TommyP
Aquarium Advice Addict
Hey all.
I am quite new in the fish hobby. I have a 29G FW tank thats been running great & currently I have a 10 gallon salt water tank that has about 20 lbs of live rock, some frags on them, a smaller rock that has mushrooms, an anenome ( XL in size ) since I was planning on doing this 55 a SW and 1 clown fish. I have 3 snails, 1 emerald crab, and 1 peppermint shrimp. I recently added a sand sifting sea star as well. He's interesting always digging and climbing up the walls.
Got a good deal( I thought) on Craigslist for a 55G tank w. stand. It has the hood with 2 lights (one for each side of tank) only 1 bulb works for now but its very dim. He also gave me a 7-8'' bubble wand and an air pump ( 2 outlets) all for $100. I have a picture on my phone ill post up later.
This is going to be some sort of a slow build, putting everything together but that gives the tank plenty of time to cycle and make sure everything gets done properly the first time, unlike my other tanks.
I am on a very strict budget. The tank did not come with a filter. I have heard great things about HOB filters, and this is what I am used to having so I want to go that route. Very easy to clean and they are quiet. I would assume doing 2 filters (1 on each side of the tank, the cut outs in top hood are already open for it). Any one know what type of HOB filter(s) I can get at a good price? Or is anyone on Long Island need to get rid of one?
As far as a heater goes, what watt heater do I need for the 55G tank? 1 or 2?
I was thinking of doing live rock to help the cycle of the tank but doing some base rock as well to save on costs. Eventually, correct me if I am wrong, this will become live after a yr or so. I want some sort of an aquascape that starts low on the left rises in the middle then goes low on the right like a normal scape. The substrate for the ground I wanted to do sand like I have in my 10G now. On a 55G tank how far up from the bottom would you recommend to go? 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5+ inches? I want a nice bottom since I have a sea star and plan on getting some sand sifters to help maintain the tank.
When cycling the tank, Should i take anything out of my 10g i have now nd put it in the 55 when its filled with sand & water. I do not want to put the anenome/clown/starfish in there until its fully cycled. I heard to help the cycle as well to put in a raw shrimp and let it break down in the tank? When doing this how often should I change the water? When should I check the levels?
That's pretty much it for now. Once I get the water in ( still trying to figure out what to do) my bedroom is where the tank is, and the closest bathroom/sink/water access is down the steps around the corner. I can pull the hose from outside and bring it through my window and mix the salt water in my room or my buddy has a machine that makes the salt water drip out into buckets which I am probably going that route. He has a tank thats been set up for a while so he knows the salt/water ratio for making water.
But once I get the water/sand in the tank and throw some live rock in there I will post up some more pictures when I get a filter(s)/and 2 circulation pumps going. I was planning on doing 1 on each side of the tank kinda facing eachother.
Any input would be great otherwise I'm on my own! I want to do it right, as affordable as possible and make it look great!
Thanks, Tom.
I am quite new in the fish hobby. I have a 29G FW tank thats been running great & currently I have a 10 gallon salt water tank that has about 20 lbs of live rock, some frags on them, a smaller rock that has mushrooms, an anenome ( XL in size ) since I was planning on doing this 55 a SW and 1 clown fish. I have 3 snails, 1 emerald crab, and 1 peppermint shrimp. I recently added a sand sifting sea star as well. He's interesting always digging and climbing up the walls.
Got a good deal( I thought) on Craigslist for a 55G tank w. stand. It has the hood with 2 lights (one for each side of tank) only 1 bulb works for now but its very dim. He also gave me a 7-8'' bubble wand and an air pump ( 2 outlets) all for $100. I have a picture on my phone ill post up later.
This is going to be some sort of a slow build, putting everything together but that gives the tank plenty of time to cycle and make sure everything gets done properly the first time, unlike my other tanks.
I am on a very strict budget. The tank did not come with a filter. I have heard great things about HOB filters, and this is what I am used to having so I want to go that route. Very easy to clean and they are quiet. I would assume doing 2 filters (1 on each side of the tank, the cut outs in top hood are already open for it). Any one know what type of HOB filter(s) I can get at a good price? Or is anyone on Long Island need to get rid of one?
As far as a heater goes, what watt heater do I need for the 55G tank? 1 or 2?
I was thinking of doing live rock to help the cycle of the tank but doing some base rock as well to save on costs. Eventually, correct me if I am wrong, this will become live after a yr or so. I want some sort of an aquascape that starts low on the left rises in the middle then goes low on the right like a normal scape. The substrate for the ground I wanted to do sand like I have in my 10G now. On a 55G tank how far up from the bottom would you recommend to go? 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5+ inches? I want a nice bottom since I have a sea star and plan on getting some sand sifters to help maintain the tank.
When cycling the tank, Should i take anything out of my 10g i have now nd put it in the 55 when its filled with sand & water. I do not want to put the anenome/clown/starfish in there until its fully cycled. I heard to help the cycle as well to put in a raw shrimp and let it break down in the tank? When doing this how often should I change the water? When should I check the levels?
That's pretty much it for now. Once I get the water in ( still trying to figure out what to do) my bedroom is where the tank is, and the closest bathroom/sink/water access is down the steps around the corner. I can pull the hose from outside and bring it through my window and mix the salt water in my room or my buddy has a machine that makes the salt water drip out into buckets which I am probably going that route. He has a tank thats been set up for a while so he knows the salt/water ratio for making water.
But once I get the water/sand in the tank and throw some live rock in there I will post up some more pictures when I get a filter(s)/and 2 circulation pumps going. I was planning on doing 1 on each side of the tank kinda facing eachother.
Any input would be great otherwise I'm on my own! I want to do it right, as affordable as possible and make it look great!
Thanks, Tom.