General advice for 55G start up please

[antsbumblebee]

Hellooooo there I'm just about to start up my 55G tank and I'm looking for some just some basic general tips, comments and feedback from people who actually know what they're doing I could spend forever searching through all the threads but I figure its probably much more simple to just kind of put this out there and hope you'll be kind enough to share your good advice with me!
Some not so general questions I have concern like how do you know figure out if you're overpopulating your tank with combined aspects of anemones, coral, fish and shrimp for example or would that be too much going on for my size tank? How often do you guys typically do half/10% (or whatever amount) water changes? Are the little vacuum cleaner type things a good investment? What testing equipment do you prefer?

I know these questions are a bit all over but they're questions that I want to know prior to set up 1 to avoid irritating the people at my local aquarium and be slightly educated when I start purchasing the other set up bits and 2 to just get some feedback from real people

Thanks so much!

 

[mfief]

I have only been in the hobby for 4 months but I started with a 55 gal as well. I have regretted it since the moment I tried to aqua scape. If you can find a 75 gal go that route the extra 6 inches will help out a lot. If you are starting with a used tank I would recommend starting with a fresh sand bed. Every time I vacuum mine everything in the tank acts a little out of whack. I bought a tank that was running as a Fish only with live rock and converted it to a reef.

Get a refractor ever over a hydrometer. The little air bubbles will cause false readings. Do your research on your light before you buy One. I tried to skimp and ended up spending more an month and a half later. I will stop here as you will be getting much more feed back from more experienced refers on here very soon

 

[antsbumblebee]

Bummer, really? We literally just bought this tank like Tuesday, I mean we just happened to come by this awesome deal at our local aquarium shop, new tank and comes with the hood, lights, filter. We weren't particularly thinking about doing a saltwater tank, I just have always wanted to give saltwater a go and 55 seems decent for a beginner...if this really turns out to be something I really like I'll probably upgrade sooner than you can bat an eyelash! FYI I'm pretty sure petco is doing a sale on tanks $1/gallon so make sure have a look within the next week!

 

[Reefing Madness]

[TD="class: xl24, width: 1761"]#1-Dry Rock, there are a few hitchhikers on Live Rock that people want to stay away from, so they opt for using Dry Rock, or Dead Rock. Macro Rock is a good place to start looking for that. Either way you go you will need a minimum of 1lb per gallon. You can use Fully Cured Live Rock, and have the tank cycled in just a few days also. Other way is to use just a couple of pounds of Live Rock and the rest Macro or Dry Rock.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#2-Replacement filter media like filter floss and activated carbon (if you get a filter) Which is really not necessary.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#3-Multiple Power heads (2 or 3) 10x your water volume for just a Fish Only With Live Rock, and at least 20x your water volume for a Reef Tank. So lets say your going reef, and you have a 100g tank, you would need flow in that tank at minimum of 2000gph, or 2 1000gph power heads.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl27, width: 1761"]#4-Protein Skimmer, rated at 2 times your water volume. Unless your tank is under 30g, in which case you can do 10% water changes a week to rid the system of detrius. But, you'll have to watch the water parameters close, if things go haywire, you'll have to do more water changes.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#5-Saltwater Test Kits. Reef Test Kit. Test for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, PH, Phosphates, Calcium, ALK and Magnesium.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#6-Saltwater fish food. Mysis Shrimp, Squid, Cyclopease, Algae Sheets, Romaine . Flake food is not really a good food to feed your marine fish.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#7-Aquarium vacuum. This one is iffy. Most don't use one, if you have enough flow in the tank you won’t need one[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#8-Rubber kitchen gloves[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#9-Fish net[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#10-Two, clean, never used before, 5-gallon buckets[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#11-Aquarium thermometer, digital being the best.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#12-Brush with plastic bristles (old tooth brush) - needed for cleaning the live rock if you don't get Fully Cured Live Rock.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#13-Power Strip, possibly GFCI outlets by the tank.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#14-Optional but definitely recommend getting a Reverse Osmosis or RO/Deionization filter for the make-up water, and a barrel for storing the water.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl28"]#15-Possibly a Quarantine Tank for your new fish. They sit in here for a few weeks to kill off parasites and bacteria, to keep it from getting in your main tank[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#16-Heater rated for your size tank.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#17-Saltwater Mix. Marine Salt. Instant Ocean is the cheap Salt that beginners and Advanced use alike.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#18-Saltwater Hydrometer or even better a Refractometer, which is more accurate. There is also a Digital Meter that is way advanced if you have the cash.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#19-Aquarium filter (not absolutely necessary if running with adequate amounts of live rock, but nice to have if you need to use a mechanical filter or activated carbon, or GFO and such)[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#20-Aquarium substrate such as live sand or crushed coral. Some go bare Bottom, others choose the 1-2" bottom, others, more advanced will try the Deep Sand Bed, which is over 6" deep.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://znnea.rmuvx.servertrust.com/default.asp[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl29"]http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=aquarium+heater&_sacat=20754&_odkw=power+heads&_osacat=0[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=power+heads&_sacat=0&_odkw=salt+water+refractometer&_osacat=0[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-0-10-Salinity-Refractometer-Salt-Water-Aquarium-/251140605905?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a792587d1[/TD]

[TD="class: xl29"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.marcorocks.com/[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-dry-live-rock.html[/TD]

[TD="class: xl30"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl30"] Live Rock and Live Sand: Live Saltwater Aquarium Rock and Sand [/TD]

[TD="class: xl30"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/aquarium-substrate/ps/c/3578/9805[/TD]

[TD="class: xl30"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html[/TD]

[TD="class: xl30"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://live-plants.com/[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl25"]http://successfulreefkeeping.com/learn/what-your-coral-needs/[/TD]

[TD="class: xl30"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=t-5+lighting&_sacat=0[/TD]

[TD="class: xl30"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cree+led+aquarium&_sacat=0&_odkw=t-5+lighting&_osacat=0[/TD]

[TD="class: xl30"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/saltwater-aquarium-salt-water-mix/ps/c/3578/4685[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15473[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4749[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl25"]http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4145[/TD]

 

[Reefing Madness]

How to set up a saltwater reef aquarium tank- REEFEDITION

 

[antsbumblebee]

Reefing Madness (lol nice, totally just got the reference typing that in) thanks so much this is more or less what I was looking for and I've been researching loads since and figuring out what this that and the other thing is so thanks again but also I'm wondering if you have any more words of wisdom gained from you reefing madness?

 

[mfief]

You can definitely set up the 55 and run with it. I have been for the past few months. I am just upgrading already. It is a good size to learn with. Enough water volume for stability but not too much to handle either. One other thing fresh water top off daily or multiple times a day if you can it will help keep your salinity aha more constant level. As water evaporates the salt stays in slowly raising your salinity.

 

[Reefing Madness]

55g is an ok size to start with, we would generally advise a 75g to go with as the first tank, because of aquascaping and the fish you are able to keep. But none the less, a 55g is an easy one to set up and keep also.
I'd stay with a 1" sand bed, and go with all dry rock. I'm not a hitch hicker fan, and I've seen alot of spooky things come out of live rock, that you don't want in your tank. But, if you want the life it has to offer, then perhaps just throwing in a couple of pounds would get you whar you need.
I'd go with LED as lighting, they have come down in pricing quite a bit and are fantastic to have.
Reef Octopus BH2000 Hang On Back protein skimmer.
Couple Jebao WP 10 powerheads w/controller.
I think that should do it.

 

[goathead]

I have only been in the hobby for 4 months but I started with a 55 gal as well. I have regretted it since the moment I tried to aqua scape. If you can find a 75 gal go that route the extra 6 inches will help out a lot.

I wish someone would have told this to me when I set mine up. I've outgrown mine in 4 short months..

 

[antsbumblebee]

Word to big bird goathead. This is why I'm being such a maniac asking for advice

Thanks so much to Reefing and mfief, you guys have been fantastic, I feel ready to actually go buy the stuff to start my tank..but I'm waiting for our stand first lol Which we're actually about to head out to our local aquarium now and buy the stand from one of the employees who conveniently offered to sell us his!

Reefing, question about protein skimmers; do you feel its necessary for a noob tank or is it more something you personally feel is essential? I've been creeping around and watched a link you had to a video on bulkreefsupply and the "starting a saltwater aquarium" video didn't really say that you needed one

 

[antsbumblebee]

Also in the bulkreefsupply vid mentioned LEDs, our hood came with aqueon full spectrum 15W halogen bulbs....should we upgrade now to LED do you feel or will those cut it time being and we can replace them later?

 

[antsbumblebee]

Haha totally just watched episode 2/asked the guy at the aquarium about protein skimmers so ignore that please!

 

[Reefing Madness]

I'd go with LEDs on the tank.

 

[760mason]

Go with LEDS. Those full spectrum bulbs will lose spectrum after about 6 months. Once they lose spectrum algae occurs. Replacing bulbs ever six months gets expensive. In the long term LED's will pay for themselves. You are not replacing bulbs every 6 months and your electric bill will go down.

 

[760mason]

I assume the tank is not drilled and came with either a hang on back filter or canister filter? What type of filter did it come with? If it came with a canister filter take it back. There are allot of hob filters and skimmers. Ideally you want a sump. Nothing fancy just a tank with a quality skimmer and return pump is all you need to start out with.

 

[PaulKreider]

I'd still go read as much as possible about setting up a tank, along with lots of problems people have come across and how they solved them. Last thing you want is everything in your tank to start acting weird/dieing and be typing frantically on a forum asking for help.

Check out the selling forum and get familiar with average prices for pieces so you don't get taken advantage of. (never pay retail)

I'd drill your tank and run a sump

I have a 55 and I'm not sure how you could run out of room in 4 months, but after 2 years im pretty cram packed with sps colonies and zoas taking over, the narrow dimensions are a downside for aquascaping, just be efficient in how you design it. I find towers work best in such a narrow tank.

Id go wp-25 or 2 hydor 1050's with a smart wave controller.

DONT go get anything fancy or expensive in the first 3-4 months. You will be VERY disappointed If something happens to it. Better to lose something cheap than a $75/pp zoa colony.

I almost always make 2 frags of my original frag as soon as possible and separate the two, just incase something happens to one, I have a backup. Especially with sps and zoas.

 

[antsbumblebee]

Definitely in the reading up/preparing phase...I'm starting this tank up because I've always wanted a saltwater tank, studied aquaculture/natural resources for three years in high school saltwater setups weren't really covered and I just want to learn. It definitely sounds like as long as I start the tank properly it'll be pretty sound and I just want to see how far I can take it and if this is like my thing so I'm taking my time for sure with this.

My husband and I biught th

 

[antsbumblebee]

Woops sorry, the yawns again!

My husband an I bought the tank, filter, heater, hood in a really awesome sale, got all of it for like $200 new

 

[antsbumblebee]

Oh and the set up came with a hob aqueon power filter ca55/75

Maybe someday we'll go for a sump, if I get really into this I'll totally upgrade things as I go along just going to take my time and enjoy the whole learning process!