55g Reef.. Newb

[blcknwitecuban]

well i decided that im going to tank my reciently emptied 55g and turn it reef. im open to any suggestions just as long as i get these:
1. any kind of shrimp goby w/ pistol shrimp
2. some kind of gramma

this is my first SW tank so i dont really want anything difficult

i was thinking one false perc clowns and lots of coral and for LR i really want the lalo coral on liveaquaria and the rest base rock

i was planning to do a 29g and i had everything i needed to know but my plan has changed and im getting a tank almost twice the size so im back at square 1

i think i going to do a small school [3-4] of orange lined cardnialfish or blue green chromis, some kind of shrimp goby, a pistol shrimp, a royal gramma, a few cleaner shrimp and a prec or false perc clown. it feels overstocked but im not sure so suggestions please.

and i was thinking about a corallife super skimmer but im not sure about powerheads. and would i be able to use a stealth heater?

thanks for any comments

 

[SkiFletch]

Sounds like you've got some good ideas there Daemon. Your stock list sounds fine to me for a 55g

A coralife superskimmer is good. I'd consider two Seio M620's for the flowrate to put you slightly more than 20x turnover for corals And stealth heaters are great

What are your thoughts on lighting?

 

[blcknwitecuban]

http/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...p;N=2004+113345

http/hellolights.com/index.asp?PageActio...amp;ProdID=1369

which one seems better?

and for powerheads i was thinking 2 maxijet 900s

 

[Danno]

I would go with the light from Dr's Foster and Smith. You might want to up those MaxiJet 900s to MaxiJet 1200s.

 

[blcknwitecuban]

ok. will do. powerheads are probably the least expensive thing

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, dont skimp on powerheads. Flowrate is IMO the biggest influencing factor in the success of your reef. As for lighting, perhaps I should have started by asking what types of corals you want to keep? And also do you have a hood, are you planning on building a hood, or will you be using an overhead fixture?

 

[blcknwitecuban]

im planning on only softies and stuff and i dont have a hood or anything

 

[SkiFletch]

Well if softies are your pleasure, look into 216watt power compact fixtures (48") by either Current, Orbit, or Coralife

 

[blcknwitecuban]

current US? i saw a coralife on dr foster and smith but it didnt list the watts

http/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...p;N=2004+113345

on current usa could i b looking for nova extremes or somethin? can u gimme a link?

 

[SkiFletch]

I have to be honest, I dont know where to find them but there are places far cheaper than fosters and smith around the net. If memory serves this has been discussed recently, perhaps in the hardware section or elsewhere. I have trouble remembering all the vendors as it is

 

[ikon]

check out thatpetplace.com for good deals on lights

 

[blcknwitecuban]

yea im lost on that site.. i search coralife or a/e and i dont find it

 

[blcknwitecuban]

http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/209460/product.web

good?

 

[SkiFletch]

more like this

 

[blcknwitecuban]

thanks guys. i appriciate this alot!