Newbie to the forum - need advise on setting up my first 55 Gallon Reef Tank with Fish

cstickman

cstickman

New Member
Hello all -
My girlfriend and I decided it was time to start our own Saltwater tank. We have kept many great fresh water tanks and now we are ready to set up our first saltwater tank. We have been to many pet stores and we were going to go with a nano cube to start, but was pushed away from them from all the pet stores. So we did some reading and bigger is better for a beginner. So we picked out a nice glass tank with stand. We have the best place to put it in our house. It stays constant in temperatures around that area. My question is after reading some books and speaking with numerous people is where do I go after the tank is picked out? I see all these pumps, skimmers, filtrations and lighting and no clue as where to go next. What are all the things I need for a coral reef system with some fish? What size pumps do I need for the water flow for the corals? I know I want to do live sand and rock. So any help and advise would be greatly appreciated and I will post pictures as we start to set it up and what we are doing. Thanks
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by cstickman http:///t/387834/newbie-to-the-forum-need-advise-on-setting-up-my-first-55-gallon-reef-tank-with-fish#post_3415497
Hello all -
My girlfriend and I decided it was time to start our own Saltwater tank. We have kept many great fresh water tanks and now we are ready to set up our first saltwater tank. We have been to many pet stores and we were going to go with a nano cube to start, but was pushed away from them from all the pet stores. So we did some reading and bigger is better for a beginner. So we picked out a nice glass tank with stand. We have the best place to put it in our house. It stays constant in temperatures around that area. My question is after reading some books and speaking with numerous people is where do I go after the tank is picked out? I see all these pumps, skimmers, filtrations and lighting and no clue as where to go next. What are all the things I need for a coral reef system with some fish? What size pumps do I need for the water flow for the corals? I know I want to do live sand and rock. So any help and advise would be greatly appreciated and I will post pictures as we start to set it up and what we are doing. Thanks
Welcome to the site.
If you are going with coral, get the strongest lights you can afford. The easiest to maintain is a sump filtration system, but any will do...HOB, canister filters are all fine.. You will need power heads to create a current, the waves are the life of the ocean and you SW tank.
At the top of new Hobbyists forum is a post called 101 tips, read through that for getting started. For sand get Aragonite not crushed coral.
 
klobianco12

klobianco12

New Member
i have a 55gal sw tank to n, im still building , one tip is i wouldnt go with crushed coral they are bad bc they build so much algae on it i have black sand and i been fine no algae at alll.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by cstickman http:///t/387834/newbie-to-the-forum-need-advise-on-setting-up-my-first-55-gallon-reef-tank-with-fish#post_3415497
Hello all -
My girlfriend and I decided it was time to start our own Saltwater tank. We have kept many great fresh water tanks and now we are ready to set up our first saltwater tank. We have been to many pet stores and we were going to go with a nano cube to start, but was pushed away from them from all the pet stores. So we did some reading and bigger is better for a beginner. So we picked out a nice glass tank with stand. We have the best place to put it in our house. It stays constant in temperatures around that area. My question is after reading some books and speaking with numerous people is where do I go after the tank is picked out? I see all these pumps, skimmers, filtrations and lighting and no clue as where to go next. What are all the things I need for a coral reef system with some fish? What size pumps do I need for the water flow for the corals? I know I want to do live sand and rock. So any help and advise would be greatly appreciated and I will post pictures as we start to set it up and what we are doing. Thanks
You look like you are on the right track so far... you are VERY smart for doing a lot of research before you go any further.... we are here to help you out... I will give more help and advice when I have more time... hopefully tomorrow.
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
Hello and welcome to the site. glad to read that your choosing corals. I have a 56 gallon and it too is a reef. The only advice i feel I can give you now is to start cycling your system. While the tank is begininng the cycle you can start with the questions and investigating which lights and skimmers you want to go with. With that said here are some links I believe will assist you getting started.
Congrats on your new little piece of Ocean!
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/386044/let-s-talk-about-cycling
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by klobianco12 http:///t/387834/newbie-to-the-forum-need-advise-on-setting-up-my-first-55-gallon-reef-tank-with-fish#post_3415526
i have a 55gal sw tank to n, im still building , one tip is i wouldnt go with crushed coral they are bad bc they build so much algae on it i have black sand and i been fine no algae at alll.
What makes crushed coral so bad? I've used it in many tanks successfully. You just have to gravel vac it every month. Granted it's not good for certain snails, starfish or other inverts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/387834/newbie-to-the-forum-need-advise-on-setting-up-my-first-55-gallon-reef-tank-with-fish#post_3415498
Welcome to the site.
For sand get Aragonite not crushed coral.
What's all this stay away from blah blah blah? It depends on his and her application and what they specifically want to keep and what kind of maintenance routine they like.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiefers http:///t/387834/newbie-to-the-forum-need-advise-on-setting-up-my-first-55-gallon-reef-tank-with-fish#post_3415564
Hello and welcome to the site. glad to read that your choosing corals. I have a 56 gallon and it too is a reef. The only advice i feel I can give you now is to start cycling your system. While the tank is begininng the cycle you can start with the questions and investigating which lights and skimmers you want to go with. With that said here are some links I believe will assist you getting started.
Congrats on your new little piece of Ocean!
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/386044/let-s-talk-about-cycling
Why do they have to have a skimmer? Why can't they go skimmerless or have an algae scrubber?
The point is there are many different ways to set up a successful reef tank. Don't be lead on to believe that one way is better than the other. There are many options and you need to do some research to know what you want to keep before you can buy stuff to set up your system.
Most people start with a fish only with live rock tank, and they buy reef safe fish and gradually add on and change things around to meet their needs. Put together a list of fish, corals and inverts that you would like to keep, then post a thread about your tank size and your chosen livestock and then we can help you weed out the ones that won't work and then help you put together an equipment list and time frame to add everything. Also, while you are in the process, make a tank budget so you know your limits and timeframes.
Welcome to the forums! Happy reefing/researching!
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
Well, good evening to you too Snake lol.... I don't believe my post said to do one thing over the other, marely to research and ask questions while the tank is cycling. then the OP can decide what they want to shoot for. sorry tho if it came across the web as sounding as such.... Lol...
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Naa. I'm just sayin' it can be done a ton of different ways, and it's really up to the OP to make the best decisions for their tank. The way you worded it, it made it sound like a protein skimmer was an absolute necessity.
Read some good books if you can.
Here's a link to some:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/387791/books-for-new-to-advanced-aquarists
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/387834/newbie-to-the-forum-need-advise-on-setting-up-my-first-55-gallon-reef-tank-with-fish#post_3415607
Naa. I'm just sayin' it can be done a ton of different ways, and it's really up to the OP to make the best decisions for their tank. The way you worded it, it made it sound like a protein skimmer was an absolute necessity.
Read some good books if you can.
Here's a link to some:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/387791/books-for-new-to-advanced-aquarists
Was replying to the original post about skimmers. Lol.... I can see where that got misconstrued.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
There are a couple of big drawbacks to using an algae scrubber. The first two being the biggest and why I don't use one. The last two on the list are from observations made from reading other posts on the subject.
1. You have to make it yourself
2. It must be cleaned every week without fail
3. It takes up space in the stand and sump
4. They make noise, and splash createing salt creep
On my 90g I run an Aquaripure filter and a phosphate reactor. I never have to do anything with the nitrate filter except inject 8 to 4ml of vodka once a week and replace the phosphate beads once a month. My system is more expensive but much more maintenance free. I run my skimmer because I have it, the Aquaripure guy says I don't need it....but I overfeed my corals....I turn off the skimmer 24 hours to let the corals feed then I turn it back on to get the extra food out...2Xs a week.
In this hobby there are so many ways to accoplish the same thing. I had no phosphates or nitrates when I ran my 30g sea horse tank with nothing but a skimmer in the sump, and macroalgae in the display tank and refugium. Algae got out of hand in the tank, I had put nutrients mixed in the sand to feed the macro and sea grass....LOL...I do not recomend doing this and I won't ever do it again. I have some very healthy happy sea horses and macros but my once beautiful tank now looks like an algae factory. I am doing another 56g column tank, and I will set it up like the 90g and put my sea horses in that, and break down the 30g.
Oh and I upped the magnesium, and got rid of the hair algae in the 30g in case anyone needs a cure for this stuff...that's one solution. With the nutrients I had in the tank for macos, daily water changes and plucking had no affect. The Seachem magnesium test kit runs $40.00...DO NOT DOSE WHAT YOU CAN'T TEST FOR. My salt mix had magnesium at 1350 I upped it over time to 1600. This is a sea horse tank and to date they seem just fine, eating like little piggies and acting normal. My peppermint shrimp also seem fine, so if these sensitive creatures show no ill affects then I will call it safe enough to do.
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
Welcome to the site, as you can already read there is a lot of knowledgeable people on this site all having setups that are doing fine, all different ways. So my advise is to read everything you can get your eyes on make up your mind on how you want to set up your system, then make changes as you. And the best advise I will give you is take it slow, speed kills fish.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Reading is a must here.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/301033/101-tips-to-beginning-and-maintaining-a-saltwater-aquarium
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/264597/a-list-of-extremely-helpful-threads-for-all-hobbyists
And I have a real interest in the the thread Kiefers posted. Thanx Kief!!
/
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
my 2 cents.the best set up is a mature tank.keep the bioload to a minimum for the first 6-12 months.i dont use any mechanical filters.although i would suggest a hob for the first 6 months then lose it.as long as you have plenty of live rock and flow.time will let nature do its thing.the worst thing you can do is over stock a new tank.
and welcome to the site glad you found us.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by deejeff442 http:///t/387834/newbie-to-the-forum-need-advise-on-setting-up-my-first-55-gallon-reef-tank-with-fish#post_3416191
my 2 cents.the best set up is a mature tank.keep the bioload to a minimum for the first 6-12 months.i dont use any mechanical filters.although i would suggest a hob for the first 6 months then lose it.as long as you have plenty of live rock and flow.time will let nature do its thing.the worst thing you can do is over stock a new tank.
and welcome to the site glad you found us.
...This from a man with a 400+ tank he is building a house around...so your idea of a mini tanks is what??? 55g?
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
lol its more like 500 +
baby steps. my idea of a perfect tank size wheather just starting or long term is still a 90 gallon.i had mine running for over 15 years .super easy to get to anything in the tank ,easy to add a sump under it,plenty of room for alot of fish and corals.yep 90 gallon.when the house is built i get my 90 back from my wife.she has other plans for the turtles.it has 2 175watt mh lights so i plan a sweet frag/coral qt for it in the fish room.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by deejeff442 http:///t/387834/newbie-to-the-forum-need-advise-on-setting-up-my-first-55-gallon-reef-tank-with-fish#post_3416212
lol its more like 500 +
baby steps. my idea of a perfect tank size wheather just starting or long term is still a 90 gallon.i had mine running for over 15 years .super easy to get to anything in the tank ,easy to add a sump under it,plenty of room for alot of fish and corals.yep 90 gallon.when the house is built i get my 90 back from my wife.she has other plans for the turtles.it has 2 175watt mh lights so i plan a sweet frag/coral qt for it in the fish room.
LOL....500g is a 400+ tank.... So a mini to you is a 90g not a 55g??? OOpSY
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
it just seems like a 55 is too skinny to put rock in .i have a 55 in storage along with a 120 .the 120 is an odd shape tank like a 55 is.
if i knew when i started and was going to spend the money to do this hobby i would have started with a 90.my first was a 45.
 
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