I am setting up a 55 gal salt water aqaurium, fish only. I have a protein skimmer?

Question

The filter I ordered is a power filter with bio wheel, is this okay for a salt water tank or should I return this and purchase something else. I have a limited budget. I have crushed coral with argonite as as substrate, 200 watt heater.

Answer 1

i also have a 55 gallon saltwater tank. i have 4 power filters on it. you will be fine just make sure the filter is the right size for the 55g. i was like you had a limited budget so i decided to go with the power filters. i get my water tested every month and my water quality is just fine. I'm also getting a 125g next month and i plan on using 2 110g filters on it. your tank should be just fine. good luck..jewels

Answer 2

If you're going with mechanical filtration, I would go with a good canister. 55 gallons is a decent size but without live rock and live sand (I strong advise against the crushed coral by the way... I hate that stuff) understock as much as possible. Mechanical filtration is so not the way to go with salt water.
Anyway, I do suggest you save your pennies until you can afford some live rock. If you can find some realous poreous stuff you could get away with 30 or 40 pounds of it. It's an expensive one-time thing but it often makes the difference!

Did you buy your stuff new? If you keep your eyes open, local classifieds, craigslist, local aquarists society, you can find stuff for ultra cheap when people are moving / getting out of the hobby. I started my first reef tank that way and of course it was expensive but in the end probably cost me only 500 instead of 1500 to set up.

Anyway, go with a canister, and get some liverock rubble to put in the canister as part of the filter media. But frankly, a power filter with a bio-wheel would probably do the trick... just over filter a little, stock your tank very slowly and frequently test your water.

Might be worth getting a 'fuge, like a 20 gal or something. It'll set you back a little but you can set it up with some live rock, less than if it were in your big tank, and it'll make a big filtration difference.

Answer 3

Yes a biowheel is fine for a 55 gal. I use it on several of my smaller SW tanks. Good thing you have a protein slimmer going as that will aid with your mechanical filtration. I have to agree with others here that this is not a cheap hobby. Unfortunately you get what you pay for in this hobby. If you do your homework and are not afraid to ask questions you can do ok on a budget. I know many junior high and high school students that do well in SW with very little money. Visit the websites below and check out the forums....they will answer any questions you can possibly think of. GL! Also get rid of the crushed coral, it'll be more pain in the long run.

Answer 4

sorry to say if you're on a limited budget starting that large of a salt water tank is not a good idea, we started our first one just like that also, there are alot of costs involved, we have 2 very large freshwater and will eventually restart our saltwater again, but this time differently, they are a very large investment both time and money in the set up, make sure you do things right the first time, don't cut corners, you're regret it later

Answer 5

That sort of filter is great for any fish tank. The bio wheel provide biological filtration and the regular filter part provides mechanical filtration. Just make sure it is the biggest one you can buy.

Answer 6

you prefer a million a million/2 to 2 lbs in line with gallon. Are you going to have corals in there? If not, you ought to flee with 1lb in line with gallon probable. I wouldnt positioned decrease than 55lbs of stay rock in it. $5 a lb is rather uncomplicated for the greater decrease priced rock. you may get it online at times for somewhat much less. I even have seen it as much as $10-$15 a lb reckoning on the type you get.

Answer 7

We've had nothing but trouble with regular filters. Use it for now but start saving up for a refugium

http://www.vividaquariums.com/Brefugium.asp