New to Fish in General.

Hello my name is Teddy Salmon from Alva, Oklahoma. I currently have a 55 gallon freshwater that is thriving and clean. I have just started with fish so I am learning as I go and hope to get the right advice to keep my fish happy. After starting my fresh water tank I got so attached to the beauty of the tanks I wanted more. I love the work that comes with this hobby and my 2 kids really enjoy helping. I currently am cycling my 65 gallon tank with 85 lbs of live rock. I have an emporer 400 with the Biowheels removed, a prizm skimmer that seems to be doing well, 1 Hydor Koralia #1 and #2, 1 off brand 170gph ph also, a Current Satellite 1005 1x96(will this be ok?), and marineland heater.

I have been searching all over for information regarding my setup but have only found little here and there. I just want to know how to make it look real good, and what would be good suggestions for coral, mushrooms, polyps, fish, and inverts?

 

Here comes the welcome wagon........
Seriously though everyone here will help you out in every way! Just start asking questions and someone will know an answer!

 

I really was looking at a good start right now, I am sure that once I get into this a few years I am going to want a lot bigger tank but I just want a beautifull tank. My tank has been set up for 2 weeks now and still as clear as can be, I dont have any algea and my nitrite lvels have started to spike so it is just time before inverts from what I have read.

 

Oh and yes on the light from what I can understand I think I got ripped here is the link to my light and you can tell me. Satellite | Current What's Next it is model 1005

 

Welcome to the family. You will learn much on 3reef. Lord knows I have.

In terms of flow. I just upgraded my flow in my tank at the advise of some very helpful individuals here. I have a 75g and am running 2 Koralia-3s, a Maxijet (200GPH) and my return gives me about 450GPH. My total is around 2400GPH.

I have not heard very good things about the prizm PS. People tend to upgrade this to something along the lines of a PM bullet, AquaC EV model or the like. If you want to drool, look at a Deltec. I have got a used ETSS coming in the mail myself. So you will want to upgrade that someday.

Your lighting. If you want corals, you will want T5s or Metal Halide. This is the area where you don't skimp. Period. Do it right. Search the forums on the subject. There are quite a few threads that apply to your situation. While your tank is cycling, you don't need to worry about this. In fact, you can start with a FO system and save up for a good lighting fixture. Once you get it, you can put in your corals. Just make sure your choice of fish and/or inverts are reef safe.

Your live rock is fine. Good job.

Do you have live sand? If you don't, and you want some, aragonite is what I have. It has worked well for me.

I would get a submersible 250W heater for your set up. If your heater is used, get a new one. When those things go bad, it can mean electified water.

And that brings up two things. A ground probe. Get one. $14. That will protect your lifestock from current generated from your hardware and lights that are making it into your tank. And get a GCFI unit for any wall plugs that are going to be involved with your aquarium. That will protect you. If a heater goes bad and the water becomes a death trap, it will trip and power will be cut to your tank. It is about $10 per unit.

The 400? Your choice whether to run it or not. You probably don't need it. Your rock will be the main filtration.

And most run a sump/fuge. Look into that and see if it is a possibility in your situation. Here is a link to educate you on sumps and refugiums

Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums

In fact, just an hour ago, I had the graph paper out and was planning my DIY sump/fuge using a design from this site.

You are going to have soooooo much fun.

So, as usual, I have rambled on and on and on. But I am a newbie at this and far too passionate about my hobby. From what I hear, it only gets worse (better).

Later.......and Peace.......John.

 

Hate to say it, but with that light, you should go with a FOWLER (Fish Only With Live Rock). If you want to keep corals, you'll need to upgrade to at least T5's. How deep is that tank? You may need MH (Metal Halides).

As far as inverts go:

Get your cleanup crew from Reefcleaners.org. Use the Custom Cleanup Crew option and John will take good care of you. But, I'd wait a couple more weeks before ordering them.

And, for the love of (insert whatever you want here), don't rush. I tore my tank (7 1/2 years old) down and started over almost 2 months ago. Just added a cleanup crew last week. Won't add anything else for at least another month. The faster you go, the more problems you'll have.

 

well I was just looking at my reciept and I think they gave me the wrong lights I paid for, I do believe they were suppose to be 2x96. My tank measures 36"Lx18"Wx24"H. I am going to call my LFO tomorrow and get this straightened out because I paid like $200 for a lite that was supose to be able to handle corals. I also will get some pics up here soon of my new tank.

 

Well, see if you can apply that $200 to a better set of lights. You are going to need T5's or MH's. With that deep of a tank, you probably should go straight for the MH's. Will be more than $200, but there's no way any PC light is going to penetrate to the bottom of a 24 inch deep tank.