New 55 gallon tank!

[EELectric]

Im about to get a new 55 gallon tank in the next 1-3 weeks so i was wondering if you could answer my questions:

1. Have you ever tried bio-spira to cycle the tank?

2. Have any of you ever used the excalibur skimmers?

3. How much substrate for a 55gal. tank?

4. How many heaters for a 55gal.?

5. Do I need a filter?

6. What are good fish on the aggressive side (triggerfish,puffers,eels,etc...)

7.can I get an anemone with only 1 or 2 florescent bulbs?

8. How much Live Rock?

9.Please remember to not break the bank on my side

Thank You!!!

 

[ClamKnuckle]

what type of substrate are you looking for....if your looking for sand there is a DSB calculator....http://www.aquariumadvice.com/calcs2.php?type=sanddepth

most people recommend about 2 lbs/gal LR. You don't have to use all LR to start with, you can use a combination base and live, mixing the two together when you place it in the tank, and the LR will seed the base rock. Base rock is a lot cheaper.

I never had an anemone, but from all the posts i have read about them, they need a lot of light and water flow, so I would say no on them, but I'll let the experts answer that.

HTH a little, sorry i don't know more for ya!

 

[24 hours? NE!]

If you're going to get an aggressive fish, then you will probably need some type of filter. You should get a skimmer.

 

[MYTY1705]

I have a 65 gal tank with 15 lbs of live rock so I have to have filtration.

250 watt heater $15-25
emperor 400 filter $40-50
Protein skimmer (don't skimp on this you will pay)$125-175 mid range
Sand or Crushed coral 2-3 inches $40 (unless you can find play sand then $10)
total of about $300 to start as long as you have tank and stand already

A 55 gallon is going to be a lot of water changes with agressive fish as they are messy. Maybe try a Dwarf lionfish, trigger fish, wrase, small eel, or puffer.

My tank started with a Niger Trigger and a Humu Trigger. Both are great starters
HTH