55 Gallon Reef Tank

[Deadeye]

OK a 125 would break the bank and maybe my floor. So, I think a 75 Gallon tank should and hopefully will be safe. Here are my plans for a 75 gallon reef, let me know if I should change some stuff, and I am not going all out on the lighting yet, I can move these lights to the 55 later when I upgrade lights on the 75.

-75 Gallon tank/Stand
-90 lbs. of live rock
-3x40lb bags of araganite
-SEIO 820GPH power head
-300 Watt Rena Heater
-48'' Outer Orbit 4x65 PC fixture

Now here is what I need help with:

I was going to get an Aqua C remora w/ maxijet not the pro just the regular one. and a Rena xp3 canister filter. Should I use this skimmer and filter on the 55 and move the sump and skimmer from the 55 to the 75? or should I put the Aqua C remora and canister filter on the new 75 reef.

Thanks.

I FORGOT, Does anyone have a stud finder I could borrow? So I can find which way my floor boards run.

 

[aquaconnect]

I would do a sump on the 75 and a ASM G2 skimmer. Skimmer and lights are where your investment needs to be. I hate Aqua C's, but that's my opinion.

 

[Deadeye]

The aqua C would go on the back of the FOWLR 55 tank, I hear there the best HOB skimmer, I would do the skimmer I have on the 55 right now on the 75 then upgrade later to a ASM, but I think for now what I have is sufficient cause it won't be stocked up for awhile. Would you recommend a different HOB skimmer?


Should I hook up the HOB skimmer and canister filter to the 55 for awhile before taking off the sump? Can I have the LR in the new tank without the sump or skimmer for awhile?

 

[aquaconnect]

Yes you can leave everything off, but especially when curing live rock you need a skimmer and when cycling. It helps remove all the bad stuff from the live rock and helps the tank cycle faster. In the long run, your rock will look better. The hang on for the 55 is a great idea. Get lots of live rock for the reef. It's the best filtratration in my opinion.

 

[Deadeye]

I thought the filter might need some time to get some beneficial bacteria in it, but I guess thats what the live rock is for.

But if I can just hook up the canister and HOB skimmer and pull the sump and its skimmer out right away thats even better.

I added it all up and I think thats what I will do. When I wrote it all up I did it for 90 lbs of live rock, I know more is always better but is 90lbs sufficient for now and future?

 

[Deadeye]

I'm thinking about forgetting about the 4x65 and just doing this:

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CU01064

 

[aquaconnect]

I just depends. I stack really heavy in my tanks. 90 would be a good start. Once you get it in there, see how it aquascapes, and go from there. If you're happy w/how it looks then great, if not you can always add more. On the sand, buy 1 bag of the live sand and 2 bags of the dead. The 1 big bag you will put on top of the other 2 which will seed your tank, along w/the live rock and help cycle the tank faster.

 

[aquaconnect]

Nice light, I think Matt can get those too. I like pendants because you can adjust the heights for the corals and less the intesity and make sure they are high enough to keep from baking the tank.

 

[Deadeye]

Will do with the sand, I think that 2x150 HQI fixture is perfect comes with the 14k bulbs and it isn't to high in price. Would be nice to have some PCs or T5's I guess next to the halides, but does this really matter, I think the halides will do ok???

comes with docking mounts! Fun stuff.

 

[aquaconnect]

Sure, I run 14K w/no supplement. No need on a 14K really.