Tips and Advice on a 55 Gallon Reef setup

wackd99 · 03-06-2009, 02:03 PM

I am getting a 55 gallon tank going... I have had many aquariums growing up and have never attempted a salt water set up of this size (this will be my second saltwater aquarium). I'd like to do a reef aquarium and I know it can be quite expensive. I was hoping to get some advice as to what I should stock it with to be cost effective and to have it look very nice.

I also had the question on cleaning the reef system. I've read that a reef system with proper filtration and the right balance of live rock, coral, and fish, rarely needs to be cleaned. Can anyone advise how true that is?

Thanks in advance!

Harry_Y · 03-06-2009, 02:44 PM

I have had fresh and salt water on and off for years.

My salt water tanks have really not been much harder to maintain than the fresh water tanks, once you get it down it is pretty simple.

The biggest thing is to go slow and prepare things ahead of time.

A few tips:

Go Slow, relax and enjoy every step of the process.

A 55 is nice but for a few dollars more you can get a 75 and your fish will thank you for the extra room (go bigger as you can have more and bigger life).

Buy a good RO/DI unit, using RO/DI water right from the start will help you to avoid a lot of headaches along the way.

Have a second hobby to keep you from messing with the tank to much.

Buy quality stuff in the beginning so you don't have to replace it later.

Read, Read, Read.

Seek out an old hat at this.

Take your time.

Plan it out, so you don't have to rebuild it later.

If you can get a drilled tank do it, it really makes for an easier system and looks nicer.

Take you Spouse out to get you away from messing with the tank so much.

When you get all the water, salt, rock etc in take sit and look close and get excited when you see little life pop up (Your kids will think your weird but it is fun, even better when your spouse watches with you).

Keep the additives down and the water changes up.

Have lots of patience, don't rush it and enjoy watching it grow.

I hope this helps

wackd99 · 03-06-2009, 02:52 PM

Whats RO/DI unit? And when you say drilled do you mean drill the bottom for filtration hookup?

Elegance Coral · 03-06-2009, 02:53 PM

^^^^^Very good advice^^^^^^^^

Harry_Y · 03-06-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wackd99

Whats RO/DI unit? And when you say drilled do you mean drill the bottom for filtration hookup?

It can be drilled out the bottom or the back.

Also known as a "Reef Ready" tank

It lets you put the Heaters skimmer etc out of the main display tank
and into a sump either in the stand or in your basement etc.

wackd99 · 03-06-2009, 03:19 PM

Ah ok... what about liverock/corals? Any recommendations on what would be good to start with? I want to try and stay away from corals that need special/expensive lighting...

Elegance Coral · 03-06-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wackd99

Whats RO/DI unit?

Reverse Osmosis/Deionizing resin. They typically have at least 4 stages.
(1) particle block, that removes solid particles
(2) carbon block, that removes dissolved substances
(3) reverse osmosis, that removes 95 to 100% of impurities.
(3) Deionization, that polishes off anything that happens to make it through the other filters.

This filter will bring the TDS (total dissolved solids) down to zero, or at least below detectable range of normal TDS meters. This is where you want your water before you mix it with salt or add it to the tank to replace evaporation.

Elegance Coral · 03-06-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wackd99

Ah ok... what about liverock/corals? Any recommendations on what would be good to start with? I want to try and stay away from corals that need special/expensive lighting...

It will be a little while before you are ready for corals. First you will most likely cycle the tank. This can take a few days or several weeks. Don't place any animals in the tank until after it has cycled.

Just start out with dead base rock. It's much cheaper than LR.

NewFishGirl · 03-06-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wackd99

Ah ok... what about liverock/corals? Any recommendations on what would be good to start with? I want to try and stay away from corals that need special/expensive lighting...

I would suggest reading about and looking at the different type of corals (LPS, SPS and softies) and getting a feel for what you like. Do a lot of research. Figuring out what you'd like to eventually keep in your tank will help you purchase the appropriate equipment for it.

As far as the fish go, the size of your tank will largely determine what you can keep (as well as how many fish you can keep). So, do the same thing: research the fish and see what you like--preferably before you commit to a tank size. I wish we would have done that before we started our 50 gallon (we can't keep many fish, and they have to be small). This has "forced" us to look into upgrading to a 180 gallon tank so we keep the fish we actually want (tangs and a foxface rabbitfish).

Also, if you want a reef, you can only choose fish that are considered "reef safe," meaning, they won't eat all your pretty corals!

This forum is a wonderful place to learn... read, read, read and don't purchase or do anything without asking about it here first.

wackd99 · 03-06-2009, 03:34 PM

So I am not sure if I have room for a sump... I was thinking a regular 55 gallon aquarium or perhaps the 29gallon biocube to start with my first reef.

I know that the smaller you go, imbalances cause problems much quicker and more drastically. But as far as ease on learning, will the biocube system be better?

Harry_Y · 03-06-2009, 03:40 PM

For lighting look at T5 bulbs, more bulb options and longer lasting
The Current Nova Extreme Pro is a good light for a good price.

For Live rock I would say buy 2/3 base rock (dried out reef rock) and 1/3 live

I personally like the Gnarly looking rock as I find it more interesting.

Also on the rock it is about surface area not weight, so if two rocks weigh the same
but one is the size of a basketball and other the size of a softball the larger will be
better as it has more surface area by weight.

Once the tank cycles look at what they call "softies" and LPS (large polyp stonies)
as they require less than pristine water, and are easier for someone starting out.
(some even prefer the water a little dirtier).

Loverotties · 03-06-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wackd99

So I am not sure if I have room for a sump... I was thinking a regular 55 gallon aquarium or perhaps the 29gallon biocube to start with my first reef.

I know that the smaller you go, imbalances cause problems much quicker and more drastically. But as far as ease on learning, will the biocube system be better?

No the bigger ,the less chance it getting out of wack as easy.

NewFishGirl · 03-06-2009, 03:46 PM

I know it seems counterintuitive, but we were longing for a much, MUCH bigger tank after about a year. I'd say, go as big as you can to start off. We have to start all over with equipment when we go to the 180 (lights and skimmer), and we won't get much $$$ selling the equipment for the 50.

wackd99 · 03-06-2009, 03:50 PM

Thanks for the input NewFishGirl ... I seem to be relearning a lot from reading your post. I used to work at a fish store and was the "aquatics specialist". It has been so long since then and even then I never owned a reef aquarium. I guess I just knew the right answers - it's a lot different when your building it from scratch!

To start I would be happy with a small aquarium with some percula clowns and a flame angel - perhaps a bluecheeked goby. I love powder blue tangs, but I know that would require a much larger tank than I am prepared to purchase.

My knowledge/memory gets hazy when dealing with the best filtration/protein skimmers etc. As i mentioned above I was thinking of doing a biocube - i have read that the filtration on those are good and sufficient for a reef aquarium...