J
jbannas
Guest
All-
I am starting my first salt water aquarium after numerous fresh water set ups in the past. I have a 50G acrylic with stand and canopy. It came with an overflow box in the back right corner, 3/4" holes drilled in the top of the tank to push water from the sump or wet/dry, 2 customsealife ballasts (2X28W), 2 power filters, refractometer, test kit, etc. Basically I'm looking for help with the rest of the set up while understanding that I will be setting this up mainly as a fish set up with a couple of corals using at least 50 lbs of live rock and live substrate. (wet/dry filter, sump, pump, plumbing, and lighting)
1) Wet/Dry Filter
[hr]
Is this a necessity since I'm mainly going for a fish set up? After visiting a LFS numerous times they have tried to talk me into a $200 wet/dry filter, but I am wondering if I can just go with a sump/tub with a protein skimmer instead. (Or maybe add some sort of filtration instead of buying a manufactured wet/dry...any thoughts?)
If I go with a wet/dry filter then I would probably add a protein skimmer later in the tank's development.
2) Sump
[hr]
Instead of a wet/dry could I just turn another aquarium or new tub into a sump with a protein skimmer? (Or is a wet/dry necessary due to increase waste produced by fish?)
I'm basically trying to figure out if I need a wet/dry because I don't want to spend all that money on a wet/dry and then later (year or two) when I upgrade to a full reef I'd have to dispose of the bio balls which would basically turn the wet/dry into a sump.
3) Pump
[hr]
Whether or not I go with a wet/dry filter what sort of pump do people recommend to push the water back into the main tank?
The local LFS tried to talk me into a nice Titan (or something) $200 external pump because he said the internal pumps deteriorate over time due to being in the salt water. If I go with the external pump then I'll also have to purchase about $40 worth of other accessories (valves, etc). Is this worth it rather than going with a $40-$60 internal Rio? (or other internal pump?)
4) Plumbing
[hr]
Is it worth the extra money and hastle to build the PCV plumbing with spray heads (filter type) that fit through the 3/4" holes in the top of the tank rather than just having the hose from the sump dump into one of the holes in the top of the tank. (so the question here is spend time and money on nice spray system versus a simple run out of the tube set up? Obviously the spray system is better for circulation)
5) Lighting
[hr]
Are 4 28W Compact lights enough for this 50 G set up? I already have 2 Customsealife ballasts (2 X 28W) and was thinking of 2 28W Atnic and 2 28W 10000 Compact lights.
Any and all information will be greatly appreciated as I'm very curious to hear other people's opinions. I am trying to keep this within my budget (which is looking to be impossible!), but I would also rather get the right equipment up front so I don't have to worry about upgrading at a later date. This is something that I'm very passionate about and would greatly appreciate any help!!!
Thanks in advance,
Jarrad
I am starting my first salt water aquarium after numerous fresh water set ups in the past. I have a 50G acrylic with stand and canopy. It came with an overflow box in the back right corner, 3/4" holes drilled in the top of the tank to push water from the sump or wet/dry, 2 customsealife ballasts (2X28W), 2 power filters, refractometer, test kit, etc. Basically I'm looking for help with the rest of the set up while understanding that I will be setting this up mainly as a fish set up with a couple of corals using at least 50 lbs of live rock and live substrate. (wet/dry filter, sump, pump, plumbing, and lighting)
1) Wet/Dry Filter
[hr]
Is this a necessity since I'm mainly going for a fish set up? After visiting a LFS numerous times they have tried to talk me into a $200 wet/dry filter, but I am wondering if I can just go with a sump/tub with a protein skimmer instead. (Or maybe add some sort of filtration instead of buying a manufactured wet/dry...any thoughts?)
If I go with a wet/dry filter then I would probably add a protein skimmer later in the tank's development.
2) Sump
[hr]
Instead of a wet/dry could I just turn another aquarium or new tub into a sump with a protein skimmer? (Or is a wet/dry necessary due to increase waste produced by fish?)
I'm basically trying to figure out if I need a wet/dry because I don't want to spend all that money on a wet/dry and then later (year or two) when I upgrade to a full reef I'd have to dispose of the bio balls which would basically turn the wet/dry into a sump.
3) Pump
[hr]
Whether or not I go with a wet/dry filter what sort of pump do people recommend to push the water back into the main tank?
The local LFS tried to talk me into a nice Titan (or something) $200 external pump because he said the internal pumps deteriorate over time due to being in the salt water. If I go with the external pump then I'll also have to purchase about $40 worth of other accessories (valves, etc). Is this worth it rather than going with a $40-$60 internal Rio? (or other internal pump?)
4) Plumbing
[hr]
Is it worth the extra money and hastle to build the PCV plumbing with spray heads (filter type) that fit through the 3/4" holes in the top of the tank rather than just having the hose from the sump dump into one of the holes in the top of the tank. (so the question here is spend time and money on nice spray system versus a simple run out of the tube set up? Obviously the spray system is better for circulation)
5) Lighting
[hr]
Are 4 28W Compact lights enough for this 50 G set up? I already have 2 Customsealife ballasts (2 X 28W) and was thinking of 2 28W Atnic and 2 28W 10000 Compact lights.
Any and all information will be greatly appreciated as I'm very curious to hear other people's opinions. I am trying to keep this within my budget (which is looking to be impossible!), but I would also rather get the right equipment up front so I don't have to worry about upgrading at a later date. This is something that I'm very passionate about and would greatly appreciate any help!!!
Thanks in advance,
Jarrad