My 55 gallons of ocean.

[BattlestarGalaxia]

I recently came across a 55 gallon tank, and I've started the build. Here's some pictures I'll post more in a bit when I get everything hooked up filled and running! I'll be moving everything over from my 20 gallon.
I left the ledge on the end for a piece of granite to use as an end table. Also don't laugh at my 70s couch lol. It's a family heirloom

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

Maybe someone can help me but I started filling my tank with water and the stand will wobble when bumped. I checked before I put water in it and seemed just fine. I'm assuming that it is just top heavy. I built the stand 31" high so it would be eye level with my couch. I even braced it with a 2x4 to the wall, and it still wobbles a little when bumped. Any suggestions or ideas would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

Oh and the stand doesn't flex when it wobbles. It's as if the tank and stand are one and they wobble. I think my floor might be bowed closer to the wall. This stinks.

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

Okay so it wasn't built entirely level. a lesson learned. I shaved some wood down used some shims and bam! Good as new. Everything from the 20 gallon transfered over very nicely. 24 hours and the coral are all opened up and fish seem extreamly happy with all the new room. It's amazing the difference in available space. Here's a quick picture. The water was a little cloudy because I just redid the rock work.

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

Here's some more pictures now that it's cleared up! It's now been 48 hours and everything's doing great.

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

Picked up a candycane, sand sifting star, and a coral beauty. I'm a little worried about the coral beauty eating my coral, but I hope with my small moltiple feeding amounts it won't want to graze on them.

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

Almost forgot here's a few pictures of what it looked like in my 20 gallon, before the transfer.

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

My current setup is as follows

Equipment

Remora aqua c pro skimmer
A small penguin HOB
Maxi jet 400 in powerhead mode
Maxi jet 1200
200 watt heater
JW thermometer
Two coralife dual t5 fixtures
Bulbs from back to front
Actinic, 10k, actinic, 10k

Livestock

45lbs of sand
Probably 40-50lbs of live rock

Leathers
Finger leather
Toadstool
Colt coral

LPS
Frogspawn
Candy cane
Galaxea

Sps
Encrusting Monti
Plating Monti

And a small mushroom colony.
Sorry I don't have names most of my stuff is generic.

A handful of hermits
A few snails
Paired ocellaris clowns one black and white
Blue green chromis
Coral beauty
Sand sifting star
What I consider a "giant brittle star"
Coral banded shrimp

Thanks for reading.

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

Debating on what to do with the 20 gallon. I don't have room to tie it into the 55, so it would be a second tank setup somewhere. Maybe a breeding tank for something? I want it to have a purpose, not just another tank. I have all equipment for just about anything I wanted to turn it into, just not the idea yet. Any thoughts or ideas would be welcome.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Looks like your tank is progressing nicely!

As far as the 20 gallon, I would use it to quarantine new additions. You could also use it as a frag tank to grow out corals for the main tank.

 

[mike007]

Tank Is looking great keep them pics coming.

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

Looks like your tank is progressing nicely!

As far as the 20 gallon, I would use it to quarantine new additions. You could also use it as a frag tank to grow out corals for the main tank.

Yeah that would work! I've never had a "frag tank" before so this should be interesting. I might be able to set it up tonight. I don't think I'll use much live rock right now. I'll probably just drop a small piece and let the tank cycle. Should give me enough time to get a good little bundle of frags. Thanks for the advice!

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

Tank Is looking great keep them pics coming.

Thank you! I will.

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

 

[joshporksandwich]

pictures look great.

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

pictures look great.

Thank you I really appreciate it! Now if only I can figure out how to get super awesome pictures with my slr camera I'll be okay.

 

[Aquaph8]

Awesome tank and congrats on the upgrade. How's that angel behaving so far?

 

[BattlestarGalaxia]

Awesome tank and congrats on the upgrade. How's that angel behaving so far?

Thank you, and doing excellent. My rock has been In my 20 gallon for almost 2 years. It has plenty of stuff to graze on. Plenty of hiding spots and I've been feeding smaller portions more frequently throughout the day. I love the colors and the behavior. It really adds character to the tank that was lacking before. The banded shrimp and the angel hide together I wonder if it cleans it or anything.

 

[spspirate]

Looks like your off to a great start!!