Semi-Rookie needs help with 50 Gal set-up

[-=Jeff=-]

I will preface that I say Semi-Rookie since my son's 10 Gal salt has been running great for 14 months

So now my daughter wants salt too.. I said, I will free up my 50 Gal and convert it to a Saltwater tank.

So now come the questions..

my 50 has a Fluval 405, can I use it? should I use it? what is recommended?

I have a small power head, but will get another too
Protein Skimmer?

I know I need about 60 lbs of Live Sand, 50-60 Lbs of Live Rock (OR?)

I have a heater, I have a light that will work for now..

Tank will be FOWLR.. maybe a Starfish or 2.. some Shrimp, and typical clean up crew stuff

No clue on fish yet..

Still pricing it all out on what I need. but needed to figure out the filtration

FYI my son's 10 Gal has a Aquaclear 20 HOB.

So what is the path I need to look at for filtration on the 50?

 

[jjh302]

I'm no expert, but ditch the fluval and go with a sump. Canisters house nitrates. With a sump you can increase volume.


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[-=Jeff=-]

any more details on equipment for sump?

I cannot drill the tank I have and was not planning on a new tank. the current tank I have is 50gal and the bottom of the tank is tempered according to their website

 

[jjh302]

The back can be drilled if you so choose that route. Check out the articles section in this forum. Very useful info!


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[-=Jeff=-]

I found the articles but did not find much about new tank set-ups or suggested filtration

my 50 gal is 30Lx18Wx21D maybe that is too short, but that is the tank I was planning on using..

the sump kits at the LFS are close to $400 which will price me right out of doing this

I am also looking for DIY articles for a sump, which in the Sump article I found mentioned something done by Kev, but no link

 

[Mattyfelts]

youtube diy sump and the like. youll get millions of results.

 

[-=Jeff=-]

yeah I found that after I posted..