Help with a 55 Gallon...

[sam2216]

Oh, and also, I want to keep the corals, fish, and other things safe to transition. I have an outline to set up the tank. here it is:

add the gadgets like a filter, wave maker, and heater on top first (still deciding filter), then add new aragonite sand, then half of the tank with new saltwater, then afterward, I'll probably add the new pieces of dry rock and a few old live rock pieces by taking the corals off of it. put the lights on top, then the lid. After about a few hours, when the aquarium becomes clear, I'll add beneficial bacteria, calcium, other things. After a few days or maybe hours?, I'll first move all rocks into the aquarium, then the snails, then drip acclimate the coral, then the fish (don't know how to do the clownfish), then add them.


Do you think this can work safely or should I change few steps? I'm kind of worried about this a little, mainly for the corals not surviving in a new tank..

 

[ScottJ]

Ok. I've read that tomini tang could be fine and a lot of people having OS foxface peacefully in their 55 gallons in some VERY old forums, so idk. Your tank looks superrr nice. Also is the rocks touching the glass in the back or is there space? I'm still deciding on aquascape. Thanks for the overview!

There is space back there at the bottom. I have a wave maker down low pointed across the back also. There is not a lot of roon front to back, so you have to get creative with the rocks. I used some plastic egg crate to make supports to hold up some of the rocks at the top in the back.

 

[sam2216]

Depends on the type of anthias

I would pass on the fox face.

Everything else is fine.

Lyretail?

 

[sam2216]

There is space back there at the bottom. I have a wave maker down low pointed across the back also. There is not a lot of roon front to back, so you have to get creative with the rocks. I used some plastic egg crate to make supports to hold up some of the rocks at the top in the back.

That is very creative! I'll probably make the aquascape like yours.

 

[fishywishy]

Oh, and also, I want to keep the corals, fish, and other things safe to transition. I have an outline to set up the tank. here it is:

add the gadgets like a filter, wave maker, and heater on top first (still deciding filter), then add new aragonite sand, then half of the tank with new saltwater, then afterward, I'll probably add the new pieces of dry rock and a few old live rock pieces by taking the corals off of it. put the lights on top, then the lid. After about a few hours, when the aquarium becomes clear, I'll add beneficial bacteria, calcium, other things. After a few days or maybe hours?, I'll first move all rocks into the aquarium, then the snails, then drip acclimate the coral, then the fish (don't know how to do the clownfish), then add them.


Do you think this can work safely or should I change few steps? I'm kind of worried about this a little, mainly for the corals not surviving in a new tank..

I would just put new sand in, fill up the tank halfway with new saltwater, put filter and stuff in, heat the water, and then just transfer everything over (including old water).

 

[ScottJ]

I too really like the AquaClear HOB filters, I've had a lot of them over the years. I like them here because the 110 in particular is large, and there's a lot of hacks and mods to explore that may make them even more efficient. There's even after market media racks and 'fuge inserts for these filters.


Don't be intimidated about the skimmers, if you can run a HOB filter, you can run a HOB skimmer. If you have questions, I'm sure someone here would help you out.

Agree that the Aquacler is the way to go for an HOB filter. The 110 is the one to use. You can get a surface skimmer box for it, also. Ocean Box Design, I think. Pretty sure you can put your ATO in it, also. Nice!

 

[sam2216]

I would just put new sand in, fill up the tank halfway with new saltwater, put filter and stuff in, heat the water, and then just transfer everything over (including old water).

your reply sounds wayyyy easier than mine lol.

 

[fishywishy]

Lyretail?

I think a lyretail would be too big

 

[sam2216]

I think a lyretail would be too big

other good options?

 

[ScottJ]

your reply sounds wayyyy easier then mine lol.

KISS (keep it simple stupid :cool:)

 

[fishywishy]

your reply sounds wayyyy easier then mine lol.

You can your original plan if you want to be safe of course, but you don't have to IMO. Ive done it like that before.

other good options?

Maybe Evansi Or Bartlett. There’s a few that could work in a 55 but i don’t remember what they are besides those.

 

[sam2216]

You can your original plan if you want to be safe of course, but you don't have to IMO. Ive done it like that before.

Maybe Evansi Or Bartlett. There’s a few that could work in a 55 but i don’t remember what they are besides those.

could Carberryi Anthias work?

 

[fishywishy]

could Carberryi Anthias work?

Yes

 

[vlangel]

I have transferred tanks in 1 day multiple times successfully. I would set up the aquascape first. When it's the way you want it pour the new sand in next. If you rinse it first it will not get as cloudy in the tank. You could put a thin layer of the old sand on top to even further seed the new sand quicker but probably not necessary. Then get a bowl or plate to lay on the sand. Pour the water in the bowl or plate slowly and let it run over and this will also keep the water from clouding up as much. I would use all the old water and make enough new water at the same salinity. Try to make the new water close to the same temperature. Hopefully your hot water heater will provide enough warm water to make enough make up water to get your HOB filter primed and working. Make sure you have filter floss or some filter to catch sand particulates. Then I add your fish. Most likely the tank will be cloudy but when you wake up the next morning it should be much clearer. At this point I check the ammonia level every 3-4 days in case of a mini cycle. Usually it's not serious but some times you may need to do a water change until your bio-filter kicks in at full efficiency. Generally that happens in 2 weeks or so.

I have a 56 gallon tank with LPS and softies. I do not use a skimmer. In the beginning I controlled nutrients with 10% water changes weekly. Eventually I went down to 5% water changes and now in my 8th year I do 2 water changes a year. I also have a deep sandbed and ornamental macroalgae to take up nutrients. My tank is sumped but I have also used it as an AIO with an Aquaclear 70 when i first set it up.

I have a coral beauty angel, an ocellaris clown, a yellow watchman goby, a midas blenny, a royal gramma, a red fin fairy wrasse, 2 firefish gobies, 2 pajama cardinals, and 2 masked gobies. I have a lot of fish because my nitrates were bottoming out so I recently added 5 more fish to help that situation. It worked.

A 55 gallon tank is nice to be big enough to have a decent amount of fish and coral without being overly labor intensive to keep up. My tank is a KISS tank with no fancy equipment. It's not everyone's cup of tea but I like it.

 

[Fish Fan]

Agree that the Aquacler is the way to go for an HOB filter. The 110 is the one to use. You can get a surface skimmer box for it, also. Ocean Box Design, I think. Pretty sure you can put your ATO in it, also. Nice!

I got surface skimmers from an Etsy seller, worked great for my AC's.

 

[sam2216]

I have transferred tanks in 1 day multiple times successfully. I would set up the aquascape first. When it's the way you want it pour the new sand in next. If you rinse it first it will not get as cloudy in the tank. You could put a thin layer of the old sand on top to even further seed the new sand quicker but probably not necessary. Then get a bowl or plate to lay on the sand. Pour the water in the bowl or plate slowly and let it run over and this will also keep the water from clouding up as much. I would use all the old water and make enough new water at the same salinity. Try to make the new water close to the same temperature. Hopefully your hot water heater will provide enough warm water to make enough make up water to get your HOB filter primed and working. Make sure you have filter floss or some filter to catch sand particulates. Then I add your fish. Most likely the tank will be cloudy but when you wake up the next morning it should be much clearer. At this point I check the ammonia level every 3-4 days in case of a mini cycle. Usually it's not serious but some times you may need to do a water change until your bio-filter kicks in at full efficiency. Generally that happens in 2 weeks or so.

I have a 56 gallon tank with LPS and softies. I do not use a skimmer. In the beginning I controlled nutrients with 10% water changes weekly. Eventually I went down to 5% water changes and now in my 8th year I do 2 water changes a year. I also have a deep sandbed and ornamental macroalgae to take up nutrients. My tank is sumped but I have also used it as an AIO with an Aquaclear 70 when i first set it up.

I have a coral beauty angel, an ocellaris clown, a yellow watchman goby, a midas blenny, a royal gramma, a red fin fairy wrasse, 2 firefish gobies, 2 pajama cardinals, and 2 masked gobies. I have a lot of fish because my nitrates were bottoming out so I recently added 5 more fish to help that situation. It worked.

A 55 gallon tank is nice to be big enough to have a decent amount of fish and coral without being overly labor intensive to keep up. My tank is a KISS tank with no fancy equipment. It's not everyone's cup of tea but I like it.

yea i think i'll add some type of macroalgae. what do you recommend?

 

[vlangel]

yea i think i'll add some type of macroalgae. what do you recommend?

I enjoy the macroalgae as much as the coral. They give a tank a natural lush look in my opinion. I like ulva, codium and caulerpa cupressoides in the greens. That specie of caulerpa is less invasive and less likely to go sexual. In the reds botrycladia, and gracilaria are nice. Gracilaria hayi is a variety that will adhere to rock and needs to be pruned often to keep controlled but is an excellent choice for nutrient control. All these macros are pretty easy if you have enough nutrients for them. I run my tank on the high side as far as nutrients.

 

[sam2216]

I enjoy the macroalgae as much as the coral. They give a tank a natural lush look in my opinion. I like ulva, codium and caulerpa cupressoides in the greens. That specie of caulerpa is less invasive and less likely to go sexual. In the reds botrycladia, and gracilaria are nice. Gracilaria hayi is a variety that will adhere to rock and needs to be pruned often to keep controlled but is an excellent choice for nutrient control. All these macros are pretty easy if you have enough nutrients for them. I run my tank on the high side as far as nutrients.

We are ready to prune the macro. Could like the tomini tang eat it all or could it live peacefully with it since I've read they can eat macro?

 

[vlangel]

We are ready to prune the macro. Could like the tomini tang eat it all or could it live peacefully with it since I've read they can eat macro?

I had a tomini tang for years and it never ate any of those macros. Tomini tangs are more detrivores than herbivores. They will pick in/on the macros but mostly are looking for smaller stuff than the macro itself.

 

[sam2216]

I have transferred tanks in 1 day multiple times successfully. I would set up the aquascape first. When it's the way you want it pour the new sand in next. If you rinse it first it will not get as cloudy in the tank. You could put a thin layer of the old sand on top to even further seed the new sand quicker but probably not necessary. Then get a bowl or plate to lay on the sand. Pour the water in the bowl or plate slowly and let it run over and this will also keep the water from clouding up as much. I would use all the old water and make enough new water at the same salinity. Try to make the new water close to the same temperature. Hopefully your hot water heater will provide enough warm water to make enough make up water to get your HOB filter primed and working. Make sure you have filter floss or some filter to catch sand particulates. Then I add your fish. Most likely the tank will be cloudy but when you wake up the next morning it should be much clearer. At this point I check the ammonia level every 3-4 days in case of a mini cycle. Usually it's not serious but some times you may need to do a water change until your bio-filter kicks in at full efficiency. Generally that happens in 2 weeks or so.

I have a 56 gallon tank with LPS and softies. I do not use a skimmer. In the beginning I controlled nutrients with 10% water changes weekly. Eventually I went down to 5% water changes and now in my 8th year I do 2 water changes a year. I also have a deep sandbed and ornamental macroalgae to take up nutrients. My tank is sumped but I have also used it as an AIO with an Aquaclear 70 when i first set it up.

I have a coral beauty angel, an ocellaris clown, a yellow watchman goby, a midas blenny, a royal gramma, a red fin fairy wrasse, 2 firefish gobies, 2 pajama cardinals, and 2 masked gobies. I have a lot of fish because my nitrates were bottoming out so I recently added 5 more fish to help that situation. It worked.

A 55 gallon tank is nice to be big enough to have a decent amount of fish and coral without being overly labor intensive to keep up. My tank is a KISS tank with no fancy equipment. It's not everyone's cup of tea but I like it.

could I see a whole picture of the tank for ideas on aquascape?