Reef Tank | Maine Aquaria

eey0n
Full Member

Learning the ways of the reef...

Posts: 102

Reef Tank Feb 6, 2013 5:08:23 GMT -5

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Post by eey0n on Feb 6, 2013 5:08:23 GMT -5

Hello Folks!
So, I'm looking into starting a reef tank fairly soon. My 55 gallon FOWLR is doing well and i'd like to do something along the lines of a 40 gallon reef where I can focus more on the "beauty" of the tank. (pretty corals, clown fish and the like). That being said, I've done a bit of research on several web sites but am always open to new info. And whom better to ask then my local hobby companions?!

So, my question is as follows...

What are the main things I will need to start this tank? I assume tank, filter, substrate, heater, lighting, live rock? What type of lighting will I need? Really any knowledge will do. Thanks for the info friends!

scoobnoob
Senior Member

Old Town

Posts: 1,893

Reef Tank Feb 6, 2013 7:00:12 GMT -5

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Post by scoobnoob on Feb 6, 2013 7:00:12 GMT -5

There are a million ways to set it up. Most of us are doing a sump with a refugium and cheato, with a good skimmer for filtration, a drive pump and over flow that will move 10x the volume per hour, and quality LED lighting has become a favorite in the hobby you'll see better growth and everything will look a lot better, plus the power savings I'm glad I went LED. It sounds like you're going to be doing something similar to me you can follow my build in the slow as a snail thread, I'm peicing together a 40 breeder with a 20H sump.

lesserof2weevils
New Member

Posts: 48

Reef Tank Feb 8, 2013 6:35:45 GMT -5

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Post by lesserof2weevils on Feb 8, 2013 6:35:45 GMT -5

The 40b w/ 20H sump is a great combo. Reef tanks typically have no mechanical filtration - your live rock is your bio filter. Most of the small skimmers will also work to pull most wastes / tiny particles. I kept my AquaC Remora for a skimmer and it hangs outside the sump. There may be better ones available now. My return pump is just a MaxiJet 1200 and works great for low wattage pump. Same pump on the skimmer. Ditto on the LED lighting. I think I have around 70 watts worth and they make as much light as my old 5 tube t-5 did at around 200watts. LED lighting will easily pay for itself within the first year due to much lower operating costs and no need to replace tubes / bulbs, + the color is really awesome.
For display water flow there are many options of propeller pumps. A pair of Koralia #2's would get you started. Depending on your budget you could instead run 1 Vortech MP40 but they're pricey.

Last Edit: Feb 8, 2013 6:38:22 GMT -5 by lesserof2weevils