starting a salt water tank

Question
so i have a 55 gal aga tank but thats it.. i know i need a filter and a skimmer and the light and the hood ...could u let me know what else i need? please.

Answer
Hello Katrina.


you dont really need a lot to start off, so unless you can get a package deal I would just start off with a tank, and filter, (eitehr  a cannister filter or a sump)

You dont need a 'hood', unless you are planning on 'concealing' the lights inside it.  But you can run with lights either on 'legs' or suspendend/pendant type.

The type of light is up to you, either t5HO or metal halide.

skimmers are totally arbitrary.  I know a bunch of folks that dont have one.  I also have a bunch of friends that get into the 'baller' type of skimmers that cost over $1000.

For me, anything that mixes air and water well enoug will create skimmate...

The better skimmers might do it a little bit better and maybe have a better motor and create more air with less power, but at what cost?

Euro Reef, Octopus, ASM, BubbleKing, AquaEuro,  are all good skimmers,  (and many more i coulndt list here)

You will also want live sand and live rock, and some test kits.  NITRITE, NITRATE, AMMONIA, pH to start off...

then when you get into corals, ALK/GH/kH, and Calcium


no need for all the chemicals and suppliments... dont wste the money on them..

good luck and let me know how you do.


bill