55 Gallon Reef Tank

[Deadeye]

Here are my plans on a 55 Reef:

55 tank/stand/canopy
2x175 watt 14k retro kits
2x28 watt T5 retro kits
2 Fans, one on each side of canopy
lifereef siphon overflow w/aquasilencer
500GPH return pump magflow
1x820GPH SEIO
40 pounds of base rock
25 pounds of live rock
sump w/ hopefully a refugium
300 watt Rena heater
40lbs of sand
ASM skimmer (I think I can get a G3 at a very good price or is this over-doing it?)
or what do you guys think about this kit Sump/Refug/Skimmer

I think that package will fit underneath my stand, but the skimmer is the small one.

Is there anything else I should get for a reef tank? Perhaps one of those things called a wavemaker?

Calcium reactor?? Don't know what it is, but do I need it?

UV steralizer?
Ozonizer?
Flux capacitor?

 

[SoupySteve]

my $.08

my $.08

55gal? Where are you going to keep your hippo tang when it gets past its juvenile size? you may consider getting rid of the fish or hopping up to at least a 5' tank - if not 6' (110 or 125gal) I'm sure you could talk the old lady into getting a bigger tank (for the tang's sake, of course :lol: )
I think you'll be quite happy with the 14k blue-ish color of your lighting - and 350w over 55 (or up to 125g or so) should be sufficeint light for softies, lps, and some sps depending on their placement. what is the 2x28w for? i'd get BIG fans - as big as you can get - i have two 150w pendants - and with NO enclosure, they still do a good job of heating the tank...
i'd get a bigger return pump than 500gph. depending on how close to the floor the pump is, you'll lose a LOT of flow due to pressure loss (or whatever its called). also, depending on how you are running your return (closed loop, through a SCWD, etc) you lose a LOt (like 50%?) flow for each 90degree elbow you use - aquaconnect used some sort of flex hose to reduce that if i remember correctly talking with him...
i think the sieo in there will be GREAT flow. BUT if/when fewell's gets in the controller for seio's, m1100s and bigger can be plugged into - and controlled by the unit. I'm quite happy with the flow of two m1100s in my 110g - that's just something i'd consider when buying a seio (the poorman's tunze :lol: )
my 55g had about 90lbs of lr in it - and the only kind of aquascaping i could really do was a reefwall (and i no longer care for that) - with your tang, you may want a more open looking aquascape (just my opinion) - i'd buy less base rock unless you are getting a couple of big/cool looking chunks. base rock lacks all the cool bacteria you need to cycle your tank - and lacks the cool hitchikkers you can sometimes get from QUALITY liverock.
The sump/fuge combo link you have there looks really cool and finished. i dunno if i could justify $400 on it though. You could DIY the tank with a trip to glass place (to cut you out some chunks of glass) and some reef-safe silicone. I bet you could get small pc light fixture, skimmer, and return pump for far less than $400. you may be looking for a sleek, finished look, though - and if that's the case - i think you'd be happy with that - just make sure your overflow that you get to plumb that thing to can handle the flow of the return pump.
your heater shold be fine - your lights will do most of the work for it :bum:
what sort of sand will you use? fine sand, aragonite, crushed coral, etc? personally, i'd stay away from fine sand in the display but that, once again, is just my opinion.
i've heard good things about asm skimmers, and no, i don't think you can "over-skim" from what i've experienced.
as far as wavemakers go, look into a SCWD ($50 tops) for a cheap way to get a decent effect - or you could buy a wave/timer strip (i think they are sold at FA&E). Like i mentioned before though, seio is supposed to have a controller for their pumps...
calcium reactors are mainly needed for sps tanks from what i've seen. i think you can go around getting one unless you have a full-blown sps tank with doing simple 10% weekly water changes that are just part of a good reef-keeping schedule.
NO on ozone and UV, imho...
BTW - a RO/DI unit IS a must! get one or pay for water everyother day

 

[Deadeye]

I have been buying RODI water for now. I was going to get a 40lb bag or aragonite at Fewells.

If I lived on the bottom floor I would get the 125 gallon, but I do not want to risk it on the second story. Do you think the fish will be fine for another year in a 55 gallon?

If not then our lease is up in January, and I could get a 125 now and set it up later when we move. Me and my fiance' were not planning on moving until we could actually buy our own home though, but if the fish are going to outgrow the 55 in a few months maybe it would be best for us to find a bottom floor dwelling and get the 125. But then I couldn't have my reef tank for a long time and the 125 would take me a while to buy everything I need for it.

Let's get a vote going, what would you do in this situation?

125 Gallon - Move, Buy stuff for it slowly, set it up in a few months

55 Gallon - Get everything right away including lights, Stay in apartment, hope the tang and puffer like a 55 for another year.

 

[Deadeye]

What about this for an RODI unit:
http://www.aquariumwaterfilters.com...9&category_id=15&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=28

I'd get 100GPD, Then whats better the 2 carbon thing or the chlorimainanen blasters thingy?

 

[Deadeye]

I'll get the 125 if someone will help me move the 55 with the fish in it when it comes time to move.

If I move the 55, that means the fish and everything in the tank would have to go through a 100% water change, doesn't that mean the tank will recycle and I will have spikes again?

 

[aquaconnect]

As long as you use the same water that's in the 55 now, you won't be recycling your tank. It's already cycled. You may have to top it off w/some new fresh saltwater to comp what you lost, but again, you aren't adding any new bio load. I agree w/a 125gal reef. The bigger the better and they stay more stable. A 55gal reef is too small and too hard to maintain. Go w/the 125, your floor will hold it.

I'm sure someone could help you with the move. A 125 will help you in the long run.

As far as a ro/di goes, check out this site: https://www.aquariumwaterfilters.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Look at the Barracuda. Aquatic & Exotics can get these. They are awesome because they have special drain componets that allow them to hold pressure and work at 40psi. I live in an apartment myself, and never could get above 50psi. I've had mine for about 8mts and have 0tds. I upgraded it to do the Ultra Carbon system, and added an extra 1micron filter to make it a 5stage. It's ultra easy to set up, and the carbon & ro/di media are easy to exchange. If you're setting up a reef and it's the 125gal up at Matt's this is what you'll need to get started:

125tank and stand (by the way he has an awesome stand up there right now, especially for a reef tank!!!)
go with whatever halides you want, 175's or 250's, I'd do 250's.
An ASM G2 skimmer
Live rock
Heater
Overflow
Return pump
29gal tank for the sump or larger

I'd do it right the first time, for sure. You'll save money in the long run. Buy a tank and stand, overflow, sump, skimmer and heater first. Get it up and cycle it for a month or so. In the meantime, look at lights, you don't need them right away and pick out what you want. It'll cost you a lot to get it started, but if you want to do it right, that's what it'll take. I have over $18K in my system w/coral, but I have a lot of rare coral no one will ever see on the market. Feel free to drive out to Aurora w/your friends and have a look anytime. My 180gal is retroed big time, euro braced w/an oceans motions 4 way, genx 4 return pump, sequence dart running the 4way on a closed loop, 4'Calfo overflow, all returns us special optix return elbows w/3 way action for easy adjustment, 58gal oceanic custom made sump, 350watt titanium heater, ASM G3 skimmer, 3 250w pendant HQI's 14k bulbs on Icecap ele ballasts, 2 holes in the bottom for the closed loop, 2 in the back of the tank for the closed loop, 2 for the return side of the closed look, 2 at the top for the return pump, and 5 holes for the Calfo overflow. In total, I have 13bulkheads in the 180 oceanic, 5 in the 58oceanic sump, 50' of 1" spa flex hose for the pluming, 4 gate valves, 18 unions, 7' of 1 1/2" spa flex hose, custom made stand. It's all amazing, not to count all 250lbs of rock, 4" sand bed, and the 128corals and 10 fish in the system.

 

[aquaconnect]

BTW, don't get the 100gal per day!!!! Get the 50gal per day. From my experience, 100gpd don't filter as good. Like I said before, my barracuda has 0tds, my 100gpd I had was junk and always had high tds and phosphates which I'm still trying to get out of my tank w/a recently purchased phosphate remover.

 

[Deadeye]

I was going to get the 125 for the fish that are in the 55, so since that includes the puffer it would have to be a FOWLR. Then I was going to make the 55 into the reef.

BUT, I would much rather make the 125 into the reef tank, however my fiance' demands to keep the puffer, so she wants the 125 for the FOWLR then I get the 55 for a reef. I am not to happy about this but I think it's only fair for puffer to get put into the bigger tank, then to leave him in the 55. Since they are supposed to have 90gal+ tanks.

I was thinking it would be better to get the mako over the barracuda. It's not much more expensive, but should I get the Chloramine blaster upgrade or the 2 carbon blocks??? What adapter would I need with it, if I wanted to put it on a splitter with my washer hook-up? IS it ok to split it like that, with the washer machine?

I would love to see your tanks sometime, thank you for the offer. Maybe I could get some good tips from you too.

 

[Deadeye]

-To bad there aren't dwarf porcupine puffers.:lol:

 

[aquaconnect]

I'd just leave the puffer in the 55gal. It's not going to outgrow that tank for sometime. They grow very slow in captivity anyway, and a reef tank is more interesting and you can get more colorful fish in the long run, but whatever you want to do. The 125 would be nice for the puffer. At least do a 75gal reef. A 55 is so much harder to stack rock in and you would have less sandbed space. I would upgrade to the Chlormine buster, which is what I did. Off the washer is fine, which is what I did. Just go to Lowes and get a splitter for an outside hose. It'll screw on to the outlet, and has 2 splits for the washer hose and one for the rodi adapter. The chlormine buster comes w/everything. I would still go w/the barracuda.

 

[Deadeye]

Isn't the barracuda basically the same thing as the mako only the mako has 2 DI cartridges? I thought this would be better? I guess I am asking why would the barracuda be better? I was thinking about getting there 40 gallon bucket with it and there shut off thing, I think it's all designed to work together.

I tried to talk the fiance' into letting me keep the puffer in the 55 and doing the 125 as a reef and move the hippo tang to it, but so far she isn't going for it. She wants the 125 so she could add other fish later, like a yellow tang, or long nose, or something she wants... I am going to continue trying to talk her into doing the 125 as a reef and then just the puffer, clown, and gramma in the 55.

She gets on here and reads this, so I am going to hear it later. :lol:
She doesn't like how the 55 looks so bare with just the fish we have. She does understand why though, but thats why she wants to do the bigger tank as a FOWLR, she doesn't like or doesn't seem interested in Corals and clams, like I am.

I will try to talk her into it, I will take her into Fewells and get a little help from Matthew on the issue. :lol:

 

[aquaconnect]

A yellow tang, the clown and the gramma are reef safe and go w/a reef tank.

 

[Deadeye]

Yes, I told her we could still do the nemo theme just not all the fish will be together. She wants the ones that can go together, in the same tank. Gramma, Clown, Puffer, butterfly fish in place of moorish idol cause thats a no no on the moorish idol, long nose tang, yellow tang, and blue tang.. I dunno still sounds crowded even for a 125 with all of those.

It will take some work but I think I will talk her into the 125 as a Reef.

That tank w/ custom stand at Fewells is awsome, but we want a black set-up to match all our stuff.. So I was going to get a 125 with 2 corner overflows built in, of course I'd order through fewells.

 

[aquaconnect]

Understand this, you won't be able to add many more fish to the 55gal, unless you want to do a waterchange daily. Saltwater fish take a lot more area than freshwater. I'd say you're closed to maxed out on the 55gal.

Alot of fish you probably want will go in a reef. If you keep the puffer by himself, or maybe add a big angel or a trigger of sometype, they would be more happy. The pufferfish isn't going to grow like you anticipate it will. I have never see one over 5" in an aquarium unless it was a public aquarium. Sorry to disappoint you on that, but that's a fact. Yours will take years to obtain that size realisticly.

 

[aquaconnect]

All of those fish, except the puffer will go into a reef.

 

[Deadeye]

Yep and that is what I wish to do. I wanted to keep the puffer in the 55 and get like a niger trigger, but the trigger isn't in nemo so the fiance' said no.

I think I will just have to put my foot down on the situation and tell her we are doing the 125 reef and she can have most of her nemo fish in there. She always wanted an anenome and I am sure one would do better in a 125, so thats a argument I will give her, lol.

 

[aquaconnect]

The Nemo tank is unrealistic unless you do a public size aquarium where they have enough space for the natural habitate. It's fiction, just like the cartoon.

 

[Deadeye]

I win, Going to do the 125 as a reef and keep the puffer in the 55.

 

[Deadeye]

I am thinking maybe my 30 gallon tank might fit under the stand. To save some money instead of buying a sump. I think I will go with 2x250 watt halides then later on see if I can get some T5's or PC's added into the canopy.

 

[aquaconnect]

You'll need 3 halide set ups, one per 2'.