getting started again..

hey,

Formally I've been interested in starting a saltwater aquarium, but this time I have set aside enough money(roughly $900 is that enough?) to get it started. I've been planning on a 55 gallon aquarium getting 40 lbs live sand and 45 lbs live rock if i can find it cheap enough. I want 2 percula or maybe black percula clownfish. I need MAJOR help getting started and am planning on adding a 10-20 gallon sump.

well thats is it for now Thanks!

[Hara]

Have you thought about what type of filtration you are going to use? If you are going to be doing strictly liverock, I would suggest you bump the poundage up to at least 75. Consider getting a skimmer.

Were you going to try your hand at corals? or just a fish only tank?

thanks for the reply, With 75 lbs does that help filter the water?and u mean 75 lbs of each?
i think i want to try fish inverts mayb a few corals that would be easy to do... wut kind of lighting would i need for medium lighting?

thanks

[Hara]

75 lbs of rock, whatever makes about 3 inches of sand is what I would do. Liverock would really be all the filtration needed, plus skimmer and something that moves the water around a bit.

Corals should have, IMO, 4 wpg as a minimum. Opinions vary on this.

[roka64]

Hara has some great suggestions. If you want to shave some costs, don't do it on the equipment. I would start by mixing some base rock (basically dead rock that will become live, and very cheap) with some LR. For decent filtration, eventually, I would try to shoot for 1.5-2LBs per gallon.

would you reccomend a website for me to buy fish and equipment? The closest place I could buy without ordering online is omaha(2 hrs away) so i dont know wut would be harder or would take the most time. so will the min 4 wat per gallon work with all coral?

thanks again

[roka64]

I'm not a reefer, but I would have to say that is too low of watts. I think 6WPG, MAY be the minimum. I would wait for some experienced reefers to add their opinions/experiences/expertese.
I just bought a bunch of equipment forom:
drsfosterandsmith.com (they don't charge extra for weight)
liveaquaria.com
thatpetplace.com (they price match)
http://marcorocks.com/ (for base rock) I just found this place today and have contacted him about a purchase. I have not personally bought from him yet, but his base rock is about $1.90/LBs.
premiumaquatics.com (I have bought my heaters from them and am pleased)
Others can help with other site suggestions, the like.

this may be a stupid question but what is base rock?

[roka64]

It's not a stupid question, there is a lot of confusion as to the difference of base, cured, uncured. Base rock is "dead". Generally it is bleached or with very little color, has been out of water. Usually, it is sitting on theshelf at your LFS. Cured LR is what is in the LFS's display tanks, with fish and other critters. Un-cured is half way between the two.

ok so basically base rock mixed with live rock will eventually become as an effecient filter as 100% live rock?