Beginner 55 gallon tank

[anoa]

Im new to saltwater aquariums, well any aquarium really. I wanna know if I’m doing the right things.
I have a 55 gallon tank with live sand, live rock, heater, 3 power heads, 2 lights, a sump (refugium with bio filter and macro algae, skimmer). I just started a few days ago and I just put a couple of clownfish in yesterday. What I want to know is if this is good? And if anyone has any tips that can point me in the right direction.

 

[Fish Styx]

Welcome to the addiction. You'll find a wealth of information here and lots of members to help guide you along the way. First, your system is only a few days old and not ready for livestock of any kind. You want to cycle your system until your ammonia and nitrite are undetectable and you start to show nitrates. While clownfish are in the damsel family, and generally hardy, the ammonia spikes in a new, uncycled system could prove fatal. The live rock and sand should shorten your cycle time a bit. I would add some bottled bacteria ASAP. Your equipment sounds fine. I would add a second heater for redundancy and run them from a controller. Are you familiar with basic SW aquarium chemistry (i.e. the nitrogen cycle?) Do you have a test kit?

 

[kukawskim80]

Im new to saltwater aquariums, well any aquarium really. I wanna know if I’m doing the right things.
I have a 55 gallon tank with live sand, live rock, heater, 3 power heads, 2 lights, a sump (refugium with bio filter and macro algae, skimmer). I just started a few days ago and I just put a couple of clownfish in yesterday. What I want to know is if this is good? And if anyone has any tips that can point me in the right direction.

I wouldn’t add coral until your ugly is done and over with. Usually occurs within the first 6-12months

 

[kukawskim80]

I wouldn’t add coral until your ugly is done and over with. Usually occurs within the first 6-12months

Phrase

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

The question is unusually framed, so yes you appear to have the fundamental equipment but I suspect what you’re asking is how do I use this equipment to get best results?

To get the best advice from this post could you provide a pic of display and sump and information on your lighting intensity and schedule?

 

[dedragon]

Welcome

Pictures would help, but at least as far as basic equipment needed it seems correct. I always add a heater controller and 2 heaters now just incase 1 heater fails (which is gonna happen over time). I would also add a rodi filter as transporting water for a fish tank is very annoying and good starting water is key to success in a reef tank.

 

[dstockwell]

Welcome to the Reef

You may have gotten way ahead of yourself if it’s only been a few days. Did you use ocean rock and sand or the stuff called live but really isn’t.

What size powerheads, I have two Jebao SOW-8 I’m my 55 and can’t run them past 1/2 way. With such a new tank no need to run skimmer with no bacteria. Corals you really need to take time, but if the rock and sand are truly live, then things could be different.

 

[anoa]

Im new to saltwater aquariums, well any aquarium really. I wanna know if I’m doing the right things.
I have a 55 gallon tank with live sand, live rock, heater, 3 power heads, 2 lights, a sump (refugium with bio filter and macro algae, skimmer). I just started a few days ago and I just put a couple of clownfish in yesterday. What I want to know is if this is good? And if anyone has any tips that can point me in the right direction.

The question is unusually framed, so yes you appear to have the fundamental equipment but I suspect what you’re asking is how do I use this equipment to get best results?

To get the best advice from this post could you provide a pic of display and sump and information on your lighting intensity and schedule?

I’m running my tank lights at 30% intensity during the day for about 8 hours. My sump light during the night for about 8 hours as well.

 

[anoa]

Welcome to the Reef

You may have gotten way ahead of yourself if it’s only been a few days. Did you use ocean rock and sand or the stuff called live but really isn’t.

What size powerheads, I have two Jebao SOW-8 I’m my 55 and can’t run them past 1/2 way. With such a new tank no need to run skimmer with no bacteria. Corals you really need to take time, but if the rock and sand are truly live, then things could be different.

 

[anoa]

I added turbo start to it last week when I set it up and I’ve been adding Microbacter, a capful each day for the past couple days. I e got live rock and sand and put a few rocks and shells from the beach

 

[anoa]

Welcome

Pictures would help, but at least as far as basic equipment needed it seems correct. I always add a heater controller and 2 heaters now just incase 1 heater fails (which is gonna happen over time). I would also add a rodi filter as transporting water for a fish tank is very annoying and good starting water is key to success in a reef tank.

Was thinking about adding another heater to the sump. Also bought an RO/DI 6 stage filter (needed that much filtration because my areas water was really contaminated)

 

[Blake509]

I added turbo start to it last week when I set it up and I’ve been adding Microbacter, a capful each day for the past couple days. I e got live rock and sand and put a few rocks and shells from the beach

Your fine with what you did for cycling don't let them jump down your neck be cautious of hitchhikers tho

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

Thanks for the pics, your ‘scape looks nice too. I see you’re running AI Primes, 30% intensity is ok, looks like you’re running mainly the blues and violet? I wouldn’t push past 30% for a while yet.

Now is a good time to pause for a while, get your maintenance routine dialled in and just watch how things develop. Testing your parameters is useful but don’t obsess over imperfect numbers, observation is equally as important. A quick scan of the ‘new to’ threads here will show the consequences of overreacting to commonplace events in new systems.

Have you got your heater in the display?

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

Also, is that maricultured or direct from ocean live rock or Caribsea Life Rock purchased dry?

 

[Bj’s Reef]

Welcome to the addiction. Just remember nothing good happens fast in this hobby.