Looking for Advice

[joshso]

I'm new to saltwater. I have a 55 gallon that I am going to use for a tank. I want to have both fish and invertebrate in it. I am buying all of the equipment that I need, or at least that I think I need: a canister filter, protein skimmer, submersible heater, lighting. I am planning on using flourescent lights, will they be sufficient? I am going to buy a 10K bulb and probably a lower spectrum for my other, will this be good enough for both the fish and invertebrates? Do I need to buy a Bio-wheel? There is also no good fish stores in my area, the closet one is about 2 hours away. Is it safe to purchase my live rock and live sand there, how about the fish?
All help is greatly appreciated.

 

[mojoreef]

Hi Josh and welcome to Reef Frontiers. Have you looked into Live Rock for filtration. Using it will allow you to not have to run a canister filter. On the lighting its a little low for most corals but you still should be able to keep a variety of soft corals, just not the light demanding types.

Mike

 

[joshso]

Mike thanks for the reply. I read that fish don't do good under the higher intensity light. Is there a good middle ground that I can have both my fish and ivertebrate happy? Also does it take a while for the live rock to get to the point that I don't need a filter?.

Thanks

 

[mojoreef]

Josh yur oign to have to let your tank cycle of coarse, but the LR contains bacteria required to filter your tank from the get go. You can have a canister filter but your going to have to clean it every couple of days or it will become a problem, so if it were me I would skip it.
On the lighting what is the wattage of the lighting you are planing on getting.


Mike

 

[NaH2O]

Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!