Newbie Needs marine help!!!

[Rocks]

Hey

I have a 55 gallon fresh that I really want to convert to saltwater. more specificaly a reef aquarium. I have read alot of books and seen a few setups I just would like ot know what people think is the best to do. Money is a factor. I have lights and a bio wheel filter. 2 air stones and 2 air pumps. I want to know if I should make my own sump or buy a canister. I am pretty mechanically inclined som aking a sump wouldnt be to hard. Also what kind of fish to get. I know im gunna get some damesels to cycle out my tank but I odnt know what kind. Also I want to get a tang but then agian I dont know what kind. Thanks for the help. :bowing:

[skippy2]

Well, it is considered cruel to cycle your tank with live fish even if they are damnsels. All you need to cycle your tank is lr. I cycled my 55 in 18 days with only lr and southdown sand.
A 55 is too small for a tang. They need lots of swimming room. I wouldn't put a tang in anything smaller than a 75.

[HkySk8r187]

I have a yellow tang in my 30 gallon tank, however he is small right now and I will either take him to the LFS or get a larger tank when he gets bigger. There are a lot of fish you can keep in small tanks as long as you dont have a problem removing them later.

[OrionGirl]

IMO, you are better off getting fish you will be able tokeep long term. The effects of stunting can be hard to detect, and most often, fatal by the time they are visible.

You really won't need the air pumps--bubblers in SW tanks increase salt creep and evaporation, not really keen. Ditto for the bio-wheel--just making more work for you. For a reef, I'd go with about 60 +/- pounds of live rock, 3-4 inches of sand, 2-3 powerheads, and a sump for additional water volume and a place to stash other equipment.

Please do not cycle with damsels--while they are hardy, the process frequently kills them, the tank only gets a bio-load large enough for those damsels, and removing them is not an easy task. Cycle using some cocktail shrimp, or uncured live rock, and you can add fish you want to keep more quickly and safely (damsels are terrors, and will harrass and injure fish added later).

In terms of fish--there are a number that will work in a 55. Stroll through the LFS, write down names of fish you like, and then research to see how big they get, and if they'd be compatible with other reef animals.