Getting a 55 gallon salt tank

[bvanfish]

Hello all I am getting a 55 gallon salt tank. I want to do live sand and rock. Get a few clowns maybe a shrimp/ small lobster or something fun. I want to in the future try to add coral but that won’t be until this is going very well and I get more comfortable.

My question is is 55 gallon enough
What would be a good over the back filter
Where is the best for live rock and sand
Do I need a protein skimmer / what is a good starter?

 

[Uncle99]

With the 55g, they are usually thin, but long.
This makes it more difficult to aquascape the rockwork, and still leave room for front and back flow.

 

[Jekyl]

Hello all I am getting a 55 gallon salt tank. I want to do live sand and rock. Get a few clowns maybe a shrimp/ small lobster or something fun. I want to in the future try to add coral but that won’t be until this is going very well and I get more comfortable.

My question is is 55 gallon enough
What would be a good over the back filter
Where is the best for live rock and sand
Do I need a protein skimmer / what is a good starter?

That'll be a perfect tank to start out with. I run a 90g with a HoB protein skimmer and a HoB filter that I use for filter floss and any media needed like carbon. Lights for coral aren't needed for months when getting started, so plenty of time to research. If doing live rock and sand I recommend gulfliverock.com

 

[fishski13]

I think for your plan a 55 gallon is enough especially as a first set up, but as mentioned above not much room from back to front.

I personally dont like back filters if I am not running a sump. I dont think they do much. I actually run a 65 gallon without a sump and just have a canister filter. Its adds the extra 5ish gallons to the tank plug you have many options for mechanical filtration, bio filtration, and chemical if you want. With the back filter not much can fit in there. I would definitely look into a canister if no sump.

I never used live rock, only dry as it is easier to aquascape. For live sand I would go with araglive special grade or aquaforest sand.

I dont run a protein skimmer on my 65 gallon either and I have a decent bioload there and I am still able to keep my nitrate under 15 constantly. I wouldnt think about a protein skimmer especially for light stocking.

 

[bvanfish]

That'll be a perfect tank to start out with. I run a 90g with a HoB protein skimmer and a HoB filter that I use for filter floss and any media needed like carbon. Lights for coral aren't needed for months when getting started, so plenty of time to research. If doing live rock and sand I recommend gulfliverock.com

Awesome thank you. Would you recommend anything else for a beginner set up? Any specific fish that would work or not?

 

[bvanfish]

I think for your plan a 55 gallon is enough especially as a first set up, but as mentioned above not much room from back to front.

I personally dont like back filters if I am not running a sump. I dont think they do much. I actually run a 65 gallon without a sump and just have a canister filter. Its adds the extra 5ish gallons to the tank plug you have many options for mechanical filtration, bio filtration, and chemical if you want. With the back filter not much can fit in there. I would definitely look into a canister if no sump.

I never used live rock, only dry as it is easier to aquascape. For live sand I would go with araglive special grade or aquaforest sand.

I dont run a protein skimmer on my 65 gallon either and I have a decent bioload there and I am still able to keep my nitrate under 15 constantly. I wouldnt think about a protein skimmer especially for light stocking.

Ok great so maybe no protein skimmer.
I was hoping to not have to use a sump. So you think canister is better than back? I was going to use a back filter with the balls in them

 

[Doctorgori]

sounds fine, just know everything is gonna be HOB as AFAIK you can’t drill a 55g…
the geometry could be a lil challenging aquascaping but a 55 offers good viewing area anyway

 

[G Santana]

When I started I went from a 10 gallon to a 30 to a 55 and finally a 130 gallon all within a year or so.
A 55 is perfect for what your aiming for.

 

[bvanfish]

sounds fine, just know everything is gonna be HOB as AFAIK you can’t drill a 55g…
the geometry could be a lil challenging aquascaping but a 55 offers good viewing area anyway

Can you clarify HOB at AFAIK?

 

[JMSKI333]

If you haven't purchased the tank yet, I would recommend a 40 gallon breeder, a 60 gallon breeder or a 75 gallon over a 55 gallon. They are tough for aquascaping due to shallow width as other poster mentioned.

I would recommend trying to find a local fish store in your area to source your live sand and live rock.

You can get away with not having a protein skimmer. It's def not something you need right away. A good water change regimen is key.

 

[dstockwell]

I have a 55, I’m fine with it. But I also have sump, skimmer, etc.

 

[Jekyl]

Awesome thank you. Would you recommend anything else for a beginner set up? Any specific fish that would work or not?

Liveaquaria.com and
Drreefsquarantinedfish.com
Are both good places to see different fish. Each site has recommended tank sizes.

 

[kevgib67]

IMO I’d go with live rock and a protein skimmer. I’m old school so others might disagree. Worked for me for many years.

 

[FurrierTransform]

Can you clarify HOB at AFAIK?

Hang On Back and As Far As I Know

 

[fishski13]

Ok great so maybe no protein skimmer.
I was hoping to not have to use a sump. So you think canister is better than back? I was going to use a back filter with the balls in them

Yeah, you get more space for filtration, it doesnt stick out over the top like the hang on back filters, and you get a bit more flow from them.

 

[bvanfish]

Is there a large price difference for up keep / monthly between 55 and 75? I am trying not to break the bank at first but get into the hobby, mainly for my kid who just loves fish.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello all I am getting a 55 gallon salt tank. I want to do live sand and rock. Get a few clowns maybe a shrimp/ small lobster or something fun. I want to in the future try to add coral but that won’t be until this is going very well and I get more comfortable.

My question is is 55 gallon enough
What would be a good over the back filter
Where is the best for live rock and sand
Do I need a protein skimmer / what is a good starter?

55g just fine and assure tank is cycled properly and Live stock acclimated well when introduction is done. Some essentials for your tank:

1. Aquarium/Tank
   You need to decide where you want to put your aquarium, determine what size you want or may only have room for, whether you want an acrylic or glass tank, and choose a style that will best fit into the spot you have picked out to display it.
2. Lighting
   The type of lighting you choose will be based on the type of system you have planned to set up, as well as what kind of livestock you will be keeping in it.
3. Skimmers, Filters & Filtration Equipment
   Once again, what type of system you are going to set up will help you determine which kind of filters and filtration system to choose.
4. Powerhead
   Depending on the size of your aquarium, the use of one or several powerheads is an excellent way to provide good water circulation throughout the system.
5. Live Rock & Substrate
   Here you need to decide on what type of material you want on the bottom of the tank, as well as whether you want to start with a live or non-living medium. Live Rock plays an important role in a marine tank. Many marine animals, fish in particular, can be quite territorial. It is important to provide ample shelter or places where the animals can hide, sleep, and avoid potential problems with aggression from other tankmates in the confined space of an aquarium.
6. Sea Salt Mix/Saltwater & Hydrometer
   Sea salts are what make an aquarium a saltwater or marine aquarium. Also referred to as a salinity tester, this item measures the specific gravity or salt content of the water.
7. Heater & Thermometer
   For smaller aquariums one heater works well, but for larger systems the use of multiple units is advised. With stick-on, floating, multi-function remote digital sensor, and many other types of units to pick from, the material a thermometer is made of is an important factor when choosing one as well.
8. Air Pump & Air Stones
   Only needed if you are going to run a piece of equipment that requires these items, Or for quarantining/medicating fish
9. Test Kits, Additives & Supplements
   For live rock and reef tank systems, calcium (a.k.a. limewater/kalkwasser) needs to be added. Other supplemental vitamins or additives that are beneficial to the health of certain marine inhabitants you may be keeping, such a iodine for crustaceans, are important as well.
10. Maintenance Tools & Supplies
    This category includes having items on hand such as a various sized plastic buckets or containers, tank cleaning tools such as a siphon tube/hose, an algae scraper or magnet, as well as nets of different sizes, spare equipment replacements parts, and so on. A good way to keep track of what maintenance tasks you have preformed and when is to keep a log book or record of everything you do.

 

[bvanfish]

So this is my idea so far: please let me know what else I may need.

55-75 gallon tank and stand (hopefully used for 50ish I am seeing them on fb market)
Tidal 75 filter - 80 bucks
50 lbs live sand - 140 bucks
Light- I have
Filter balls- 25 bucks
Life rock reef tree 35 lbs - 215 bucks
2 clowns - 40 bucks
1 lobster - 20 bucks
Ro water - 15 bucks
Instant ocean - 20 bucks
Dr Tim’s - 20 bucks
Total: $625

 

[vetteguy53081]

So this is my idea so far: please let me know what else I may need.

55 gallon tank and stand (hopefully used for 50ish)
Tidal 75 filter - 80 bucks
50 lbs live sand - 140 bucks
Light- I have
Filter balls- 25 bucks
Life rock reef tree 35 lbs - 215 bucks
2 clowns - 40 bucks
1 lobster - 20 bucks
Ro water - 15 bucks
Instant ocean - 20 bucks
Total: $605

Lkiquid bacteria- Either Dr Tims one and only OR MicroBacter XLM

I assume this is Not a reef ready tank- Add a hang on back refugium or wet dry unit and a hang on skimmer such as Ice Cap K2-50

 

[bvanfish]

Lkiquid bacteria- Either Dr Tims one and only OR MicroBacter XLM

I assume this is Not a reef ready tank- Add a hang on back refugium or wet dry unit and a hang on skimmer such as Ice Cap K2-50

No not a reef tank just fish for now. Maybe in the future but I want to start slow.