Setting up 50 gallon Reef

[TexasState]

I haven't kept a reef tank in almost half a decade. Your ex-hardware guru is now clueless about the latest reef toys/gadgets. I'm trying to setup a LPS/soft/ rose anemone tank.

1) Currently have:
*50 Gallon (30Lx18wx21H) Oceanic Tank/Stand/Glass top filled with store bought premixed saltwater
*Remora Skimmer / Prefilter / Maxijet combo
*18 Watts PC light (been traveling cross country w/ it unused for 3 years)
*Going to pick up 150 pounds of cured LR & fishes this Saturday

2) Looking for recommendations on what & where to get
*On tank light with the best actinic effect (hanging light from ceiling is out of the question).
*what size/model powerhead (funky circular / global looking things)
*hang on back refugium
*Sand bed vs. bare bottom (which would be best to survive Tampa Bay hurricane power outtage?)
*salinity measuring thingy
*What else do I need to buy?

3) Is mangrove any good? Mangrove pods are lying on the ground where I work at (on Federal Govt land). They seem to be available in abundance during winter time.

4) Should I keep an oyster or two into the reef tank as filters? How should I clean oyster collected from the beach?

5) How concerned should I be about quarantining snails / crabs / fishes collected from the beach?

[LoneStar]

2) Looking for recommendations on what & where to get
*On tank light with the best actinic effect (hanging light from ceiling is out of the question).

Look into t-5 fixtures. T-5 is all the rage now. Longer lifespan than most other types of lighting and is cheaper to run.

*what size/model powerhead (funky circular / global looking things)

Hydor Koralia makes a line of powerheads that are cheap and well known now. Tunze has also come out with a nano version of their popular Stream powerheads.

*hang on back refugium

*Sand bed vs. bare bottom (which would be best to survive Tampa Bay hurricane power outtage?)

For a softy tank, I don't think you should worry about going barebottom. For one, you don't need the extra flow in a tank like that.

*salinity measuring thingy

Refractomer or a floating hyrdometor

*What else do I need to buy?

Auto top off for your tank. RO/DI filter to help save time and money, a controller (Reefkeeper 2) to make life easier......those are just suggestions.


Check out some of the online websites and start browsing through them. You will see a lot more equipment than the last time you looked I'm sure!

www.marinedepot.com
www.premiumaquatics.com
www.hellolights.com

Also hit up our vendor section here on MAAST. We have online sponsors located there as well.

Thats just a brief reply but may get your gears turning...

[TexasState]

The LFS doesn't have any Tunze stream in stock so I bought one Koralia 2. Ordered a Current USA Sundial 4x T5 HO from the LFS, hopefully I can pick it up this weekend. Bought 150 pounds of premium LR, now the tank is full of LR top to bottom, side to side. Might have to upgrade to a 72 Bowfront that's sitting around empty.