ruromastyx1

Alright all you salt people out there, guess I am about to join you. I swore I would never get a salt tank but then I started working at a LFS on the weekends that specilizes in reef setups....I just finished building my stand for a 55 gallon tank. Here is what I have aquired so far.
55 gallon tank
cap 2200 pump
150 watt heater
wet/dry filter and sump (good for up to 75 gallon tank)
overflow box and kit
tank stand.

here is what I have already picked out just have not bought yet

R/O water filitration system
48in power compact light system at about 375 watts total
thinking at about 50lbs of live rock
75lbs of live sand

I have a few questions, and I have searched all around the site but still feel the need to ask.
1. Am I missing anything from my list? (besides a protien skimmer that will be my last purchase)

2. is 50lbs of live rock good enough for now.

3. what is the best way to cycle the tank...I have read so many diffrent ways that I just got confused.


Thanks in advance fo all and any help!!!

Rbacchiega

I guess you could say that a general rule of thumb is 1 - 1.5 per gallon, but also go depending on what looks good. IE in my 90 there will eventually be probably close to 110 lbs of live rock...and I"m still up in the air as to if I want bare bottom or shallow sand bed....

You also might want to look at getting some sort of power head (or two even) to keep a good water movement, especially if you're looking at going with a true reef setup...what kind of lights are you planning on running? Power compacts (which I think you're looking at) would suffice for a few types of corals, but even though its more money, if you could save up for a metal halide system, you can have more variety in what you'd like to keep

hope this helps

ruromastyx1

Thanks,
Yeah i am looking into powerheads and pretty much have agreed that I need one or two. As for lights I am just going with a 48in powercompact setup for now...I am more into shrimps and fish then coral but would like to have a few soft corals in there. thanks for the advice!

Trio123

I would definately do two power heads in a 55 gallon. 50 lbs of rock is fine. Just add rock as you add fish. Thats your biological filtration as you know, you will need more as you add more fish. A pound or pound and a half as state above is what you'll want in the end. I would keep in mind though that alot of times at stores you get a discount when you purchase over a certain poundage and you might want that discount on the other 10 or so pounds... just a thought if it's applicable.

As for the cycling it depends on if the live rock your using is cured or not. I've always heard if it is cured and your using live sand your good to go. Add fish slowly though and test periodically. Make sure your first fish are hardy incase the tank starts to cycle. This can happen if the rock was not completely cured. That first fish you add should really only be kinda waking up the bacteria, it should not cycle if you get good cured rock.

Im just gonna keep on editing this, I dont even know if your reading it anymore Some people start out with thier clean up crew first but not shrimps or anything really sensitive. Maybe some Blue Legs, Scarlet Leg, and a variety of snails. Honestly the main reason for this is that people are much more heart broken if thier first fish dies then a few snails and it gets you into a good habit of buying clean up crews.

am I talking to myself again?

LuvaBetta

Not at all! I need everything I can read! I'm a total, accidental salt newbie, I have freshwater tanks, but mom, who lives with us, decided to put $$ down on a 24g Aquapod as she really liked the one in the lfs. Of course, she knew less than I so I'm the "expert"!

We're going for a reef tank, with maybe a couple of fish.

I have a couple of questions right off, why do we have so darned much greenish brown algae?
I'd really like to start getting some coral, what is the best kind to start with? We're looking for both hardy and pretty.
What will be the best choices for more members of the cleaning crew?

Background: the tank is cycled, we've had it up only about 6 weeks with about 15# of live rock, live sand, 2 damsels to help the cycle (they're temps), 2 trochus snails, one emerald crab, and something ugly that literally crawled out of a rock! I think it's a slug. I've been using "Purple up" and we have some nice coralline algae going. We buy our SW from the lfs as I don't want to deal with the RO/DI part yet.

Mike

I wouldn't add the rock in pieces as you add fish. The live rock could cause ammonia and nitrite spikes from dead and decaying organisms when curing. I would only add rock to an established tank after it had been running in another tank for weeks/months to consider it "cured".

And there is no need to add any fish at all when using live rock to cycle a tank. Use your test kits to determine if it's safe to add fish and then stock very slowly.

I wouldn't add any stony corals to a tank until it is well established (months) and you start to see the coralline growing on the live rock and tank walls. But it sounds like the purple up is working for you. There are sooooo many corals with very different needs as far as lighting and feeding requirements.

With power compacts I'd probably research the soft corals, mushrooms and corallimorphs.

Trio123

Should have specified in the first paragraph that I was talking about "cured" live rock that you can add slowly after you put in the 50 lbs that you stated in the original post.

Some good critters to use for a clean up crew are red leg, blue leg crabs, cerith snails, turbo snails, margarita snails, and narcissarius (sp? they clean up your sand) snails. Stay away from brittle stars that will sometimes swipe your fish and chocolate chip stars that will kill corals. A sand sifter star is the best in my opinion. Wait until the tank is established to add shrimp as they are a bit more sensitive. Cleaner shrimp are the best in my opinion but peppermints are good too.

Plate corals are usually good beginner corals but get a second opinion on that. Someone with more experience with them?

also about your algae, test your phosphates (sp?), that's something alot of people dont do but is a really good idea as high phosphates stimulates algae growth and can stunt or kill corals. Brown slime stuff is caused by over feeding usually (that is also where your excess phosphates would be coming from being that your water should be good being that your buy it from you lfs). What are you feeding?

Trio123

Mike, pretty sure we are replying to two different people unless ruromastyx1 is the same person as LuvaBetta. So LuvaBetta doesnt have power compacts. Maybe you could move LuvaBetta's question to another thread so there is less confusion?

LuvaBetta

no, sometimes i'm schizo, but i'm still only one person!

I'd read about the phosphates in another thread, but in all the information i'm trying to learn, it slipped out. I'll check that. thanks!

I'm feeding the 2 damsels frozen brine shrimp, once a day.

Trio123

good, flake food is messy and really easy to over feed

sorry Im slow tonight, so your not the orginial poster of this thread right LuvaBetta?

LuvaBetta

No I'm not, but - you asked if you were talking to yourself! So.. um, no!

Trio123

thats cool I have too many conversations with myself :P Just clearifying. Keep us updated and post a pic of the tank if you have a chance! Pics are always fun