New To The Hobby! New as much help as possible Thank You!

[paparchasa84]

Hello I would first like to say everyone here is so helpful and I am proud to be a part of this community. I just brought my first tank in my first home and its nothing spectacular like everyone else's in here, but hopefully with the help of everyone here and time and dedication on my part i will be able to get my tank there. I have included what I have brought so far which isnt much but a 50 gallon bowfront tank with a berlin red sea skimmer and a submersible pump i had other things that came with the purchase but i would like to turn this into a reef aquarium. Please let me know what i need to start out. I would like to at least have all of my equipment correct, so that I am able to just add the saltwater and sand bed when i am ready. I was wondering did i need power heads and a sump pump to get me started. I included pics of my space underneath my tank for ideas for a sump if anyone can help. All advice, comments, and anything else would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[returnofsid]

Welcome to Reefland!!! So you don't currently have a sump. To incorporate one, you'll need a drilled tank or HOB overflow. See the next paragraph. A sump is basically another tank, divided into areas, to place your skimmer, heater possibly a refugium, other equipment and then a return pump. Water drains from your main tank, to your sump, and is pumped back to the display tank, via the return pump.

I ask because it doesn't appear that your tank is drilled. You can use a HOB (Hang on Back) overflow box, such as the well made CPR overflow boxes. Your skimmer appears to be an "in sump" skimmer, as apposed to a HOB skimmer, that can hang on the back of the display tank. Althought, if I remember right, Berlin skimmer have a bracket that can be used to hang with. I'm pretty sure Berlin skimmers can be used as a HOB OR in sump. Maybe the angle of your picture is making it difficult to see the bracket.

Also, without a sump, you won't need that submersible pump, as it would be used as a return pump. There are even great HOB refugiums, that work very well on your size tank. CPR Aquafuge.

A sump is not absolutely necessary, but they are nice. You will want powerheads, in the display tank, to create flow.

[returnofsid]

Don't forget lighting!! This will totally depend on what types of corals you'd like to keep. However, a good T5HO unit, with individual reflectors, or a reflector that's bent around each bulb, in a "gull wing pattern" will allow you to keep whatever you want, in that size tank.

A couple of Koralia 3s would work out great, for creating nice, random flow.

[cwoods5]

I have the exact same tank you have and I'm also fairley new this hobby also. I have had mine running a little over a year. First you have already made 1 correct choice and that is reading and asking questions to people on here. there are several people on here that know there stuff and don't try to sell you anything. I ran mine for about 9 months without a sump and I put a sump in and have been very happy. I didin't like my skimmer hanging on the back and I like being able to keep a constant water level in the display tank, having a sump allowed me to control both those problems, plus it added water to the system. I run a korollia 4 and a korollia 3 pointed slightly upwards adn towards the front glass bow and it seems to give me great current. I will be glad to send you some pictures of mine, but remember I'm new as well so i setup might not be perfect.

Form one beginner to the next here is my best suggestion i can offer.

READ EVERYTHING IN ALL THESE POST: PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE NUMBER OF POST THESE PEOPLE HAVE. THEY WOULDN'T STILL BE HANGING AROUND THIS FORUM WITH 10 -20 THOUSAND POST IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. TRUST ME THEY WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY. Don't mention Racing either. you will get in trouble.

[StevenB]

Hi everybody,

I´m also a newbie in this hobby and also hope to get some helpful (saving money) information and meet some nice people to share my experience with. I´m from germany so I´m sorry for my english with might be not the best all the time but I hope you understand what I´m saying. You can also write me via my qeep profile (same nick as in this forum)
Bye

[returnofsid]

StevenB, welcome to Reefland!! Start up a new post, with any questions, concerns or ideas you have. You'll get lots of great advice here!!

[StevenB]

Thanks for your nice welcome...
gonna post tomorrow after a bit of research

[paparchasa84]

Ok I just bought two koralia 3's for nice flow. I wanted to get you guys' opinion before I bought my overflow box. I was wondering which should I get they are both sing intakes. One is 300 gph and the other is 800 gph. I don't want to get the wrong size and mess up my initial setup. Also with my sump is there any ideas for sumps because my reef tank is setup in my master bedroom and I was given a good idea by someone to use an extra tank but I don't have extra space like that in my room. So my question is what would be a good sump system to use that is small enough to fit in my cabinet but still be able to maintain what I need from it? And I since I will be using live rock I don't need a filter system and the lighting system I will be getting in a few weeks is there anything I missing besides the heater which I already have? I keep asking to make sure I don't miss anything because I don't want to build the hype and the day comes and I don't have everything. Again thanks for all your help and advice

[reefhead728]

I would try to go with aleast a 35 gallon.

[Parrothead]

Hey Jeremy, with his 50 bowfront I not exactly sure, but he may not have room for a 35, a 29 might work as well, I'm running a 20 high on my 55 and it has to sit in my office behind the display tank because it won't fit in the stand. Whatcha think

Tanks,
Robert

P.S. Discussion of racing is allowed just about anywhere with the exception of cdearings 80 gallon thread, there we are allowed to discuss cooking, kids, puppies and her tank, NO RACING, she'll get upset and Charlie's the closest one of us to her, and we need Charlie

[charlie]

If it was me, I would go with the 800 gph overflow. as for the sump, usually about 20% of the main display. JMHO

[reefhead728]

I dont know if the 29 would fit under the way that stand is built, but iv never realy looked into bowfront tanks. I was just thinking the largest size i would try to fit under it.

[charlie]

I have a 54 gallon bowfront, and I know a 29 won't fit underneath. I was thinking a ten might???

[Parrothead]

Here's the dimensions on the 20 High if it helps

24" long x 12" wide x 16" high

Tanks,
Robert

[returnofsid]

I'd recommend the larger of the HOB overflows. I'd also recommend looking at the CPR Overflow boxes, before buying anything. They work much better than the U-tube style. U-tube overflow boxes work well, but require regular re-priming. Air bubbles build up in the u-tube over a short period. This air bubble slows down flow, until it completely stops it....then floods happen. When I ran one, I re-primed it about once a week. Otherwise, the level in my display would slowly and then quickly rise.

CPR Aquafuges, are just about worry and maintenance free, though small maintenance steps are required once every couple of months. I'd recommend using them with TOMS Aqualifter.

As for the sump, fit the largest tank, or container than you can, inside your stand. Keep in mind that a skimmer collection cup will need to be regularly removed, and that the skimmer will need to be totally removed for cleaning, once in awhile.

If you can't fit a glass tank under there, look at the rubbermaid containers. They work great!!

[paparchasa84]

Ok thank everyone for your advice and input and I'm glad you guys let me know about the u tube overflow boxes because I was looking at getting the 800 gph one but I'm now going to pick up a cpr overflow box it costs a bit more but beauty hurts so I'm going to pick one of those up oct 3rd. I was also wondering since I bought the two koralia 3's is going to be too much clutter in my gallon and how and where would be best for optimal performance? Also when it comes to the length of my lights before I choose them I'm not sure what measurements to pick for instance a 30'' compared to a 36'' or higher I don't want to get a light too long or short and have to send it back. Finally where would I place toms auaqlifter at would it be in the sump since I already have a submersible pump with my skimmer. Thank you guys very much



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[paparchasa84]

One more thing sorry what's a good gph flow rate to look for my size tank thanks.



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[returnofsid]

The Aqualifter can sit right on top of your CPR overflow. You'll connect a short tube from nipple on overflow, to "inlet" of Aqualifter. The "output" of Aqualifter will use another piece of tubing and can go into your display, into your sump or even just back into the overflow. The Aqualifter is like an air pump, but pumps water, slowly. It just keeps the back portion of the overflow FULL of water, by sucking any possible air out of it.

As for lighting, what's the length of your tank? That should determine the length of your lighting. With our 46 gallon bowfront, which was 36" long, we used a 36" fixture.

As for flow, it'll really depend on what type of corals you want to grow. Anywhere from 10X turn over rate, on up. If you want to create flow for SPS, plan on LOTS more. Our 46, which was predominately soft corals and LPS, had 2 modded MJ1200s, for 4400 gph of flow. That doesn't count the flow from the skimmer or HOB Aquafuge. Our 75, which was predominately SPS, had a 1200 gph return and about 6800 gph of flow, created by powerheads....lol. I won't even talk about our new 200!!

[Daimyo68]

I have the same tank and stand. Space is very limited in the stand.

CPR Overflow is a great choice that you have made.

Currently, I have an acrylic sump. The sump measures 18"L x 9" W x 16" H, add to this the external eheim 1250, a 3/4" ball valve and fittings @ 10 1/2" L, and the entire length of the stand is used up with about 1" of space at each end.

I wanted to add a Refugium to my system and after researching a bit, I found that the most appropriate sump size (using a fish tank if your going the DIY route) would be one of these:

15g High @ 20 1/4 x 10 1/2 x 18 3/4
15g Show @ 24 1/4 x 8 1/2 x 16 5/8

This assumes an in sump return pump for either tank. Both tanks leave room outside for a HOB Skimmer or you could go with an In-Sump Skimmer. (for an In-Sump skimmer, you would need to know the footprint dimensions before setting up baffles in the sump).

The 15g Show would be my preferred choice, as it's only 16 5/8 high, and leaves a little more room, just in case you need to do anything in the sump.

I have been searching craigslist for a couple weeks, and both of these tanks are a bit tough to come by in my area (go figure, there's atleast 8-10 new tanks up there everyday).

As for flow, add up your total GPH from all sources: return pump (minus the head vertical pressure), skimmer, PH's.

For which direction to face your Power Heads, I have one facing directly across the tank from right to left, and the other facing towards the back (mounted on right side glass). My return from the sump if facing directly towards the front center glass.

I'm using 2 Koralia 2's. Play around a bit and find the directional flow that works best for your aquascape. Every tank is different. You can really sink some time in on this, creating high flow in one area, and a slower flow in another and so on (this way your fish don't get slammed into the glass at every turn). Just make sure you don't have any dead spots.

Lighting: I had a Current USA SunPod Metal Halide Fixture, 2X150 Watt HQI, 36 inch ordered and decided to move up the the Current USA SunPod Metal Halide Fixture, 2X250 Watt HQI, 36 inch (reason is stated at the end of this post). Mine will be suspended from the ceiling. Your width should be 36" if I'm correct. (not exactly sure what the measurement difference is between the 46 and 55).

guess that's it? lol


I have since picked up a 70g Oceanic and will be migrating to that tank. I really like the BF tanks, they look so much bigger than they really are, but the stand was my decision maker, so limited in a 46/55g BF.

The new 70 was also why I moved up in lighting.

Here's a pic of the 55g BF when I first got the setup (craigslist again, and a sweet deal at $150 for a running system). You can see it was pretty "sub-par". I have since upgraded lots. Sry don't have a recent pic, but can get one if needed.