noob starting a 50 gallon reef

[SerLunchbox]

Well, after MUCH reading and information gathering i have decided to take the plunge into the wonderful word of marine tanks.

So here is the plan that i have so far. Currently i have 3 filteration systems on my 50 gallon (an ehiem 2213, an emperor 270 and a marineland Magnum HOT 250 w/ biowheel attatchment).

My light is a PC coralife lunarlight w/ 1-96W 10,000K, 1-96W actinic and 2-2/3 blue LED moonlights. My heater is a Won Brother Pro Heat II titanium heater.

So no matter how much reading i have done there are a few pieces that seem to be a needed thing. They would be a protein skimmer, Hydrometer and then the salts and other un stuff.

So, these parts will be gotten slowly as the cash comes in (saving for a wedding kinda hinders it all)

I guess some things i have questions about (because of confusion on my behalf) would be would i need a UV sterilizer? Also, would i need a calcium reactor and what exactly is its purpose?

My plan is to start the marine switch over within the next month or so. I plan on letting everything cure and mature (LR, dead sand/crushed coral) for about 2-3 months. Only adding in a cleanup crew/shrimp after 6 weeks or so (or once my numbers have stablized).

I plan on starting out with dead sand and cycling that for a few weeks and then adding in about 75-80 lbs of live rock (unsure of what type as of yet). The possibilityof using an RO unit is somewhat appealing to me, but i do not want to get rid of the hardness in my water (plus i do NOT like to add water additives like those required if i did use RO water).

I am still on the fence between my skimmer choices. I don't have the room to setup a SUMP so it will have to be a HOB skimmer. Also, swiching my media around in my filters will be another concern for me. If it was possible to make one of my filters a DIY refugium then that would be awesome (was thinking about doing that for the emperor. Take off the bio wheel and go from there.)

I do not want to rush into ANYTHING and will be starting with easy corals and adjusting what i can possibly grow with the light that i currently have. I have read much in this forum so far and just find the information to be excellent, a real wealth of knowledge. Although it all hits me really fast and hard at times (or so it seems.)

Thank you all in advance for any assistance, advice or help that you can provide me with.

[muck]

Welcome to the board lunch..

Its great to hear you have been doing the homework first before jumping in. Nothing good ever comes quickly in a marine tank. Im guessing you already knew that though from reading your post.

To answer some of your questions...

No you do not need a UV sterilizer. Some people swear by them but most including myself don't use them.

The function of a calcium reactor is to keep your calcium in the tank at a certain level to promote coral growth. Depending on what you want in your tank you can get away without a reactor either by dosing calcium ( I dose Liquid Reactor) or just simple waterchanges. They only become a nesseccity if you have a tank choke full of calcium sucking SPS corals..

Once you get the tank up and running if you can get a scoop of livesand from an established tank it will greatly speed up the process of turning your dead sand live.

Can't help you with a skimmer choice cause Ive never used a HOB skimmer. I will say to stay away from Seaclones though as they are more or less a waste of money from what Im hearing.

It would help if we knew what kind of corals you would like to start with, but Im thinking some zoos, xenia, colt, mushrooms, GSP would all do really well for you under your lights.

[BMW Rider]

There is no real reason not to add the live rock right away with the sand, except budget of course. The live rock will need to cure before livestock can be added, so the sooner you start the sooner its ready. The liverock will also do the job of turning your sandbed "live" as it cures. If you add it later you are really cycling your tank twice.

As for using RO water, it is the best choice for a reef system. The hardness of the water has no value for a reef tank, all the neccasary elements are in the salt mix. Thus no other additives are required except as they are naturally depleted in the system. This, as muck stated, is why some use calcium reactors to replace the calcium used up in the tank. Other elements such as magnesium are maintained by supplements and by doing waterchanges. The main concern with not using RO water is introducing unwanted nutrients and other elements into the tank causing algae blooms and other troubles.

And on that topic, you should try to get a skimmer right awy, it will help a great deal to remove the nutrients in the system as it cycles and the LR cures, thus minimizing the inevitable algae blooms. If budget is an issue again, look at some of the designs for building a countercurrent airstone skimmer out of common PVC plumbing parts. They work well, are realativly inexpensive, and would be suitable for your size tank. They can be used without a sump too.

[SerLunchbox]

well, to save on some costs, i am hoping that i can find someone close to me that could donate some LS from their existing tank. I guess i will pick up an RO/DI unit off ebay. Looks like all RO/DI units have the same filters (unless i am reading wrong).

So to keep costs down i figured i would start off with some LR but mostly base rock. What would be a good proportion? 15 lbs live rock to 60 lbs base or what? What is an average time to change the base rock into live rock?

For a skimmer i was looking at either a bak pak 2 OR a coralife super skimmer. Albert Dao was pretty impressed with them when i was at Gold Aquarium's yesturday.

As for corals, yeah, i will probably start off with shrooms and zuma ... maybe a xenia.

As for salt, i will probably go with either instnt ocean or the seachem reef salt.

Nice to be around this board. fast responses

**EDIT**
So i was just told by someone to take all filters off if i do corals, is this a necessity? I don't have room for a sump

[EmilyB]

Filter media becomes a trap for nitrates which corals do not do well with. Filters can however be a good place to put carbon, filter floss, etc. but must be kept clean. Rock, and a viable sandbed, will become your biological filter. Not really an issue when you are cycling.

[SerLunchbox]

ok ... so it looks like i can use my 10 gallon (possibly 15 gallon) as a sump or refugium (whichever is better)

Just need to figure out all those connections now and pumps etc.
This is starting to get me a little baffled (pardon the pun)

[mr_alberta]

You can always partition that 10 or 15G tank and have a sump AND refugium combined.

BTW, what type of SER do you drive?

[SerLunchbox]

I ride in a wonderful vehicle called Calgary Transit. Its a sweet ride. Free gas!

So it will be a 10 gallon that i will have as a sump/refugium. It looks as if filters are very frowned upon when it comes to reef tanks for sure now. So would a 10 gallon sump/refugium combination be enough for filteration (and overflow)?

I really feel sketchy about not using a filter (canister or HOB) having freshwater tanks for so long. But the use of filter floss and carbon is a thing that appeals to me.

Anyways, i have a RO/DI filter on the way, with a possible bak pak 2 and mag 5 on the way (if they haven't been sold already)

Now i just have to figure out the plumbing/piping and everything that goes with using a sump/refugium combination. If there is any links on how to do this properly would be a great help. I have seen a few things but i must be reading too much into everything.

I figure that if i get someone that i know that has a reef tank (that i know or work with) that it will be another great resource.

[EmilyB]

Get out to see a few setups in the city - best way to learn. I can tell you what not to do mostly...

[scuglass]

if u dont mind me asking what type of ro/di unit did u get and what did it end up costing?

how much water is waste water from these units and what do u guys do wth this water?