Shopping list for a 55gal Reef tank.

[dsatula78]

I wanted to say hello to you all first. I have been lurking this site for some time now and wanted to say that you guy's don't have to help nub's like me out but you do take the time to do it. Thank you.
Now that the buttering up is over and done with here is my question.
Can you please help me out with a shopping list for a 55 gal reef tank?
I know that i'm going to need 1.5lbs- 2 lbs of live rock
SWF has a calc for sand but what really is a good depth for a nub (been reading the debates on DSB or not only confused me)
what is a good light at a reasonable price? (T5's and brand or what?)
what is a good brand refugium and size? in sump skimmer for it? and pump?
The other stuff as salt, heater, refract, thermometer, test kits I think i know to get.
If I'm forgetting anything please feel free.
Thank you very much inadvance.

 

[keebler]

Hello, it's nice to meet you. Yes, there are a lot of helpful people on this forum, but Sundays aren't very good days for questions. So sorry it took so long. I think it's great that you are getting a sump/fuge. Thats something most nubes don't even consider, but it is a great thing to have when you start out. You can order a sump/fuge or make your own. It isn't very hard to do, some people even use tubs for refugiums. Since you are making it a reef, you should have either t5s or metal halides. Your lighting depends on what you want to keep in the tank. Another thing to consider is that you don't necessarily need all that live rock, you can get some live and some base. Eventually the live rock will seed the base rock and it will all be live rock. We use live rock because basically it is porous and nitrate consuming bacteria can live in it. The nitrogen cycle is composed of three different types of bacteria. When there is waste, it breaks down into ammonia and one type of bacteria converts it into nitrite, then another type converts nitrite it into nitrate, then another type converts nitrate into nitrogen. The thing is, the ammonia and nitrite converting bacteria are aerobic, which means they need oxygen to live and the nitrate bacteria is anaerobic, which means they can't live with oxygen. So, the live rock and dsb is a place free of oxygen where the bacteria live and remove nitrates. If you are going to have a refugium, you probably won't need a dsb, but if you want one, go for it. As far as skimmers go, I like octopus because in my opinion it gives you the best bang for you buck. I rarely see someone complain about octos, but skimmers like seaclone are very disliked. Do you have anything yet? If you don't, get a drilled tank. Otherwise, you will have to make or buy an overflow. You will also need to get your hands on an ro unit, or some ro water. Tap water can sometimes be okay for fowlr or fo, if it is of good quality, but for a reef, ro or ro/di is best. Get whatever depth of sand you feel comfortable with, if you want burrowing animals, get a little bit deepter sand. Some people go bare bottom, but I don't recommend that. What animals have you been looking at? I've got as many questions as I have answers. Just have fun with it and ask as many questions as you need to.

 

[dsatula78]

I got a ro/di unit off of ----.... and that is all so far.
I'm still trying to make my shopping list to go and price out stuff.
I just want to see what people recommend cause like lights I was thinking t5's cause They don't heat up as much and a little cheaper. If I get half way decent with this I'll probally upgrade in the future. I am still reading a lot and learning (AKA getting confused

). I just don't know what is good to get and what to stay away from. Thank you Keebler suggesting an octopus skimmer, that is just what i'm lookin for and Thanks I'm going to check them out ty ty.

 

[keebler]

You're doing great so far. Just keep at it. If you do get t5s, get ones with individual reflectors. They aren't as good as metal halides, but you can still keep a wide variety of corals under them, and of course when you do get some experience under your belt and want to try some harder to keep corals or clams, you can upgrade your lighting. I really recommend asking about things before you buy them, it will save you a lot of money. Have you read up on quarantine tanks yet?

 

[nordy]

Welcome to the Boards!
I have a 55gal reef tank and I bought the Nova Extreme Pro 6 x 54W and it's a great light-no problem keeping SPS, anenomes, any other coral. Shop around for this one-it is sold by a lot of retailers and prices can really vary. It has "individual" reflectors and it seems like a quality fixture-the only drawback I have found is that the tank support brackets are kinda flimsy but are cheap and easy to replace when needed. T5's are cheaper than MH (that's why I got a T5 fixture) and if you get the right one, you won't have to upgrade later-6 watts/gallon is sufficient for just about anything. I do not have any experience w/MH though.
One thing I strongly recommend as a general principle, is get the best up front and don't get something lesser, thinking that you can just upgrade later. Not that you can't go that way, but it's way more expensive in the long run to buy several iterations of equipment as your needs change.
On sand beds, I suggest starting with sand and not CC as I did. The stuff is nasty and it's a mess to changeout down the road. Suggest going with 1 to 1.5 inch sand bed.
On skimmers, yeah I know that the Seaclone skimmers are "disliked" but my personal experience with the 150 model is that it works, and works well in consistently producing a lot of dark concentrated skimmate. It does require regular maintenance including disassembilng and cleaning, but if you do maintain it it should work well for you. I sometimes feel like I am the Seaclone Defender here on SWF.com, but really am just sharing my personal experience over about 3 years using one.

 

[dsatula78]

Thanks again Keebler and yes I did read on them and figure to go with like a 10 gal tank with a corner bubbler filter for a Q-tank.
Nordy does that fixture have night time viewing lights?

 

[nordy]

Originally Posted by dsatula78
http:///forum/post/2765514
Thanks again Keebler and yes I did read on them and figure to go with like a 10 gal tank with a corner bubbler filter for a Q-tank.
Nordy does that fixture have night time viewing lights?

The Nova Extreme only has actinics and 10K lamps, each controlled separately, but no night viewing lights.

 

[mch2o]

hey I have a odyssea 52 inch with 2x t5, 2 x175 HM watt hqi, and 6xbluemoons led for night time on my light fixture and it works great. one thing u got to remember is u cant go cheap on the HM's. I am about to buy 2 High end Raidum 175 for mine and they will run like 250 wattsbut cost me less on my electrict bill too.

 

[cdubbs]

I think ur doing great so far...i think the biggest thing that i overlooked the whole time i have had SW was the RODI. I have had FOWLR for years using nyc tap water with no problems...but once i tried to get into reef i noticed the difference. So good job with the rodi.

 

[markandkri]

i love euro reef skimmers myself the rs80 is a good one.
as others have mentioned the ind. reflectors are best.
and ive seen people keep sps under the 6 bulb units