Finally got her

[The Gervers]

So my wife and I are major fish heads. For the last two years we lived on the road(for my job) and visited just about every aquarium from Chicago to California. Needless to say we both are enamored with the underwater world. Currently we have a 55gal freshwater community tank with about 26 members to said community very happy, live, and well. We made a trip and ended up stumbling upon a dollar per gallon sale and picked up a few 40gal tanks to add to our collection of 3 10gallons and the 55. I have been back and forth about starting a reef tank for awhile now but since I would have been maintaining it by myself ( she originally wanted no part of maintenance on the tanks) I had decided against it. Well, she has had a change in heart as of recent and decided she also wants a reef tank and is willing to help with the maintenance. So my plan is to move my community tank into one of the 40's and possibly use two of the 10's as well for breeding my Angel's(freshwater). Which will leave the 55 for the reef tank.



So our background aside, where to start as far as equipment ( we will be using a trickle tower sump for a filter). Parameters to "live by" with the water, tips, tricks of the trade, anything is welcome.

Fish that would be good to start with and that we could also add others with later on.

Setting this puppy up.
Live rock live sand amounts
Water tests
Everything
We are excited to do this but we want to go about it the right way, not the cheap way.

 

[Sk8r]

A good reference for starting out and along the way is the SETTING UP folder, which is marked with a red arrow. Congrats on the new venture and [welcome]

 

[Marinenthusiast]

Congrats. If you want to do it the right way, i would highly suggest being pacient and doing lots of research before jumping in. I'd recommend going with a sump, there are many benefits. I'd go at least 60 pounds of rock and about 40 pounds of live sand. Do your research on skimmers (i like bubble magus) and lights as well (i have t5s now but leds are a good option as well). There are a lot of factors involved with keeping a saltwater tank which you will learn over time. Go slowly and ask lots of questions.

 

[ForeverNoob]

Congratulations!

 

[Martini5788]

Is there a particular reason you want to use the 55 vs one of the 40's for the reef?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Welcome to the hobby! My advice, with twenty years in the hobby is go slow and read everything. Be wary of LFS's advice, some will sell you anything to make a sale.

Starting out: equipment.... Tank and everything that goes with it. No rush to get it wet.

1.) Reef ready tank, stand and sump. (Trust me, you'll end up here at some point. Save time and money by getting these up front)
2.) return pump
3.) heater
4.) powerheads
5.) ATO (this not needed at first, but trust me, you'll want one!)
6.) Lights (this has everything to do with what you want to keep and, and what you may want to keep down the road. Fish only or fish and coral. Etc...)
7.) RO/DI (this not needed at first, but use only and only RO/DI water from day one.)
8.) Water test kits and refractometer. (Must have.)
And 9.) Good quality skimmer.

Everything else can wait and should wait till you have all of this covered and tweaked before anything living touches water.

As Sk8r stated, read the stickies here on RC on how to get started.
Once again, welcome to the hobby!

 

[The Gervers]

Just want it to be the main display though I do like the width on the 40's vs the 55

 

[The Gervers]

Congrats. If you want to do it the right way, i would highly suggest being pacient and doing lots of research before jumping in. I'd recommend going with a sump, there are many benefits. I'd go at least 60 pounds of rock and about 40 pounds of live sand. Do your research on skimmers (i like bubble magus) and lights as well (i have t5s now but leds are a good option as well). There are a lot of factors involved with keeping a saltwater tank which you will learn over time. Go slowly and ask lots of questions.

LOL the research is why I got into this hobby from the get go I love to study fish and the habitats that they come from. With LED would you not be limited to the coral you can cultivate?

 

[The Gervers]

Welcome to the hobby! My advice, with twenty years in the hobby is go slow and read everything. Be wary of LFS's advice, some will sell you anything to make a sale.

Starting out: equipment.... Tank and everything that goes with it. No rush to get it wet.

1.) Reef ready tank, stand and sump. (Trust me, you'll end up here at some point. Save time and money by getting these up front)
2.) return pump
3.) heater
4.) powerheads
5.) ATO (this not needed at first, but trust me, you'll want one!)
6.) Lights (this has everything to do with what you want to keep and, and what you may want to keep down the road. Fish only or fish and coral. Etc...)
7.) RO/DI (this not needed at first, but use only and only RO/DI water from day one.)
8.) Water test kits and refractometer. (Must have.)
And 9.) Good quality skimmer.

Everything else can wait and should wait till you have all of this covered and tweaked before anything living touches water.

As Sk8r stated, read the stickies here on RC on how to get started.
Once again, welcome to the hobby!

Thank you, quick question, will the RO system remove chlorides and chlorimines?

 

[chefbill]

In my opinion, you would be much better off using a 40 breeder as a reef tank as opposed to the 55. 55 are too narrow front to back to allow much in the way of aquascaping. Plus the 40 breeder has a better footprint , will use less lights, and is just a better shaped tank.

 

[CafeReef]

LOL the research is why I got into this hobby from the get go I love to study fish and the habitats that they come from. With LED would you not be limited to the coral you can cultivate?

Not really, (there is of course debate to this thought). LED's have come a LONG way in the last decade. With a good LED unit, Radion, Hydra's, Reef Breeders Photon, Kessil, even AI (there are lots more) you can have very successful growth from softies, sps, lps, leathers etc.

 

[sde1500]

LEDs can grow just about any coral you'd want for sure. And as others have said, I'd probably use the 40 as the reef tank. The extra space front to back with make things a lot easier when creating your aquascape.

For RODI, I'm pretty sure BRS has one that can handle the chloramines, though the filter will need changing more often. If you do not get one right away, most LFS sell premade water, salt or fresh.

Trickle tower, looks like some kind of wet/dry filter. I'd say just get/make a more normal sump, and add a protein skimmer to that. If you want something to trap detritus, get a sump with a filter sock.

Welcome, and get ready to do a lot of reading haha. Do you plan on drilling the tank? I use a HOB overflow on my tank, its very reliable and I'm not too worried about ever having issues with it, but some days wish I had tried drilling the tank.

 

[The Gervers]

Is there a particular reason you want to use the 55 vs one of the 40's for the reef?

In my opinion, you would be much better off using a 40 breeder as a reef tank as opposed to the 55. 55 are too narrow front to back to allow much in the way of aquascaping. Plus the 40 breeder has a better footprint , will use less lights, and is just a better shaped tank.[/QUOTE
I absolutely agree and am planning to use it and keep my current 55 set up as freshwater though it may get converted into a heavily planted rainbowfish tank

 

[The Gervers]

LEDs can grow just about any coral you'd want for sure. And as others have said, I'd probably use the 40 as the reef tank. The extra space front to back with make things a lot easier when creating your aquascape.

For RODI, I'm pretty sure BRS has one that can handle the chloramines, though the filter will need changing more often. If you do not get one right away, most LFS sell premade water, salt or fresh.

Trickle tower, looks like some kind of wet/dry filter. I'd say just get/make a more normal sump, and add a protein skimmer to that. If you want something to trap detritus, get a sump with a filter sock.

Welcome, and get ready to do a lot of reading haha. Do you plan on drilling the tank? I use a HOB overflow on my tank, its very reliable and I'm not too worried about ever having issues with it, but some days wish I had tried drilling the tank.

We have already been considering the RODI systems just didnt know if they would handle tap water. filter changes are no problem to me just all a part of the experience lol plus it will help on the freshwater side as well.

As far as drilling the tank, yes I do and am very proficient at drilling glass, but everytime I do my rear end clenches up until the deed is done, I really need to start investing in plastics.

 

[The Gervers]

Not really, (there is of course debate to this thought). LED's have come a LONG way in the last decade. With a good LED unit, Radion, Hydra's, Reef Breeders Photon, Kessil, even AI (there are lots more) you can have very successful growth from softies, sps, lps, leathers etc.

Good stuff LED's are a bit more cost effective, I was holding my own reserves on this as well

 

[Flippers4pups]

Thank you, quick question, will the RO system remove chlorides and chlorimines?

Yes. Depending on the cartridges you use and how long/much water you make.