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Aquarium Advice Activist
So I have been running my 10g nano/sw tank for a little over 4 months now with one minor issue that has been i cant seem too keep any coral frags alive 2 zoa slowly crapped out on me and i really dont know why :s but as far as everything else in my tank including 3hermits 3 snails 1 emerald 1 pom pom and a blue velvet damsel all seem to be healthy and all have sum serious personalities (which ive grown to love) of there own.
Anyway ive decided to upgrade and give everyone a little more space to roam.. now this is were my questions come in
I have this allure to hexagon tanks and there's this 55gal at my lfs im tempted to pick up, now ive probably made a couple mistakes in my first tank when setting it up and I want to really do it superb this time,
so ill try an do a step my step of that in my head and list the questions i would come across ...
how deep of a sand bed? ive heard dsb(6inches) are good for nitrafying bacteria. is this true? and how could i airate it and keep it fresh, so to speak
how much live rock? I have about 12lbs in my 10gallon so should I duplicate this ratio into the 55?
skimmer? never used one and dont know much about them
even on my 10 gallon I get well what i would call surface scum? which i find quite annoying how could i prevent this?
im not really going to worry about the lighting until later because I know I will need powerfull ones to penetrate the depth of the water and i never really see ones that arnt super long at my lfs.
I was also thinking about (even though i lack the knowledge on this atm) of sumhow converting my current 10 gallon well i have 2 into a refugium for the 55 or even having like one 10 gallon as a refugium and one 10 gallon as a tank to keep my prized boxer crab so i can keep an eye on him & practicing with corals since i do have proper lighting for it(or should anyway) and maybe connecting them all with a series of pumps and overflows so the total water mass would be 75gallons,
tell me if this is a terrible idea, im here to learn and will not take offence.
and finaly I would like to have the 55hex a semi-aggresive/predator tank
im sure my damsel can hold his own in that kind of enviroment and i think it would be good for him to be a little challenged , so what would be sum good options for livestock?
and i do realize i will be more limited in the hex over a 55 gallon long, do to the surface to air contact.
So all input is greatly appreciated I know I have alot of questions and its all alot to read over but im sure you all understand once you start talking about the aquatic life you look after you quickly realize its more a passion then a hobby
Anyway ive decided to upgrade and give everyone a little more space to roam.. now this is were my questions come in
I have this allure to hexagon tanks and there's this 55gal at my lfs im tempted to pick up, now ive probably made a couple mistakes in my first tank when setting it up and I want to really do it superb this time,
so ill try an do a step my step of that in my head and list the questions i would come across ...
how deep of a sand bed? ive heard dsb(6inches) are good for nitrafying bacteria. is this true? and how could i airate it and keep it fresh, so to speak
how much live rock? I have about 12lbs in my 10gallon so should I duplicate this ratio into the 55?
skimmer? never used one and dont know much about them
even on my 10 gallon I get well what i would call surface scum? which i find quite annoying how could i prevent this?
im not really going to worry about the lighting until later because I know I will need powerfull ones to penetrate the depth of the water and i never really see ones that arnt super long at my lfs.
I was also thinking about (even though i lack the knowledge on this atm) of sumhow converting my current 10 gallon well i have 2 into a refugium for the 55 or even having like one 10 gallon as a refugium and one 10 gallon as a tank to keep my prized boxer crab so i can keep an eye on him & practicing with corals since i do have proper lighting for it(or should anyway) and maybe connecting them all with a series of pumps and overflows so the total water mass would be 75gallons,
tell me if this is a terrible idea, im here to learn and will not take offence.
and finaly I would like to have the 55hex a semi-aggresive/predator tank
im sure my damsel can hold his own in that kind of enviroment and i think it would be good for him to be a little challenged , so what would be sum good options for livestock?
and i do realize i will be more limited in the hex over a 55 gallon long, do to the surface to air contact.
So all input is greatly appreciated I know I have alot of questions and its all alot to read over but im sure you all understand once you start talking about the aquatic life you look after you quickly realize its more a passion then a hobby