Newbie 55G, any advice?

[redeye12345]

I am going to be setting up a 55G for the first time. I would like to keep a little bit of everything in my tank, fish SPS corals and softies. Thus far my plan is as follows:

55g Tank
20 g sump (return pump size?)
skimmer (any recomendations?)
2 or 3 powerheads of what flow rate?
110 pounds live rock
55 pounds live sand

For lighting I am planning on purchasing an aqua-medic fixture that has (2) 250 watt metal halide and (2) 54 watt T5.

My tank is glass and not drilled so I will need to use an overflow box to bring water to the sump which makes me nervous. Any recomendations for a good overflow box and of what size? Am I just being paranoid about the overflow box breaking siphon?

If you can recomend any other items I will need to get going or which product may be better than another, the advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all.

 

[TekCat]

Welcome!!! Looking good!
20 g sump (return pump size?) = Mag7 or Mag9 should do the trick.

skimmer (any recomendations?) = Check out AquaC skimmers. They have pretty good reputation.

2 or 3 powerheads of what flow rate? = I'd recomment a couple of SEIO 820 for main flow.

Your light choice sounds good.

Overflow, I'd recommend QuietFlow 600 or 1200. I have 600 on my 55G tank, and it is very reliable.


As far as sand.. make sure it is fine aragonite, do not use crushed coral.

 

[Steffish]

I started with a 55 with an overflow box. Never had it break siphon. After cleaning the tank I would occasionally get a few mouthfuls of saltwater. ....

. I love RR.

 

[redeye12345]

TekCat,

I have heard some people also use activated carbon in their tanks. Any thoughts on it? And if used where would it go, is it just a bag you would put in the sump?

 

[AllenFord_SC]

[welcome]
Activated carbon is great for water clarification and can simply be put in a filter sock and hung in the sump in a high flow area.

 

[TekCat]

Yes, activated carbon is a good addition, however it should be replaced every week or 2 weeks depending on your bio-load. When it gets saturated it may start leaking nasty things back in tank. So, just beware
As far as its effectiveness: placing it in sump wont be as effective as using it in a canister filter. When bag of carbon floats in sump, most water just flows around carbon, where in canister, water forced through the media. Guess where you get better yield out of the same bag of carbon ?

 

[Z-ReefKeeper]

[welcome]

 

[capefear]

sounds good