New 55 gallon hex setup

[Indytraveler83]

Hey everyone!

First time posting here and first venture into saltwater. I've been running a 55 gallon (standard dimensions) heavily planted freshwater tank for a few years now, and have had quite the assortment of freshwater fish over the years. I'm not new to aquariums, but new to saltwater.

Recently I picked up a 55 gallon hexagon tank that I would really like to use for saltwater. I've got glass lids, tank, stand and heater. It came with a filter, but its a HOB rated for a 30 gallon tank, and will need replaced.

First off, I'm not trying to do a dirt cheap build, but I definitely can't invest a fortune into this tank. We also don't have a lot of saltwater option in this area (PetCo carries a small saltwater selection) so I'm going to be highly dependent on local swap meets, the internet or driving some distance to stock this tank.

My plan/hope is a tank with live rock, plenty of biodiversity, and mostly smaller, colorful fish. I'm not stuck on any species or breed yet.

My main questions are this:

1) What type of filtration would be suitable without spending a fortune? Would you recommend a protein skimmer? (Sump is not an option due to tank stand/space constraints).

2) What type of lighting should I get that will be suitable for this (again without spending a fortune). While I think live coral is really cool, I find it unlikely I can afford to get into that, so I'm just looking for something good enough for live rock.

3) I've seen a lot of suggestions to get mostly dry rock, and a small amount of live rock to "seed" the dry rock. Would this be a good approach? How much rock would be appropriate for the hex tank? And how much sand/substrate would you suggest for a hex?

4) I've seen a huge range of suggestions for snails/crabs etc. Everything from 2-3 snails and/or crabs for the entire tank, to 1 per gallon. What do you guys think?

5) Any good stocking suggestions overall? Fish selection/invertebrate selection, etc. I would like a plan that could include a starfish and a royal gramma if possible. I know freshwater species extremely well, but am entirely unfamiliar with saltwater.

6) Is this all a good plan? If not, now is the time to tell me I'm crazy and that I need to just stick to freshwater... lol?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Jekyl]

1. If planning to use the glass lids I highly recommend a HOB protein skimmer. Will help to aerate the tank most of all.

2. Marsaqua or viparspectra are cheapest LED options. Going with T5 also a good choice staying cheaper and may be better for coverage.

3. Natures Ocean 40lb dry rock off Amazon would be cheapest option. I used it and am happy. I also added 3 different rocks from 3 different LFS to add biodiversity and coraline. 40lbs worth of substrate would be more than enough once the rocks are placed before adding I think. Wet or dry is up to you. Usually comes in 20 or 40lb bags.

4. Since ordering is a good option i would recommend ordering the CuC from reef cleaners. Probably get the 40 gallon combo back with hermits. Then add some other snails not included when you go to the LFS. Dont think trochus or turbo are included in their package. As much diversity as possible without being a conflict in the tank.

5. Cleaner shrimp for sure. Make sure to add after a month of being cycled or so. Otherwise a good place to start it see what fish are beneficial to have. Good place to start if you think some are cool anyway.

6. WELCOME! Absolutely not crazy. Being on this forum is a good start for you. People on here will be more than happy to answer all of your questions. Just take your time, be patient and research a lot.

 

[Indytraveler83]

Thanks for the advice on starting it out. I ask if I'm being crazy just because I know tall tanks can be particularly challenging, and I'd rather someone stop me now rather than hundreds of dollars from now, if its a bad idea. Thanks a ton for the reef cleaners suggestion and the natures ocean rock. Those are much better prices than I was seeing for similar stuff.

1) In addition to the HOB protein skimmer, what type of filtration would you suggest? I usually use HOB filters on my freshwater setup, but see that a lot of saltwater tanks use canisters if they can't go the sump route. Is there a particular reason for this? Would it be recommended to over filter this setup, or stick with a filter that's rated for 55 gallons or so? (I'd rather spend a few extra dollars on an oversized filter than end up replacing/adding later if that's reccomended.)

2) What is the opinion for total fish/livestock stocking on a tank like this? From the reef cleaners website it looks like there's about 70ish snails included in their package with a dozen or so hermit crabs. A few cleaner shimp were suggested, and I'd like some sort of starfish in there as well. I'm a bit prone to overstocking in my freshwater tank, so I'm trying to plan this one a bit better!

As far as fish, I'm guessing medium sized fish would likely do poorly in the tank as even some of the dwarf angels look like they require more space (although I'd love to have one, so correct me if I'm wrong!!!). So from the smaller fish, I really like the royal gramma, firefish, any clowns that don't look like "Nemo", cardinal fish, gobies, and I'm reading that Springer or azure damsels are actually peaceful.

Do any of those fish sound like a good combo for a tank like this? Am I missing something on any of them, or am I missing an activty level or a "centerpiece" fish that the tank would need? (And yes, I know that list is too much, just leaving options out there).

 

[Jekyl]

Start with your necessities and go from there. Filtration, flow, lighting, rock and substrate. Adding additional fitration can be added later on. I wouldn't worry too much about a fish stock list. Will take quite a while before all of those fish can be added. I'm not the best to ask on what filtration to run. My tank isn't conventional. As for how much CuC to stock I'd go with what reef cleaners has for a 27 hex tank and add 10 hermits and 10 trochus snails. Could even start with half that and add more as bio load increases. Are you doing corals also?

 

[Jekyl]

I just added my first 2 fish. Couple black clowns and so far I'm happy with them. For now they are just hosting a corner of my tank until I start adding coral

 

[Indytraveler83]

Start with your necessities and go from there. Filtration, flow, lighting, rock and substrate. Adding additional fitration can be added later on. I wouldn't worry too much about a fish stock list. Will take quite a while before all of those fish can be added. I'm not the best to ask on what filtration to run. My tank isn't conventional. As for how much CuC to stock I'd go with what reef cleaners has for a 27 hex tank and add 10 hermits and 10 trochus snails. Could even start with half that and add more as bio load increases. Are you doing corals also?

I’m not overly concerned with coral. It would be very cool, but I’m not sure the 55 hex is the best place for coral, and I’m not financially prepared for all of the advanced lighting and metrics needed to properly maintain a reef tank. I’m mostly thinking fish with live rock and some invertebrates.

 

[Peace River]

Thanks for the advice on starting it out. I ask if I'm being crazy just because I know tall tanks can be particularly challenging, and I'd rather someone stop me now rather than hundreds of dollars from now, if its a bad idea. . . .

Hex tanks are not bad ideas, they just present different challenges. Because they are deeper then you will need more intense lighting to reach to the bottom with the same PAR level and secondly, because most fish swim horizontally rather than vertically you will be better to choose fish that want to protect a small area (or do not need a lot of swimming space). In addition to the size of the fish, also consider there swimming habits - looking at the shape of their tails is a helpful indicator. If done well the 55 Hex can be a beautiful tank - good luck!

 

[Indytraveler83]

Hex tanks are not bad ideas, they just present different challenges. Because they are deeper then you will need more intense lighting to reach to the bottom with the same PAR level and secondly, because most fish swim horizontally rather than vertically you will be better to choose fish that want to protect a small area (or do not need a lot of swimming space). In addition to the size of the fish, also consider there swimming habits - looking at the shape of their tails is a helpful indicator. If done well the 55 Hex can be a beautiful tank - good luck!

Thanks! That's why I'm not focusing much on the coral aspect of things, I think I can get sufficient lighting for live rock/fish, but the light intensity needed to do a reef tank is likely beyond my budget.

Any advice on the fish I mentioned previously? And I'm still somewhat unclear on what appropriate stocking would be for this tank. In addition to my clean up crew and invertebrates, any thoughts on how many fish, how many inches I can manage in a tank like this?

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Welcome to the group. You are staring off right with lots of questions. You came to the right place.

There is a good read on setting up a tank

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

 

[BestMomEver]

Welcome to the reef!

 

[Peace River]

Thanks! That's why I'm not focusing much on the coral aspect of things, I think I can get sufficient lighting for live rock/fish, but the light intensity needed to do a reef tank is likely beyond my budget.

Any advice on the fish I mentioned previously? And I'm still somewhat unclear on what appropriate stocking would be for this tank. In addition to my clean up crew and invertebrates, any thoughts on how many fish, how many inches I can manage in a tank like this?

IMHO, it is less about the length of the fish and more about their swimming habits. Others may have opposing ideas, but I would suggest a pair of clowns, a few bangaii cardinals, and/or some gobies. After the tank gets established then you can review the bio load and fish behaviors in order to consider adding additional fish.

 

[Jekyl]

The lights I recommended were for coral. Cost about 100$, most likely spend 50 on some fish only lights anyway. Running softies doesn't require much else. Just something to think about. Better to really think about what you want for your tank in the future and not have to buy something better. There's certainly nothing wrong with running fish only tanks. Kinda sounds like your concern for coral is the care of them and the cost. Both of those things are easily fixed by a little research. Usually the hex tanks I see are geared toward coral and only 3 to 5 fish due to the area available

 

[Indytraveler83]

The lights I recommended were for coral. Cost about 100$, most likely spend 50 on some fish only lights anyway. Running softies doesn't require much else. Just something to think about. Better to really think about what you want for your tank in the future and not have to buy something better. There's certainly nothing wrong with running fish only tanks. Kinda sounds like your concern for coral is the care of them and the cost. Both of those things are easily fixed by a little research.

Yeah, you are right. I'm trying to research it all, but what I'm seeing is hundreds if not thousands of dollars of monitors, add-ons and chemical treatments. Is there a good thread for a "budget" version of a live coral tank or at least somewhere to start? I'd love to have more biodiversity and cool stuff for the tank, I'm just seeing tons of money and a level of attention I'm not keen on investing.

With that said, my planted tank would entirely violate the "normal" parameters of what would be recommended. I use fairly good lighting and a few good additives, but entirely avoid the CO2 and some of the different things that are usually reccomended, and counter it by using hardy plants that don't have strict requirements. If there's a way to do something similar with coral I'd love to hear about it!

 

[Indytraveler83]

And the lighting you mentioned is definitly not outside of the budget, especially going the t5 route. So if there's a way to do more than I think, then I'm pretty excited to learn about all of it!

 

[Jekyl]

Most of the videos out there are put out by retailers Of course they are going to recommend every single top shelf product available. To have coral you need a light, some type of filtration, powerheads and rocks. HoB filter could do the job, skimmer would be better but isn't required. I just build a 90 gallon reef setup for probably 1200 including a new tank. Easily could spend over $5000 if you needed the newest and best. Research, research, research. Start a convo. with me if u have any questions on some cheaper stuff.

 

[FishyFish]

Hi, @Indytraveler83 welcome to R2R! I'm new to reefing too so I can't answer everything but I'll try to help out where I can

2: You'd be fine with just a cheap light if you're only keeping fish but try to think about what you might want in the future. Trust me, it's better to pay a little more up front rather than realize a few months down the line that you want to go in a different direction and now you have to buy all new equipment. You don't have to get the top of the line SPS lighting but you can keep softies and maybe LPS with less expensive lights so it might be worth considering.

3: There are advantages and disadvantages to both. If you get true live rock, as in rock that comes from an inhabited tank and has critters living all over it, then you run the risk of some nasty hitchhikers. You can also get some helpful hitchhikers though, and your initial cycle time should be quicker. Personally, I used live rock and I LOVE it! I've got a ton of helpful hitchhikers in my tank because of the live rock, bristle worms, stomatella snails, tiny starfish, amphipods, etc. I'd probably be less enthusiastic if I'd ended up with a bobbit worm and some aiptasia though, hehe!

4/5: Not really sure about the number, just add them slowly and make sure they all have enough to eat and you should be fine. Think about the fish that you want to add before you choose CuC too, a lot of fish eat shrimp and crabs. Personally I think it's never too early too start considering your stock list, and having a set list will also dissuade you from making impulse fish/invert purchases. If you want a starfish the most important factor is probably tank size, a lot of them get like a foot long which is too big for a 55g.

Check out LiveAquaria, they have a great selection of fish and inverts and they let you filter by tank size so you can get a good idea of what's available to you. If you want more detailed information on reef tank equipment, check out Bulk Reef Supply's 52 weeks of reefing series on YouTube, they explain just about everything you need to know in detail. They are really good about giving cheaper alternatives too, I found it super helpful when I first started!

Lastly, this might not be a popular opinion, but I like Petco for saltwater fish. There, I said it, please don't hurt me! Obviously it depends on your store but some of them can be great. The manager at my Petco has a degree in marine biology and has been keeping reef tanks in her personal life for years. She's never tried to sell me a fish that was too advanced or too big for my tank, but unfortunately I can't say the same for some of the smaller fish stores nearby. I got my first two clowns from Petco, they are both very healthy and ate like pigs the same day I brought them home. Just be careful with taking their advice until you know which employees actually know something and which don't. Also, a lot of stores can special order fish for you if they don't have them in stock.

 

[Indytraveler83]

Hi, @Indytraveler83 Just be careful with taking their advice until you know which employees actually know something and which don't. Also, a lot of stores can special order fish for you if they don't have them in stock.

Thanks for all the advice! As far as Petco here, I find them to be a decent source of the very basics. Ours has a small selection of damsels, cardinal fish, clowns, tangs and the occasional parrotfish or angel. They have banded shrimp and that’s about it as far as inverts. For the most part, I’ve got one guy there I trust, but I also know none of them have the level of knowledge that I’ll find here.

I also found out the hard way when starting my freshwater tank that they are incapable of saying “no” and won’t steer you clear if you have a bad idea. I’d be fine buying from them if I know what I want, but I don’t dare approach them unless I already know.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Hey everyone!

First time posting here and first venture into saltwater. I've been running a 55 gallon (standard dimensions) heavily planted freshwater tank for a few years now, and have had quite the assortment of freshwater fish over the years. I'm not new to aquariums, but new to saltwater.

Recently I picked up a 55 gallon hexagon tank that I would really like to use for saltwater. I've got glass lids, tank, stand and heater. It came with a filter, but its a HOB rated for a 30 gallon tank, and will need replaced.

First off, I'm not trying to do a dirt cheap build, but I definitely can't invest a fortune into this tank. We also don't have a lot of saltwater option in this area (PetCo carries a small saltwater selection) so I'm going to be highly dependent on local swap meets, the internet or driving some distance to stock this tank.

My plan/hope is a tank with live rock, plenty of biodiversity, and mostly smaller, colorful fish. I'm not stuck on any species or breed yet.

My main questions are this:

1) What type of filtration would be suitable without spending a fortune? Would you recommend a protein skimmer? (Sump is not an option due to tank stand/space constraints).

2) What type of lighting should I get that will be suitable for this (again without spending a fortune). While I think live coral is really cool, I find it unlikely I can afford to get into that, so I'm just looking for something good enough for live rock.

3) I've seen a lot of suggestions to get mostly dry rock, and a small amount of live rock to "seed" the dry rock. Would this be a good approach? How much rock would be appropriate for the hex tank? And how much sand/substrate would you suggest for a hex?

4) I've seen a huge range of suggestions for snails/crabs etc. Everything from 2-3 snails and/or crabs for the entire tank, to 1 per gallon. What do you guys think?

5) Any good stocking suggestions overall? Fish selection/invertebrate selection, etc. I would like a plan that could include a starfish and a royal gramma if possible. I know freshwater species extremely well, but am entirely unfamiliar with saltwater.

6) Is this all a good plan? If not, now is the time to tell me I'm crazy and that I need to just stick to freshwater... lol?

Thanks everyone!

Welcome, comrade

 

[Jekyl]

I'd look around for a better store. I'd be amazed if Petco didn't medicate their tanks or properly care for them. Even if an hour drive it would be worth it to find a business that cares. If not ordering from a reputable place online would probably be better. That's where Petco would get them from anyway.

 

[Indytraveler83]

I'd look around for a better store. I'd be amazed if Petco didn't medicate their tanks or properly care for them. Even if an hour drive it would be worth it to find a business that cares. If not ordering from a reputable place online would probably be better. That's where Petco would get them from anyway.

That’s most of the plan. There’s a place about 90 min away, but I’m a little unsure of them too. I’m apt to do a lot of online ordering, just going to have to make sure I find cheap shipping or order enough to make it worth it.