Finally have a tank....time to get the ball rolling

[fyrfytr]

So after much reading and much posting...I have finally made a tank purchase (although I did just email someone off Craigslist ref a 70 gal predrilled and stand). Ordered a 55 gal through PetCo during their $1 a gal sale. Should be in Monday or Next Monday at the latest.. So with that said its time to start getting down to it, and some basic questions to start. Going to do fish and rock only tank to start, once I get some satlwater experience under my belt and get a little more funding to do a nice DIY LED setup then branch into corals.


-Need to paint the back of it to make it look nice...can I just say it with Krylon or do I need a special paint?\

-Since it is a 55 gal going to assume its not drillable...HOB biowheel filter till I get the time and $ to put in a sump?

-What fish are "safe" to start once the cycle is towards the end?

 

[jtgordon20]

Congrats!!

If it is not drillable, you could go with a diy PVC hob overflow. Although it is not required. For a filter, biowheels aren't technically used because they are like Bio balls and will build up nitrates. For a filter, I'd recommend an aquaclear 110 converted into a refugium; also, maybe look into a good hob protein Skimmer.

As for fish, don't cycle with Damsels because they will be hard to catch and they will become mean.

 

[strange33w]

If you can I would get it drilled if its not. Some lfs will do it for a small fee. Or you can do it your self its not very hard. With it drilled you can use as ump which is a great help IMO. Good luck with your new tank.

 

[Nemoose]

Eschopps makes a whole line of HOB overflows. I use one on my 30 gallon and it works great. If I get a larger tank I will get it drilled or get it with factory built overflows and predrilled. I use a marineland HOB just for extra flow along with my powerhead and sump return. But., I don't use the biowheels in it as I want my live rock/sand to be the primary bio filter.

 

[slugwall]

Congrats!!

If it is not drillable, you could go with a diy PVC hob overflow. Although it is not required. For a filter, biowheels aren't technically used because they are like Bio balls and will build up nitrates. For a filter, I'd recommend an aquaclear 110 converted into a refugium; also, maybe look into a good hob protein Skimmer.

As for fish, don't cycle with Damsels because they will be hard to catch and they will become mean.

+1! I was going to suggest the very same thing

 

[fyrfytr]

If you can I would get it drilled if its not. Some lfs will do it for a small fee. Or you can do it your self its not very hard. With it drilled you can use as ump which is a great help IMO. Good luck with your new tank.

I am going to make the assumption that it is not drillable (although I do not have it in hand to verify). From what I have been reading most 55gal tanks are tempered glass all the way around. Would rather have a drilled tank, but a 55gal tank for $55 was too hard to pass up.

Congrats!!

If it is not drillable, you could go with a diy PVC hob overflow. Although it is not required. For a filter, biowheels aren't technically used because they are like Bio balls and will build up nitrates. For a filter, I'd recommend an aquaclear 110 converted into a refugium; also, maybe look into a good hob protein Skimmer.

I have the plan to do the PVC DIY overflow once I get the sump/fuge built. Figuring that by the time I find/build a stand and get the tank setup the wife will pull the funding for the project and then I will have to put money asside little by little to fund the upgrades (ie sump). How do you convert the 110?

 

[jtgordon20]

The aquaclear refugium mod is easy, you can Google or search on the site and there are guides for it. To put it lightly, you cut the basket into three parts, using the bottom piece, you silicone it to the waterfall exit so it catches chaetomorpha from going in to the tank, the side parts of the basket can be used as a divider from the intake of the filter by cutting slits in the bottom of the basket and just slid in the divider. The guides illustrate this better then me haha

 

[Raggamuffin]

if you want a sump just shoot me a PM, I have a couple HOB overflows sitting around I will never use will only charge actual shipping.

1: Rustolium paint works fantastic, I personally wont use any other.
2: HOB filter, not so much... you can get a HOB skimmer fairly cheap and run the return from that through a filter sock with carbon and or GFO and be good to go.
3: As for fish stay away from damsels with the exception of clowns (which are in the damsel family) but keep in mind even clowns can get down right mean! Maroons and tomato clowns go into the "you &*$*#^&$ fish!" catagory. Blennies, gobys, chromis, hawkfish and clowns are all great beginner fish and come in tons of shapes sizes and colors. Lawnmower blennies are perfect for this as they will help on the algea problem you will end up asking for help with in 6 months

 

[Albie23]

Congrats on your new tank.. Keep us posted. I am here too and would love to see what other nubies are doing with there tanks.

 

[fyrfytr]

The aquaclear refugium mod is easy, you can Google or search on the site and there are guides for it. To put it lightly, you cut the basket into three parts, using the bottom piece, you silicone it to the waterfall exit so it catches chaetomorpha from going in to the tank, the side parts of the basket can be used as a divider from the intake of the filter by cutting slits in the bottom of the basket and just slid in the divider. The guides illustrate this better then me haha

The visual worked very well, don't cut yourself short.

if you want a sump just shoot me a PM, I have a couple HOB overflows sitting around I will never use will only charge actual shipping.

1: Rustolium paint works fantastic, I personally wont use any other.
2: HOB filter, not so much... you can get a HOB skimmer fairly cheap and run the return from that through a filter sock with carbon and or GFO and be good to go.
3: As for fish stay away from damsels with the exception of clowns (which are in the damsel family) but keep in mind even clowns can get down right mean! Maroons and tomato clowns go into the "you &*$*#^&$ fish!" catagory. Blennies, gobys, chromis, hawkfish and clowns are all great beginner fish and come in tons of shapes sizes and colors. Lawnmower blennies are perfect for this as they will help on the algea problem you will end up asking for help with in 6 months

Thanks for the offer, PM sent. As for the fish, I had a blennie in mind for the tank. Wasn't a lawnmower but I could change plans to kill 2 birds with one stone.

Congrats on your new tank.. Keep us posted. I am here too and would love to see what other nubies are doing with there tanks.

I will be making a thread in the members tank section once I get everything going. Still need to workout everything, currently sitting on nothing but dreams and ideas, hopefully the tank will be in this week since my weeked off (i get one a month) is this weekend and I can use my Lowes coupons for wood to make my stand after I draw it out in my mind.

 

[CRW Reefer]

I'm pretty sure that only the bottom glass in the petco aquacon 55 is tempered but not the sides. You can always tap the glass with a key and you will notice a dif tone or pitch if the glass is tempered. I would suggest maybe emailing aquaqon to double check though. If you are able to drill the sides, I would recommend using the gl*******s.com kits. Hth

 

[CRW Reefer]

Glass holes . Com