[nickrp]

Ok, I guess I should keep all my questions to one post, but as I keep reading I need more answers. My plans are to do a 55g tank with 10 refugium.

Id like to do fish, coral and anemones and all the good stuff. Is there a cheap way of doing the lighting? I really dont want to spend 300-800 on lights.

Are wave makers any good?

I got my first batch of water for the 12g nano cube premixed from my LFS, should I stick with this or mix my own?

I was thinking about getting this skimmer in the 65g version. Is it a good one?Aquarium Protein Skimmers: Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer

I think thats it, but Im sure I'll come up with more.
Thanks in advance.

[glampka]

2 things you don't want to skimp on are your skimmer & your lights. Depending on what kind of corals you want to keep you can possibly get buy with T5 or PC. Check Aquatraders - They have a 4 x 65W PC set up for $99 - not a bad price.
I don't personally have the Coralife skimmer but from what I've heard they hare fairly decent.
What kind of water is your lfs using to make the salt water? Is it RO? Personally I make my own. You have to compare the cost of the water from the store vs what you could make it for. Do you also want to be lugging around that much water??

[nickrp]

Not sure what kind of water they are using, but it a fish only store. $0.99 a gallon.

Not sure what kind of corals I want, havent done that much research yet. I do want quite a few anemones. I dont mind spending 200 bucks on lights. What is the minimal wattage I will need for a 55 gallon tank, and which is better the MH or T-5. Which light will make my electric bill the highest.

[steve0xr]

Hey what type of over flow will you be using? I'm getting ready to do a very simular set-up. Tanks with overflows built in are pretty expensive so I think I'm going to drill and make one myself in an old 55 gal I have in the garage. Unless of course I find a better/safer idea =)

[nickrp]

I have no idea, Im still trying to figure all that stuff out. Im new to this and just started the 12g nanocube on Thursday. Ive read its better to have them above the tank, but I dont want that. I want it below the tank hidden. Im still trying to figure out what the overflow is even for.Lol

[tyoung]

for info on overflows, check out Lifereef Filter Systems. he sells them as well. you can get a lot of good info from this site.

[jimw369]

Hey Nickrp!
I am relatively new to this saltwater reef thing myself and you are asking great questions.
Some of the questions are the same ones I have asked in the past so maybe I can help a little. What kind of light and how much? Well...5 watts per gal should be good for soft corals, some mushrooms, some anenomies but you might want to read up on EXACTLY
what you want to put in your tank to start with. Some stuff you might want to place higher in your tank to take advantage of the light but things up there might not like the extra water current you could get from the wavemaker you mentioned unless you set up for more current midtank but then that could affect a mushroom that you would be inclined to place on the bottom of your tank. It just goes on and on! Before you spend more money please read, read, read and then work your plan. Dont do what I did and spend a bunch of money thinking I could figure it all out as I went. I lost a lot of money and aquired a lot of stuff that was wrong for what I wanted to do. On the flipside, I made several people happy on Ebay. Good luck. JIM

[glampka]

MH bulbs generate tons of heat. Since you're in Houston, you may have to get a chiller to keep tank temperatures down. T5 bulbs done properly can equal the lighting og MH without the heat. Be sure that each bulb has individual reflectors - not one big reflector that covers all the bulbs.

[nickrp]

Thanks for the link.

[nickrp]

Well ****, I thought I read that lots of flow was good. Ive got a lot of reading to do.

[nickrp]

Ya, I'll have to look into a chiller. My water temps are averaging 82-83 degrees right now with only LR and sand in the tank and its not even summer yet.