Best Reef Tank Setup
i want to start a 55 gallon saltwater tank?
What do i need to start i have nothing at all but the cash. im not wanting a Reef Tank. im thinking either a FO or FOWLR. Pros and cons of both of those would also be appreciated. i need to know step by step where to begin either way for the FO or FOWLR, im going to buy a 55 gallon tank. i have 10 years of freshwater fish experience and want to try something new and more of a challenge. Give me your ideas and your setups personal experiece prefered i have been reading alot but want some personal experience as well Thanks I will Choose best answer.
First of all, this site will be a TON of help: saltwaterfish.com, go to the forums and there are tons of people ready to answer your questions!
In my opinion, FOWLR is the way to go, that live rock provides hiding places for the fish (reduces stress) and provides tons of surface area for good bacteria, which acts as a filter, and also looks very nice with beautiful coralline algae growing on it. I have a 55 FOWLR right now, and I’m very happy with it. Also, since you aren’t getting a Reef Tank, you can keep more aggressive fish(if you want) or things that wouldn’t be safe in a Reef Tank
For the filter, UV sterilizers aren’t nessecary, some stores might try to get you to buy one by telling you that you NEED one, which isn’t true. I have one, but that is only because it is connected to my filter when I bought the tank. I bought a used tank from a neighbor, but since you don’t know what that person did with the tank (maybe they treated it with meds that could be dangerous to your fish) or it might leak, etc) Just go with a new tank, trust me. Anyways, for a filter, I think the best way to go with saltwater is a wet/dry or trickle filter. You can build your own(like me, cheaper and there are plenty of diagrams to follow on the internet) or you can buy one, just do your research. This hobby can get pretty expensive, I’m warning you 
It would take me a day to fully tell you all I want to, and it’s 2am here, so I have to get a short answer.
Just remember, the saltwaterfish.com forums are you best friend, and don’t always buy whatever the guy at the fish store wants you to, I hope this helps!
550 Gallon Reef Tank at the ROM
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