what should i get for a 55 gal tank.

[jshsedgwick]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#hello. i would like to know what i should buy for a 55 gallon tank. everything that i would need for a stable reef. i want it to be for fish and inverts from the indo-pacific region. please tell brands you would recamend. i dont really know what most of the abbreviations that you guys use around here are so could you please right it out? thanks. but ya, just whats all the tests and lighting and skimmers ect. does anyone know of a website that sells just aquariums? if the moderator from brigham city reads this,what were those books you had reccomended. i wrotethem down but lost the paper. thanks.#ed_op#IMG src="http://www.captivereefing.com/richedit/smileys/Happy/2.gif"#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[dakar]

Pretty broad question. To list everything you will need will vary a lot by anyone responding, I think folks are waiting for the focus to be narrowed down a bit.

I you just reasearching and considering getting the tank and getting it started or have you already begun?

Startup tests; PH, ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, the last three critical. After that it will vary depending on what you intend on keeping.

Lighting; if it's just to keep gish and inverts, anything you want, the lighting will not have any impact on the fish, they are more to please your eyes, but keep in mind algae needs light to grow so staying at or above 6500K in color temp will be easier on you.

The abbreviations/acronyms that are throwing you can all be found in the CR Dictionay we've started (link is on the Nav Bar). Or just ask.

Hope this helps a little, if you can be less broad in your questions we can give you some better answers. BTW the Mod from bigham City is Reptoreef, he should pop in here shortly, if not shoot him a private message.

[Reptoreef]

Repto here... My display is actually a 55. I recommend going at it with the intent of an eventual upgrade if you can afford it. #1- a standard 55 gl(drilled at any specialty glass shop) with a built in overflow. #2- a 30 gl sump with baffles with a chamber dedicated to a skimmer and one for a refugium w/reverse daylight lighting. I recommend a skimmer rated to perform best at up to double the size of your actual volume(approx 60 gl for above example). I like my ASM G1x skimmer. I've got a great hook-up if you're interested. For lighting... I recommend dual 150 HQI or dual 175 SE metal halides(10k) w/actinic supplimentation. I would also recommend doing some intense reading on the benefits of a calcium reactor and/or a kalkwasser reactor, depending on your eventual choices of inhabitants. That's all I dare throw out for now. Before going on with any of this, though... here's another mention of those books; Natural Reef Aquariums by Tullock, The Contienscience Marine Aquarist by Fenner, and Reef Invertibrates by Calfo and Fenner. Buzz if ya have anymore questions... I'm glad to help.

Repto

[jshsedgwick]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#thank you very much for your info. i want to put an lta with a pink skunk clown in it. what type of live sand should i get and how much? what live rock and how much? what filter would you recomend? thanks raptoreef for the list of books and stuff i should get. what brand of salt should i plan on? thanks all for your posts.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Reptoreef]

IMO, lighting as mentioned prior, a 1" - 4" fine sand SB, about 50 lbs LR, any refugium with a decent skimmer(not a wet/dry sump), and finally... about salt...m well, looks like instant ocean is probably the most common and favored, but I like some of the benefits of Oceanic, too. So, what I do now is do a 50/50 mix of Oceanic/Instant Ocean and am pleased with the outcome so far.

Repto

[dakar]

Repto your using a 50/50 mix? Are you mixing them together or substituting one for the other each water change? If you are mixng them together have you run and Alk/Cal tests (or any others) on it?

[jshsedgwick]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#thanks reptoreef for what i should do. i'll put he live rock on the list and the salt to.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#