Newbie needing some opinions

I just bought a 55 gallon tank with stand, heater, and marineland 350. I have had some experiance in freshwater tanks but got the urge to start up a saltwater tank without doing much research and now I am trying to back track and create a reef tank without blowing my bank account to pieces. I have about 50 lbs. of cured LR and 60 lbs. dry sand. Tomorrow I will be purchasing a Giesemann Reflexx 48". My questions are:

1. Marineland 350 good enough for a reef tank?
2. Should I add on Octopus bh-100ss or maybe the 100f?
3. 2 #2's Karalias or should I go with the 3's?

I am hoping this set up will work as I dont want to drill my tank. Also if I do get the hang on skimmer would there be a need to use the marineland?

Thank you for all your help

 

Hey Zimmy,
Im not a pro like most of the other guys on here but i really dont think a bio-wheel (marineland 350 is a bio-wheel correct?) is sufficient for a reef tank.

 

Flip a coin on that...It has a lot to do with the bio load you put in...I would say your ok to begin...but as things settle down and you add more livestock...you may want to consider a sump/fuge/return set up.....then you will wish had drilled it and so on and so forth...JMO, but I just went though this whole bigger better stronger thang ! : )
There ya have it....
Good luck.

LG

 

I would turn the marine land into a HoB Fuge, id def go with the octopus and def go with the two k3s, my buddie just went to a LFS today the k2s where 49 and the k3s where 51 idk what the inet price is but if its that little def go bigger as it cant hurt. Also get a refractometer ASAP

 

Ok, Im going to my lfs tomorrow to purchase my lighting and the powerheads. Does it make a differance on the octopus models and are there any threads on diy for the conversion of the 350 to a hob refuge? I really appreciate everyones input.

 

http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/diy-hob-fuge-63086.html

cant find a thread on same model

but here is a thread on another HOB filter that was converted to a HOB fuge

Steve

 

I started a thread in the diy about that let me find the link bro

 

http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/diy-hob-fuge-70989.html


no pics but hope this helps

 

Thanks, I just looked at your diy thread and am pretty impressed. So basically the water will come from both sides as it does now minus the bio wheels?

 

Thank you man!!!Yup, my mod worked PERFECT for over a year i loved it and im going to add it to my sumpless 55 this weekend