Upgrading to a 55gallon

[richieexd]

Hey guys I'm just seeking some advice here.
Anyways, I have a 20 gallon running for about 2 month now and I just got a 55 gallon for free from one of my dads friend. I plan to move most of the LR from my 20G to my 55 and the current external filter. I will purchase an additional 55LBs of LR and probably have a 4" sand bed (Is dry Argonite advised? I read somewhere they are cheaper and will eventually become live )
2)I will be adding 2 additional powerheads to get the flow moving. I was thinking about having 2 Hydor Koralia powerheads . Should I get 2 1200GPH powerheads or is that too much flow? ( For the time being my setup will be FOWLR but I will eventually turn my tank into a reef tank.
3)When I move my external canister to my 55g, would I have to recycle my tank or will there be enough bacteria in my canister and LR. I will move all of the LR from the 20g, (about 20lbs) and an additional 30LB of LR from the new batch)
4)When I setup a Sump in the future would it disrupt the balance? (Do I have to recycle again?)
5) How many LBS of sand do I need to have a 4" sand bed in a 55 gallon 48"L tank.
Thanks in advance for the help.
-Richie

 

[michaeltx]

Originally Posted by Richieexd
http:///forum/post/2564490
Hey guys I'm just seeking some advice here.
Anyways, I have a 20 gallon running for about 2 month now and I just got a 55 gallon for free from one of my dads friend. I plan to move most of the LR from my 20G to my 55 and the current external filter. I will purchase an additional 55LBs of LR and probably have a 4" sand bed (Is dry Argonite advised? I read somewhere they are cheaper and will eventually become live )
yes a dry argonite will work and evetually become live sand
2)I will be adding 2 additional powerheads to get the flow moving. I was thinking about having 2 Hydor Koralia powerheads . Should I get 2 1200GPH powerheads or is that too much flow? ( For the time being my setup will be FOWLR but I will eventually turn my tank into a reef tank.
there is very few times that there will be to much flow in a tank. what are you planning as far as corals in the reef tank will determine what flow is needed in your tank
3)When I move my external canister to my 55g, would I have to recycle my tank or will there be enough bacteria in my canister and LR. I will move all of the LR from the 20g, (about 20lbs) and an additional 30LB of LR from the new batch)
I would wait and get the new tank up and running and then add the 20 gallon tank inhabitants over to it especially if you have any fish and inverts in there. you could see a mini cycle from the new setup
4)When I setup a Sump in the future would it disrupt the balance? (Do I have to recycle again?)
generally no as long as you use stuff that hasnt been shipped and has been allowed to be out of the water very long there will be very little die offf. so just adding a new refugium I would let it self loop on itself for a few days and test to see if there is an ammonia issue if not loop it into the main tank
5) How many LBS of sand do I need to have a 4" sand bed in a 55 gallon 48"L tank.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ory=0&x=5&y=14 here is a sand calculator to see how much sand is going to be needed
Thanks in advance for the help.
-Richie
HTH
Mike

 

[camanuch]

make sure the new 30lbs don't need to be cured at all. If it does then cure first or else you will see an amonia spike and that is def not good. But everthing else was answered up above.