Planning stage - 55g acrylic tank

[goldenmean]

So a friend of mine gave me this tank(see pic below). She has several freshwater tanks but has always been inimidated by saltwater. So loves my little nano so she decided to give me this tank

First off I know the difficulties of aquascaping a tank with 48" x 12" x 20" dimensions. I have decided to accept this challenge.

Second the bioballs in the sump are gone as is the under gravel filter. The bioballs actually make great cat toys. They love em!

I have had the tank for about a month now and Have been thinking of all the equipment i will need.

RO/DI system is first.
With the nano I did not mind going to the LFS once a month to get RO/DI water but I do not want to lug water for this tank. From doing research i have decided to call the Filter Guys and let them hook me up with the system that best fits my needs. I do want to have a drinking system for the RO water and I have heard that the Filter guys are the best. $200-250

Skimmer
My LFS suggested a CPR-SR2 which of course they sell. I found that skimmer about $50 cheaper online but in researching this model It seems that as far as skimmers go they are not that efficient - just adequate.
Doing some more research on RS and other sites it seems that the Aqua C remora is quite popular so I looked into the Acua C Urchin. I was also looking into the Octopus NW 150. Then I measured the inside of my sump and realized I had serious size limitations and I can forget about the Urchin and the Octopus.
I thought about buying a new sump but if I was going to do that I would just go to my LFS and buy a different tank with a built in sump for not much more than just a new sump would cost. Then I discovered the Tunze DOC Protein Skimmer 9005 which has a small footprint, is of good quality and effieciency. So with the in-sump attachment it will run me $300.

Lights
I was thinking about: Current USA PowerCompact Orbit Fixtures but decided that I wanted to be able to keep clams and sps so I was looking into T5s. The Current USA Nova Extreme Fixtures were interesting but they only have one reflector instead of individual reflectors for each bulb. I did find some other T5 fixtures with the individual reflectors but by then I had pretty much just go right out and get MH. The Current USA Outer Orbit is too big. 15 inches wide to only 12 inches of my tank. Currently I am leaning to the 48in Current USA SunPod 2x150W 14K HQI-MH w/ 18 Lunar Lights. Or should I go with the 2 x 250 W version? The SunPod only has theHQI-MH and the lunar lights. There are no Actinic lights. I know I do not have to have actinic lights but I am concerned with how my reef will look with out them. Let me know what you think.
Sunpod 2 x 150W - $500
Sunpod 2 x 250W- $619

Pumps
Return and in tank needed. I haven't done much research yet.
Would love your suggestions.
With everything else I need to buy for this tank I cannot presently afford a tunze system.
That will have to be a future upgrade.

Stand
I haven't done much research in this area either.
The tank is going into the dining room which opens into the living room. I have considered buying a console that matches the coffee table, media center, and end table in the living room. The sump could go on the lower shelf. The draw back to this is that the lower shelf area is completely open I will probably go with a regular tank stand.

Living Rock
MY LFS has Fiji premium for $5.99/lbs if I buy over 40 lbs.
I know I could probably get it cheaper online but they I cannot hand pick it myself.
I am considering macrorocks.com. This rock is not LIVE but then I would buy less live rock from the LFS to seed the macro rock. 25# fiji and 25# tonga shelf rock would run me $155 plus shipping Then I would buy about 20# LR. I realize I would have to give this more time but I am patient.
Still I will probably buy from my LFS(s) so I can hand pick my LR 50-60lbs = $300-350.

I have also been considering The reef rack that I found on ReeferMadness.com which is a shelving system for your LR. This may be helpful in dealing with my tank size limitations in aquascaping. I could not find anything else on the web about this product. Anyone know anything about it? It doesnt cost much so I may give it a try.

I still have more planning to do.
Please let me know what you think
I would appreciate any and all advice.
Thanks for reading all this

I do know one thing. This hobby is not cheap!

[DaveK]

Ok, you asked for what we think, so here I go.

Generally what you plan is ok, nothing seriously wrong there.

However, look at the amount of money you are going to spend. So far you have about $1500 spent on the system, and no livestock yet.

You would come out way ahead, and not spend that much more money if you used the 55 gal tank as a sump, and got a larger tank and stand. I'd recommend a 70 gal or 90 gal tank.

You don't have the stand yet. So that's a new cost anyway, and getting a larger tank will let you get something that is reef ready, in glass if you like, and you'll avoid a lot of floods that external hang on tank overflows can "provide".

[goldenmean]

Thanks Dave - I knew YOU were going to say, "get a larger tank."

Actually I really like the idea of turning the 55g into a sump. I could have
a double decker tank display and divide the 55g into a refugium & sump.
If I owned my own home I would be more inclined to do just that.
But I am a renter and the big 200+g system will have to wait.

I know I could save some money in the long run and buy a larger reef-ready tank but I really am looking forward to getting this 55g tank to work.

I know UPGRADE is the next progession of the Reefing disease/addiction.

I do really appreciate your advice and wisdom!

[ReefSilly]

The money you are spending on this 55gal. makes no sense to me!
I would use the 55 as suggested and get the bigger tank now.

[ReefSilly]

My friend just got her MH and the 150W 14K is to white for me
I like the 20K for the blue look.

[DaveK]

Originally Posted by goldenmean

Thanks Dave - I knew YOU were going to say, "get a larger tank." ...

I do really appreciate your advice and wisdom!

Thanks!

I should explain further. I have used a 55 gal tank, and have personally experienced all the problems with the tank shape. It's not too bad in FW where you can plant tall thin plants to give the tank the feeling of depth, front to back, but this is almost impossible to do in SW with LR that tends to be big bulky stuff.

I will say you can use a 55 gal tank, it's not like some other equipment that dooms you to failure from the start.

Good luck with your project!

[ReefSilly]

I have all my LR against the wall no design to it; it's not pretty but theres 140lbs of it. I'll see if I can find a picture.

[MDPinUSA]

I had an old 55 gal. acrylic tank with stand sitting in our warehouse for some years. I decided to set it up, Bare Bones.

This tank has now been up and running for a few years. It contains various forms of visually pleasing lava rock as supports for various corals. There is no sand or gravel (not one grain). No skimmer. No sump. No UV. No doser. No reactor(s). No supplements. No "live rock", as all decorations are now covered with coraline.

Just water changes using BIO-SEA for several months. Then switching to Marine Env. This is truly a bare bottom tank.

When the tank was 100% BS, everything looked great. With the change to ME, I saw what appeared to be slightly better colors and better size and growth to all corals.

The aquarium is maintained at 77F/25C at a specific gravity of 1.025.

With the additional growth of the corals, increased siphoning of detritus must be performed.

Siphoning out detritus at least once a week prolongs water changes. Siphoning out detritus keeps yellow water discoloration to a minimum and maintains lower waste ion test levels.

I would not hesitate using BIO-SEA if Marine Environment was not handy.

Filtration inside the aquarium is one small Otto power head with foam prefilter.

Prime filtration is one 5 gallon bucket on top of the aquarium. This is fitted with a rotating spray bar that allows system water to be sprinkled over BI OX (advanced bio ball). System water is pumped from the aquarium via a larger Otto powerhead.

Lighting is 360 watts of power compacts. The PC lamps are changed every 10-12 months.

There one Jager heater.

The tank is heavily stocked with a variety of mushroom, elephant ear and toad stool corals. There are a pair of cleaner shrimp that reproduce twice a month, one blood shrimp and one tomato clown that is 14 years old.

The BI OX (balls) are removed from the over the tank 5 gallon bucket 2-3 times per year and cleaned with water removed during water changes.

There is an abundance of coraline algae. It sometimes becomes a chore to clean it from the front and sides of the aquarium. -- That is the biggest chore of keeping this aquarium. -- The second chore is siphoning detritus once a week. -- The third chore is not a chore at all. It is making water changes (absolutely no big deal as I know the animals will respond in a positive way).

My fourth (or real) chore is dealing with internet educated hobbyists that request a 150 gallon size salt mix and want/hope/pray that this package will last up to two years They plan do a total of 1-3 gallon water changes every month on their nano, micro, mini reefs! -- When those calls come in, I know it is time for me to do a water change on the 55.

A cured 33 gallon Rubbermaid container is on a roller platform. It is placed below the discharge spout of a 150 gallon medical grade storage container. Inside this container is RO water.

The Rubber maid is filled to 25 gallons with RO water. Two 600+ gph pumps are placed in the container. The outlet of each pump is directed so maximum water movement is achieved.

A 25 gallon BIO-SEA or ME is opened, the RAG card is removed.... the salts are s l o w l y added to the mixing vat.

Within 20 minutes the solution is clear and all salts are dissolved.

This solution is allowed to mix until the two power heads bring the temp. to 77F/25C. That is usually about 36-48 hours. This depending on the ambient temp.

I estimate there is 42 actual US gallons of water in this bare bones and heavily decorated aquarium.

Water changes at the rate of 10% every two weeks to 20% per day have been performed on this bare bones 55 gallon tank.

With once a week .siphoning of detritus a water change routine of 10% twice a week is more than adequate.

To make a long story short.... and I know this is the time .... a 55 gallon tank can be a great display. Of course, like a few other things... bigger is better... but, if space and costs are a concern.... your 55 will give you a lot of enjoyment.

The more support equipment you employ, the less your maintenance.

Since our 55 was set up as an experimental tank, and we have more salt than you can lift, water changes are not an issue.

Besides, I wanted to see how much I could push the aquatic envelope.

IMO the water we use is keeping the tank together.

Enjoy your 55.

[goldenmean]

Thanks MDP for the encouragement!
I would love to see a picture of this tank.

In my original post I forgot to add:

SALT.
Buy more Bio-Sea from Aquacraft.

Thanks to your free bag of Bio-Sea earlier this year I am now using Bio-Sea in my Nano. The most noticible impovement since the change has been the disapearance of different colored algae along the acrlic but in the sand bed. I used to have a lots of dark colored growth on the sides of the tank below the sand. Since swithing to Bio-Sea this has all disapeared.

I will definately be using Bio-Sea for this new tank.

[MDPinUSA]

Goldie.... BIO-SEA and a slew of Elos test kits has been sent to you, as you are part of the RAG Gold Project #1.

Advise in the Aqua Craft forum, STANDARDIZATION thread when you receive your CARE package.