setting up 55 gal corner tank

[rgmatzke]

This will be my first Salt water tank and I will need everything to start up. I don't think I want to go with any live rocks or coral, I just don't want the extra maintenance. I have read that you don't need the wet/dry filter if you have live rocks but since I don't wont it what will I need.

I will take any suggestions, maybe it is best to go with the live rocks, but I was trying to get away with the extra costs of lighting, ect....

[OrionGirl]

For just live rock, you don't need extra lighting--1-2 watts per gallon will be fine. Live rock/live sand will be lower maintenance, since you won't actually do anything but add the critters.

You can use a wet dry, but you'll need to do weekly maintenance to avoid nitrate explosions.

[rgmatzke]

OK...that is good to know. Say I went with the Live rock and the live sand.. now what do I need to maintain this tank properly. Basically, I need a list of what to buy for my particular setup.

What type of lighting, skimmer, and filter if needed. thanks

[OrionGirl]

Lighting: since you aren't looking to maintain photo synthetic critters, your standard strip lights will be fine. I'd still go as high as I could, just to bring out color, but any thing will do. I would plan on upgrading the lighting later, since successful people seem to always want more in this hobby. ;)

Skimmer: Euro Reef is the best, there are several manufacturer's out there. Try and get one that is rated for your tank size and higher.

Filter: Nothing. Powerheads for water movement. Maybe a canister for polishing, but water changes and nutrient management is a better way of keeping the water clean. You'll need a sand bed/clean up crew. Nassarius snails, scarlet hermits, maybe a serpent star or small conch, bristleworms, ect.

[rgmatzke]

I really appreciate the info, looks like I will be starting this up soon. One more question, I have a hood with one single 18" light and room for one more, should I step up into the right lighting since I am buying new bulbs for it anyway. I guess I don't know what is involved with the lighting. If you have to buy just the bulbs or a new light setup. thanks

[OrionGirl]

New bulbs will help, but they won't make the tank reef ready. Lights that run on reef tanks are usually Very High Output (VHO)(flourescent, similar to NO), Metal hallide (MH), or power compacts (PC). Most likely, the strip light you have is Normal Output (NO).

Since people like to run anywhere from 3 watts per gallon on up, NO lights won't work. You'd need to cram too many of them in the average canopy to be reasonable. So, all the othe light types put out higher watts in a smaller package. The ballast (box that has the wiring) is different, as are the caps (what the bulb screws into). Most places carry a retro fit kit to upgrade an NO setup, but they're costly. If it's just a strip lighting, instead of a canopy, I wouldn't recommend retro fitting it. Getting a new setup will be cheaper.

One thing to keep in mind is that bulbs lose efficiency and shift spectrum as they age. 6-9 months is about the longest you'll want to keep a flourescent bulb, for example. The spectrum is very important, and can contribute to algae problems and poor plant growth.