hey guys! This is my first post of probably many over the next few months. I've had little 10 gallon freshwater tank for a while and wanted to go bigger. I ended up finding an ad for 55 gallon tank for sale for 50$. Picked it up, and didn't expect to receive the hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars worth of saltwater equipment that came with it. I'm talking easily 40-50 pounds of live rock, substrates, filters after filters, about 8 air pumps, 2 full bags of bio balls, buckets of salt and reef chemicals, 2 heaters, about 10 heavy duty water pumps (bulk heads...?), and a very large black barrel like object that contains what I think a carbon filter. This includes a protein skimmer, a red labs prizm filter, a few plastic screens for what I think is a part of a sump that did not come with the tank, a cylinder filter, and an under gravel filter. Tons of equipment. I originally wanted to do a freshwater tank but after recieving all of this, I figured I'm ahead of the game, and should start a saltwater tank. I'm aiming to make my own sump, maybe make my own sump tank out of acrylic, or maybe find an old tank online for cheap. What I would want to do, is make a tank with a beautiful reef and fish. I understand it doesn't happen over night but I have every intention of taking my time and doing this correctly. I have absolutely no idea where to start, but I know I have to make a sump tank. Any recommendations? Designs? Any tips or advice is greatly appreciated guys thank you!
Saltwater setup!
- Thread starter Saltwater_green_horn
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njtiger aquariums
Well-Known Member
Welcome. If you don't have already I would look into getting a RO/DI unit so you can start making your own water (which will save you money down the road). This is the unit I have for my 54g tank. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-4-stage-value-plus-ro-di-system-75gpd-1.html
Is the 55 reef ready? If not are you going to drill a hole or you going to do an overflow box?
Its nice that you got two heaters but personally I might invest in a new heater(s). Im sure you are aware heaters can go on you at anytime and you don't know how old those heaters are nor when they might go on you. They might be good to hold for backups and heating up your water change bucket.
Is the 55 reef ready? If not are you going to drill a hole or you going to do an overflow box?
Its nice that you got two heaters but personally I might invest in a new heater(s). Im sure you are aware heaters can go on you at anytime and you don't know how old those heaters are nor when they might go on you. They might be good to hold for backups and heating up your water change bucket.
Saltwater_green_horn
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I will have to do an overflow box, due to the tank being tempered glass. I believe the tank came with an overflow box..? Maybe? It's a clear container with a hose on the bottom, that has a clip to hang on the tank. As you can see I'm very new to saltwater, but I do undertand some of the very basic basics
njtiger aquariums
Well-Known Member
Agree does sound like you got a great deal.
That does sound like an overflow box.
Good luck with your build.
4FordFamily
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Nice score on the setup! Post pics!
Nice score on the setup! Post pics!
Saltwater_green_horn
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Here's most of it. It's dirty, and it's used but it will clean up, I've cleaned most of it already. I didn't get a pic of the live rock, but there is a lot. I also don't have a pic of the tank, I do have a stand for it from a past tank. I didn't include all the pumps and air pumps and other misc. things. I don't have everything yet but at the moment I know need at least a better light (metal halide), glass top, supplies for the sump I want to build, hosing and PVC, and a reverse osmosis filter. I didn't get everything I needed to finish it, but one of the live rocks I have itself cost more than I spent for all of it haha, so I did get a great deal. Thank you guys so much and I will be back for more advice. One last question, if I put in a live coral after the tank is cycled, it will spread to the other live rocks right? Thanks again guys I really appreciate it!
dbl
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My Tank Thread
Welcome to R2R and you've landed at the right place. Just never forget what you said above because it's important for your success - research and not being in a hurry. I would suggest starting with the first page of the thread Helen linked above. There is a lot of great information to get you started. Here it is again to make it easy.
http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/
AcanSkywalker
Active Member
Can I suggest you add DI to whatever RO system you choose, I would also replace the bio ball with marine pure & eliminate the canister filter. JMTC
Welcome & good luck.
Welcome & good luck.
RJinPV
Active Member
I'll second this. RO is not enough. You need a DI cartridge as a final step. Most reefers don't use bio balls. The live rock and sand is enough for bacteria to live on. I started using something like Marine Pure a week ago to give my 55 extra bio capacity. You need a good skimmer preferably rated for a larger tank. If you want to run carbon you can use the canister for that but it's bigger than you need for only 1-2 cups of carbon.
I found the BRS 52 week build videos very useful. Each week they talk about a different aspect of setting up a tank but some of their picks seemed to be overkill too.
Don't forget about a chiller. If your house gets above the low 80's deg F in the summer you'll need one. Marine fauna can't take 90 deg F water like freshwater species can
