New Tank - Possibly Saltwater?

[FWKyle]

So today im picking up a new (used) tank off of craigslist. 55g Truvu with stand, fluval 404, coralife 48 fixture with lights new ballasts and tank clamps, BAK PAK protein skimmer, 30lbs of rock, heater, unused 10g sump, and a few other things. My origional thought was to go FW with it but im sort of intriguied by the SW world.

Reccomend me a good way to start out in the SW world only using the stuff that I have (plus substrate/salt/etc). What brands would you go with for salt/substrate and anything else that I may need? To start I will want to be running live rock with fish but down the road (maybe 8 -10 months) I want to start with some corals so I need to leave that option open when building this tank.

Any tips would be great that may apply to my specific setup. Also I will probably use the sump one day but not yet. Additionally I want to keep this tank setup as quiate as possible and I hear the BAK PAK is loud, would I be ok with running only a 404 with just fish and maybe setting up the sump when it comes time for coral? How loud are those 404's?

Thanks for any suggestions ahead of time.

 

[FWKyle]

A couple of follow up questions aswell.

I just picked up the setup and I got a ton of stuff. The fluval has seen better days so I was thinking, if I put about 50lbs of live rock in there with a BAK PAK 2 skimmer and two powerheads would that be enough filtration for fish/LR? Coral wont come for awhile but at that point I will probably use a sump.

Also what cleaning procedures should I partake in pre adding water? The guy previously ran it as SW.

Finally is there any reinforcement that I should do with the truvu 55? Adding sealents etc?

 

[mach_six]

Don't think your current lights setup would support many corals only live rock w/ coralline algae at most.

I would dump the Fluval and keep the protein skimmer. For a 55G tank that skimmer might be underrated. I ran it on a 38G H and I think it wasn't doing a good job for minimal livestock. You may want to look into upgrade the pump to a Maxijet and do the mod for it, it should boost the output of nasty stuff it collects.

If it's really nasty then use some mild detergent w/o anti-bacterial. if it's just crusty with salt just hose it off if it does not smell...

I don't think you need to reinforce it if that's how he was running it, use your judgment ie acrylic is not holding up then. If the seams look good then there's no need. If you're worried fill up the tank and see how it holds up.

 

[mr.reef24]

So today im picking up a new (used) tank off of craigslist. 55g Truvu with stand, fluval 404, coralife 48 fixture with lights new ballasts and tank clamps, BAK PAK protein skimmer, 30lbs of rock, heater, unused 10g sump, and a few other things. My origional thought was to go FW with it but im sort of intriguied by the SW world.

Reccomend me a good way to start out in the SW world only using the stuff that I have (plus substrate/salt/etc). What brands would you go with for salt/substrate and anything else that I may need? To start I will want to be running live rock with fish but down the road (maybe 8 -10 months) I want to start with some corals so I need to leave that option open when building this tank.

Any tips would be great that may apply to my specific setup. Also I will probably use the sump one day but not yet. Additionally I want to keep this tank setup as quiate as possible and I hear the BAK PAK is loud, would I be ok with running only a 404 with just fish and maybe setting up the sump when it comes time for coral? How loud are those 404's?

Thanks for any suggestions ahead of time.

For salt I would use instant ocean Reef Crystal's Substrate Caribsea, as far as noise for 404 so quite you'll never hear it I would setup you sump asap and look-up ASM the smallest sump protein skimmer really quite no noise last forever does great work. for the sump itself look up refugium and setup your sump like that if you plan on doing a coral tank down the road you'll want probably 60 lbs live rock and 55 pound's sand i would do sugar sized since it's gonna be a reef and most reef fish need a soft substrate when the rest on the sand aragonite can damage them. Any other question's you got Private Message me or post and I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.

mr.reef24

 

[FWKyle]

I have about 40lbs of used to be live rock and i plan on picking up another 15lbs of actual live rock. Do I need all live sand? Or can I maybe do a bottom layer of crushed coral and top of live?

 

[micstarz]

You have more than enough equipment to get going. I started with a tank, a heater, a HOB, and some salt.

 

[mr.reef24]

I have about 40lbs of used to be live rock and i plan on picking up another 15lbs of actual live rock. Do I need all live sand? Or can I maybe do a bottom layer of crushed coral and top of live?

you really don't need live sand because most of the microfauna will make it's way to the sand from the live rock and multiply making it live sand. bottom you could do aragonite or crushed and top you can do sugar sized. Good point above me about a heater.

mr.reef24