55 Gallon Reef Tank

Can someone please help me out, i was wondering if i really needed to get a wet/dry for my tank. I was plannning on it but i was reading some other forums and some people say yes and some people say no... I want the best for my tank and the clearest water possible. Is live rock enough or should i go the extra mile and get live rock, sump and a wet dry? Thanks

 

You don't need a sump AND a wet/dry. I'd just use a sump.

For simplest setup you could run a Hang-on back skimmer, but if you have a sump you can run all of your filtration in the sump and keep your tank looking clean.

I had a wet/dry running on my freshwater tank, but I would not run a wet/dry on a reef tank. Especially the biomaterial can turn into a nitrate factory.

Sump + skimmer + whatever reactors you want (carbon, GFO, biopellets etc.) would be what I would do for a 55 gallon.

 

No, you by no means need a Wet/Dry.

Using the Berlin Method with an appropriately sized and quality skimmer with an adequate amount of live rock is a common and successful practice.

Wet/Dry are not bad and serve a purpose but not needed when you can yield the same results with use of a skimmer and LR.

Welcome to 3reef.

 

Thank you sooo much! I am totally new to the whole salt thing, and i was saving my pay checks up and tip money to try and buy a wet/dry. Im just trying to have the best for my fish and coral. So a sump would be my best best? I have just been watching videos on youtube and everyone has a wet/dry so i kinda thought i needed one. Thaks for the welcoming this site is AWSOME ;D

 

I have a 55 gallon DT with a 30 gallon sump, for reference. Sumps are great for a number of reasons (extra water capacity which is good for a variety of reasons, hides equipment, can have a section of it used as a refugium, can reduce noise since equipment is in a cabinet, wires are all tucked away and out of site, etc.). However, they aren't cheap by any means between the overflow you will need (or you can drill the tank), the sump itself, return pump, and return piping. And there is a much greater risk of leaks/floods with all of the extra piping or the sump itself overflowing.

Do some research, see what your goals are for the tank, and do what your budget will allow. If you do install a sump and take your time, you won't regret it!

 

I want to be able to keep plenty of coral in the tank. I don't really have a budget at this time. All that you listed is what i need?

 

The first step is to research what you want to keep in the tank. Are you trying to keep softies, LPS or SPS?

Do you have the 55 gallon already? It most likely is not drilled.

If you are on a budget you could just buy a used 20 gallon or 30 gallon tank and DIY baffles. That will save alot of money.

You will need a skimmer regardless, these range in price, I personally like the SC-150 (price to performance and ease of use) but everyone will have an opinion, do some research on this. You'll also need a return pump. For a 55 gallon with a 30 gallon sump you could probably use a Mag5 or something along those lines. Do research on this too.

The rest of your equipment depends on what you plan to keep in your tank, having "lots of corals" needs to be defined more before selecting the rest of your stuff.

 

Totally agree!!! Live rock and good skimmer. I did, however, add a refugium in my sump. You can search 3Reef for refugium, a lot of posts even have pictures and/or diagrams. I just used a regular tank and added baffles. Works well! Welcome to 3reef, there are a lot of good people on here so don't be afraid to ask questions!

 

If you look at my 72 bowfront build it will show you how I did my sump with a refugium.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-of...nt-build-picture-update-7-17-12-a-124375.html

I am currently working on a 75 gal with a built in overflow. It is easier than you would think to drill the glass. just use a plywood template and you can rent the bit from most lfs.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-of...uild-c2c-weir-beananimal-overflow-137126.html

On my 72 gal, I probably only had about $70 into my sump and plumbing, tank was free from spending $50 at the fish store, maybe someone around you offfer that.

Good luck and keep everyone updated on the build.

 

Sweet thanks lots guys. I would like to keep LPS, Mushroom,Polyp and some Anemone