For all of my aquarium hobbyist friends out there! I am starting up a 33 gal long mixed reef tank and need some input my equipment choices!?

Question

Here is what I am thinking thus far:

Lighting: Current Usa Orbit Marine LED Saltwater Reef Lighting System - 48 inch ( I have read MANY great reviews on this lighting setup being that it is inexpensive, and corals tend to thrive in it. Well, minus the hard stony corals of course.. But being that the 33 gal long is so shallow, I feel like it may even work for some of those too provided they are a little higher up in the tank).

Heater: ViaAqua Quartz Glass Submersible Heater (2 of them since the tank is about 4 feet long). I am just unsure whether to get 2 100w or 2 200w heaters?

Powerhead/Circulation Pump: The Hydor Koralia Nano seems to be a good inexpensive choice (I just can't afford the Vortech's). But again, should I go with 2 (or more) of the 425's? Or a couple of the 565's? (I read that the 425 may not be powerful enough.. But what about two of em in opposite corners?)

Filter: A simple AquaClear Filter (up to 50 gal tank). But again, is one filter enough? Or should I go 2 smaller gal sized ones on each end?

Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thank You!

Punkin eater · Answer

A beginner shouldn't be planning on stony corals, see how you manage keeping the tank healthy before you try any corals. And no anemone, the tank's too small.

The light is acceptable for live rock, and simple corals and yes it may be ok because the tank is shallow.

The tank should need under 150 watts of heat, a single 100 watt would probably be fine as long as the room isn't going to be super cold in winter. Keeping the tank cool in hotter weather will be a problem without airconditioning or a small chiller device.

I don't think you need the larger circulation pumps, (I haven't looked up the specs on those pumps), plan on about 15-20 times the tank volume in total flow from all your pumps and filter. That's under 600gph total and that's the highest value probably needed. Yes, two to three pumps at opposite ends might be acceptable. Once the tank is stuffed with live rock, adjust the pumps to spread the flow around so there isn't detritus settling on the rocks or bottom anywhere.

The Aqua clear would be fine but eventually you'll be using it primarily for flow and as a place for adding carbon or other chemical media when needed and not for biologic filtration. Some people stuff them with live rock chips so it will act as a refugium. Standard biologic filtration is usually not beneficial and only becomes a "nitrate factory".

(Note: do not use any ammonia removing zeolite filter material sometimes sold with aqua clear filters)

Start the tank with 10 pounds of live rock, run it for a couple weeks at least
Then add more live rock in two purchases about a month apart.  
Possibly trying some small hermit crabs and snails.

Use this time to become familiar with doing partial water changes correctly, supplementing calcium and alkalinity properly, and water testing. Once you have a healthy tank and the live rock is developing more life then you can start adding hardy corals and a couple tiny fish.

Remember, it takes a year to have a healthy balanced reef tank and don't try to stuff the tank with animals right away. The point is to have a tank where existing animals, corals etc are spreading, not just buying new ones and glueing them on to the rocks.

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For all of my aquarium hobbyist friends out there! I am starting up a 33 gal long mixed reef tank and need some input my equipment choices!?

1 Answer