure about DSB in main tank (will use miracle mud in refugium). NO plenums. questioning skimmer...
in the meantime I still ned to buy a stand before I can even set up the tank in the house

 

[fshhub]

All sounds good, but I would not discredit the skimmer, esp in the beginning year(give or take). Then go from there if youwish ot remove it after it is all established and working well. Until then I would skim.(not actually based upon time, but experience and the tanks abilities to maitain itself. You will feel it out, if you intend ot go skimmerless)

 

[snowboarding69]

Thanks for all the help but a couple more questions... David S, how many watts of lighting (VHO or MH) would you recommend for the 55 Gal tank. I would go with a 75 Gal but that is getting really big and will be hard to move. I all ready have a 45 Gal that will just be fish, no reef, so another 55 Gal would be nice. I think I read somewhere that you dont want to use a skimmer for the first couple months while the tank is stabilizing. ***** has a couple different skimmers, and 2 are about $100 apart, which one do u think would be best from this link?
http://www.petsmart.com/servlet/pets...rotein+skimmer
Thanks!
Scott