So I came home today and...

My boyfriend gave me my Christmas present early; he bought me a 55 gallon tall tank with hoods and lights, plus a gift card for my LFS. How sick is that?!?
So this being my first BIG (the thing looks so much smaller is the store) tank, and my first SW of course i have a TON of questions!
Here's some specs,
Marineland 55 gallon tall tank
It came with 2 25 gallon hoods
Two Fluorescent bulbs

Now here's some questions.
I want to get 2 HOB Penguin Bio Wheels. DO i need two or am i being paranoid? Are they quiet? Can i go without a sump?
I want a heater and plan on doing more research, any tips?
I need to buy a good SW test kit, any recommendations?
Am i taking on too much with starting a SW tank and trying to learn coral?
Can i start adding corals later, or is now the time?
How do i acclimatize my Eel into full marine? He's at 1.015 Sg now.

I have many more, and i'm sure more to come, but that's a start. ;D

 

If you plan on having corals you will have to upgrade your corals. The lights you have now will not support any corals. Look into a nice t5ho fixture from tek or Nova. I would buy just one hang on back filter and i would go with an aqua clear. You can go with out a sump but a sump will do nothing but help and also hid the equipment such as a skimmer and powerheads. I would look into getting two power heads ASAP, i love the hydors as most people do, id go with two Hydor Korialla 3's. Also get a skimmer ASAP. Look into a Hang on back made by either Octopus,aqua c, bak pak are 3 of the best ones out there. Get a test kit, honestly at this point any will do! YOU MUST HAVE A HEATER if you plan on doing saltwater, Also you need a hydrometer or even better a refractor meter to mesasure the salt leves, id keep it at about 1.026.



Hope this helps a little any other questions just ask

 

Consider reading these three articles.
First
Second
Third.

Pretty much all your questions answered. BTW, these three documents are the very reason 3reef is called 3reef. And welcome to 3reef!!

 

Thanks RSparky, I re-read the articles, i have a 10 gallon with a gymnothorax tile eel.
So how do i acclimatize my eel from 1.015 to full marine?
Can he help me cycle my tank or will he be too much of a bio load?
i need to get him out of there, can he last a month or two till i get it going?

 

Wish I could be more help with your eel,BUT I have to say kudos to your new christmas gift..congrats and good luck,we will need pics when its all done..

 

I would do some research and make sure the eel can surive in full marine....im not to familar with brackish fish wish i could help

 

If you can go with it i would get canister filter. We used a Marineland HOT magnum 250 when we first started the tank. This thing had awesome flow and kept the water very clear. My only complaint was the priming which i figured out a nice trick, and it produced alot of micro bubbles when first started up.

Now we have the Rena and that things flows like crazy and it keeps all the crap out of the water. I know we need a sump but we dont have the space.

Congrats on the tank