New Tank Suggestions

[mommafish]

Hey all! I have now researched so much I don't know what to think anymore. I know I want to start with a 55 gal. I want to start with a clownfish and a cleaner shrimp. I want live rock and would like to have something colorful growing in the aquarium.
I want the hood to be on the tank, not suspended from the ceiling due to small children and inquisitive cocker spaniel. I would like for the hood to have day and night lighting as late at night is when I like to watch my fish (I have two freshwater aquariums).
I am so confused as to filtration methods I don't know where to begin. My lfs has a filter/skimmer in one model that she recommends, but I haven't seen anything like that discussed here.
Also, I had planned on having sand with the LR, but I bought the "Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium" by Vincent B. Hargreaves and he says it is terrible to have sand unless you have an undergravel filter.
What would be your recommendations for a BASIC set-up to start with? I can't afford to buy everything all at once (Have about $600 to start) so would like to know a minimum start up while still "doing it right" and things I can add later on.

 

[dburr]

You need to know if you want FO (fish only) or a reef. Lighting will be expensive for a reef. But, you can always upgrade when your ready.
FO tank can use your basic lights that came with the tank. Something colorful growing in the tank could be some colorful fish or corals. Mushrooms would be ok under a couple of normal output lights, and thier are alot of colors to choose from.
The lighting times should be 12 hours. If you want to watch your tank until midnight, turn on the lights at noon. This also can be done with the help of them little timers at the hardware store.
What type of skimmer did they recommend? I don't use a skimmer but the brand someone will chime in to help. I do recommend that you get one when just starting out or a FO tank.
I don't know the book you mentioned but alot of people use sand. The big one most use is tropical play sand, it's pure aggronite sand, or live sand. The play sand is found at Home Depot. Some just use play sand which is more gray looking.
Undergravel filters are alittle outdated.
So, min. setup is tank and stand.
lights.
sand.
salt.
skimmer.
live rock
powerheads. (2) to move the water around.
Min. 300 GPH
heater. 150 watt
1 dead shrimp (for the cycle)
basic test kit.
I think thats it. After the cycle, fish and shrimp.
Good luck. Dan

 

[krowleey]

Dont let them talk you into a skilter those are crap.. just a heads up

 

[krux]

aye i was about to say, if it is a skilter, it would be about the biggest waste of money you buy.
if you are going to go non-sump, a remora pro runs around 200 dollars, and that will do just fine on a 55. you need to budget about 100 for the tank, about 50 for the stand, so you are at about 400.00
for starters, go with the standard light strips that will probably come with the tank. fish do no care how bright it is. plan to spend a good 300 to 400 dollars down the line if you want to start keeping light requisite corals.
your biggest expense now will be live rock. you can find package deals around for around 100 dollars for about 35-45 pounds. or maybe you have a lfs that sells live rock for around 3 dollars a pound. you do not need it to be pretty to get things going, you are looking for poundage.
so you are at about 450 dollars.
salt will run you about 20 bucks for your first 200 gallon bag. you will need to buy ro water from either the shop, or wallmart if you do not have a purifying unit in your house, that will be 10 bucks. plan on about 50 dollars for a saltwater test kit, 20 for a heater, 20 for a thermometer and a hydrometer, and a 30 dollar powerhead for more circulation and you are at 600.
ideally i would like to see a power filter on there, which will add chemical filtration, as well as give more water flow. a whisper style would work, pretty much the biggest they have, that is around 40 bucks. also it would be nice to add another powerhead, so you have one at each end for another 30. a 10 dollar timer to run your lights would be a necessity. if you can go to a home depot or lowes, you can find aragonite sand under a number of brand names for about 5 bucks a bag, 2 bags would be a good start, 4 or 6 would be better. then find a friend with an established tank and get some sand form them, just a couple cups to seed yours. so another 100 to 110 would be well spent money.
if i can give one piece of advice that should stand out, it would be do not skimp on the skimmer. if you buy a "budget" model, it will be in your trash bin in a couple weeks, and you will then be spending 200 on a skimmer again anyway, so save the money and learn from many many folks who tried to cut corners there.
finally, used equipment is good, ask around on the trading forum, people have hang on tank skimmers and filters for sale all the time, and you can usually save a bundle, assuming the person is ethical and sells you working stuff.
hth

 

[mommafish]

So is skilter a brand name? Or is that just what you call all products that are a skimmer & filter in one?

 

[sleasia]

for fo tanks I am currently having success using eheim wet dry filters using efhisubstrat (eheim's filter media) along with an undergravel filter (with 4 airlift tubes driven by air hoses) in two 55 gal saltwater fo tanks. I use a combo of crushed coral and pukka shells instead of sand. I had previously used sand and live rock for three years, and I had problems continually...but I have never sorted out whether the problems occurred because of this set up or because of boxfish poisioning which may have been occurring repeatedly....however, I do beleive eheims are great, and that my combo undergravel and eheim are working very well....You shouldn't really use an undergravel filter with sand or it will get sucked through and clogg up the circulation. However if you want a reef tank you probably have to use sand and live rock and then go to a trickle filter with a sump and protein skimmer.