Getting a 55 gallon aquarium

saphire

saphire

New Member
I am going after my aquarium tomorrow it is used and comes with heater, skimmer, stand, and 4 4ft. ho lights and a pump. I know that most of you use a sump but ws wondering if this would work for awhile until could get a sumpAnother thing is I know I will need sand and live rock.. I was wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions on easier fish to start with seeing this would be my first salt water set up. I have had fresh water fish most of my life but I feel that now is the time to upgrade to salt water.
 
1snapple

1snapple

Active Member
it will work fine for now. I know a person with a 90g sumpless system and it looks amazing.
I would recommend a damsel if you think you can catch him.
I would then reccomend a clownfish after 5 weeks of "cycling"
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Snapple http:///forum/thread/382749/getting-a-55-gallon-aquarium#post_3342629
it will work fine for now. I know a person with a 90g sumpless system and it looks amazing.
I would recommend a damsel if you think you can catch him.
I would then reccomend a clownfish after 5 weeks of "cycling"
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND A DAMSEL????? This is so inhumane. A damsel is not needed nor is it recommended for use during cycling. A damsel after cycling is usually not wise either. As they grow, they become more aggressive and they're very hard to catch. Damsels will usually attack whatever you add to your tank, just ask Meowzer about her experience with evil damsels. A good beginner fish would be a clownfish, a firefish, a goby, clown gobies, etc, just google "Saltwater beginner fish" but stay away from damsels.
Use a raw shrimp to cycle your tank please.
Tanks are completely doable without a sump. Wait until ***** has the $1/gallon sale and get yourself a sump then if you still want to.
 
1snapple

1snapple

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/382749/getting-a-55-gallon-aquarium#post_3342632
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Snapple http:///forum/thread/382749/getting-a-55-gallon-aquarium#post_3342629
it will work fine for now. I know a person with a 90g sumpless system and it looks amazing.
I would recommend a damsel if you think you can catch him.
I would then reccomend a clownfish after 5 weeks of "cycling"
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND A DAMSEL????? This is so inhumane. A damsel is not needed nor is it recommended for use during cycling. A damsel after cycling is usually not wise either. As they grow, they become more aggressive and they're very hard to catch. Damsels will usually attack whatever you add to your tank, just ask Meowzer about her experience with evil damsels. A good beginner fish would be a clownfish, a firefish, a goby, clown gobies, etc, just google "Saltwater beginner fish" but stay away from damsels.
Use a raw shrimp to cycle your tank please.
Tanks are completely doable without a sump. Wait until ***** has the $1/gallon sale and get yourself a sump then if you still want to.
I wasn't recommending a damsel as a cycle fish. We have a yellow tail damsel that isn't to bad. It tried to eat the emerald crabs we added tonight, they floated down to the sand and the damsel was trying to eat them. one is huge, almost 1 1/2 golf balls.
 
saphire

saphire

New Member
I will use a hrimp for cycling but was not sure what to use for a cuc or how many of each I would need for this size tank. I have thought of a clown fish, goby, and firefish but was not sure if anything else could go with them. I also want to try corals later on so want fish that will work with them once I feel I am ready to try them.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Saphire http:///forum/thread/382749/getting-a-55-gallon-aquarium#post_3342682
I will use a hrimp for cycling but was not sure what to use for a cuc or how many of each I would need for this size tank. I have thought of a clown fish, goby, and firefish but was not sure if anything else could go with them. I also want to try corals later on so want fish that will work with them once I feel I am ready to try them.

Welcome to the site...as you have found, we all have opinions..LOL
Whenever you add any critter it will dictate what else can go in the tank. If you want coral later, always choose reef safe fish. And for a CUC..Look at the list of CUC SWF offers for your size tank. You can get that CUC or tweak it for the same kind of critters you prefer, but it will give you an idea of what you need.
I am going to recommend two books. One for inverts and one for selecting fish, I'm also attaching a page so you can see the kind of info they carry. The books are pocket sized so you can take it to the LFS with you. They will save you a bundle in money and heartache. Let them be your first purchases instead of a fish.

 
ecooper

ecooper

Member
I agree with the book recommendation! I own both of these and they're great. Also, these are my favorites:

Good luck and cycle your tank without fish. :)
 
saphire

saphire

New Member
Thank you for your replies I will go to the book store tomorrow and see if I can get atleast one of them
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
I agree with what Flower is saying. I have had the experience of buying critters and fish that are not compatable. I wanted some types of fish but they weren't reef safe or fish on fish safe. Clown triggers for example (one of the fishes I wanted), I have read are great for FOWLR but not for reefs, and not to mention them there clowns just have a lil temper problem. Lol...... ALWAYS, ALWAYS think ahead, plan, plan and think of what you might wnat in 6 months. JMO.
 
saphire

saphire

New Member
I went and picked up the, 55 gallon aquarium, stand, tank hood, and I need to replace the lights my husband was not happy with them and threw them out, it has a 200 watt heater, 750 korrallia pump, aquueon quiet flow 50 filter. I bought a saltwater master test kit and some instant ocean salt, and a hydrometer. Is there anything else that I am going to need for besides some live rock and sand.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Saphire http:///forum/thread/382749/getting-a-55-gallon-aquarium#post_3343812
I went and picked up the, 55 gallon aquarium, stand, tank hood, and I need to replace the lights my husband was not happy with them and threw them out, it has a 200 watt heater, 750 korrallia pump, aquueon quiet flow 50 filter. I bought a saltwater master test kit and some instant ocean salt, and a hydrometer. Is there anything else that I am going to need for besides some live rock and sand.
Pictures!
But seriously, besides rock and sand, you can start cycling. What will you be using for water?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Snapple http:///forum/thread/382749/getting-a-55-gallon-aquarium#post_3344864
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/382749/getting-a-55-gallon-aquarium#post_3343840
http:///forum/thread/382749/getting-a-55-gallon-aquarium#post_3343812
Pictures!
But seriously, besides rock and sand, you can start cycling. What will you be using for water?
I will be using salty wet water


To be serious...you need RO water like what Walmart sells for 37 cents a gallon, don't use well water or tap because you will have algae problems.
 
1snapple

1snapple

Active Member
i know. im just joking around with BTLD. It's awesome, my LFS sells water at 25cents a gallon so when we go over to get water we fill up on RO/DI
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Snapple http:///forum/thread/382749/getting-a-55-gallon-aquarium#post_3344867
i know. im just joking around with BTLD. It's awesome, my LFS sells water at 25cents a gallon so when we go over to get water we fill up on RO/DI
I must caution you to be careful with this. Many LFS's don't change their filters often, and almost never buy salted water from an LFS, as it's usually just their water change water and is depleted of most nutrients that you'll find in a freshly made batch of saltwater.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Saphire http:///forum/thread/382749/getting-a-55-gallon-aquarium#post_3348187
I have been buying ro water from lfs is walmart safe I have heard not to buy it from there.
Personal preference honestly. I won't use walmart water and won't use water from 3 LFS's near me, but two I'd trust it from. It all depends.
Here's a little trick I learned regarding LFS water:
If you buy RO and it's cold, it was probably freshly made. If you buy RO or even worse, salted water and it's already warm, like tank temperature warm, it's probably their water change water. It's terrible, but many stores do this. You don't want water change water, it doesn't have as much of the essential elements that freshly made salt water is going to have. Also, if it's out of their fish tanks, it could contain copper.
 
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