What is VERY necesary to start a 55 gal reeftank?

[Chris2x55G]

I need some help to start a reeftank (55 gal) and I want to know everything I shall need to have a great tank whit very low % of bad quality of water. I have a chiller because I live in Puerto Rico and I soon will buy the necesary ligth fixtures, but in adition of that what should I need?

Thanks for any help, God bless:)

[slipknottin]

This is what coral needs to survive.

1. Light
2. Food
3. Clean, unpolluted water of the correct temp and salinity
4. calcium
5. biocarbonate
6. water movement


understanding the needs of your corals is going to be much more helpful than lavish equipment or a large budget.

[Toooloud]

Originally posted by Chris2x55G
I need some help to start a reeftank (55 gal) and I want to know everything I shall need to have a great tank whit very low % of bad quality of water. I have a chiller because I live in Puerto Rico and I soon will buy the necesary ligth fixtures, but in adition of that what should I need?

Thanks for any help, God bless:)

Just to start the 55 Gallon you are going to need to start is!!

75 pounds of Mature live rock, 50 pounds of sand( Substrate) atleast 4 inches deep, stong protien skimmer the best you can afford, and depending on what you want to keep we need to know what kind of coral you want to keep to awnser the lighting questions..

But most likely, either VHO's or Halides..

my small tank is a 30 gallon tank and i run a 175 watt halide and 2 NO actinics, i run 50 pounds of live rock, 50 pounds of live sand..