55 Gallon Starter

[Russelm]

hey guys,
I would like to introduce myself and tell you about my situation. My name is Matt and I'm relatively new to saltwater tanks. I recently just moved back over to the US after being stationed overseas for almost 4 years. I was cruising craigslist in my local area and stumbled across a 55 gal tank and stand for $80 and I couldn't pass it up. My intention was always to get a salt water tank cause my one year old is mesmerized everytime we go into cabelas and look at the fish tank. So here I am with a clean slate and a clean tank. The tank came with standard lighting and two OTB filters and two stock heaters. This is where I requires everyone's expertise. I am trying to do this on a budget but not have a tank that doesn't deserve to be seen by others. My goal is to have clowns and a couple of anemones to achieve that symbiotic relationship. I would love for you guys to send over any tips or tricks. I will include some pics when I get home and look forward to sharing this experience with you guys.

 

[chris124]

Ok that setup should work fine for clowns. But remember that you can only have two clowns anymore and they will fight. I have three because I added them at the same time but they could still start fighting. But if that happens my lfs will take them back.I run a sump on my 75 gallon fowlr tank and that makes everything a lot easier. As for the anemones you will probably need to upgrade the lights. But I'll let someone who has anemones answer that. This a hobby that you and your child will enjoy and thank you for your service.

 

[Russelm]

Chris, thanks for the response so after doing some research I don't think I'm going to do a sum this time around do to cost and necessity and instead do either a newer OTB filter or a canister. Thoughts, problems you might see. Also at lighting I was looking a fluval sea and coral 2.0 they look like a good buy and entry level light

 

[RoyalGrammaJohn]

If you want a budget tank go with two marineland 350 filters. Just make sure to change the filters every two to three weeks once your tank is done cycling. Go with one good heater. A 200-250 watt will do it. And you must get flow in the tank. You want at least two circulation pumps in a 55 gallon. Look at hydor korilla for pumps and have them face each other for turbulent flow. Your hang on back filters will move the surface well for oxygen exchange. Unless your doing a sump or a canister filter. But the cheapest would be hang on back filters if that's what your looking for. If you doing corals or anemones you will need a lot more power lighting depending on what corals and anemones. SPS corals need very high lighting and are not good beginner corals. I believe condy anemones don't need as much high light as other anemones but they don't host anything. And obviously you want live rock in the tank. My suggestion would be to start with 100% dry rock or reef saver Eco rock and will become live rock over time and you will not get any hitchhikers with it. Buying live rock from the pet store isn't a guarantee. You can get bristle worms which aren't bad they clean waste but they overpopulated if the tank is over fed. But also there is bad anemones you can get like Apitasia and majano which are pest anemones , mantis shrimp , Etc. you can buy reef saver rock or Eco rock from bulk reef supply and marine depot online. If you use Eco rock or reef saver rock you just rinse it off and throw it in the tank rather the tank is cycling or its established. This is what I used for my tank. Eco rock and reef saver rock is the same thing as live rock there both calcium bicarbonate but Eco rock or reef saver comes from a quarry in Florida so it's natural and was once an ancient reef so it hasn't been in the ocean at all therefore guaranteeing no pests at all. Dry rock which is live rock that is dead. you still have to cure just in case just like live rock and you shouldn't get hitchhikers but there could be a tiny chance that pest anemones could come back but unlikely. Just my advice. You will hear a million different opinions in this hobby. Good luck !

 

[cmcoker]

I would say no to the fluval, personally. Take a look at some of the led lights in the sponsor section.
Some of the black box leds, like Mars aqua, oceanrevive, etc will give you plenty of light on a budget.
I personally like the aquaclear hob filters, my 55g sumpless I had an aquaclear 70 on one side, and a hob skimmer on the other side.
The aquaclear I just used filter floss or ran media in, like a bag of carbon, sometime it was just empty..
Koralia are good, inexpensive pumps.
You could also look at the Jebao rw pumps as well, some hate them, some love them.

 

[Russelm]

Hey everyone thanks for all the advice and how to start a tank. So a quick update and photos included. Right now I have a 200w heater as well as two Fluval aquaclear 50 filter both which came with the tank. Last night I ordered a couple of power heads off of amazon as well as a RO/DI buddie. I went this way cause I felt like this was the most cost effective and honestly I don't feel like a need a bulk reef supply system on such a small tank. However, I could regret that decision later on. I am also ordering 35 pounds of reef saver coral from BRS. I should have water in the tank next week so I can start cycling. My biggest question right now is what sand to buy. I don't like really fine sand and don't like huge crushed coral bits. I want live sand so I can introduce some bacteria in the tank. Thanks again for all the help

 

[cmcoker]

Do you have a local club? Where you located?
I would say if you can find someone local to give you a cup of sand, then save some money and use dry sand and put the cup o sand on the top of the dry. Also, a couple pieces of live rock, even rubble rock, could add your bacteria. A lfs in my area sells rubble rock for 0.99/lb. You could put something like that in one of your filters.

Do you have an idea of how you are going to aquascape? 55g can be challenging due to the height and narrow depth.

 

[p.pep85]

if your on a budget i would stick with a fowlr tank. the filters you have and lights will work for now. but this is truly an expensive hobby. and trying to buy cheap or just skipping some equipment will end up costing you extra money in the end. i tryed to start off as cheap as possible and it bit me in the butt within 6 months. plan out what you want then buy what you need then start you tank. slow and steady

 

[saltykid96]

There are all kinds of white sands but if you want to mix it I suggest black Tahitian moon sand. I have white also but love this black sand in a tank or two.

 

[Russelm]

Thanks for all the comments. I live just south of Boise in Idaho. As far as aquascaping goes I'm going to try and build elevation with a sturdy base I bought 35 lbs of dry live rock and tubes of reef safe superglue. So, I'm going to see where that gets me. I'm starting to realize it's not going to be a cheap hobby, I guess a better way of putting it is not blowing money. Going for the best bang for your buck approach and not buy top shelf when I don't have to. Thanks for the comments and I'll keep you posted on the progress.

 

[ReeferBob]

Don't worry about introducing bacteria. Bacteria exists everywhere and it will establish itself. For sand, make sure you are using 100% aragonite and not actual "sand" like play sand that they sell at home depot. Sand contains silicon and you don't want that in your tank. Stay away from crushed coral it tends to trap ditreus which causes your nutrient level to rise and you get lots of algae. Make sure you clean that tank very well it was probably a freshwater tank at one time and may have had copper treatments for ich and other freshwater ailments. Copper will kill your coral and invertebrates so you want to clean the tank as well as you can. Good luck and thanks for your service!

 

[Russelm]

Reefer bob, thanks for the advice. I cleaned the tank, filters with hot water and soap. I will wipe it down again before I fill it. I hope this is good enough to get rid of the copper. What size and make of sand do you recommmend. I want sand that will benefit the tank from a bacteria stand point and also to have San sifters that thrive.

 

[cmcoker]

Reefer bob, thanks for the advice. I cleaned the tank, filters with hot water and soap. I will wipe it down again before I fill it. I hope this is good enough to get rid of the copper. What size and make of sand do you recommmend. I want sand that will benefit the tank from a bacteria stand point and also to have San sifters that thrive.

Rinse, rinse, vinegar, rinse. Make sure you get the soap out.
As far as copper, you could run a poly filter if it turns blue or green, there is still copper.

I like the tropic eden brand of sand, I think you can even order samples so you can see it in the tank..

 

[Russelm]

Hey reefers, hope all is well so a quick update on my tank with an attached photo. So, I have 40 pounds of live sand oolite with 10 of reef grade mixes up making about a 1.5 inch bed in its deepest spot . I have 35 pounds of BRS reefsaver dry live rock. It is now filled with water and cycling with 2 x 600 gph power heads with a aqua clear 50 pushing water around the tank. I have used bio spira with a couple of small false feeding the last week to get the tank sustainable until I get fish this weekend. It's about an hour drive so can only go up there on the weekends. Also the water has been run thru a RO/DI. First fish are going to be a couple of clowns. Fingers crossed it all works well. Let me know if I'm doing something wrong

 

[cmcoker]

Looks good. Are you monitoring ammonia?

 

[Russelm]

Yes I tested last night and reading was low to no existent... I just purchased a Api test kit to get a better reading plan is to put few fish a couple of lps and frequent water chances trying to make it low maintenance as possible.

 

[cmcoker]

Yes I tested last night and reading was low to no existent... I just purchased a Api test kit to get a better reading plan is to put few fish a couple of lps and frequent water chances trying to make it low maintenance as possible.

With using dry rock, I would want to see ammonia spike up to 1-2ppm and back down before I add fish. You could use straight ammonia or feedings or whatever, but your bacteria is gonna take a bit longer to grow on dry rock. My 0.02

 

[Russelm]

Cmcoker, I appreciate your 0.02 thank you,
Update on the tank so I had an ammonia spike and it started to fall so taking the advice I held off and bought fish two days ago. In the tank now is 3 Chromis, 2 hermit crabs, turbo snail, and a emerald crab. They seem to be settling in fine and the Chromis are swimming thru out the water column. The emerald has dug his own little hole and is protecting it. I did a ten percent water change today and will do another one in a couple of days since I will be on TDY and the tank will be in my wife's hands. Thanks for all the advice and picture is below.

 

[cmcoker]

Thats great.
I would suggest an ammonia alert badge in the display and a bottle of prime, esp for when your wife is on her own. The ammonia badge will give you a real time ammonia reading, if she sees it go up she can add prime to the tank to detoxify it.
Good luck with your new additions!