My New 55Gal, What equipment?

[Kingumar]

Hey guys.
I just got a 55gal tank. This is going to be my reef tank and i need to know what equipment i need to get started.

I want to get everything first before i get sand and actually get it started.
I also have a separate 10g tank that i can use as "sump" (please tell me how that works)

So what do i need to run a salt water tank.

Protein Skimmer= What kind?
Heater= How many watts/what kind? (i have a 200W)
Lights=What kind?(tank came with lights...)
Filter=How many? (tank came with filter but its big and it basically has 2 filters joined together)
Water Regulator=(does this make the water move from inside?) If so, What kind? for 55gal

What else? I must be missing stuff.
Please recommend me the right stuff that will work and which is NOT too expansive.


Thanks.

[jenglish]

the answers to those questions kind of depends what knd of specimens you wish to keep.

Protein skimmers- look for one rated above the size of your tank, Coralife, AquaC and Octpus are all considered good brands.

Filters: most reef tanks have a skimmer and liverock w/ no other filter (unless you consider a fuge a filter)

the heater its better to have 2 smaller ones so if one fails you have partial power.

Lights, that really depends what you wish to keep

[Kingumar]

Thanks allot jenglish.

Any other ideas anyone?

[aquawolf]

Welcome to TRT!!!

In order to use a sump one of two things has to happen. Either the tank needs to be drilled with an internal overflow, which may take up too much room in a 55, or you would need to use a hang-on-back overflow. You want water from the main display tank to flow down into the sump where it can be skimmed and then a return pump will push it back up into the display tank.

You can also get hang-on-back equipment that would let you go without a sump. However, you would see all of that equipment whereas a sump lets you hide it under the stand.

In order to answer your other questions we will need to know what type of critters you want to keep in the tank. As the requirements are quite different between fish only and full stony coral systems.

[Kingumar]

Yea i cant drill any holes in the tank.

I guess i will stick with hang-on ones. I am fine with the equipment showing as long as the bigger stuff is in the back.

As much as i want to hide it, i don't want to drill any holes.

I was looking at Anemone, some clown fish, angel fish..lion fish..coral banded shrimp..prob some palythoas, polyps, Ricordea, some mushrooms, of course live rock and live sand.

anything that will make my tank look good, really

[aquawolf]

In that case I would look at the Octopus line of hang-on-back (HOB) skimmers. You can also look into some type of a HOB power filter that will let you run carbon in it if need be.

Your stock list is very interesting.

Most anemones need high lighting, such as multiple T5's with individual reflectors or metal halide. They usually do best in a well established tank as well, which means at least 8 months to a year old. The rest of your coral choices do not require high lighting and would do well under the T5's.

I assume you are talking about a dwarf lion fish as the other ones will eat any fish it can fit in its mouth. The clowns would do fine. Many angel fish are known to nip at corals so you would need to research the ones you are interested in.

I like to use www.liveaquaria.com to research fish that I am interested in and find out what there actual needs are. That could help you on the way to making a decent stocking list.

Best of luck!