Need help on reef tank please.

[Arod0416]

I have a 55 gallon tank and I currently have air bubble stone. Is this needed or not?
Also, how many waver makers do I need for my tank to have corals?
I have tried to do many research online but, there are different opinions.

 

[Blknovass]

For a reef you need proper filtration. Meaning like a sump. I run a sump with sea hum matrix and chem pure and a protein skimmer. What filtration are u using? Also a big thing for corals is lighting what lights do u run currently?

 

[DMG Reef]

The number of power heads needed will depend on what type of coral you want to keep. One on each end of the tank is usually sufficient for LPS and softies. If you eventually want to keep SPS, then you will need more turbulent flow.

The problem with an air stone in a saltwater tank is that it will create a lot of salt creep around the top of the tank. Air stones aren't necessary if you add some power heads.

 

[Arod0416]

The number of power heads needed will depend on what type of coral you want to keep. One on each end of the tank is usually sufficient for LPS and softies. If you eventually want to keep SPS, then you will need more turbulent flow.

The problem with an air stone in a saltwater tank is that it will create a lot of salt creep around the top of the tank. Air stones aren't necessary if you add some power heads.

thanks for the info!
I usually clean where the salt is creeped around. I am aiming for sps corals. So, I guess I should buy power heads that are a bit stronger.
do you have any suggestions for the gph?

 

[Daddy-o]

For a reef you need proper filtration. Meaning like a sump. I run a sump with sea hum matrix and chem pure and a protein skimmer. What filtration are u using? Also a big thing for corals is lighting what lights do u run currently?

Actually you dont need any filtration, just flow and rocks.
Cheers! Mark

 

[Arod0416]

For a reef you need proper filtration. Meaning like a sump. I run a sump with sea hum matrix and chem pure and a protein skimmer. What filtration are u using? Also a big thing for corals is lighting what lights do u run currently?

I am using a canister and I have a current USA ic led lighting. I haven’t bought corals yet but I will in a week.

 

[fishguy242]

hi p heads,hob filter,hob skimmer,if no sump,lighting

 

[fishguy242]

live rock, no dry rock

 

[35ppt]

Actually you dont need any filtration, just flow and rocks.
Cheers! Mark

+1 I'm running a 10 gallon with just a powerhead and a wavemaker, when I do a WC and want to filter the water I put a cut off water bottle on the inlet of the powerhead and stuff some filter floss inside and take it out a couple hours later. Been working for 2 years so far. I also have a 40 breeder that I DIY'd into an AIO, no sump needed I'm not even running a skimmer on either. Just water changes.

I have a 55 gallon tank and I currently have air bubble stone. Is this needed or not?
Also, how many waver makers do I need for my tank to have corals?
I have tried to do many research online but, there are different opinions.

You don't need an air stone. You want the water surface to be moving, breaking the surface tension by pointing a powerhead or wavemaker at the surface. The amount of pumps you need for corals depends on the corals you want to keep.

 

[Arod0416]

So I should adjust my power head up to the surface making a small wave on the surface?? This will be a source of oxygen for the fishes?

 

[35ppt]

So I should adjust my power head up to the surface making a small wave on the surface?? This will be a source of oxygen for the fishes?

Exactly. And doing that will provide much more oxygen than the bubbler ever could.

/And wont make a salt spray mess.

 

[Arod0416]

Wow thank you so much,

do you have an suggestion on the gph I should get for my 55 gallon tank?
I currently have chromis, a tang, goby and 2 clown fishes.

 

[Salt & Peper]

+1to this!

Actually you dont need any filtration, just flow and rocks.
Cheers! Mark

As you can tell even here your going to get different advice. Do your research and pick what will work best for you and as always enjoy your tank!

 

[35ppt]

Wow thank you so much,

do you have an suggestion on the gph I should get for my 55 gallon tank?
I currently have chromis, a tang, goby and 2 clown fishes.

The common figure I see referenced is 20-40 times display volume so that would be 1,100 - 2,200gph. I have a mostly LPS tank and I'm at around 50x, it did take a fair amount of adjusting the wavemakers to get as much flow as I have and not tick off the large fleshy corals.

 

[Arod0416]

Alright, so I am going to buy a power head between the ranges. And put one on each side on the tank. One left and one right. Should I put one of the on the bottom and one on top?
for example, the power head on the left I should put in the bottom and the power head on the right I should put it on the top?

I am just assuming because certain corals will be in the bottom of the tank and certain corals will be on the top. This will each coral on a certain Level will receive the require flow?

 

[35ppt]

Alright, so I am going to buy a power head between the ranges. And put one on each side on the tank. One left and one right. Should I put one of the on the bottom and one on top?
for example, the power head on the left I should put in the bottom and the power head on the right I should put it on the top?

I am just assuming because certain corals will be in the bottom of the tank and certain corals will be on the top. This will each coral on a certain Level will receive the require flow?

I usually start with one on either side both in the upper third of the tank, as I add corals I will adjust as needed. But if you look at other peoples tanks people have found all kinds of orientations that work for them.

 

[Arod0416]

Alright, so you have 2 power heads in opposite sides in the upper third of the tank?

 

[35ppt]

Alright, so you have 2 power heads in opposite sides in the upper third of the tank?

I started like that but due to my rocks and where I put different types of corals I ended up with one big one on one side and two smaller ones on the other with one of the smaller ones lower in the tank.

 

[Arod0416]

I am assuming the big one is close to the surface to give the fishes oxygen? Or u just wanted a somewhat high flow on the top?

 

[Cell]

Standard 55 you wont need more than 2 powerheads and can get by with one. Those tanks are so narrow you can aim one towards the surface, and it will travel across, hit the opposite wall go down and back across the bottom of the tank.