Is it worth it?

[RooBeeDooBee]

Teach...me...senpai...
Why calcium carbonate rock. For the powerheads(xf230 gyre) and the size of my tank with what it does will my tank be fine. And a potential wave maker or two for variating flow. And what light do you recommend for my tank nothing that breaks bank but I could grow lsp forsure.

 

[RooBeeDooBee]

Welcome to R2R.

The 55 gallon is a good size. It is large enough to be fairly stable. It also gives you a decent list of fish to keep. You have a decent stand. It has a nice sump and a skimmer with plumbing. So it is a nice system and you should fare well with it.

An apex is a computer also called a controller. Mine monitors salinity, temperature and pH. It controls the heater, the powerheads, the skimmer, the return pump, the fans if the tank gets warm, the lights for the refugium etc. it can control dosers and all sorts of stuff. I can call it up from a smart phone and check the readings. It is probably more than you want right now.

Here are a few suggestions, take em or leave em:

Get an auto top off system. It can be a simple as a float in your sump that senses when the water level is low and turns on a pump in an RODI water reservoir to turn on and fill the tank back to the right level. It will help keep the salinity stable. I got an ine pensive one from autotopoff.com and an inexpensive pump and it has worked great.

Get a RODI system. RODI is highly purified water. You use it to top off your tank and to mix salt water. Buying salwater at $1 a gallon and hauling it home gets old real quick. It will pay for itself in about 6 months. A cheap system costs a bit over $100. I got mine from Bulk Reef Supply. Many people really like the Spectrapure systems. Mine fills up a Brute Trash can with a float to turn it off when it is full. Get the float or you will have floods....many floods. I have another Brute Trash can in which I mix salt water.

Rock. You tank will need rock. After fish eat, they excrete ammonia. Ammonia is really to toxic. Aquariums have rock in them for bacteria to live on. The bacteria turn the poisonous ammonia into less poisonous nitrite to pretty benign nitrate. You will want rock that is made of coral reef that is made of Calcium Carbonate. You can get dry rock which needs curing which you have to do. The old rule of thumb is a lb of rock per gallon but some people get by on half that. The rock also provides shelter for the fish and places to mount your corals.

Powerheads. You do not want to skimp on powerheads. If you can afford it, get ones that provide variable flow. The don’t skimp rule also applies to lights.

Oh, remember patience is your friend. Nothing good happens fast in reefing.

Good luck to you.

(WHOOPS LAST COMMENT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FOR YOU) Teach...me...senpai...
Why calcium carbonate rock. For the powerheads(xf230 gyre) and the size of my tank with what it does will my tank be fine. And a potential wave maker or two for variating flow. And what light do you recommend for my tank nothing that breaks bank but I could grow lsp forsure.

 

[Flippers4pups]

@RooBeeDooBee, here's a link that can help you:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

To answer the question of RO/DI units, yes you need one. Too many contaminates in tap water, many of which are detrimental to fish and coral.

Let me put things in perspective about patience. I like to DIY things that I can in the hobby, can save some money and build things the way I want them. These projects can take time to complete. I'm quite okay with that.

My current tank build took me a year and a half to complete before water even touched it. Sure I wanted to speed things up at times, but I'm like a lot of other people in the hobby on budgets, so buying good equipment can be expensive and saving for those can take time. Worth it for sure in the long run.

To achieve one's goals in this hobby takes patience and money. We all have the time in abundance. Slow and steady wins every time in this hobby.

 

[RooBeeDooBee]

@RooBeeDooBee, here's a link that can help you:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

To answer the question of RO/DI units, yes you need one. Too many contaminates in tap water, many of which are detrimental to fish and coral.

Let me put things in perspective about patience. I like to DIY things that I can in the hobby, can save some money and build things the way I want them. These projects can take time to complete. I'm quite okay with that.

My current tank build took me a year and a half to complete before water even touched it. Sure I wanted to speed things up at times, but I'm like a lot of other people in the hobby on budgets, so buying good equipment can be expensive and saving for those can take time. Worth it for sure in the long run.

To achieve one's goals in this hobby takes patience and money. We all have the time in abundance. Slow and steady wins every time in this hobby.

Thank you. I get it now. No rush. No worries

 

[Mark Gray]

One thing to remember nothing good in this hobby happens fast

 

[sfin52]

Is gsp an Lps?

It is a dead lps. It was a a very nice coral. It died in a divorce. The wife did not take care of the tank. It sat in darkness for four weeks and salinity was over .030 close to four. Some coral survived this piece did not. I’m going to gets gsp(green star polyps) soft coral.

Lr= live rock

 

[Ento-Reefer]

Welcome RooBee!!

Back when I got into the hobby magazines and the LFS were the only way to get information on new methods in maintaining corals and fish. The best piece of advice I can give you is to keep doing what you are now... researching!! Oh and second best advice is to set up a qt tank. You will not regret it and your fish and corals will thank you.

 

[Zack K]

Welcome to R2R! As for the power head and Lights, do _Not_cheap out in the lights. It is one of the worst things l did. l would go quality right away because you will regret it in a month if you don’t. Kessil, Aqua Illuminations, EcoTech Are the 3 big LED suppliers. l am not too familiar with T5 and Metal Halide (MH), but with the way it sounds you are looking toward LED

As for wave makers (Powerheads) their are MANY different types. l like the control abilities about the hobby so l chose the EcoTech Vortech. No wires in the tank and great control ability.

 

[NefTunzReef]

To answer your question...... Y. E. S.

 

[NY_Caveman]

+1 in getting/using an ATO (auto top off) unit. This is to add RO/DI water as the freshwater evaporates from your display making your saltwater salinity rise. Many will rightly advise this for stability of your salinity. As an additional bonus it also stabilizes other systems in your tank that rely on your water level such as a protein skimmer.

Looks like you have a lot of different equipment available from your purchase. Nice. There are many gadgets out there and it can be daunting. The most important things in the beginning in my opinion are the tank, stand, live rock, lights, heater, skimmer and ATO. All the other things like Apex, dosers, reactors, etc. are not necessary for the initial cycle (or maybe at all). You should decide later on those as you see how your tank develops and how you develop as a reefer.

 

[MamaLovesHerReefTank]

Welcome @RooBeeDooBee.
If I can make a few suggestions so you don't get overwhelmed right off the start?
Keep your system simple to start with. Yes all the bells and whistles are exciting and fun but they are also very expensive when starting out. You really don't need all those bells and whistles. You can have a beautiful tank without.
Wait for about a year (6 months at least), before getting into corals. If you plan on keeping corals, get decent lighting. Do not impulse buy. If you see a fish or coral you think you might like, research it first. Make sure your tank is the right size, lighting is good enough. Live aquaria is great for this.
Stability is one of the most important aspects in this hobby. Stability takes time.
Ask questions, lots of them. This forum is amazing. There are some very knowledgeable folks here.
No 2 systems are the same. What works for one, may not work for another.
Hopefully you will find an lfs you can trust and is not just wanting to make a sale. I'm lucky enough to have 2 near me. Neither one is afraid to tell me if something isn't good for my tank or if I'm not experienced enough yet.
Most important. Enjoy it. It's quite a bit of work but it is so worth it. Nothing better than sitting down in front of the tank after a busy day at work.