first time seting up salt water

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K

keni

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 24, 2010
169
1
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new york
ok... so i have this tank that is 48"x12"x18". not shure how many gallons it is but i want to setup a salt water reef tank. i have an AC110 that i am going to fill with live rock as a filter but i want to know what els im going to need to do this setup. i have the funds to do a nice setup but i dont want to go crazy with this setup till i know what im doing. can anyone help me out with this and maby some ideas on the layout. i know that i want a few red manderines but other than that idk...

thanks
keni
 
First off that a 55 gallon tank give or take a few gallons..
Second Welcome to the dark side..
Third if you want to do saltwater I would do WAY more rock than a little in that filter..
Like 50 lbs or so would be good.
Third You will need a skimmer..(yes some say if fish Only With Live Rock [FOWLR] you dont need to but it's best if you do..) so get a GOOD one..
Are you gonna go Reef or FOWLR??
If going reef get yourself a RODI unit..(if you have extra money you will thank yourself for spending the money.)
And some good lights.(MH or T-5's or LED's)
Get yourself some GOOD pumps for some flow in there too..
Make sure you cycle your tank properly and you are off to the races..
Feel free to PM me more questions if you like.
 
Myteemouse;4608784; said:
First off that a 55 gallon tank give or take a few gallons..
Second Welcome to the dark side..
Third if you want to do saltwater I would do WAY more rock than a little in that filter..
Like 50 lbs or so would be good.
Third You will need a skimmer..(yes some say if fish Only With Live Rock [FOWLR] you dont need to but it's best if you do..) so get a GOOD one..
Are you gonna go Reef or FOWLR??
If going reef get yourself a RODI unit..(if you have extra money you will thank yourself for spending the money.)
And some good lights.(MH or T-5's or LED's)
Get yourself some GOOD pumps for some flow in there too..
Make sure you cycle your tank properly and you are off to the races..
Feel free to PM me more questions if you like.
Click to expand...

im not shure what FOWLR means.
 
Myteemouse;4608784; said:
First off that a 55 gallon tank give or take a few gallons..
Second Welcome to the dark side..
Third if you want to do saltwater I would do WAY more rock than a little in that filter..
Like 50 lbs or so would be good.
Third You will need a skimmer..(yes some say if fish Only With Live Rock [FOWLR] you dont need to but it's best if you do..) so get a GOOD one..
Are you gonna go Reef or FOWLR??
If going reef get yourself a RODI unit..(if you have extra money you will thank yourself for spending the money.)
And some good lights.(MH or T-5's or LED's)
Get yourself some GOOD pumps for some flow in there too..
Make sure you cycle your tank properly and you are off to the races..
Feel free to PM me more questions if you like.
Click to expand...

I second most of that.

More live rock is better in regards to biological filtration.

Skimmers are important...I always recommend one, and in my opinion they are even MORE vital on FOWLR tanks.

Powerheads (and good ones) are also nice to have. Koralia is good, without breaking the bank.

I recommend MH or LED.

The only place we are going to disagree is the RO/DI filtration. If you live in a city, or in an area where your h2o is contaminated, then yes...you are going to need to buy a filter, BUT...there is really no reason to go through the headaches that come with RO/DI if you live in an area with very pure water like myself. Get your water tested professionally for nitrogenous wastes, phosphates, heavy metals and anything else...then you can make an educated decision on whether or not you really need an RODI filter.

RATEDRSUPERFAN;4608958; said:
It's a 45 gallon tank.
Based on your dimensions i used this online calculator.
http://www.fishlore.com/ConversionCalculator.htm
Click to expand...

Yea...about. 44.88 by my calculations :D

keni;4609848; said:
im not shure what FOWLR means.
Click to expand...

Fish Only With Live Rock
 
yah after i said that i figured thats what fowlr ment. i want to do a reef tank and not just fish only. also someone said something about vodka is good for a reef tank? whats that all about? as for filtration i have 2 AC11O to put small pieces of LR in would that be good? also im going to get a skimmer any brand and size that i should get?
 
I recommend aquaC skimmers.

Cheap lights - www.aquatraders.com

AC110's are good...look into the "fuge mods" for them, that could be awesome.
 
so i got the lights now i just need a skimmer... the light i got is a 48" corallife with built in moon lights... this should be good for a reef tank right?
 
keni;4610801; said:
yah after i said that i figured thats what fowlr ment. i want to do a reef tank and not just fish only. also someone said something about vodka is good for a reef tank? whats that all about? as for filtration i have 2 AC11O to put small pieces of LR in would that be good? also im going to get a skimmer any brand and size that i should get?
Click to expand...

If you decide to try vodka dosing make sure to get a good skimmer. To put it as simply as possible, vodka dosing works by feeding bacteria that consumes nitrates and phosphates. This produces extra bacteria and the waste, which is why a good skimmer is necessary.
 
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