what do I need to get???

[aprilabaxter]

I recently bought a 55G tank. It was set up and running for 6 months. I got the filter, heater, one powerhead and some coarse looking sand, and some snails too. I have added some live rock, a shrimp and a tang and purchased a test kit and temperature/salt gauge. Do I need to have more than one powerhead? I have an emperor filter with two rollers. My cousin told me to get a Magnum 350 deluxe filter just as a back up. He also suggested I keep it simple and not invest a lot of money in LR yet. I only have about 6-8# in there now. Can someone get me pointed in the right direction to get started? Should I do a FO tank and put fake rock and coral in there? Also, do shrimp clean the bottom? Cleaner shrimp?

 

[kev]

The amount of LR depends on the type of tank your trying to set up. If your wanting a reef, it would be best to have 1-1.5lbs of rock per gallon. If your wanting a FO or Aggressive, then the amount of LR is up to you(it doesn't really matter.) What type of tang do you have? Which test kits do you have? You should AT LEAST test your water for pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates. If your going for a reef, then you'll need to test for phosphates, calcium, alk, and maybe even copper. Do you know the appropriate lvls for all of these tests? The filtration that you listed sounds pretty good to me, just make sure that you have all of the water moving at a fairly rapid pace thoughout the tank. If I were you I would SLOWLY add CURED LR to you tank till you get about 40-50lbs of LR in there. Also I would add a few pounds of LS to help seed your DSB. Any questions feel free to ask, im bored up here at work... yes, I do get paid to play on the internet lol.

 

[aprilabaxter]

Thanks for your reply. Let me start by answering your questions as best as I can remember. I bought a liquid test kit from the lfs and I have been checking my ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and it tells you in the book what is good number wise. The only problem I had was my light got pushed against the filter and it stopped the rollers. Water was still flowing but my ammonia level went up. I checked it found the problem and fixed it. Now for the LR, I am on an aquarium budget and that stuff is NOT CHEAP. I used to think the fish were the most expensive I had no idea what it would cost to buy that much rock so I am thinking I don't want to do reef, not yet anyway. I have a yellow tang and it seems to be doing well. Has the whole tank to himself. I see him eating on the green stuff so he seems happy. My tank does look pretty bare and since it is set up in the den I would like to get it looking better. I put two plastic plants in there (I know that isn't great) and the lfs guy gave me some green plant that grows on the bottom. I just put that in 2 weeks ago. Any suggestions on good stuff to go in there? You think I am O.K. with just the one powerhead? My filter doesn't have a great flow. One side just dribbles as I would call it. I have check the filters and they are not dirty. Any ideas there? Nice to think about something like fish while you are working? I got a bunch of books at the library today and will start reading up.