Don't really have a budget in mind I just want to make sure I waste as little money as possible. I will be setting up in stages to aviod draining my bank account all at once. After the tank is safe to fill again what should my first step be? I know I will likely never be able to afford MH lights for a tank this size. What kind of lighting do I need for soft corals? or is that lighting just as expensive as reef lights?

I bet you in a year or so you'll have halides over that tank anyways :razz:

Halides don't have to be expensive if you build yourself a lighting hood to mount some spider reflectors in.

If you want to do cheap halides, buy 2 x 400w halides. They cover 24" each, so that means the ends of your tank will be slightly dim, just leave 6" where you don't put corals. You can buy basic m58 ballasts in cheap enclosures from a lighting wholesale store for cheap, or post here for used one. Then buy 20K XM bulbs from www.jlaquatics.com for $85 each, and a set of 12" spider reflectors with mogul sockets. You can do this for around $400 - $450. Then your bulb replacement cost each year is $170. You can build the lighting hood out of pine or similar for cheap, and you will need some fans for cooling. So say $750 for the hood, lighting, and fans. It would be better to go with 3 x 400w or 3 x 250w for better coverage, but you can start with 2, see how it looks, and add in a 3rd any time later easily. This way you could keep anything you want in your tank, and halides look awesome.

For soft corals in a deep tank you should use PC lights, but they aren't cheap either, better to go with halides from the start IMO, save you money in the long run.

Once your tank is safe and tested, then you need to cycle your rock to establish the bacteria levels, then you can add livestock but you will need lighting (nothing fancy for fish only though) and then a skimmer, etc. Oh but of course you need to have your sump plumbed and ready to go first. You might want to look at an auto top off system too. For long term success an RODI unit such as Aquasafe are great, but I am told Calgary water is better than Edmontons because Edmonton uses chloramine, Calgary doesn't.

You will need test kits, (good ones, salifert of Seachem, not Hagen) a hydrometer or better yet a refractometer, etc. Along with your sump I would plan the refugium from the beginning. And of course you have to decide if you are going with a sand bottom or not, and what size grains, and how deep. etc. etc.

Well, I will be at my dads on the weekend and check everything he has. I can use my 55gal as a sump but can I build the fuge into it? Do I have to use a tank as a sump? I wouldn't mind selling it to help finance the 190. I thought I read a post about a guy that uses a rubbermaid container as a sump. Then I could use my old 10 gal as a fuge? or should the sump and fuge be together? I will take pics of the 190 and post them after the weekend.

Hmm, I think you'd be better off keeping that tank for a sump/fuge rather than sell it. I would use the bigger tank for the sump, and the smaller for the fuge. For one, you wont get a whole lot for the 55 anyways, and in the long run it will be more effective and have lots of benefits . I think you'd get more use and benefits on your tank if you used it.

JMO... take a few bucks, or put that tank to serious use. It will pay off.

Keep the 55, especially if it is the 4 footer. Assuming you want to keep everything under your stand, having a seperate fuge and sump can be difficult. Great if you can do it though.

You could partition the 55g with glass or acrylic dividers to make skimmer, fuge and return sections. Make the fuge as big as you can, which means you have to decide your "ultimate" skimmer so you know its footprint so you can size the sump accordingly.

Yes you can use rubbermaids, but strong ones that are food grade would cost more than you will get for the 55g. Plus setting up dividers in rubbermaids that are not square is difficult, especially because the sides bow out when you add water, then you have to brace them with wood, etc..... not worth it IMO.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHA!!!

*Rolling on the floor - tears streaming down my cheeks* :biggrin:

OK I'll keep the 55, it does sound like the best way to go. Can anyone give me recommendations for a protien skimmer and return pump I would like to start looking into price and availability in Calgary.

Thanks

www.jlaquatics.com has good prices on pumps (BC)

www.asmskimmer.com has good prices on ASM skimmers (US)

www.saltycritter has good prices on both (US)

Ordering from the US isn't bad as long as they ship USPS, then brokerage is $5.00 flat fee, and you pay GST when you pickup.