Getting set up with 50 gal tank.

Hello,

I've been lurking around for a while and I am getting ready to setup my first reef tank.

I was planning on acquiring the parts in 200-300$ stages, every month or as needed. I am in no rush to add anything to the tank. Please let me know if this is OK.

Stage 1:

50 gallons tank
50 lbs of sand
60 lbs of rocks
2x powerheads -I need your advice on brand, quantity and size.
Salt

I was thinking of letting this run with a couple of raw shrimp until the cycle is done. How long do you think it can/should run like that?

Stage 2:

20 gallons sump -Size ok?
350 GPH submersible pump -I need your advice on brand and size.
Some sort of filtering media -Advice?
A couple of Damsels?

Stage 3:
Good quality skimmer -Suggestions?

Stage 4:
Corals -Suggestions?
36 inch 4x t5 fixture 300$ budget -suggestions?

I want to go progressively and get to know my system as I am building it. Also, money is thigh right now so I don't want to spend all the money right away if I don't have to.

Let me know what you think, I value you guys opinion!

Thanks

 

everything seems great and WELCOME. Taking it slow is great. Just one suggestion move the light up to stage 2. I would leave fish and corals last.

 

make sure to add around 30%-40% of dead rock or sand to save some money *If you want*. They will all eventually become live rock anyway, that would save you good money.

Powerhead: Koralia are great, and probably around 800 ghp.

Sump: Size is great, mine was 20gallon sump when I use to have 90gallon

Skimmer: I don't know, never used skimmer before

Corals: I suggest wait atleast 2-3 month *After* the cycle is done, to mature up your tank a bit before adding corals, same with Nem's but they are suggested +9 months.

Cycling takes around 30 days or so, mine took like 2 months and half though, since I used 10lb of live rock and 20lb of dead rock and dead sand. Saved around +$100 going the dead rock/sand route



Damsels: no bad idea, once you find out they are harming your tank mates, you will be in front of the tank working your butt off trying to catch those jet like fish.
never ever add damsel they are no fun lol

 

@hasek1639:

Any reason why I should get the light before the corals? I was under the impression that only the corals need it.

@Mkizla:

For live sand and rock, I though I could do a mix as well. Where can I find dead rock? The LFS does have LR but that's it. And regarding sand, I looked today and there was 20 lbs of aragonite live for 50$ but I though the grain was a little small. I read that between 1 and 2 mm is the way to go. Comment?

2x 800 GPH powerheads? Or 800 total?

So if you don't use a skimmer, what's in your sump? I know there are different methods but it's hard to find all the information in one place...

Thanks for you reply both!

 

search around for dead rocks, only 1 out of 4 local LFS sold dead rock in my area.
In my sump, I had chaetos plants, live rock, live sand, lighting, some carbon in the next area.

And I had 1 1200 GHP pump when I had 90 gallon, so maybe around 600-800 each.

I dont know much about sand, all I know is dont get the super fineeeee sand, like the beach sand, Im having hard time with them right now. With just a little power head facing downwards, it creates massive sand storm, so theres no flow in the sand area, therefore im going through a cyano. Im probably going to get dead aragonite sand. 10lb = 10 dollar for dead sands.

 

After many mistakes on my 1st salt tank, I broke down and started from scratch. Use the search engine, it will be your best friend. I agree with the $200 - $300 budget and stages. I'm working on my 50 gallon FOWLR now and have read so much. I'm also planning a 90 gallon reef for the 1st of the year. Ask questions, read threads, ask more questions and read more threads. Best of luck.

Brian

 

So I went to my local reef store and got:

Maxi-Jet MP 1200
Hydor Koralia Evolution 1400
30 lbs of sand (cant remember the brand)

They say I should get 30 lbs of live rock to get started. I said I wanted to go with base rock as well to save money but they told me it would take too long to get started and it was not porous enough.

What do you guys think? I don't care if the tank runs for two months with no fish if I can save 6$/lbs on rock.

Can I go with all dead rock? They have base rock for 2.45/lbs.


I am also working on making my own LED fixture using 24 1w CREEs. Stay tunned for that...

 

well 20-30 lb of live rock sounds good and rest with dead rock , you wouldnt want to go full dead rock, and dead sand also, that means theres no bacteria anywhere to grow. I think you got dead sand? even though you did not mention it. Anyway, yeah 20-30lb of live rock sounds good enough depends how long you think you can wait for. For me I went 80% dead rock, took around almost 2 months for 29 gallon, actually I went river rock lol because I didnt think there would be differnce, got that for $1 per pound, but now it looks more like a freshwater then salt water, but its pretty in its own way lol.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/my-biocube-29-a-91524.html

I wouldnt recommand you going river rocks, *if you were thinking about it* they at times come with bad trace elements like copper or metals, I think I just got lucky with mine.

 

Maxi jets are good power heads, a little unsightly IMO, but I started with them too.

As for dry rock, to me, base rock is "live" rock that is dead. It should be dry. IMO, it also is the same type of rock as "live" rock, such as fiji, tonga, florida etc. just dry. It should look the same and be as porous as the live rock them have. It sounds like they may be trying to sell you rock that may be meant for freshwater. Take a look at it, if you don't like the way it looks, don't buy it. I've bought some really good base rock online from bulkreefsupply.com and really liked it.

As for cycling, it may or may not take longer. I've cycled just base rock in 2 weeks, however it will probably be more like 4-6. If you have the time I would buy all good quality base rock, use 1 damsel or a 1 piece of raw shrimp to cycle and you'll be good to go.

As for you DIY LED fixture, it sounds cool, but you may want to use 2-3w LEDs as I don't know how much PAR the 1w LEDs have.

 

I probably would try chromis instead of damsel, they really get to be pain in the ass to catch it later once you dont want it since they are so aggresive, and both are same price around 4 bucks