Just moved back to Bama and new to site.

[KingRicky]

Hello All,
I have just relocated back to Alabama from South Florida; I am originally from the Mobile area. I have just purchased a 55g set up from a friend and want to start a reef tank. I have had FOWLR tanks in the past but my move to Florida required selling them so I have not had a tank in the last 5 years.

I have just purchased 30lbs. of base rock and will be looking to get live rock this weekend and make my first batch of water. I always used water from the gulf with my other tank’s (I lived on Dauphin Island at the time) so making saltwater will be new to me.
I am building this tank slowly due to the fact that I want to have corral for the first time. I know that corral is a few months away but I need advice to make sure everything is right for when the time comes to add the corral.

Just to let you know what I have so far, 55g drilled tank w/stand, Tidepool 1w/d, mag 5 return pump, Diatom XL filter w/powder and a UV disinfection unit. All of this came with the tank.
I am looking for advice on how to set this tank up as I have never set up a reef tank before. I would appreciate all the help that I can get.

Thanks,

 

[mltmtascp]

Welcome back to Alabama.
Two good website to look at are:
http://www.melevsreef.com/
www.garf.com
We prefer a simple setup
good lights- depends on type of coral you want to raise
Refrugium
good skimmer
Live rock
a couple powerheads
Hope this helps.
Monica

 

[mltmtascp]

Sorry about website
it is
www.garf.org

 

[The0wn4g3]

Equipment wise, I'd see if I could find a Mag-Drive 7 or maaaybe a 9.5. I'm running a Mag7 on my 65gal with about 5ft of total head pressure and I'd estimate it's pushing around 500GPH. If you want to avoid powerheads it would be best to move up from the Mag 5, unless you plan on converting the Tidepool into a refugium.
I don't have any experience with diatom filters, but typically UV sterilizers aren't used on reef tanks, but they don't really hurt unless you're going for the "all natural" approach which some people prefer.
Quality lights and flow are the most important factors in a reef tank. I would recommend a 4-6x 48" T5HO retrofit kit depending on the type of corals you wish to keep.
For filtration, if it were my tank I'd remove the biowheel from the Tidepool and convert it into a little refugium. I'm not sure how feasible it is to drill a tidepool, but for the sake of space it would be best to mount the return pump externally.
These are, of course, just opinions.

Good luck with the tank! I'm sure it will end up awesome with the help of the people on these boards.

 

[KingRicky]

Monica,
Thanks for the link, when I get home tonight I will definetaly check it out.

TheOwn4g3,
I am thinking about doing away with the Tidepool, I am talking to cichild nutz about a 20g to make into a DIY sump.

I am also picking up a Skimmer from joey08 this weekend.

I just purchased 2-2X54 T-5 w/2-10,000k & 2-TRU Actinic's from Hellolights, the price was very good.

I hope this gets me started right. I will look into upgrading my pump also. My base rock will be delivered tomorrow and I plan on getting some LR this weekend to start the tank cycle.

Thanks for the help.

 

[JR's Reef]

[welcome]

hey kingricky. i just moved one of my tanks and didnt need all the rock. i will send you a pm on the details

 

[KingRicky]

Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

[mltmtascp]

We like powerheads because they prevent dead spaces in your tank. We use koralia.

 

[KingRicky]

Thanks Monica, I will look into getting some of them. Do you think that they can wait until I get the tank cycled and add them before I add livestock.

 

[JR's Reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12588124#post12588124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KingRicky
Do you think that they can wait until I get the tank cycled and add them before I add livestock.

Yes they can wait

 

[mltmtascp]

I agree that they can wait. We shopped arround the internet for the best prices on them.

 

[KingRicky]

Thanks for the info.

I am setting up my tank this weekend. 30lbs. of dry base rock arrived yesterday, picking up 20lbs of LR Saturday along with a skimmer from joey08.
I am getting my sand today, father in law went diving in the gulf about 10-15 miles from Dauphin Island yesterday and got me some from around a reef in about 100' of water.

I am planning on trying to find about 20 more lbs. of LR to add to tank. Are there any lfs in the Birmingham area that have good LR that I can get. I was thinking about ordering 20lbs. from Tamp Bay Saltwater. Has anyone ever dealt with them?