Starting up a 55g saltwater fish tank

novass

novass

Member
Hi, I have own a few 55g fw tanks for years. Im looking to try something new. Ive been reading and reading for about a few months now. I dont want to do a reef tank right now, but I want a sw fish tank. I have the tank and stand new. the stand is big enough for a 10 gallon sump to go under it. Im torn between a sump or a hang on skimmer and canister filter or doing a sump with a skimmer in it. What I have now when I bought the kit is 55g Tank not drilled,stand, topfin 74 pump/filter,"petstore said it will work on a saltwater tank", heater and led lights. I plan to use live sand and maybe boil rocks from my local springs and insert into the tank if it would be ok. I was thinking of getting a ***** powerhead for now. I plan to let the tank cycle for at least a month before I add fish.
10 gallon sump vs canister filter vs aquaripure nitrate filter?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by NovaSS http:///t/395758/starting-up-a-55g-saltwater-fish-tank#post_3524284
Hi, I have own a few 55g fw tanks for years. Im looking to try something new. Ive been reading and reading for about a few months now. I dont want to do a reef tank right now, but I want a sw fish tank. I have the tank and stand new. the stand is big enough for a 10 gallon sump to go under it. Im torn between a sump or a hang on skimmer and canister filter or doing a sump with a skimmer in it. What I have now when I bought the kit is 55g Tank not drilled,stand, topfin 74 pump/filter,"petstore said it will work on a saltwater tank", heater and led lights. I plan to use live sand and maybe boil rocks from my local springs and insert into the tank if it would be ok. I was thinking of getting a ***** powerhead for now. I plan to let the tank cycle for at least a month before I add fish.
10 gallon sump vs canister filter vs aquaripure nitrate filter?
Hi, and welcome to the site!!!
I have used, canisters, HOB, and the sump over the years, and I have an Aquaripure filter on each tank as well.
The Aquaripure filter is used along with whatever filter you decide on, it is not a must have gizmo...but I love mine. it's the only equipment I got for high nitrates that actually works as advertised. I have found that a drilled tank is best with a sump system. I used the CPR overflow, and it's a pain in the backside to keep that lifter pump going. I even used the pre-filter gizmo. So I removed the sump system on my 56g and went with a HOB because it's so easy to swap media, and I have a ton of macroalgae which means I don't really worry much with the filter thing. Before that, I always used a canister filter...for about oh, 25 years give or take a few. I kept freshwater tanks back then, and used a canister for at least 8 years on my 90g SW reef. The 90g still has the CPR overflow and sump system...and the Aquarpure running as well.
Here's the thing...it costs big bucks to upgrade lights for corals later on. I suggest you get the lights you want up front....or....Get the T5HO linkable lights, get one and add your fish, T5's make the SW fish colors pop better then regular fish lights. Then later when you are ready for some soft corals, it won't cost you an arm, leg and a couple of teeth to upgrade. Add the 3rd light if you want an anemone.
If you know you want corals straight up...spend the cash for the best lights you can get. Metal halides or LEDs are what you will want to look for.
Actually I changed mine to the T5HO linkable lights, I have a 2 x175w with 2 x 96w actinic sitting in my garage. It is 48 inches, and fits a 55g, 75g or the 90g tanks. You can have it for free, if you want to come get it...it's too heavy for me to try and box it up to ship. It's a Coralife Elite with the ballasts. I keep seahorses now, and stopped keeping corals. I used that light on my 90g reef before I changed it up for the potbelly seahorses. I had the 3 linkable lights on the reef as well for about 4 months...it's was pretty strong, and my corals seemed happy enough, but I didn't have an anemone or SPS coral.
 
novass

novass

Member
Thanks for all the info, I just bought all the stuff to make a sump 10 gallon tank a sheet of glass and silicone. But after reading your post im thinking about taking it back and just getting the marineland 220 canister filter. because it just looks like its going to cost a lot more to run this 10g sump then to run a canister filter.
here is the plan I had if I still build the sump. How often would I need to change the filters in the marineland 220 and do I have to buy new filters everytime or can the be rinsed and reused.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
The sump actually is much cheaper in the long run. Just have the tank drilled at a glass shop. I wouldn't recommend the CPR with the lifter pump. However the sump is the better system. You can hide your equipment, the in sump skimmers are head and shoulder above any HOB type, and the ability to have a section held back for a refugium is great. It's a new tank...have it drilled.
 
novass

novass

Member
It has a sticker in the bottom of the tank. I just looked to make sure it says all sides are tempered
 
novass

novass

Member
I finally got a new plan for now. I ordered the marineland c-360 it for a 100 gallon but I got it for the same price I would have paid at the store for the 220. Im also going to run a small hang on back refugium. Im also going to get a hob coralife skimmer, I was told I could run a over flow hose from the skimmer to the hob refugium. Just in case the skimmer ever overflows Is this right?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top