Entry level setup?

[Mudfrog]

Would this be a decent startup tank for just getting into saltwater? What would you say a setup like this is worth?

This is a 50 gallon breeder reef aquarium with built in overflow, stand, and canopy. It includes 40 lbs live rock, live sand, lots of zoanthanid corals, a few ricordea, mushrooms, coral banded shrimp, large yellow tang, mandarin goby, sand sifting star fish, pink sea cucumber, emerald crab, snails, hermit crabs. Equipment includes a Mag 9.5 with SCWD for flow, 55 gallon sump with cheato, euroreef skimmer (RS-80?), coralife UV light (18 watt), adjustable flow peristaltic pump, Mag 18 return pump, 2x 150 watt metal halide HQI coralife lights, 4x96 watt coralife power compact lights, fan built into canopy, 2/3 full 64oz containers of calcium, iodine, molybdenum, and purple up, other misc. stuff.

 

[Grins]

This is a 50 gallon breeder reef aquarium with built in overflow, stand, and canopy.

Nice size to start with.

It includes 40 lbs live rock, live sand,

Some will say you need at least 10 more pounds of rock. However I've seen great tanks run on less than 1# per gallon that also employed skimmers and such for additional filtration.

lots of zoanthanid corals, a few ricordea, mushrooms

Good beginner corals

coral banded shrimp,

Most everyone I know that has one loves them. I've avoided them due to their not having a great track record of getting along with cleaner shrimp.

large yellow tang,

It needs a larger home than the 50g display. Right away if it is already a large size.

mandarin goby

I'm curious how long they have had it and would want to see its weight. (via pictures). It could be fat and happy in which case consider yourself lucky to have one thriving.

sand sifting star fish,

I think this needs a larger tank as well.

pink sea cucumber, emerald crab, snails, hermit crabs

Should all be fine although many here will tell you I'm not a huge crab fan in tanks

Equipment includes a Mag 9.5 with SCWD for flow,

I've not used this wavemaker for flow, so can't comment.

55 gallon sump with cheato, euroreef skimmer (RS-80?),

Both good

coralife UV light (18 watt),

I'd not use it 24/7 in the display. I'd probably disconnect it and use it for the QT setup instead.

adjustable flow peristaltic pump,

Was this used for dosing?

Mag 18 return pump,

overkill I'd think, unless they had an in basement sump that they needed to compensate for lots of head room.

2x 150 watt metal halide HQI coralife lights, 4x96 watt coralife power compact lights, fan built into canopy

Good

2/3 full 64oz containers of calcium, iodine, molybdenum,

I'm surprised to see they bought such large containers of the last 2, especially since I don't see a reef that demands it in the photo

and purple up,

I'd not use


What are they asking for it?

 

[Mudfrog]

Nice size to start with.

Some will say you need at least 10 more pounds of rock. However I've seen great tanks run on less than 1# per gallon that also employed skimmers and such for additional filtration.

Good beginner corals

Most everyone I know that has one loves them. I've avoided them due to their not having a great track record of getting along with cleaner shrimp.

It needs a larger home than the 50g display. Right away if it is already a large size.

I'm curious how long they have had it and would want to see its weight. (via pictures). It could be fat and happy in which case consider yourself lucky to have one thriving.

I think this needs a larger tank as well.

Should all be fine although many here will tell you I'm not a huge crab fan in tanks

I've not used this wavemaker for flow, so can't comment.

Both good

I'd not use it 24/7 in the display. I'd probably disconnect it and use it for the QT setup instead.

Was this used for dosing?

overkill I'd think, unless they had an in basement sump that they needed to compensate for lots of head room.

Good

I'm surprised to see they bought such large containers of the last 2, especially since I don't see a reef that demands it in the photo

I'd not use


What are they asking for it?

Thank you for the excellent comments. Price is kind of in the air atm.. I'm trying to see what something like this would be worth.

This is all the information I have on it so I can't comment on some of your questions but I can try to find out.

What would be some other odd looking / ugly but nice looking (I know right? lol) fish that would do well in a 50? Of course if I purchase this my kids would beg me for a clownfish, so it would have to be something semi peaceful, any really cool gobies as I love gobies.

 

[Grins]

Gobies are great, and tend to be peaceful. Many clowns are not peaceful but can be housed with more peaceful fish if you stock them towards the end. Blennys are funny looking fish and I'd be willing to bet your kids will become more attached to a blenny than clowns before long.

 

[Catpicklesdog]

I'll second the Blennies. Ugly but comical!!!