Starting a 55 gallon tank from scratch. Need help!

[Herbanomics]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhwBhQEin2U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This is basically what in trying to replicate. I just got a 55 gallon for my first saltwater tank. I know breeder tanks are better for growing coral but this is my first time around so I'm not ready to invest a lot of money into it right away. I barely know what I'm doing an I've come here for help.

In this video the guy goes over some of his equipment and being the noob that I am I don't really know what he's talking about. If I could get my tank to look half as good as his I'd be happy.

I will probobaly upgrade the tank within a year so cheap DIY stuff is always my first option, or used equipment being sold here.

All your help is appreciated and I hope I can get my tank started next weekend!

 

[jason401]

first major question is if its reef ready or not. reef ready meaning is the tank drilled for a sump? do you plan on using a sump and or reugium? and or mechanical filtration?

 

[Dashiki]

55's are tempered glass and cant be drilled thats why 40 breeders are so popular (you can drill them)

If you plan on upgrading in a year then save your money for a year and buy what you want then.

 

[kingfish62]

That guy has a sweet setup. I am suprised the tank looks as good as it does with all those fish. He must have some nice filtration/refugium going on.

I have a 55g also with the same lighting But My tank is as low tech as you can get. Two hydor koralia power heads and an Aquaclear 110 powerfilter. No sump ,no powerhead, no refugium. I just try to keep up with the water changes.

Here is a pic ,pay no attention to the water level just got back from a vacation. It is nothing crazy but I am happy with it.

 

[Herbanomics]

Yeah I'm leaning towards more coral than fish. I was thinking about 10 total fish at most with maybe the same amount of different types of coral.
I'm more interested in growing out coral and keeping a few nice fish, having a nice community tank. Sticking with vibrant green colors and psychedelic looking corals.
I'm still trying to decide whether or not to use my 55 gallon that i got for 55 bucks (doesn't say its tempered anywhere, and it can come pre-drilled) I'm still assuming it is tempered.
But an overflow box is always an option

 

[shawn708]

A call to the tank manufacturer would let you know if its tempered and which panels, when I got my 75 gallon used I called the manufacturer and they looked it up for me and told me just the bottom of mine was tempered.

 

[beckbrass]

The other reason people dont use the 55 much for a reef is that they can be hard to light and hard to establish enough flow to stop dead spots from happening.

Do some research on the fish you want as well and see what kind of space requirements they need as 10 fish can be a lot in a 55. I have a 125 with 9 and think its full.

 

[P-Nut]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhwBhQEin2U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This is basically what in trying to replicate. I just got a 55 gallon for my first saltwater tank. I know breeder tanks are better for growing coral but this is my first time around so I'm not ready to invest a lot of money into it right away. I barely know what I'm doing an I've come here for help.

In this video the guy goes over some of his equipment and being the noob that I am I don't really know what he's talking about. If I could get my tank to look half as good as his I'd be happy.

I will probobaly upgrade the tank within a year so cheap DIY stuff is always my first option, or used equipment being sold here.

All your help is appreciated and I hope I can get my tank started next weekend!

that tank has too many fish.

Fish = Waste, waste = bad

I used to have that many fish. It was a PITA to mantain. Now I am building a 50 gal reef witha 30 gal refugium and will only keep 3-4 small fish (under 2"), only to add some movement.

If you plan on upgrading in a year then save your money for a year and buy what you want then.

That is excelent advise.