Totally new!

[castillo]

Hi! I am looking into setting up a 55 gallon salt water tank. I have experience with fresh water and have decided that I'm ready to take the plunge and try setting up a salt water. I have done a little research and bought The New Marine Aquarium.
I'm almost ready to start buying equipment. I already have the tank. When I started the freshwater tank I received a lot of misinformation from friends, books, and especially stores. I wasted A LOT of money on equipment and fish. I'm trying to avoid that mistake this time around.
I'm looking at having fish and live rock. The fish that I am looking at are Clownfish, Yellowtail Tangs, Lawnmower Blenny, Foxface Rabbitfish, Yellow Tang, and Flame Angelfish.
I've written out an equipment list. I'm thinking about:
Eheim Wet/Dry 2227
Aqua Medic Protein Skimmer
Marineland Powerhead 1140
50 lbs of live rock
Live sand
Does this setup sound ok?
Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Castillo
Hi! I am looking into setting up a 55 gallon salt water tank. I have experience with fresh water and have decided that I'm ready to take the plunge and try setting up a salt water. I have done a little research and bought The New Marine Aquarium.
I'm almost ready to start buying equipment. I already have the tank. When I started the freshwater tank I received a lot of misinformation from friends, books, and especially stores. I wasted A LOT of money on equipment and fish. I'm trying to avoid that mistake this time around.
I'm looking at having fish and live rock. The fish that I am looking at are Clownfish, Yellowtail Tangs, Lawnmower Blenny, Foxface Rabbitfish, Yellow Tang, and Flame Angelfish.
I've written out an equipment list. I'm thinking about:
Eheim Wet/Dry 2227
Aqua Medic Protein Skimmer
Marineland Powerhead 1140
50 lbs of live rock
Live sand
Does this setup sound ok?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
The setup sounds ok, but I would re-think on that fish list. Your putting in some major bio-load fish in a 55g tank. I would re-think on the Yellow Tang, Foxface Rabbitfish and Yellow Tail Tang (Blue Hippo Tang). Plus they would eventually grow too big for that size tank. :happyfish

 

[granny]

Hello and welcome to Salt Water Fish keeping-an enthralling, time consuming, energy and $$ draining hobby!!
Sounds like you are starting out on the right foot. There is so much information out there and so many things you will be told you just have to have-so go slowly-take a couple of days and read the threads on this site. You will find many people who started out as newbies and made many mistakes along the way. YOu might want to visit as many fish stores as you can to view their tanks and filtering systems. Also if you can find other Salt Water enthusiasts in your area who have successfully beenkeeping fish for a while, you could visit them-most of us do not mind visitors who talk fish!
Salt water with fish and live rock is not too dificult. Just go a step at a time and be very patient.
Set up your tank in the spot where it will stay, keepingin mind how much it will weigh and how far you will need to carry your water for initial filling and water changes. I use the python to remove water, then load it into buckets frommy water barrel dumping that water into the sump. There is always water everywhere by the time I finish, so do not reccomend placement on carpet or unprotected hardwood floors.
ok-tank is in place-extension cords and power strips ready. Wash your sand (no soap-ever!) thoroughly-this will take a while- and place it into your tank while wet.
Fill with water-but allow for addition of rocks, only fill about 3/4 full at first. Are you planning on using RO water, tap or well water??
Then mix in your salt-start with less than you think you will need-its easier to add more salt than remove water and add fresh to get your salinity right! (did you purchase that hydrometer or refractometer yet?) Go ahead and add your rock, heaters and power heads at this time. Then wait............for the sand to settle....
If using uncured rock, you can cure it in your tank. Start your overflow and return pumps. I would suggest using some kind of filter media prior to the water reaching your skimmer-NOt familiar with the brand you have mentioned here, but I will tell you this is one piece of equipment you do not want to skimp on. Get the best skimmer you can afford, the tallest one that will fit under your tank.
Now purchase some test kits to test your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. You may need some others later, but for now those are the essential kits.
Get this done and come back on line for
the rest of the story!!
Oh-your fish list will need to be modified. a 55 is too small for some of the fish on your wish list-but that will come much much later.
Talk to you again later!

 

[shrimpdady]

Originally Posted by Castillo
Hi! I am looking into setting up a 55 gallon salt water tank. I have experience with fresh water and have decided that I'm ready to take the plunge and try setting up a salt water. I have done a little research and bought The New Marine Aquarium.
I'm almost ready to start buying equipment. I already have the tank. When I started the freshwater tank I received a lot of misinformation from friends, books, and especially stores. I wasted A LOT of money on equipment and fish. I'm trying to avoid that mistake this time around.
I'm looking at having fish and live rock. The fish that I am looking at are Clownfish, Yellowtail Tangs, Lawnmower Blenny, Foxface Rabbitfish, Yellow Tang, and Flame Angelfish.
I've written out an equipment list. I'm thinking about:
Eheim Wet/Dry 2227
Aqua Medic Protein Skimmer
Marineland Powerhead 1140
50 lbs of live rock
Live sand
Does this setup sound ok?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
In my opinion, you should forget about the tangs. The only tang somewhat suitable for a 55 gallon is a Kole Tang(not really even recommended but can be done).
I'm not sure about the Foxface. Don't they need larger tanks?
The Flame Angel, Lawnmower Blenny, and Clownfish are excellent choices though.
Be sure to cycle your tank with live rock or a piece of shrimp and don't use tap water to fill up the tank. Use R/O-DI water. You can use the search function at the top of the page with the word "cycle" and find out all the information you need to know. I am way too tired to type it all.

Also, after the cycle is complete, I would add one clownfish or even a pair of clownfish. After adding the clowns, be sure to wait 2 - 4 weeks in between adding more fish.
This gives the bacteria in your tank time to catch up with the increased bio-load.
Anyway, do a search on Live Rock, Live Sand, Protein Skimmers, Filters, water changes, and cycle.
Have fun and welcome to your new addiction.

 

[reeffreak9]

Hello, and welcome to the wonderful world of saltwater! Everyone so far has given great advice! Only a couple of things

: One, if you use live sand, do NOT rinse it. That would be a waste of money, you pay more for live sand because it contains live bacteria. Rinsing it would defeat it's purpose. Second, the hippo tang would definately outgrow a 55, but I keep a yellow tang in my 55. I feel the yellow tangs do well in a 55 :happyfish . I also beleive it is the only tang that will do well in a 55. As said before, there is a wealth of knowlege on these boards. These people have been very helpful when I was a newbie :joy: ! And now I try to return the favor as often as I can. It really sucks to make mistakes that could easily have been avoided if you research first

... Your alreading doing that so your on the right track. Good luck with your new setup, and if i may say that the single most important thing to remember is that PATIENCE is the key to a sucessful sw setup

! Don't rush the cycle, though boring allowing your tank to cycle before adding fish will prevent alot of heartache and frustration. Keep us posted, and when we say it becomes an addiction :help: ... That is not too far from the truth. Lol

 

[castillo]

I just went to the local aquarium store and they have a protein skimmer that comes with a wet/dry filter for about $350. They also had cured live rock for $3.95/ lb. Is that a good deal? How much live rock would I need?
Thank you for all of the advice. Would a Dwarf Lionfish, Yellow Tang, Black and White Butterfly, and a Snowflake eel be a good combination for a 55 gallon tank? The store employee said that it would work and even said that I could go with more. It seems like large load to me though.

 

[king]

Wow, you're getting a very good deal on that live rock. Since it is that cheap, I would go with about 70lbs or more if you want.
I would still stay away from that tang though.

 

[saltrookie]

Also, you will want to think about what kind of corals etc. you may want in the future and with that...think about your lighting choices. I don't think I saw anything about a FO tank or a reef tank so just thought I put my two cents out there. I know I'm spending alot changing lighting out. Good luck and welcome to a wonderful (did anyone say expensive) hobby!!

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by Castillo
I just went to the local aquarium store and they have a protein skimmer that comes with a wet/dry filter for about $350. They also had cured live rock for $3.95/ lb. Is that a good deal? How much live rock would I need?
Thank you for all of the advice. Would a Dwarf Lionfish, Yellow Tang, Black and White Butterfly, and a Snowflake eel be a good combination for a 55 gallon tank? The store employee said that it would work and even said that I could go with more. It seems like large load to me though.
What a great deal for those live rocks!!! Are you sure they're not live base rocks instead?? Black and White Butterfly (Heniochus Butterfly) will out grow that tank! Snowflake eel would try to crawl out any little crevice so you have to keep the tank well covered. I wouldn't listen to what your LFS says at all!!! You really need to do some personal research on each individual fish!!! :happyfish

 

[jaybird101]

I don't know why every one says no to Tangs in small tanks.
I have a Yellow Tang in a 44 gal corner and has been living there for 6 months now.

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by jaybird101
I don't know why every one says no to Tangs in small tanks.
I have a Yellow Tang in a 44 gal corner and has been living there for 6 months now.
Because they'll eventually grow too big for small tanks and requires more room to swim. Otherwise they'll stress out on you and get sick and die. You only had him for 6 months, just wait and see. :happyfish

 

[mcsd22]

I concure the tangs are not a good idea. They are free swimmers and need alot of room and alot of rock work to swim around but you have to make your own call. If you do get 1 wait a good while so the tank is established and you stand a better chance. No anemones right off the bat. They require prestine water and you will be a while before you achieve that. Rule of thumb is about 6 months. Stick with the RO water and you can't go wrong there. Granny is quit right, don't skimp on the protien skimmer it is a great asset. And if you can buy live rock, not base, at that price thats a steal but usually when something sounds to good to be true it usually is. Cost at my local fish store is $6.99 a pound so I would investigate that real good. The hardest part in this hobby is waiting to put your fish in, it sucks sitting there watching a empty tank for 3 or 4 weeks but its better than flushing what you just spent 50 bucks on. Get your tank set up and running and throw a grocery store shrimp in and that will start your cycle. When all your levels areup and then back down start out with a couple clowns and your on your way. Your local fish store will try to sell you all kinds of things you won't need or want like amonia locks and chemicals of that nature, just remember the more natural the tank the better the fish will be. Welcome aboard.