Suggestions whether my set-up will work

FrugalBadger · Dec 29, 2013

So I'm setting up my first marine tank and I was hoping someone could answer a few questions for me:

How many snails/hermit crabs I should have and which types are most suited to my set-up ?

How many inches of sand should I keep at the bottom of the tank ?

How many kilo of live rock I should get ?

Which order should I get the fish in ?

My Set-up:

-A 55 gallon tank with 10 gallon sump
-Eheim compact+ 2000 return pump
-Deltec MCE300 protein skimmer

Hoping to get:
1x Emperor cardinal
1x Green Mandarin
1x Common Clownfish
1x Flame Firefish
1x Red sea star
1x Royal Gramma
1x Randells Shrimp Goby (Amblyeleotris Randalli)
3x Blue Chromis
2x Blood Shrimp

Initially I just want fish as I don't want the maintenance requirements of coral however I also want to keep my options open so I'm only going to get fish that are also reef compatible in-case I change my mind.

I've been work at a tropical fish shop for about a year now and have been given 20 kilos of live rock by another marine hobbyist who wanted to help me get into the hobby, this live rock is sitting in a marine tank at the shop waiting for me to take it.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Reefing Madness · Dec 29, 2013

#1-Dry Rock, there are a few hitchhikers on Live Rock that people want to stay away from, so they opt for using Dry Rock, or Dead Rock. Macro Rock is a good place to start looking for that. Either way you go you will need a minimum of 1lb per gallon. You can use Fully Cured Live Rock, and have the tank cycled in just a few days also. Other way is to use just a couple of pounds of Live Rock and the rest Macro or Dry Rock.

#2-Replacement filter media like filter floss and activated carbon (if you get a filter) Which is really not necessary.

#3-Multiple Power heads (2 or 3) 10x your water volume for just a Fish Only With Live Rock, and at least 20x your water volume for a Reef Tank. So lets say your going reef, and you have a 100g tank, you would need flow in that tank at minimum of 2000gph, or 2 1000gph power heads.

#4-Protein Skimmer, rated at 2 times your water volume. Unless your tank is under 30g, in which case you can do 10% water changes a week to rid the system of detrius. But, you'll have to watch the water parameters close, if things go haywire, you'll have to do more water changes.

#5-Saltwater Test Kits. Reef Test Kit. Test for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, PH, Phosphates, Calcium, ALK and Magnesium.

#6-Saltwater fish food. Mysis Shrimp, Squid, Cyclopease, Algae Sheets, Romaine . Flake food is not really a good food to feed your marine fish.

#7-Aquarium vacuum. This one is iffy. Most don't use one, if you have enough flow in the tank you won’t need one

#8-Rubber kitchen gloves

#9-Fish net

#10-Two, clean, never used before, 5-gallon buckets

#11-Aquarium thermometer, digital being the best.

#12-Brush with plastic bristles (old tooth brush) - needed for cleaning the live rock if you don't get Fully Cured Live Rock.

#13-Power Strip, possibly GFCI outlets by the tank.

#14-Optional but definitely recommend getting a Reverse Osmosis or RO/Deionization filter for the make-up water, and a barrel for storing the water.

#15-Possibly a Quarantine Tank for your new fish. They sit in here for a few weeks to kill off parasites and bacteria, to keep it from getting in your main tank

#16-Heater rated for your size tank.

#17-Saltwater Mix. Marine Salt. Instant Ocean is the cheap Salt that beginners and Advanced use alike.

#18-Saltwater Hydrometer or even better a Refractometer, which is more accurate. There is also a Digital Meter that is way advanced if you have the cash.

#19-Aquarium filter (not absolutely necessary if running with adequate amounts of live rock, but nice to have if you need to use a mechanical filter or activated carbon, or GFO and such)

#20-Aquarium substrate such as live sand or crushed coral. Some go bare Bottom, others choose the 2-3" bottom, others, more advanced will try the Deep Sand Bed, which is over 6" deep.

http://znnea.rmuvx.servertrust.com/default.asp

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=aquarium+heater&_sacat=20754&_odkw=power+heads&_osacat=0

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=power+heads&_sacat=0&_odkw=salt+water+refractometer&_osacat=0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-0-10-Salinity-Refractometer-Salt-Water-Aquarium-/251140605905?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a792587d1

http://www.marcorocks.com/

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-dry-live-rock.html

Live Rock and Live Sand: Live Saltwater Aquarium Rock and Sand

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/aquarium-substrate/ps/c/3578/9805

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html

http://live-plants.com/

http://successfulreefkeeping.com/learn/what-your-coral-needs/

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=t-5+lighting&_sacat=0

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cree+led+aquarium&_sacat=0&_odkw=t-5+lighting&_osacat=0

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/saltwater-aquarium-salt-water-mix/ps/c/3578/4685

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15473

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4749

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4145

Live Saltwater Algae Eating Crew | Reefs2go.com
Custom Clean up Crew Form

Diesel · Dec 29, 2013

Hi there, no bad feelings here but it surprises me that you ask common beginners questions and you work in a LFS for a year as of now!

Here in the US you can get CUC (clean up crew) packages designed for tanks from 10 gallon up to how ever large you wanna go.
Not sure in the UK if you have a company like that but I almost think you do, Google and find out.
I get most of my CUC's from Reef cleaners out of Florida.
Just take a look and you'll find on the site some info for what is all in the package for a 55 gal, in that case you can put a CUC together your self.

Reef Cleaners| Clean up Crews and Macroalgae
Cleaner Packages with Free Shipping

Looking at LR, that is a personal opinion on how you want to do your Aqua scape.
But most reefers put as many LB in there as the total tank gallons.
If you have 55 gallon you can have give and take 55 lbs LR in there.
55 x 3.8 = 209 kilo's, it seems you need a little more.
You always can put more rock in your sump to hit a total.
I would upgrade your sump to a 20 gallon long.

Sand, I'll will go for at least 1.5 inch or 4cm using Reef flakes.

Fish is something that you need to read about, some fish come first before others but there's always a way to break that rule.
One suggestion, ditch the Mandarin, it will die in a newly setup tank.
Even when your system is running for a year, it's still a difficult fish, as just eating doesn't guarantee they're getting the nutrition they need long term.
If they accept Mysis that will be bonus.
Mandarins are very.....very deliberate eaters.

I'm sure more reefers will jump in to help you out on some helpful info on this subject.
Good luck Bro.
And Happy New Year.

FrugalBadger · Dec 29, 2013

The Shop only sells tropical fish which is why I don't know very much about marines.

and I think your calculation is out on the live rock, 1 kilo is 2.2 lb so I wouldn't need 209 kilo haha that wouldn't even fit in the tank

going on your rule I'd need 24 kilo which is a bit more than I already have. would you still suggest putting some in the sump, and unfortunately I cant get a bigger sump for lack of space which is annoying. Do you put sand in the sump also ?

Reefing Madness · Dec 29, 2013

If your not using the sump as a Macro Algae grow out, then yea, go ahead and throw in sand and rock if you want to. Your better off growing out Macro in there, it does more for the water.
And a 55g tank would require a minimum of 55lbs of Rock. So you'd just need 11 more lbs. So going by the rule, its 25kilos. :tongue:

Diesel · Dec 29, 2013

That explains.
Yeah sorry my bad, it's the other way around 1 kilo is 3.8 US LB.
You need only 15 Kilo, so that said you got enough.

10 gallon sump, hoping that would be enough to house your skimmer (if using one) and return pump.

magranche · Dec 29, 2013

I would definitely ditch the mandarin fish. I really like clownfish so I would suggest a pair rather than just one as their behavior is pretty fun to watch. Good luck with your tank!