55g FOWLR (for now) help

[SaltwaterN3wb]

Hello guys!

Im new to this forum and to the reef hobby and I want to know what i'll need for a 55 gallon FOWLR tank. I don't want to get too much corals because I won't be able to have a sump and a protein skimmer. What are the things I will need for my tank and I want to keep the cost low but I will not get used equipment. Thanks

 

[GimpyFin]

Some rock and an aragonite sand will function as your bio filter. Then all you really need is a heater (Eheim Jagers are good and the 150W version is prefect for that tank ), a power head (Hydor Koralias are good and inexpensive), an HOB filter (The Aquaclear ones are also pretty good and inexpensive) and a light (If you are not doing corals, it does not have to be anything special.) You could optionally add an HOB skimmer, but it's not necessary. Some sort of screen or top on the tank will also help in case of jumping fish.

 

[SaltwaterN3wb]

Some rock and an aragonite sand will function as your bio filter. Then all you really need is a heater (Eheim Jagers are good and the 150W version is prefect for that tank ), a power head (Hydor Koralias are good and inexpensive), an HOB filter (The Aquaclear ones are also pretty good and inexpensive) and a light (If you are not doing corals, it does not have to be anything special.) You could optionally add an HOB skimmer, but it's not necessary. Some sort of screen or top on the tank will also help in case of jumping fish.

Thanks for the reply! If I do plan on getting a few corals, do I have to get a protein skimmer or a sump? Im doing a FOWLR tank because I can't get a sump, etc... which I read that corals need a sump and aprotein skimmer

 

[GimpyFin]

Glad to help. Both a skimmer and sump are nice to have, but by no means necessary. (Sump adds more water volume to your system and provides a place to stash most of your equipment, where a skimmer helps remove dissolved organics before it turns into nitrate.) Nitrate is not as much of an issue with just fish, but with corals, you'll want to keep an eye on it and do water changes as needed to keep it under control.

 

[SaltwaterN3wb]

Glad to help. Both a skimmer and sump are nice to have, but by no means necessary. (Sump adds more water volume to your system and provides a place to stash most of your equipment, where a skimmer helps remove dissolved organics before it turns into nitrate.) Nitrate is not as much of an issue with just fish, but with corals, you'll want to keep an eye on it and do water changes as needed to keep it under control.

So would I be able to keep some hardy corals without them? Im thinking of getting the finnex SE for sw tanks but im not sure if that will grow anything. Do you know any good saltwater led fixtures?

 

[AwesomeDavid]

Go with black box leds if you are on a budget. You can grow any corals under them, so if you ever want more advanced corals, you can get them. If you want easy corals, mushrooms, ricordea, green star polyps/clove polyps/xenia corals (these three should all be isolated) are all easy and can grow without a sump. Easy LPS are blasto coral, duncan coral, and frogspawn/hammer coral. I would recommend blastos because they grow slowly, so you won't have to dose anything frequently.

 

[GimpyFin]

If it's the same one I've seen, the Finnex SE looks similar to the Current USA Orbit marine fixture. Which, is a decent light, it's just not super powerful and is not good for corals demanding strong light. A decent light on a budget would be something like a Mars Aqua or similar "Black box" fixture that you can get off Amazon. The Ai Hydra HD and Ecotech Radions are nice, but they cost much more $$.

 

[SaltwaterN3wb]

If it's the same one I've seen, the Finnex SE looks similar to the Current USA Orbit marine fixture. Which, is a decent light, it's just not super powerful and is not good for corals demanding strong light. A decent light on a budget would be something like a Mars Aqua or similar "Black box" fixture that you can get off Amazon. The Ai Hydra HD and Ecotech Radions are nice, but they cost much more $$.

Would it be good and capable for growing low light corals? What are some hardy low light corals? I can't get any lighting that has to be hanged on something

 

[heathlindner25]

Go with black box leds if you are on a budget. You can grow any corals under them, so if you ever want more advanced corals, you can get them. If you want easy corals, mushrooms, ricordea, green star polyps/clove polyps/xenia corals (these three should all be isolated) are all easy and can grow without a sump. Easy LPS are blasto coral, duncan coral, and frogspawn/hammer coral. I would recommend blastos because they grow slowly, so you won't have to dose anything frequently.

Does this wisdom come from experience?