Upgrading my whole set up need opinion

[andrea.nichols.1650]

So i got this bad boy right here for my 55 gal tank im about to set up.

Was wondering if anyone else has this? If so what do you think... How do you have it set up for the best results...

I have a few lps and palys n zoas and some sps along with a mysterious anemone. It was supposed to be a gbta but others are saying its every other anemone in the book lol but im say gbta..

Any way whats your thoughts.

Also whats a good light suggestion for this tank as well as i am gonna be keeping sps lps and softies and nems

 

[heathd.hd]

Theres just so many options that will work. Whats your budget I guess first of all?

 

[ReelRednekReefer]

I have the Gyre XF 150 in my new 90g. It's set to 15 second alternating current at 50% With the standard impeller setup the forward flow is much stronger but it works really well to simulate a wave action. I can see the coral react to the movement. On anything above 50% it blows my sand clear to the glass on opposite end of the tank- 6 linear feet way! This setup keeps most anything from settling on the sand! There is no visible settling yet corals seem comfy and peppermint shrimp can move about! I have no complaints about the gyres at all however I do thing the controller could be simplified and made more user friendly. They are quite accurate when saying " no water left unturned"!

 

[andrea.nichols.1650]

Yeah it looks like its gonna be confusing to set up ... But i want flow to be where nothing can settle. You think i should put it on the side glass or the back glass

 

[ReelRednekReefer]

If it's a standard long 55 I'd def say on the side glass! Mine is setup up on the side glass opposite the overflow.

 

[andrea.nichols.1650]

Ok do you have yours vertical or horizontal

 

[ReelRednekReefer]

I have mine horizontal. However vertical may work better in a standard 55 as it's not as deep as my 24" tank.

I see you asked about lights also. I'm using 2- 165W full spectrum Chinese LEDs. They are set to about 30% in this picture as I acclimate new corals. For the $$ I highly recommend them. 2 would light a 55g well.

 

[andrea.nichols.1650]

How much was yours

 

[andrea.nichols.1650]

Theres just so many options that will work. Whats your budget I guess first of all?

Not sure on budget just good quality n fair price not really more than 350 .... 400 max

 

[ReelRednekReefer]

The lights were $119 each on Amazon. They had them on eBay for $99 and free shipping but with Amazon I could get em in 2 days and my impatience cost $40

 

[andrea.nichols.1650]

Lol i know what you mean.. I picked mine up from the post office cuz i couldnt wait one more day for it to get to my house i track mine like twice a day lol

 

[ReelRednekReefer]

Not sure on budget just good quality n fair price not really more than 350 .... 400 max

You can find something in that budget with more features and similar lighting capabilities. The Chinese LEDs are no frills. No timers, manual blue and white light adjustment. I just plugged mine into a 2 timers I got a HD for $5 each

 

[heathd.hd]

Ok so what are you planning on keeping in the tank?

First off is it drilled?
I would have a sump and refugium.
I would use dc pumps.
Leds are just fine.
Get a good skimmer.

Pay close attention to building your aquascape.

I would use dry rock for setup I like the idea of a pretty much sterile tank to start. Ie not using live rock. To me it's just not worth the risk. To many things on live rock that I don't want in my tank.

 

[andrea.nichols.1650]

No its not drilled and cant be drilled im gonna have a sump and a fuge im gonna get a HOB overflow... Im gonna use mostly dry rock and a few pieces of live from my existing tank ...

 

[heathd.hd]

The whole thing is tempered?

Idk I just did the overflow thing with my first tank and every day I hated looking at it. Lol. So 6 months later new tank.

 

[andrea.nichols.1650]

Yeah whole thing tempered it was the dollar gallon sale at petco so i took that as my opportunity i mean as long as i have a sump where i can hid most of it the few that i will see wont be too bad... My tank now being a 20g tall is extremely crowded with my heater 2 power heads a sit in tank skimmer a mechanical/ bio filter its a mess and i have wires hanging every where my tank is just too small for everything i need

 

[heathd.hd]

Yah that's cool than!