First Time Reefer....Please Help!!!

milw217 said:

Hello to everyone. I have gotten a few ideas from the saltwater newbies forum, and now I am ready to dive into my first reef tank. I have been keeping a 55 gal planted freshwater tank for the last year so I'm not totally new to the hobby. The problem I'm having is that I am getting a bit misled or confused at my LFS as far as what I will all need, plus the prices seem a bit higher than they do online for some of the same exact equipment. Based on the following list, will I be able to grow SPS, LPS and hard coral? Also what other kind of plumbing will I need to do myself to setup the sump and protein skimmer so it is in the stand and not visible? Here are the items I had selected...some are from the LFS and some from online......

65 gallon All-Glass Aquarium - $175.99
36x18 Stand - $214.99
Blueline 40HD-X External Water Pump (1270 gph) $169.95
Megaflow Sump Filter #2 (75 gal.) $239.99
Super Skimmer 65 - $114.99
36" Current USA Nova Extreme T5HO lights (4x39) - $198.99

I know I will need other things such as substrate and live rock, but as far as the major mechanical devices, is this a good start?
Thanks alot!

Click to expand...

can you provide links to the External Water pump, Megaflow filter, and usa lights..i dont have time to read up on them before I input thoroughly.

basics with sump:
Need a Overflow box , PVC pipe cement and primer to, Return pump with pvc to return it. Return pump (figure out head loss) should not push more than the Overflow is rated...

The lights I am reluctant to say they are of any use for anything over Soft corals....just about 2.4watts per gallon ..not a great rule but its a only a guideline. Still you are falling short by half the watts to support SPS and LPS.

Since you are wanting a reef tank... here are some changes I suggest till you give me info on other things ...

Sump with refugium a better choice if that sump you mentioned is a wet dry filter type.


Skimmer not sufficient. Try finding an Octopus brand and try to get one with a rating double your tank size or greater. If you plan on buying super skimmer get the 220.

Lights....nay on those lights... Look into retro fit kits...

Reflectors ...with Mogul bulbs and ballasts...or HQI pendants ... Metal hallide honestly ...and try to get Two 250watts for a tank that size...You can get away with ONE 250w hallide for the time and maybe have a few corals like SPS and LPS but placed high up and under it...for the time till your budget allows you to add another hallide reflector and ballast with bulb.

Icecap ballast for 250 hallide are 150 bucks on average
Mogul bulbs 100.00
Reflector 30 bucks..

Ill check back on my break to see what info you can get me on the other products...

Overflow hangs on your tank (unless you have a drilled tank to drain water to the sump)

Here is a sump example: http://www.aquadirect.com/store/product.php?productid=18294&cat=0&page=41
As you look at the picture the first chamber is the intake from the tank overflow area...has a filter sock ..and enough room to hold the protein skimmer.

The middle chamber between those baffles can contain sand and chaeto algae to eat nutrients in the water you dont want...the final chamber has a return pump.

The skimmer you linked is the ones i am talking about. Good ones.

Overflow http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~CR1515.html

This one handles 800gph so you dont want to pump over that ...just example but I like this brand and use this brand to. Mines a little bigger is all.
How it works is you start a siphon with the overflow and it constantly drains water to the sump...as your return pump keeps it flowing back in..when power goes out the siphon breaks and sump fills up some...when it kicks back on...the aqua lifter pumps that come with this brand start the siphon for you preventing a overflow onto your floors.

Lighting this is what i am talking about for an example you can make a wood canopy for it and mount them yourself. Add more etc etc.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...ting-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html

Or http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...ting-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html
The double ended Hallide bulbs HQI types

You could also go with a hood system and no wood canopy..
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquar...urrent_usa_outer_orbit_hqi_actinic_lunar.html

Examples ...I prefer the first one with Moguls... My canopy I made holds two now...and i wanted to get nuts I could sell my stuff easily on craigslist and add two 400w bulbs to the canopy.

its all about how you want it to look ...I like having the birch canopy hiding everything...sump in the stand for the same reason..all you see is my display and corals....

but those are options for yah...

Google Refugium for marine tanks...to understand them more... and visit
http://www.melevsreef.com/

for do it yourself tips

wow, i clicked on the link hoping to help out, but you guys are way beyond me! good luck! pics pics pics!

mY first time visiting melves site had me go Holy Crap...I can't follow this...

but its pretty cool and those of us who are in construction or just very good at building things...will find melves a great site for designing.

For dolts like me...Ill just make my friend do it.