Is a reef sustainable in a 55gal?

[SunnyX]

I was wondering if I could maintain a reef in a 55gal. I currently have a SeaClone Protein Skimmer(100gl), an Emperor 400 BIO-Wheel Filter and 2 15 watt 10,000k lights. I still need one of those wave makers.I know I will need more lights. What do you guys suggest? I am trying to keep my lighting expenses under $200. I did take a look at a Phazer II 48" lighting system found HERE
Would 48" fit in on a 55gal? I currently have 2 18" lights on there with 2 hoods. Please tell me if I can keep a reef in there and what else i would need.

 

[brandon4291]

I think one can make a fine reef out of a 55 gallon. yes your 48'' should fit over it---you might consider trying to use a bright (multiple bulb) power compact setup but I think to do it right you'll have to go $300 or maybe less if you buy off ebay. If you start out with a low bioload and stock slowly, theres no reason a 55 should be tough to keep. If it were me, and I operate on a tight budget as well, Id forego the wavemaker and put it towards lighting in some way. Id go with a shallow sand bed, lots of LR and a gradually-increasing bioload running that equipment you mentioned.
IMO the best strategy to avoid hair algae in a reef aquarium is to build it with base rock/LR and sand (well seeded if not 100% cycled)--then get the lighting and circulation going, and add a few non-demanding corals slowly while holding off on the fish. As time goes by, you'lll see little tufts of strand/hair algae develop here and there, but you do a massive water change and pull them off. Wait another month and each time you see one pull it off and do a massive water change. Eventually you'll starve out the algae by keeping low N content in the water, and then you can add a fish or two without worry. I wouldnt add alot of the specialy products found on the market, just calcium and carbonate and Ia(lightly) and dt's. Go easy on the fish load...there are many approaches to controlling algae in your reef, this is just one approach that seems to work for me.

hth Brandon

 

[reef newbie]

I've had a 55 AGA reef tank for almost 2 years now with what I consider "successful"

I had some corals die on me in the beginning (b/c I didn't read the wealth of info. avail. here) before starting. My biggest lesson was being "cheap" on the lighting system. I had a JBJ 55W x 4 PC hood. What a waste of money :x The ballast burnt out due to the heat in less than 6 months. Anyhow, don't skim on equipment. Read, read, and re-read the threads here until you can decide what's good for you both financially and quality of equipment before you buy. Learn from other's mistakes....take me and my JBJ lighting system for example...
I'm not saying that JBJ is junk. For the same amount of money or even less, you can have a VHO or a 175W MH system.

Reefs aquarium requires good lighting. That's how they primarily survive. Most only needs light and good "clean" water. Enough babbling from me.

Things to consider:

-good protein skimmer
-good lighting
-live rock and DSB (at least 4")
-good circulation
-MOST IMPORTANTLY --> P A T I E N C E

Things that other reefers have taught me...

BTW, wavemakers are a luxury, NOT a necessity...
save your money for good lighting or protein skimmer
Put the sea clone on ebay, get the money and buy a "GOOD" skimmer like a MYREEF, Euroreef, Aqua C...
Do a search on sea clone and you'll see why...

HTH :wink:

 

[SunnyX]

So which light would you guys suggest?
About the SeaClone Protein Skimmer, Many people I have talked too either love it or hate it. I guess its all about opinion and taste.

 

[girodave]

Sunny,

You can make a Reef out of a 1 gallon fish bowl. I have a Truvu cube which is about 4 gallons. I have had this tank for six years and have it full of live rock and various plants, mushrooms, star polyps and gobies. I put in a small false percula clown and it lived for 4 years. I think it died because I didn't do a water change in about six months. What I am getting at is, anything is possible with the right balance. A 55gal is a great size for a reef!!!

On lighting, don't let people talk you into too much lighting. It really depends on what you are going to be keeping. I have a 40 gal. with a home made lighting system from Home Depot. I have one 50/50 and one blue actinic. This is just enough for Xenea, giant anthelia and mushrooms to grow out of control. The ballast at HD is seven bucks and the endcaps are about $15.00 for one bulb.

The trick is to work backwards, figure out roughly what animals you will have in the tank and that will tell you what lighting needs you need.

Good luck!!!!!!!

 

[tetra]

i say it is posible..follow the sig

 

[brandon4291]

nice reef for sure, tetra. I assume its a 55g... what kind of lighting have you chosen? I always recommend getting good light from the start, when I started with lower output lights I always ended up upgrading eventually... as I wanted to try different animals.

b429

 

[tinyreef]

brandon,
you probably mis-read the subject title, right? you probably thought it was 55 oz., right? c'mon admit it!

sunny,
i agree with the other posts, don't skimp on the lighting. $200 may be a little low unless you can get a great deal. figure $300~$400 imo.

 

[brandon4291]

at first thats why I didnt mention halides, I thought they would cook a reef that size. oh, 55 GALLON

yes I am guilty, my perspective on reef aquariums is quite small.
hence the new avatar...

b429

 

[fishfarmer]

My 55 has a 175 watt MH and two 28 watt PC. Both were basic retrofit kits which cost a total of around $275 including one fan. This doesn't factor in the hood cost.

Are you planning on a sump? If so I would recommend getting your tank drilled in the back. Having a sump will let you have a better pick of skimmers and you can hide your heaters and carbon there as well.

I have a 4" deep sand bed in my tank with about 75 lbs of rock. Some of that rock is in my sump though. 55's can be a pain to aquascape.

I have a couple of powerheads for circulation as well as a Mag 5 for a return pump. My skimmer is a CPR SR2, which works fine but I do have space in my sump for a bigger one if needed.