Plan for 55g

[Subuchef]

Hi everyone i've come into a deal for 2 55g 48"x12"x18" for 60$! im thinking this is a great deal so i wanted to start planning and get some feed back for my tank ideas, I would like to keep one or more dwarf lionfish species, and also I've been researching about them and it seems it possible to house 2. I also would like to know if it would be possible to have a larger algae blenny or starry blenny, and a snowflake eel to live peacefully since they are both ones to hide in caves.I would like to fill it with coral at some point as well.
Would using the other 55g as the sump be good? What ive read was the bigger the better and at this price why not, have a big space for a refug, skimmer. Would love any feed back if you have kept dwarf lionfish I really want to take the leap and get one.

 

[leahfiish]

I think you're on the right track. Keep in mind that the diy and plumbing can be tricky if you've never done it before.
As far as dwarf lions they can be very difficult to feed sometimes, I don't usually recommend them for someone brand new but they aren't impossible. Snowflake eels are awesome.

 

[Subuchef]

I think you're on the right track. Keep in mind that the diy and plumbing can be tricky if you've never done it before.
As far as dwarf lions they can be very difficult to feed sometimes, I don't usually recommend them for someone brand new but they aren't impossible. Snowflake eels are awesome.

glad I'm in the right direction, and plumbing shouldn't be too hard i set up my brothers120g that isn't drilled so I have an idea, as for being new, I'm some what new, I have a tank up and running but it's a nano and I ran out of room fairly quickly. I've been reading a lot about training them to feed and it seems really not that hard, just get them to notice where the food comes and swap it for frozen (not that simple but you get the idea) if they refuse just wait and try again

 

[lion king]

I keep 3 dwarfs(fu, fuzzy, and zebra) and an antennata in a 90g reef. Personally I feed my lions live and have for years, I haven't seen alot of long term success feeding them dead but it seems to be a prevalent practice online. A 55 would be an excellent choice for a couple of dwarf lions, a snowflake would fit right in and even the blenny; given he is too large for the lions to eat.

The lions and eel will give you a heavy bioload, so using the other 55 as a refugium/sump would be great. My 55 sump has a refugium section 23g in volume. LPS corals will do well in a tank with the bioload of the lions and eel.

I suggest having a small qt set up for when the lions come in; you may get lucky and get one aggressively eating dead food; but they almost always come in eating live. You'll want to settle him in and get your feeding routine down before putting him in the display. Please be aware that it is not 100% that you will get a dwarf lion to eat dead food, I've seen many perish when this wasn't accomplished.