My First 55 gallon Reef

what bulbs are you running for T5s?

 

I have a RO/DI unit.

All I know is they are 12k 45 watt T5 bulbs. I got the fixture off ebay so im sure its a POS but it;s what I have.

 

You are definitely going to need a sump/fuge if you want a mandarin unless you plan on spending hundreds of $ buying pods each week. If you get an overflow or BUILD one http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/nice-cheap-diy-overflow-29396.html it's not going to overflow. Ball valves make it real easy.

 

there's always the "bucket o' pods" too.

 

From my experience it is dying/dead coraline. When I got my live rock, it looked like that, then eventually disappeared.

 

You will also need to get some actinic bulbs, I would suggest 50% daylight, 50% actinic

 

I do have some acintic. sorry.
2 are blue acintic and 2 are 12k white.